RS6 Tyre Fitment (please contribute)

[RS6BRIT]

I whacked on a set of Avon ZZ3s in 255/35/19 format and they don't rub with 'old knobbly' there. Covered about 2k on them now and no wear marks. Also they aren't a bad tyre, I thought they'd be a bit poor but in fact I've been pleasantly surprised.

[MoRS6+]

1. GOOD FIT : Michelin PS2 R01 255/35/19 - Shoppinit - 45 psi
2. KNOBBLED: Michelin PS2 255/35/19 - Shoppinit
3. KNOBBLED: VRED Ultrasessenta 255/35/19 - SuicideAl
4. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 275/30/19 Daveperc (and others)
5. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 bam_bam - 42psi
6. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 Bilko (knobbly bit removed just incase)
7. GOOD FIT : Good Year F1 Asymmetric 275/30/19 bam_bam - 38psi in summer 40psi in winter
8. KNOBBLED: Michelin PS3 255/35/19 - Shoppinit, andyt
9. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 PhilRoach (h&r's)
10. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 Bilko (knobbly bit removed just incase)
11. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac warpdrive 275/30/19 gravity
12. GOOD FIT: ContiSportContact 3 255/35/19 backed off from 45 to 42PSI! - Digger, a good fit afaik, need replacing soon
13. GOOD FIT: Cooper Xeon 255-35 19. Monoi
14. KNOBBLED: Dunlop Sport maxx gt 255/35/19 - SpaceCowboy
15. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 Rupert - 40-44psi depending on load.
16. GOOD FIT. GYEASSYF1 255/35/19 40psi - all round no matter what. Mooch
17. GOOD FIT VRED ULTRAC SESS 255/35/19 (only on for a week but no signs of wear and ran from 40-55psi in vain hope to make the cnuts work.) Mooch.
18. GOOD FIT. Conti SC3 255/35/19 - 40psi but <beep> tyre anyhoo. Mooch
19. GOOD FIT. Perreli Rosso 255/35/19 - 40psi. Mooch
20. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 XS POWER
21. GOOD FIT: KUMHO ECSTA SPORT KU 31 - 255/35R19 96Y XL TL
22. KNOBBLED : VRED Ultrac Sess 255/35/19 - Ran at 39PSI and also have Hotchkis ARB and recall reading that that doesn't help! SimonY
23. GOOD FIT: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 255/35/R19 96 Y Extra Load ... and M01 fitment. ChrisRS6[/quote]
24. KNOBBLED: Vred Ultrac Sessanta 275/30/19 Sorry, but mine were knobbled! MoRS6+ Though my TPMS had failed, so perhaps low pressures caused rubbage - but they are VERY close to ol'e Gobblers Knob in any event. Now running Bridgy Potenza RE050A 255/35/19 - guess what: KNOBBLED!! (didn't make it off the ramp!!) One angle grinder and 15 mins later, ol'e knobbly is no more! The Bridgys are fantastic in the wet and dry and have better rim-protection than the Vred 275. Virtually impossible to kerb the wheel with these on.

[Daveperc]

Hi MoRS6

Intriguing! So some Vred 275/30/19's are OK and some not...

I assume you are running standard OEM wheels etc?

What was the evidence of rubbage? And did the tyre fail, or did you find the problem when checking?

Dave

[MoRS6+]

Hi MoRS6

Intriguing! So some Vred 275/30/19's are OK and some not...

I assume you are running standard OEM wheels etc?

What was the evidence of rubbage? And did the tyre fail, or did you find the problem when checking?

Dave

Hi Dave, yeah the tyre failed alright! See pics below for said 'failure', lol.
Basically, the tyre had rubbing all the way round from Mr Knobbney Warner and had split on that part. It does look a bit worse than it should because I was still able to drive on it for a while and just barely made it home - but still needed recovering to the tyre place, but the scoring was all the way round in one single line. I've also included pics of what happened with the new tyres and how I 'remedied' the situation for good!

Failure:


The culprit:


From the side:


New tyres fitted (Bridgy RE050A 255/35/19) and Krusty the clown voice - "ahhh crap":


Another angle:


'Remedy':


And another:


And now:


Other side (excuse the leaf):



Still wanna drive round with ol'e Knobbly?

This is how I regarded him in my mind:



I've had a couple of requests for pics of the rim protection on the new tyres as I posted in another thread about them being better than the Vred275 at kerb protection. I'll post these up in the next day or two.

Mo.

[ChrisRS6]

I'm running the same Bridgestones as you, and my wife has proven that curbing is still very possible!!!

[MoRS6+]

I'm running the same Bridgestones as you, and my wife has proven that curbing is still very possible!!!

Possible yes, but I'm finding their protection better than any I've had before. I've only grazed a few kerbs so far and they've done me proud thus far. No damage.

Virtually all the damage I have on the wheels now is from the original tyres I had when I bought the car which were Dunlop SP something or other. Rim protection was non-existent! Then some damage from the Vred275 (but much much better than the Dunlops) and then the Bridgy RE050A 255 which so far have kept me blemish-free. I'll probably get these tyres again next time (if still available that is as they are getting on a bit now).

Aside from all that I think they're a damn good tyre, but they took a little while to bed-in.

Suppose I'd better update the chart to show the Bridgestones:

1. GOOD FIT : Michelin PS2 R01 255/35/19 - Shoppinit - 45 psi
2. KNOBBLED: Michelin PS2 255/35/19 - Shoppinit
3. KNOBBLED: VRED Ultrasessenta 255/35/19 - SuicideAl
4. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 275/30/19 Daveperc (and others)
5. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 bam_bam - 42psi
6. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 Bilko (knobbly bit removed just incase)
7. GOOD FIT : Good Year F1 Asymmetric 275/30/19 bam_bam - 38psi in summer 40psi in winter
8. KNOBBLED: Michelin PS3 255/35/19 - Shoppinit, andyt
9. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 PhilRoach (h&r's)
10. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 Bilko (knobbly bit removed just incase)
11. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac warpdrive 275/30/19 gravity
12. GOOD FIT: ContiSportContact 3 255/35/19 backed off from 45 to 42PSI! - Digger, a good fit afaik, need replacing soon
13. GOOD FIT: Cooper Xeon 255-35 19. Monoi
14. KNOBBLED: Dunlop Sport maxx gt 255/35/19 - SpaceCowboy
15. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 Rupert - 40-44psi depending on load.
16. GOOD FIT. GYEASSYF1 255/35/19 40psi - all round no matter what. Mooch
17. GOOD FIT VRED ULTRAC SESS 255/35/19 (only on for a week but no signs of wear and ran from 40-55psi in vain hope to make the cnuts work.) Mooch.
18. GOOD FIT. Conti SC3 255/35/19 - 40psi but <beep> tyre anyhoo. Mooch
19. GOOD FIT. Perreli Rosso 255/35/19 - 40psi. Mooch
20. GOOD FIT : Vred Ultrac Sessanta 255/35/19 XS POWER
21. GOOD FIT: KUMHO ECSTA SPORT KU 31 - 255/35R19 96Y XL TL
22. KNOBBLED : VRED Ultrac Sess 255/35/19 - Ran at 39PSI and also have Hotchkis ARB and recall reading that that doesn't help! SimonY
23. GOOD FIT: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 255/35/R19 96 Y Extra Load ... and M01 fitment. ChrisRS6[/quote]
24. KNOBBLED: Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta 275/30/19 MoRS6+
25. KNOBBLED: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A A0 (not M01 Mercedes) 255/35/19 MoRS6+ Seems the Merc spec M01 haven't been knobbled!! Damn you Steve, should have got those!

[Daveperc]

Hi MoRS6

Certainly looks loke rubbage.... but having said that all three Vred's I have had punctures with looked like that after the event, but were not actually rubbing! There is something in the tyre construction that once they run flat the inside shoulder breaks up like that within a few metres. All three of mine looked exactly the same, but I had regularly checked them to ensure they were not rubbing.

Note also that when they are going flat they will rub, and "polish" old knobbly, and of course when they fail like that they quickly contact quite a wide area.

Was there any evidence of rubbage on the opposite side when you changed them?

I'm certainly not saying yours didn't rub, but the failure looks exactly like mine, and I know mine didn't before it failed. When the tyre is rubbing you can hear and feel it - I tried a Dunlop once and it was evident as soon as I started to try and drive.

Wise move to remove Ol Knobbly though - I have done the same - if for no other reason than increasing the potential choice, especially in an emergency after a puncture.

Dave

[Maximo]

ON the M4 this morning heading into work I heard a banging noise from the near side of the car. Pulled over to the hard shoulder to find this.


On returning home and getting a closer look I found this.


Now I'm not the greatest with the camera but there clearly is a gap between the upright and the tyre. The tyres are Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 255/35/R19.

And here's the off side.


Two things to mention as it's been states that these tyres are good.

1, The car's been lowered - would this have an effect?
2, The near side lower control arm ball joint is in need of being replaced. Could the extra movement help cause this?

Thoughts anyone?

[Daveperc]

Hi Maximo

First off sorry to hear of your interupted journey - hope you got someone there with a new tyre without too much delay!

I assume from your description that the tyre had actually deflated - hence the "banging". In that case it's very hard to determine whether or not old Knobbly is to blame. Once flat the tyre goes all over the place, and the inner rim cuts it very quickly as it runs on the road. I couldn't tell from your third photo whether there was any evidence of rubbing on the other side or not - but I would take a very close look.

Suspension geometry is not an issue - this is purely dependent on the wheel and tyre so if you have standard rims then it's all about tyre shape.

Several people run the F1's including the redoubtable Mooch who used to swear by them (well he swore a lot anyway!! ) Low pressure can be an issue as it allows the tyre to flex more and hence make contact.

I would also get the geometry checked - from the photos it looks as though the nearside tyre was quite worn on the shoulder - a common problem if the geometry is out, though it could also be a consequence of running for a while a low pressure.

On the evidence so far I would guess that you picked up a slow puncture and that the tyre deflated till it was contacting knobbly and generally getting knackered. You probably then hit a pothole which finished it off and the rim has done the majority of damage to the tyre. But I could be completely wrong....

Dave

[Maximo]

Hi Dave,

Lucky for me the tyre didn't deflat so after an inspection I was able to drive home, at very sensable speed. The banging would appear to be a bit of rubber from the tyre hitting the upright, once it ripped off the banging stopped.

Your right about the offside tyre doesn't look that bad, however when the wheel was taken off to change the tyres you could see that it was also worn and had a grove but a lot less than the near side. I take you point about the pressures being very important and can have all sort's of effects, what I can't understand is that the tyre with the most damage was correct @ 38psi and the other was @35psi. I got the guys to check them before they changed the tyres.

I honestly think it's down the lower wishbone ball joint moving more then it should due to wear. I'll be booking the car into MRC shortly for them to replace the arm. I also think we need to look at what pressures help keep the various tyre makes solid. For now I'm on the Conti Sports, as they were the only tyres available.

Cheers

Garry

[bam_bam]

Is it possible the arch liner has come loose and rub on the tyre over a period of time?

[Daveperc]

Hi Garry

I'm not entirely clear which joint you are refering to - but Ol Knobbly is on the arm that is direcly connected to the hub assembly and which carries the wheel so only play in the actual hub would affect the clearance, and if you had much play in that you would know about it!

How often do you check the tyre pressures, and do you still have TP warning active (many of us have turned it off) I only ask because I wonder if it has run low at some time in the past??

Dave

[Maximo]

Is it possible the arch liner has come loose and rub on the tyre over a period of time?

Afraid not, all the linings are in place fine. The tyre damage is down to the knobbly bit on the up right.

Hi Garry

I'm not entirely clear which joint you are refering to - but Ol Knobbly is on the arm that is direcly connected to the hub assembly and which carries the wheel so only play in the actual hub would affect the clearance, and if you had much play in that you would know about it!

How often do you check the tyre pressures, and do you still have TP warning active (many of us have turned it off) I only ask because I wonder if it has run low at some time in the past??

Dave

Hi Dave,

It's the lower wishbone ball joint that's on the way out, which means that the up right can move a little in a lateral movement. This is where I think the tyre has been able to move around and catch the knobbly bit. I'll be honest and say I don't check my pressures often enough, that'll change now. But I've not had to put much air into the tyres over the 7 or 8 months they were on the car. TPMS is also switched off, all the sensors are dead and need to be replaced.

I wonder if the geomertry of the suspension has any effect, as in if it's out a little?

Cheers

Garry

[Daveperc]

Hi Garry

Lateral play in the suspension can't be responsible for the proximity of Ol Knobbly directly - the picture below may help as it shows the hub (which essentially positions the wheel/tyre and the arm whici Ol Knobbly is at the top of. However lateral play could account for excessive wear on the inner shoulder of the tyre which there seems to be some evidence of in your pics.



The wear rate on the tyres is quite sensitive to geometry. I wore out a set of P Zero's in under 10K (inner shoulder both sides) and it turned out to be only slightly out. Incidentally, one side was down to the canvas remarkably close to the shoulder - and no, it wasn't Ol Knobbly as the tyres were one of the varieties on original supplied cars.

Dave

[el_ringo]

Has anyone had experience with Toyo Proxes? The T1 sport is an Audi TTRS tyre.

Had those on my ST200 and they are very grippy. I would imagine they would be too soft for the RS6