Scottish Elises

Hi,

Missus's mini needs a new set of tyres, winter ones are giving up the ghost and the summer ones are too well worn to get much out of.

We're only keeping it for another 9 months or so, she does about 800 miles a month, 80% motorway.

Looking at the Falken ZE 912 which seem to get a good write up as a medium spec tyre, anyone used them?

http://www.blackcircles.com/catalogue/f ... yall%3d999

I looked at contiential eco contact which are roughly the same price but they get a crap write up in some places so looking to avoid them, similarly the Khumo KH17 gets mixed reviews - can't find ku39s in the correct size and the toyo option is proxes cf1 which I had before on the elise and really didnt like ( yeah I know, it doesnt suit an elise but dont want to try them again).

its tough buying tyres as there are so many conflicting reviews, even for the main brands.

I've got Falken on the Elise, couldn't tell you which type until the weekend but I'm happy enough with them.

Got a set of 4 Avon ZV3's 195-50-15, as new, selling these cheap if you are interested!

I use 452s on the BMW and find them excellent.

When the wifes old Fabia needed new tyres I thought I'd get a set but they didn't do the 452s in the correct size so I went for 912s.

They were fine in the dry and actually not too bad when it was properly wet but when it was damp, like it is a lot of the time in Scotland, they really lacked grip and felt awful. Even the wife noticed and complained!

I'd avoid. I replaced them with some cheap pirellis which weren't much more expensive but felt much better. Can't remember what model they were though and I don't have the car anymore. Sorry!

wrong size mate, need 175 65 15 to stick with the issue ones, thanks anyway.

Stevoraith wrote:I use 452s on the BMW and find them excellent.

Good to know. I've seen 452s mentioned on various BMW forums and I'm planning to give them a go.

Thanks for the advice, pretty similar car in terms of weight etc so will definitely take that on board.

Problem is there's sh*t reviews for pirellis as well ( P3000 probably?) Same with continential eco contact as well. At this rate I'll end up buying something over the odds like contential sport contact just to get something I know will be ok. Every tyre on the planet seems to annoy someone!

Kev

Stevoraith wrote:I use 452s on the BMW and find them excellent.

When the wifes old Fabia needed new tyres I thought I'd get a set but they didn't do the 452s in the correct size so I went for 912s.

They were fine in the dry and actually not too bad when it was properly wet but when it was damp, like it is a lot of the time in Scotland, they really lacked grip and felt awful. Even the wife noticed and complained!

I'd avoid. I replaced them with some cheap pirellis which weren't much more expensive but felt much better. Can't remember what model they were though and I don't have the car anymore. Sorry!

KevD wrote: Every tyre on the planet seems to annoy someone!

Indeed. Sometimes Internet access to so many reviews just confuses things!

I think the pirellis could have been P-zero Nero. Pretty sure they weren't P3000.

yeah the web isn't helping but good to hear someone who's used them on something similar. P zero's might be a bit much for a diesel mini which sits on the motorway. I'd get michelin primacy but they don't do the size. If we were keeping it for 2 years and would wear them out I'd be happier paying the extra but mid range should be fine for the year.

It's not been helped by the fact the hamilton garage fcuk the winter tyres by damaging the alignment when they fitted them, to the point where they've been ruined within 2 months. Also not helped by the mini garage charging her £20 to look at them then say they couldnt fix the alignment until she bought new tyres and then refusing to fit the summer ones they supplied us before.

As you can tell it's turning into a fcuk saga! I'll maybe ask camskill what they'd reccommend, it was a mini forum that reccomended the falkens. will buy off tyre shopper or blackcircles I think

I know a (sensible) chap who had 912s fitted to his STi Impreza and he was happy enough with them.

I have 452s on my Beemer and 912s on my wife's Octavia. The 912 are great - noticably quieter the the Dunlops the car came with, excellent dry and wet grip, and as an added bonus better than most normal tyres in snow owing to deep sipes on the shoulders. Great price too, I would definitely get them again.

Mark

How about Hankook Ventus V12.
Mid range price. I put them on the Merc and have been very happy with them. I know people on MeganeSport forum seemed to like them as well.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons ... vo-page-10

Can't get the hankooks in the correct size. Saw they got a very good write up in evo though