Some tyre advice please"

[lengster1]

Carcass construction plays a big factor in what makes a good tyre for an RS4 due to there weight,straight line brake testing etc is one thing but when you start hussling a fairly heavy car through high speed direction changes and weight transfer then cheaper softer sidewall construction become apparent,these particular tyres might be a very good tyre on a lighter fwd car etc but we are talking about what works best on an RS4,im not sure what area vreds get close to michelins after reading there no good on track and also takes along time to bed in which seems alien to me and as a biker im all to aware of scrubbing in new rubber but bedding in car tyres? Whats that all about? It would seem they only work properly when tread depth is at a certain level or what?

[RIV]

I've owned my car for 4 years and have always used Goodyear eagle f1's asymmetrics 275, 30, 19 you just can't go wrong with these tyres, in my opinion they are the best tyre for the rs4 hands down

[P_G]

Carcass construction plays a big factor in what makes a good tyre for an RS4 due to there weight,straight line brake testing etc is one thing but when you start hussling a fairly heavy car through high speed direction changes and weight transfer then cheaper softer sidewall construction become apparent,these particular tyres might be a very good tyre on a lighter fwd car etc but we are talking about what works best on an RS4,im not sure what area vreds get close to michelins after reading there no good on track and also takes along time to bed in which seems alien to me and as a biker im all to aware of scrubbing in new rubber but bedding in car tyres? Whats that all about? It would seem they only work properly when tread depth is at a certain level or what?

I'm sorry but the holy grail Michelins are not 100% at their best straight out of the box, all tyres have a releasing agent in them and need bedding in to get maximum grip from them, the Vred's may just take a little longer than most. And to answer your question Vred's vs Michelin, the beat them on comprehensively price (2 sets of Vred's to 1 set of Michelins), longevity, snow performance and equal if not better on wet grip and only fractionally behind on dry grip and comfort. Don't knock them until you try them and I seriously doubt you'd be getting away from me on a typical UK A or B road because of the performance advantage of your tyre.

[klauster]

Carcass construction plays a big factor in what makes a good tyre for an RS4 due to there weight,straight line brake testing etc is one thing but when you start hussling a fairly heavy car through high speed direction changes and weight transfer then cheaper softer sidewall construction become apparent,these particular tyres might be a very good tyre on a lighter fwd car etc but we are talking about what works best on an RS4,im not sure what area vreds get close to michelins after reading there no good on track and also takes along time to bed in which seems alien to me and as a biker im all to aware of scrubbing in new rubber but bedding in car tyres? Whats that all about? It would seem they only work properly when tread depth is at a certain level or what?

I'm sorry but the holy grail Michelins are not 100% at their best straight our of the box, all tyres have a releasing agent in them and need bedding in to get maximum grip from them, the Vred's may just take aa little longer than most. And to answer your question Vred's vs Michelin, the beat them on comprehensively price (2 sets of Vred's to 1 set of Michelins), longevity, snow performance and equal if not better on wet grip and only fractionally behind on dry grip and comfort. Don't knock them until you try them and I seriously doubt you'd be getting away from me on a typical UK A or B road because of the performance advantage of your tyre.

I am on my first set of vreds (previously Goodyears) I am impressed with them so far, yes they have taken a bit longer to bed in, but grip is very good. I don't honestly think you can beat the performance of these at their price point.

On a side note, the tread pattern looks very cool as well

[lengster1]

I can get a set of michelins fitted for 1k are you saying 500 for a set of vreds? Yeh il try them for that on the RS,even given the better mileage out of michelins thats a huge saving if so........ Im very familiar with all tyres having a release agent present when new any superbike rider will know this or learn it swiftly on his first set of new tyres,my point is 50 miles max in a car and release agent should be well gone and tyres operating at full performance levels.Personally i think the price gap is alot closer and when you deduct the bedding in period,shorter life,and lower optimum performance you have to ask is there any advantage other than laying out more initially for a set of tyres?

[lengster1]

This is all just my opinion and how i use my car,for example if vreds take 1000 miles to bed in and i fitted a set at the weekend it would mean my car handled crap for the next 2-3 months of usage for me,coming home every few weeks to have the pleasure of my "best" car on compromised rubber for so long just wouldnt be acceptable for me but average or higher mileage users could live with it easier i suppose i just choose not and think its a false economy for me and my current situation.

[P_G]

That's a good deal on Michelins given most quoted the last time I had to get a new set £1200-£1400 including fitting. Closest I got was £1200 plus fitting and at the time my Vred's cost £620 plus fitting, I gather they have gone up to £700-£720 and I see Super sports available for £252 each so you are now looking at a £360 saving on 4 so 36% saving or 50% more on the Vred price to be accurate here and now. Longevity, most say 12-18k miles on Michelins whereas this is my second set of Vred's and they will last near enough 28-30k miles (25k miles on them now with 3mm tread left, last set 28k miles before a puncture meant a new set). I've never had a car reach optimum grip on a new set of tyres in 50 miles on this car or my previous Audi S cars, it is usually 2-500 miles which was a weeks worth of driving for me then, but then the Vred's I have had have never taken 1k miles either, 5-600 miles max.

[PetrolDave]

I've never had a car reach optimum grip on a new set of tyres in 50 miles on this car or my previous Audi S cars, it is usually 2-500 miles which was a weeks worth of driving for me then, but then the Vred's I have had have never taken 1k miles either, 5-600 miles max.

+1

[tractorman]

I got a set of 275 Vreds for the back, thats about 1000 miles on them now, but car still feels quite slidey. Although if they last long enough I'll be abit happier but dont think I'll use them again, wish Id spent abit more and got the Goodyear F1s that I had orginally planned on getting. Just dont think its good when they need such a long bedding in time.

[edge]

I have PZeros on the EVO and loved them.

I am running Vredestein Sessantas on the RS4 and cant fault them at all, great tyre at the price(Got them delivered from up north).

[P_G]

I got a set of 275 Vreds for the back, thats about 1000 miles on them now, but car still feels quite slidey. Although if they last long enough I'll be abit happier but dont think I'll use them again, wish Id spent abit more and got the Goodyear F1s that I had orginally planned on getting. Just dont think its good when they need such a long bedding in time.

What pressures are you running? I am a little surprised at you having such issues seeing as I have had two sets now and never had such problems with either set that far into their life.

[ArthurPE]

another important consideration, make sure you get XL's and at least 96 load rating (if you get higher, say 98, you must adjust tire pressure down so it gets the equivalent load rating, eg, if you like 41 psi oem and it says 1700 pounds in the tire mfgs spec table look at the 98's table for the pressure at 1700 lb and use it, it may be 39 psi or something, otherwise if you use 41 with the 98 it will ride on the center, over inflated, and wear unevenly)

the car has a lot of weight on the front, fully loaded 60% of 5000 lb or 1500 lb per corner

I also like to 'chalk' new tires to help set pressure, draw a heavy line across the tread, set the tire in the middle of the mfgs spec (for example iirc RS4 is 41/41 max & 38/33 min, so mid is ~39.5/37) and drive it until the chalk starts to wear off...if it is even wear, good to go, if more wear in the center take a psi off, or on the edges, add a psi. perhaps repeat one more time until wear is ~ even...do not exceed mfgs hi or lo recomendations

if you use the same tires from set to set you don't have to repeat it, just use the pressures that worked best

[Scatman]

Thanks for the excellent advice! Really useful stuff here - I'm going to check in to the vreds - I was going with toyos but I agree on the short lasting wear of these - I'll be replacing them a lot sooner than another brand.

Thanks again!