Advice: Tyre brand and model (not size!) for the RS2

[simon44]

Hi there,

I am looking into 4 new tyres for my RS2. After studying the Evo test (110) I am considering:

- Bridgestone Potenza RE50-A
- Continental Contact 3
- Pirelli Nero or Rosso

Overall I am looking for a good road tyre with low noise and good grip, wet or dry, a sort of compromise tyre.

Any thoughts really appreciated - many thanks

[tom1]

I went for Falken FK452 94Y seem to have good all round grip and low tyre noise too and they were a very good price as well:)

[DickyC]

Simon,

Pirelli P-Zero Rosso are what I went for. They look good and they behave well, wet or dry. They were firmly planted in the snow after Goodwood a couple of Sundays ago! The price was good from Elite in Reading.

Tom's Falkens look good, too.

Elite also refurbished the wheels if you're thinking of having them done. Tom enquired about the OE colour code, which I overlooked.

Cheers,

Dicky C

[venetors2]

Pirelli PZero rosso for me aswell
best all around and it's now the third time i put them on....

Stefano

[rs2315]

Hi there,

I am looking into 4 new tyres for my RS2. After studying the Evo test (110) I am considering:

- Bridgestone Potenza RE50-A
- Continental Contact 3
- Pirelli Nero or Rosso

Overall I am looking for a good road tyre with low noise and good grip, wet or dry, a sort of compromise tyre.

Any thoughts really appreciated - many thanks

Goodyear F1 Assymetric £84 from camskill online.
Seems like a lot of folk are getting excited about this tyre.
rs2315.

[simon44]

Thanks Guys. I know its an over done thread but was keen to hear latest thoughts. The Evo tyre article was good but there's nothing better than personal recommendation. I've been getting some good quotes from Bathwick Tyres, Andover, approx. £375 - £400 depending upon brand, fitted inc. VAT.

Cheers, Simon

[Lloyd]

Tyres? Go for which ever brand takes you're fancy to be honest. Everyone has a different view. If you want to read loads about it try the s2forum where there are many RS2 owners.

I personally are running - Bridgestone Potenza REO50-A for the second time. Cheaper than the Michelins but probably don't last quite as long. I like them.

Important things to remember are firstly the sizing. Do not go for 245/45/17
use 225/45/17 instead. Original Dunlops at 245 were actually a 'narrow' tyre compared to modern 245's which rub on the track rod end with potentially dangerous results.

The other thing is to buy tyres that are XL rated, 94Y I think. This stops the sidewalls buckling over and wearing. you can then run the tyres at a more sensible pressure for 225/45/17 say 26Psi. This is then more forgiving on our crap UK roads yet still responsive. 29Psi is way too high IMHO.

[scillyisles]

Tyres? Go for which ever brand takes you're fancy to be honest. Everyone has a different view. If you want to read loads about it try the s2forum where there are many RS2 owners.

I personally are running - Bridgestone Potenza REO50-A for the second time. Cheaper than the Michelins but probably don't last quite as long. I like them.

Important things to remember are firstly the sizing. Do not go for 245/45/17
use 225/45/17 instead. Original Dunlops at 245 were actually a 'narrow' tyre compared to modern 245's which rub on the track rod end with potentially dangerous results.

The other thing is to buy tyres that are XL rated, 94Y I think. This stops the sidewalls buckling over and wearing. you can then run the tyres at a more sensible pressure for 225/45/17 say 26Psi. This is then more forgiving on our crap UK roads yet still responsive. 29Psi is way too high IMHO.

Some good advice here with the exception of the tyre pressure. 26psi is far too low - when I ran Bridgestone Potenza one of the tyres started to delaminate internally. To run tyres at this pressure is also illegal and would potentially invalidate your insurance if you have an accident.
I have run most of the tyres that simon44 lists on one or other of my cars and personally the tyre that I would choose is the Pirelli Nero which suits the RS2 very well. It is available in 225/45ZR17 XL 94Y spec and has a very comfortable ride which means that you can run them at the correct pressure on our roads. I run mine at 38psi. The Pirelli Nero is a good all round tyre and works very well in dry and wet and as other RS2 owners who use it will testify, works very well on the RS2.

[Lloyd]

My mistake doh - thanks for spotting that!

I meant 36 Psi and not not the 39Psi that it quoted inside the petrol filler cap cover for the original tyres.

[tom1]

Glad thats cleared up.......36psi is what i have:)

[s4sturge]

Am I the only person running Michelin Pilot Sports? I have found the P-Zero rossos are generally crap in cold weather, and have been surprised at the levels of reassuring feedback I get from the Michelins.

[scillyisles]

Am I the only person running Michelin Pilot Sports? I have found the P-Zero rossos are generally crap in cold weather, and have been surprised at the levels of reassuring feedback I get from the Michelins.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 2 in 225/45ZR17 is an excellent tyre and provides both excellent dry grip and reassuring wet grip. It does however provide a harder ride than say a Pirelli Nero 225/45ZR17 (which is a very different tyre to the Pirelli Rossos) and also suffers from more road noise than the Neros.
My only concern with the Michelin Pilot Sport 2 is that they do not do an XL rated version like the Neros. The LSI of 91Y for the Michelin compares with 94Y for the XL rated Nero. The RS2 is a relatively heavy car and IMHO XL rated tyres are preferable on the RS2.

[alastairg]

Hi there,

I am looking into 4 new tyres for my RS2. After studying the Evo test (110) I am considering:

- Bridgestone Potenza RE50-A
- Continental Contact 3
- Pirelli Nero or Rosso

Overall I am looking for a good road tyre with low noise and good grip, wet or dry, a sort of compromise tyre.

Any thoughts really appreciated - many thanks

Goodyear F1 Assymetric £84 from camskill online.
Seems like a lot of folk are getting excited about this tyre.
rs2315.

Yep I plan on these next 94Y XL & Camskill seem to be the best price as thats VAT & delivery

[Skaala]

I bought Goodyear Eagle F1# DGS3 in 225/40/18 last year...they've been excellent, even coped with everything I threw at them at the Nürburgring.
I think last year was the last year of production and a new F1 assymetric is replacing it I think.

[simon44]

...anyone using the Continental Contact 3s (XLs)? If I go this route am I on a voyage of discovery?!!