Post
by Timster » Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:33 pm
Right. Bit of an update due, I guess:
Just come back from yet another spirited drive and these are my findings:
The tyres have now done about 250 miles and they certainly feel much better than before. This however may be partly due to me getting used to them.
Shagga has the same, albeit worn, Sessantas. I could definitely tell they had the same characteristics as my new jobbies. Shagga loves his tyres but then they have always been on his RS, so I can understand why.
They really seem to grip..... and then erm DON'T. I've been trying to think of suitable descriptions for my experience when this happens....
I guess the car seems to go very light, almost as though it's hit an icy patch or aquaplaned.... but probably hasn't actually lost any real mechanical grip, in reality. Very strange.
They also seem to oversteer terribly, on both cars !!!
On my previous Conti's if I pointed the nose into a bend, that's where the car went. It made for a very point-and-shoot experience, which I loved.
On the Sessantas however, I feel that it may be gripping well but that's not what's getting fed back to me. It all feels very "spongy" especially on fast/sweeping curves, where I now have no confidence what's so-ever. (The car "drifts" but not as though tramlining.... just feels like lack of grip)
I get the impression that the back is kicking out (again on both cars). I rarely experienced this on the Conti's.
A noticeable speed is about 80mph.... then I need to "switch on and concentrate". Almost like a predefined level at which the tyres change their properties.
I have wondered if the unusual thread pattern is somewhat to blame ? Being a non-directional tyre is makes me wonder how a symmetrical grip can be held. If you see what I mean ?
Look at a pair of Sessanta's, if they are not LH/RH specific on a car... how can the patterns be mirrored... they can't.
Getting well out of my depth here, but it does seem odd.
Anyway, I'm sure in time they will hit their Sweet-Spot (I just hope it hurries up).
In the twisties between 0-60, they seem like they'll be fun, but that may be because my car is behaving very differently and it feels a bit more on the edge.
I have however had several experience already at higher speeds, where I thought sh*t... is this where I put it into the Armco. Not nice.
VW Toe-rag V6 R-line.... no curry hooks...wtf ?
Gone: Avus Avant B7 RS4.... plus curry hooks !
