Best Tyre for my Soarer, and magazine tyre tests.

May 2004

by Peter Scott

Shopping for tires? Read The Tire Rack's tire test results first.

Short story:

The best street tyre for me? - Michelin Pilot Preceda, 235/45/17 - approx. $290 each Aud.

"Michelin's Pilot Preceda offers many strengths and precious few weaknesses at a reasonable discount to the Goodyear" - Wheels April 2004

"The Michelin tyre was comfortably number one in the dry tests" - Motor Jan. 2003

"These would absolutely eat anything we have tested here today" - Motor Jan. 2003

"our wet driver liked their balance and control above most of the others" - Motor Jan. 2003

"one of the two quietest tyres of the whole group." - Motor Jan. 2003

Circuit Sprinting: Bridgestone Potenza RE540s or the new RE55s 225/50/16 - $255 each Aud.

Bridgestone Potenza RE540s                             Bridgestone Potenza RE55s (2 tyres side by side)

Second hand slicks, Michelin, Porsche Carrera Cup Control tyre, unknown compound, 240, 18inch - approx. $50.

Wheels Magazine April 2004

Small Medium family-sedan corner - Holden Astra for the 15 inch wheels. Small-medium sports-hatch corner - Ford Focus Zetec for  the 16 inch wheels.

Wheels magazine use a 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 system for scoring the tyres - this spreads the field and does not take into account how the relative score of the tyres in each test. None of the tests take into account wear rates, nor do they give an indication of how much noise a tyre makes, or how likely it tramlines - following ruts in the road etc.

These tyres are the "credible, premium brands that make up around 70 percent of the market. They're the tyres you choose if you're serious about performance or safety. We proved last year that those who purchase bottom-feeding discount brands and retreads place far too much emphasis on luck as a passive safety device."

Closer look at Slalom results:

A common result with the Michelin Pilot Preceda in all tests - slalom and lap times - nothing beats it.

15 inch wheel Conclusion by Wheels

"...it would be extremely hard sell to pass up on BF Goodrich's overwhelmingly competent G-Force Sport, especially as half the field is likely to prove more expensive than it. For under $600 all up, you can acquit yourself with a full set the tyre that clean-swept all but one of the six tests, and in the process hoarded 43 of the 48 possible points. That's a truly excellent result."

16 inch wheel Conclusion by Wheels

"There's no taking it away from Goodyear's brilliant Eagle F1 GSD3. Three firsts - the crowning glory of which is the world's best brake effort- plus a second and third are marred only by a lackluster effort in the slalom. It's also cheaper, to the tune of $100 per corner, than the forth-placed Pirelli P zero Nero. Michelin's Pilot Preceda offers many strengths and precious few weaknesses at a reasonable discount to the Goodyear. Even the Yokohama, a solid all rounder, will keep up wit the Goodyear in the tight, twisty stuff as well as off the line.
From a consumers' position, most will support a seriously hard drive, and none will compromise your safety. Buy with confidence."

Wheels Magazine June 2003

Seven premium sports tyres, all 243/45/17. tested on an XR6 Turbo Falcon, 4.0 litre straight 6 turbo, 1750 kg, 4 door sedan. Pirelli P Zero Nero and Dunlop SP Sport 9000 didn't make this test as they were too expensive. Instead the cheaper versions were tested.

A closer look at the lap time test:

205/65 R15 versus 235/45 R17

Wheels have tested both size tyres on similar cars.

"The difference (between the average 205/65R15 and average 235/45 R17 tyre) was a staggering 26 percent, or 12 metres - almost 3 car lengths. You could pack the kids from an entire infants school into that space."

For the lane change test the 205/65R15 managed only 99.6km/hr versus the 124.8 km/hr for the 235/45 R17 tyre. The 235 tyres also had 14% more outright grip compared to the 205 tyres.

"The car optimised for 235/45R17 rubber has a massive wall of active safety at the same everyday speeds that make the car designed to run on 205/65s little more than an accident looking for something to hit"

Cheap tyres ($200 235/45R17)) versus Premium tyres ($330 235/45 R17).

"Remember to leave an additional safety margin in the wet, however, where the disparity in performance under brakes is most glaring. Stopping distance in the wet blows out to 51.88 metres,...more than seven metres, almost 20%, nearly two car lengths, and certainly the difference between a major impact and a near miss."

Wheels Magazine April 2003

V6 Commodore 4 door sedan with tyre brands selected on market share - 70% covered with these brands. This is considered the family car tyre test.

Naturally enough Yokohama were pretty chuffed with the results - you can see Yokohama posters in tyre retailers still. Here is their press release:

"YOKOHAMA SCOOPS THE POOL IN WHEELS MAGAZINE TYRE TEST

Yokohama Tyres scooped the pool in Wheels magazine’s Tyre Test 2003, winning both categories in the exhaustive test which was acclaimed by industry experts as the ‘most professionally organised independent tests they have ever been involved in’.

Yokohama’s S760 won Category One for direct replacement tyres while the Yokohama A539 trumped the opposition in Category Two for premium upgrade tyres.

The Yokohama A539 scored top points in three of the five categories against the five other premium upgrade tyres excelling in the grip, braking and lane change tests as well as drawing glowing praise from the judges.

"If my Commodore, Falcon, Magna or Camry needed new rubber I’d be ticking the box marked Yokohama A539 and no discussion with the tyre retailer would be entered into," concluded the survey’s judges.

In the direct replacement category the Yokohama S760 finished ahead of the five other contenders, scoring well in all major categories to top the test.

The Wheels Tyre Test gives motorists an objective and independent guide to the best performing tyres across the Australian market.

As the Wheels judges point out, knowing which tyres are the best just might save your neck.

This test will become as important to the tyre industry as the annual Wheels Car of the Year award is to car manufacturers.

The Wheels Tyre Test measured Australia’s top selling passenger car tyres, fitted to Australia’s best selling family car in a series of back-to-back tests over three days at Calder Park race circuit in Melbourne."1

"Cheap Tyres May Save You a Buck, But Will They Save Your Butt?"

Retreads and a couple of El Cheapo tyres were also tested.

"Under brakes, the retread proved appalling." One of the cheap tyres also ran out of wet track and the other was around a car length better off - "a long way from a stellar performance"

"Toyo's Rodney Moffitt says your $49 retread will give you less than one third of the durability of a conventional tyre - for more than a third of the price of a premium newie - but you do get a free side serving of second-rate performance."

Race car driver Matt Coleman on the retreads; " At least I didn't crash! They felt like they were under-inflated and the tyre was continually coming off the rim. I had to really - really - concentrate in the lane change. The sidewalls felt like jelly; there was no lateral stability and no grip."

Conclusion

Two main conclusions Wheels made, don't buy retreads or Gemstones (cheapies) and that premium Brand X tyres outperform OE Brand X tyres.

Motor Magazine January 2003

This test was for "17-inch wheels as fitted to performance versions of current Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons."  Motor report test results different to Wheels - they don't report raw results - but do give a final relative score rather than just a 9,8,7,6,5,4 points etc.

Federal 589: "Matched against this lot, though, our dry test driver didn't like them, rating them last in his appraisal of their levels of feel and feedback."

Kuhmo Ecsta Supra 712: "Balanced..good feedback...quite nice". One of the strong points of all the Kuhmo models we have tested over the years has been their consistent levels of balance and good feedback coming back to the driver.

Simex SM9300: "A lot of understeer progressing to oversteer as they were pushed harder."

Toyo Trampio GU:WN: "dry test driver wasn't happy with their feel and feedback. Nor did our wet test driver rank them highly in this respect."

Avon ZZ3: "dry tester liked their positive turn-in and front-end grip, also was pleased with the level of feedback."

BF Goodrich Profiler G:"good wet road performance, but really wasn't able to match the rest of the field in the dry handling tests"

Michelin Pilot Preceda:"The Michelin tyre was comfortably number one in the dry tests. As our dry tester commentated "These would absolutely eat anything we have tested here today". Even in the wet...our driver liked their balance and control above most of the others. And they were one of the two quietest tyres of the whole group."

Hankook Ventus K104:"Our dry test driver wasn't all that comfortable on these at the limit. They lacked the solid, controlled feel of the better models, demonstrating even more soft sidewall feel than the Firestones."

Firestone SZ50:"Our dry testor said they felt like they moved around a bit in the sidewalls in corners. On the wet surface, though, they were so controllable and gave such good feedback, our wet tester rated them the most enjoyable of all."

Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3:"the kings in the wet handling and braking tests, ....weak point in this test is finishing fairly well down the very competitive field in dry handling and dry braking."

Bridgestone Potenza S-03:"Close behind the Pirelli in both the dry tests and the wet handling....dry track tester liked their characteristics better than both those that have placed ahead of it overall."

Pirelli P Zero Nero:"This is the third version of the P Zero range. Aimed at the high performance after-market. Nero is quicker than the quieter and more comfortable Rosso and not as performance orientated as the top flight Giallo. Showing no real shortcomings, the Pirelli P Zero Nero was in the top end of the results every time.

Dunlop Formula FM901:"No obvious weak points here" Except they are very noisy! - the roar sounds like a crook wheel bearing - I could not live with this tyre!

Motor Magazine September 2001

"Tyre companies come up with better products, time after time. Proof of that comes with every one of our tyre tests, in which old favourites gradually slide down the ranks"

"Last place in these tests does not mean the tyre is a "dud". It is still far preferable to lower cost, lower performance "shopping" tyres."

Choice Magazine (and other Kuhmo Press Releases)

In a survey conducted by 1500-outlet US tyre retailer Tire Rack, the Kumho 712 out-rated the Bridgestone Potenza RE730 and the Goodyear Eagle Fl GS among others in the Ultra High Performance (UPH) category.

Kumho 712 also topped the list of respondents in the questions of 'Tread Wear', 'Ride Comfort' and 'Would you buy again?'

The Kumho 712 earned the Good Design (GD) Mark after it was selected as one of the Best Designed Products of 2000 in a competition co-organised by the Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute of Industrial Design Promotion.

The Kumho 712 is available in 55, 50, 45, 40, 35 and 30 series' profiles and in H, V, Z and W speed rated sizes for 14-inch to 20-inch wheel diameters.

It also features Rotate Wear Indicator (RWI) to alert drivers when to rotate their tyres, and comes with a new rim protector design for alloy wheels.

The NSW Police Service is now using Kumho’s latest ultra-high performance tyre for its intensive driver training program.

The Goulburn-based School of Traffic and Mobile Policing (STAMP) trialled the Kumho 712 over a 12-month period.

The STAMP training environment is one of the most demanding non-racetrack tests for tyres in Australia.

The Kumho 712 uses an innovative silica-based compound which is claimed to give a lower and more consistent wear rate.

Falcon XR8s are able to complete two STAMP training courses of five days’ duration each on a single set of Kumho 712s before the tyres need to be replaced.

STAMP says it will also trial Kumho 712 on the Holden Commodore SSs now being introduced at the school.

Kumho’s 712 model is constructed to maintain its grip and wear evenly throughout the life of the tyre.

Its unique R.W.I (Rotate Wear Indicator) System alerts the driver to the need to rotate and eventually replace the tyre.

At the top of the sidewall there are reference numbers R1 through to R6.

When the indicators within the tread area corresponding to each number disappear, it is time to rotate the tyres.

The system also allows the motorist to see whether wear across the tread is uneven, which would indicate the need for a wheel alignment.

Kumho claims the 712s silica-based compound also results in better wet and dry handling, lower rolling resistance, and improved fuel consumption.

The tyre’s tread pattern has been computer designed with tread pitch sequencing to increase the dispersal of water, and lower road noise levels.

Kumho 712 also features a rim protector – an additional layer of rubber on the sidewall to help protect the rims of expensive alloy wheels.

Which tyres topped the list?
9 May 2002  (Yes, we have the brand - but what model? - hopeless!)

Brands tested:

Kumho
Pirelli (which one?)
Bridgestone
Firestone
Michelin (which one?)
Elite BTC
Goodyear Eagle
Toyo Proxes
Dunlop

Dry conditions

At 75 Kilometres an hour all the tyres managed to keep the car in the lane … but at 80 kilometres only the Kumho, Pirelli. Bridgestone and Firestone tyres passed the test.

Wet conditions

First the tyres were tested at 75 kilometres per hour with only Dunlop failing to keep the car in the lane.

Cornering

In a rating out of 100, the Kuhmo tyres come out on top followed by Pirelli and Bridgestone.
Lowest cornering scores went to the Toyo, Olympic and Dunlop.

Three top rating tyres – performance and value for money

1. Kumho
2. Pirelli
3. Bridgestone

The other results proves there was a real mixture of cheap and expensive brands at the tail end of the list and that, according to Gail Kennedy, meant just one thing.

“We found that money doesn’t equate to performance,” she says.

The full tests results are the property of the Australian Consumers Association and can only be accessed by Choice member or for a fee. To access this report go to Choice.

Some Internet Sites

"tyre" gets you UK and Australia sites, "tire" gets you USA sites.

http://www.blackcircles.com
A UK site – well presented with simple tyre test information. Tyre test results are consistent with other tests around the world. This site also gives a guide to tyre life and noise.

For example – my current tyre is the Pirelli P Zero Nero – I love this tyre.

Life: 2.5 out of 5
Handling: 4.5 out of 5
Noise: 4 out of 5

I agree the tyre is quiet – an important characteristic for me, handling is superb – tyre wear, well they are getting down a bit.

http://www.imoc.co.uk/technical/article/autocar.htm
A cut and paste from Autocar magazine in the UK. I like this test procedure – the winners were again Goodyear Eagle F1 and Bridgestone S02. However they were pitched against lower Australian priced rivals – I would have like to see Michelin Pilot Preceda and Pirelli P Zero Nero up against them – It is a 1999 test – getting on a bit now – all tyres have been upgraded since this test surely by now?

http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/tyretest/tests.asp
Another UK site. The tyre reviews are a guide only – no hard empirical evidence of tyre versus tyre with measurements.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testSearch.jsp
A site from the USA – very nice – a great resource – check out your car with different mags on it for example. Tire tests are very good as well.

Some Personal Experiences

Kuhmo 712 Ecsta
Cheap. Great value. Quiet. Last well. Better grip than regular road tyre. Nice progressive slide - good feedback - nice to drive on. On my 18's where cost is an issue I like the 712's.

Dunlop FM901
Very grippy tyre - one of the best out there for grip. BUT so goddamn noisy - sounds like you have a bad bearing. I could not bear these tyres on my car. Juzza's first tyre choice all those years ago when he started track work.

Pirelli PZero Nero.
The dearest of the PZero range. I couldn't afford these tyres in 18 inch size. I really couldn't afford them in the 17 inch size either at $350 a pop. But I was shopping for Michelin Pilot Preceda ("nothing touches them in the dry" - Motor Magazine) and the TyrePower guys couldn't get them in - out of stock. They were a good price at $290 odd. The Pirelli guy matched the price so I got four 235 17 inch.
So, so, much better than the Kuhmo.

Quieter. Heaps heaps more grip (than 265 Kuhmo 712). Don't squeal nearly as much. A Beautiful tyre. And being only 17 inch I can afford them. I do prefer better tyres on a 17 than cheap tyres on 18.

Michelin Pilot Preceda
Better than the PZero Nero in the dry. Steve Malkin's tyres - survived Phillip Island. Great value 17 inch tyre. For grip this is the tyre to get. PZero better in wet (Motor magazine).

Pirelli PZero C (semi slick)
Fabulous. Juzza's current weapon of choice. My first motorsport tyre. Smooth, quiet, tons of grip - a tyre to love. Making a return to the Island on the back of my car this weekend.

Bridgestone RE540s semi slick (discontinued)
225 50 16 inch.
The most grippy tyre I have ever driven on. Leaves all others for dead. Only narrow tyre on a small rim (stock 16x7) but the grip is astounding.
Very noisy - sounds like some big 4WD with tyre roar and hum.
Tramlines like crazy - terrible to drive on the road - sticks to everything.
Does not squeal - just leaves big black lines.
Grip and steering and braking is mind blowing - transforms car. CHEAP at only $255 !! Will only last 3000 to 5000 km on road. Lasts a full season of Motorsport (say 6 track sessions - around 1200 km). This is the tyre that makes an auto V8 Soarer the match of a high power TT manual Soarer on street tyres. I love this tyre. Standard control tyre on Saloon car race series (EB Falcon versus VN commodore six's - so there is plenty in stock). Only available from Bridgestone motorsport dealers.
As soon as you go to a 17 inch size you need another $100 bucks a pop. Go wider in a 17 and you need another $50 again.

Bridgestone RE55s (replaces RE540s)
Just completed testing for the Saloon Car series again. I think the hard compound is the one they will use. Available now. Again only $255 each!! Amazing value. Stan Johnson's tyre of choice for this weekend.

Slicks cost minimum $100 more for same size. Might get a second (or 2) for 2 minute lap.

Dunlop DO1J also very very good. Bridgestone same lap times but lasted longer in Saloon Car testing last year.

http://www.stuckey.com.au/

A 265 17 inch Dunlop DO1J costs around $500.

I have also used a second hand set of Pirelli P Zero C semi-slick tyres. Loved them. Smooth, quiet - drove very nice no tramlining. Unlike the 540s which were terrible on the road - tyre hum and tramlining.

My choice:
Street use;
17 inch rims (stock Lexus GS300 - newer model) - 8 inch wide, +50 offset. Michelin Pilot Preceda (doubt I'll get the PZeros for same price again).
$290 each

Track;
16x7 +50 offset stock TT rims with 225/50/16 Bridgestone RE55s
$255 each.

Best value Bridgestone motorsport tyres are in South Australia I reckon.

Davis, Kym
579 Magill Rd
Magill, SA 5072
Bus: (08) 8332-0800
E-mail: davis@arcom.com.au

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