Bloody Conti's

[Maverick]

The only problem is, tyre tests only cover a small selection of the tyre brands/models available. In addition, they usually only cover one size & they only use a particular car, in specific weather conditions & generally on a single road surface.

The EVO tyre test was conducted at one of the tyre manufacturers testing grounds which has many different surfaces. They used a Golf GTI and electronic instruments to measure lap times, braking (dry and wet), cornering ability, traction and so forth. Top tyre was the F1 Asymmetrical and in third place was the CSC3.

Therefore, in the Motor Annual Tyre Test (for instance), the only real conclusion you can draw is that the "winner" was the best of the 10 tyre models that were tested, in size "X" when used on a 1800kg rear wheel drive SS Comodore at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees on a fine grit hotmix surface.

Hence why those tyre tests really are not much help.

The fact remains that there are probably 60 other tyre makes/models out there that weren't tested & some of them might be superior to those on test.

The EVO test was conducted on the ten highest performing tyres and had a tyre from each manufacturer. It's pointless testing the F1 GSD3 when this is nowhere near as good as their new flagship tyre the F1 Asymmetrical.

IMO the EVO test is the most comprehensive and as it uses a Golf GTI (2 in fact) and was conducted under all circumstances is going to be the best way to choose a performance tyre. The whole "my new tyres are great and better than my worn out old tyres" is pointless and the only real way to compare them is on a track under controlled conditions.

You can download a copy of the tyre test from here.

The 2002 version is also available from here and the F1 GSD3 just beat the CSC1 which came in second place.

As you can see the CSC (now 3) is an excellent tyre that constantly is near the top of the tyre tests.

[G-rig]

The EVO test is obviously flawed as they don't include kerbs, potholes and roundabouts on the test course, then drive straight into/over them.

[Petrina Polo]

Nothing wrong with the KU31's (assuming thats the one you have).

I prefer them for comfort, so on the track day I'm taking the Conti's so the Kuhmo's don't get shredded.

aha... so tracking car does shred tyres..


but for everyday use, do you notice a difference in which tyres you use? cheapie vs expensive?

[JCM308]

Well spotted captian obvious.

Of course driving hard will effect your tyres, this has been well documented before. Another thing to note is you will get drastically reduced fuel economy!

But back on topic...... I do notice a difference between cheap tyres and expensive tyres (to a degree) but does it justify the price difference? Each to their own but how much value do you put on you safety (or that of anyone that gets in the car with you)?

Not saying cheap tyres are no good, but it's something to think about.

[CatonaPC©]

It is possible that VW only specify cutdown imitation tyres for the Polo GTI, after all it's only cutdown imitation of a Golf GTI

Ha ha!

Sorry! I had to laugh at that one.

[brad]

The EVO test was conducted on the ten highest performing tyres and had a tyre from each manufacturer. It's pointless testing the F1 GSD3 when this is nowhere near as good as their new flagship tyre the F1 Asymmetrical.

So they did a test to determine what tyres should be in the test?

Nowhere in that test does it say how they came to choose the tyres that are tested or what style of tyre they were looking for. EVOs demographic gives a clue but the range of tyres in that test aren't what I would describe as "the best from each manufacturer".
Bridgestone do better tyres than the RE050A (RE11, RE070), Dunlop has the Direzza; Kumho has the Exsta MX & XS; Yokohama the Advan range (why you would put the S-drive in there is a mystery & the results show that); The Pirelli PZero (assymetric) might have been a better choice as well.

Conspicuous in their absense are Sumitomo HTR Z-III, Marangoni, Toyo, Falken & Hankook - I think all these brands would have a tyre that would slot into the EVO test and give a fair showing.

IMO the EVO test is the most comprehensive and as it uses a Golf GTI (2 in fact) and was conducted under all circumstances is going to be the best way to choose a performance tyre. The whole "my new tyres are great and better than my worn out old tyres" is pointless and the only real way to compare them is on a track under controlled conditions.

Yes, very comprehensive & great for us folk with an A5 chassis VAG car.

There's a good AutoBild test using a GTI as well.
/searches..... Here Translated Third party analysis

As you can see the CSC (now 3) is an excellent tyre that constantly is near the top of the tyre tests.

I think my CSC2s are great. Progressive & they let you know what is happening between the road & the tyre. Excellant in standing water. They need some heat to grip & they don't like a damp surface. A little noisy.

Would I buy them again? Probably not.

[pologti18t]

My COntis lasted for 20K KM with no blowouts etc Just a couple of punctures. Car was driven quite hard on rough country roads with no incidents.

Keeping the pressure up to manufacturer's standard is essential though.

[Maverick]

but for everyday use, do you notice a difference in which tyres you use? cheapie vs expensive?

Expensive tyres will keep you alive, cheap tyres.. well you get what you pay which is a compromise on all fronts.

There's 4 small patches keeping you on the road so why compromise safety?

I'd like to see all the cheap poor performing tyres banned and tyres have to meet a certain standard before being sold, not to protect the stupid people that buy cheap tyres but to protect the others on the road.

[G-rig]

Keeping the pressure up to manufacturer's standard is essential though.

Same as road bike tyres, they could have been well under inflated by the sound of it, in which case it's easier to 'pinch' them when u go over a pot hole.

Btw, Continental make some of the best tyres in the cycling world, not cheap just like with their car tyres.

[noone]

I'd like to see all the cheap poor performing tyres banned and tyres have to meet a certain standard before being sold

I would be AMAZED if tyres could be sold in Australia without meeting any testing criteria...

[Roodosutaa]

Man... have I created a monster, post a topic about tyres, let it stew for a few days, come back and it's turned into a schoolyard Polo-/Golf-bashing thread. I don't know what the average age of Polo/Golf drivers are in the real world, but judging by the quality of some of the posts here 12 seems to be about right.

I think we've established pretty firmly what Maverick has chosen to be in this thread and there's not much point in descending to his level (judging by the attitude he's shown, he would probably think ascending is the better word). Who knows, he might be a good bloke in real life but if that's what he wants to be on the internet, then so be it.

Anyway, back to topic, here's an update on the tyres: they're out of Kumho KU31's so I got a pair of KH11's instead <== (Maverick take note: golden opportunity to do some cheap tyre bashing!!). At that price I'm under no illusion they'll perform as well as the Conti's but they more than fit the bill for my daily 80km commute in traffic, reviews seem to be good as well. They're on the back for now but I'll know how good they are once I rotate them to the front after they've been bedded in. To suggest the Contis are the be all and end all for safety and speaking in absolutes is beyond ridiculous.

If I were serious about performance I'd get a separate set of semi slicks for the track as I used to do for the MX5 (Maverick feel free to fire some cheap shots at my choice of car too!) and have road tyres for the daily grind. But that's a separate discussion.

[noone]

aha... so tracking car does shred tyres..
but for everyday use, do you notice a difference in which tyres you use? cheapie vs expensive?

Tracking the car will reduce the life of:
- brake pads
- petrol in tank
- tyre tread
- other consumables

The Kuhmo's were cheap ($120 each). I got them as I had heard good things about them (for the $$$). I think i'll have a better impression when I swap back to the Kuhmo's after the track day. Conti's are holding much more grip than before with a good alignment, toe adjusters on the rear and RSB, if you think the tyres are crap but have not tried others, maybe there are other places to look to improve the handling...

[brad]

I would be AMAZED if tyres could be sold in Australia without meeting any testing criteria...

No tests done AFAIK. There used to be a requirement for a DOT certification but I haven't heard that one for ages.
/searches..... tyres are covered by ADR23. I haven't read it & have no idea what it says.

You realise that you can still buy retreads & remoulds (AFAIK) plus all the imported 2nd hand tyres that have an unknown history; possibly inapropriate rubber compound (for European winter temperatures); AllSeasons/Mud+Snow patterns/compounds; or aged beyond the lifespan designated by other registration authorities.

I bought a set of 2nd hand Japanese Bridgestones that came off a grey import. The tyres weren't suitable to get over the pits but were OK & legal for the tyre place to sell to me - work that out

[brad]

Expensive tyres will keep you alive, cheap tyres.. well you get what you pay which is a compromise on all fronts.

There's 4 small patches keeping you on the road so why compromise safety?

I'd like to see all the cheap poor performing tyres banned and tyres have to meet a certain standard before being sold, not to protect the stupid people that buy cheap tyres but to protect the others on the road.

Cheap tyres aren't necessarilly total *****ters. I'd rather someone fit some LingLongs or Nexens than drive around on bald tyres because they can't afford better. At least there is some tread there for when it rains.

A fair rule of thumb for tyres is:
Cheap
Good Grip
Long Lasting
Pick two -all three is impossible.

[DeanB]

Tracking the car will reduce the life of:
- petrol in tank

Really ? Are you suggesting the heat from going so fast results in losing the volatile components of the fuel, therefore lowering the octane of my petrol by the end of the day ??

Gotta take these things literally ... Petrina will

lol