100 replies to this topic

[KevP]

My rear tyres need replacing...

I currently have Bridgestone Potenza 225/45 R17 90V's.
Im being quoted like for like at around £104(MichelDever nr B'stoke) -£130(Kwik-Fit) per tyre.

Should I stick with these or is there a better alternative?
Any advice would be greatly received.

Kev in Farnham
ps(Dont ask about Drive Vauxhall!!!! )

[NOBLE]

I currently have Bridgestone Potenza 225/45 R17 90V's.
Im being quoted like for like at around £104(MichelDever nr B'stoke)

stick with them

[RichH]

Standard wheels? If so stick with the BS's You can only get BS's to fit the front and it's not a good idea to mix tyres front and rear (I know, I've tried it and regretted it - BS (F), Toyo ® ) If you've got different wheels though give the Toyo T1R's a try.

Edited by RichH, 29 August 2006 - 12:17 PM.

[KevP]

Ta, Rich, they are (goes out to the car to check).... all Bridgestones Ive been offered the same tyre on a Y rating as opposed to a V rating, which is apparently a HIGHER spec. Does it make any difference...?

Edited by KevP, 29 August 2006 - 12:18 PM.

[Ratspants]

I've been offered the same tyre on a Y rating as opposed to a V rating, which is apparently a HIGHER spec.

The correct tyres are:

Bridgestone Potenza RE040BZ 175/55 R17 81W
Bridgestone Potenza RE040BZ 225/45 R17 90W

So, in fact, you need the W rated tyres. Accept no substitute

Ben

[ukgulf]

Ta,

Rich, they are (goes out to the car to check).... all Bridgestones

Ive been offered the same tyre on a Y rating as opposed to a V rating, which is apparently a HIGHER spec.

Does it make any difference...?

Here's the reply I got from Bridgestone.


Thank you for your enquiry regarding tyres for you Vauxhall VX220 Turbo.

I can confirm that the recommended fitment for your vehicle is as follows,

Front – 175/55 R17 RE040 BZ 81W (to identify this tyre check the DOT code and ensure the letters CAD are present)

Rear - 225/45R17 RE040 BZ 90W (to identify this tyre check the DOT code and ensure the letters CFE are present)

These particular tyres are specific for your vehicle.

If you have any further question, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards,

Ian Holland
Technical Services
Bridgestone UK Ltd


V rated to 149mph
W rated to 168mph
Y rated to 186 mph

So the Y rating is way over the top and cannot be the correct tyre as the DOT codes won't match.

These tyres are recommended for NA also as W rated tyres are no longer available I believe.

Edited by ukgulf, 29 August 2006 - 01:27 PM.

[NOBLE]

My rear BS-91Y's stick to the road like sh*t would to a shovel. Also I heard that DOT code mean sweet FA. Craig

Edited by X8 CJN, 29 August 2006 - 01:45 PM.

[KevP]

Cheers Guys, Just got a good offer for 2 of these fully fitted etc for £210.00 frm Just tyres

[Dakkon]

Just wondered if people have tried other tyres? I have a decent set of Bridgestones all round currently but on my other cars I have found Goodyear Eagle F1's to be very good, anyone tried these on a VX220T?

[RichH]

Just wondered if people have tried other tyres?

I have a decent set of Bridgestones all round currently but on my other cars I have found Goodyear Eagle F1's to be very good, anyone tried these on a VX220T?

Without changing wheels they won't fit as the only tyres that fit the standard fronts are the BS's.

[ta-kro]

I just changed my rears on friday, 225/45R17 RE040 BZ 90W CFE, at Bracknell tyre & battery for £192.70 They really know their tyres as the guy even asked me about the CFE DOT code,and by that he knew it was a vx220 and not elise But they were really busy, had to wait quite a while. Edd

[ukgulf]

My rear BS-91Y's stick to the road like sh*t would to a shovel. Also I heard that DOT code mean sweet FA.

Craig

When the Bridgestone man tell's me they are unique to the car then I listen... why would they make different DOT code variations ?

This quote from a much earlier post when someone had some DOT code DKE Elise tyres fitted:

I always thought the difference was a myth promoted by Lotus, until I watched the Elise tyre being removed from my wheel (it literally fell off) and the VXT tyre being refitted (it took 2 of us and a very long bar to get the side wall over the wheel rim, the sidewalls appear to be much stiffer).

[petrolhead1]

Think we should take this Holland chappie out and shoot him! DOT codes have caused huge and almost endless debate on this site in the past. Every other time we have asked Bridgestone the question about DOT codes they have said they do not matter. I recommednn that you go back to him and just challenge the bit about DOT code and see what he says. As far as I can tell the DOT code system of tyre identifcation is purely a american based tyre identification system which duplicates some of the other information you have quoted on your tyre. I wouldn't mind betting if we challenged Bridgestone on this point they would contradict him AGAIN! If you need another source at really good prices try JRS Services in Woodcote near Reading 01491 684030. Jim Scott runs it on his own and he has had a few customers from this site since I started plugging him. Great guy, great service, really appreciates the business and no I am not on commission. As an aside he took his racing Hillman Imp to France recently and won his class!

[ukgulf]

Think we should take this Holland chappie out and shoot him!

DOT codes have caused huge and almost endless debate on this site in the past. Every other time we have asked Bridgestone the question about DOT codes they have said they do not matter. I recommednn that you go back to him and just challenge the bit about DOT code and see what he says.

As far as I can tell the DOT code system of tyre identifcation is purely a american based tyre identification system which duplicates some of the other information you have quoted on your tyre.

I wouldn't mind betting if we challenged Bridgestone on this point they would contradict him AGAIN!

If you need another source at really good prices try JRS Services in Woodcote near Reading 01491 684030. Jim Scott runs it on his own and he has had a few customers from this site since I started plugging him. Great guy, great service, really appreciates the business and no I am not on commission. As an aside he took his racing Hillman Imp to France recently and won his class!

Email sent to Hollland asking him for clarification !

[NOBLE]

My tyre dealer (very very good one here in the North East) could not actually get anything other then 91Y for the rears. He said that the fact that the tyre wall was stiffer still made no difference to getting the tyre off the wheel (btw thats what he gets paid for you know) he also noted that I would not be able to notice the difference (tread patterns are identical) in handle or grip between the two. But see what Bridgestone say.

[ukgulf]

My tyre dealer (very very good one here in the North East) could not actually get anything other then 91Y for the rears. He said that the fact that the tyre wall was stiffer still made no difference to getting the tyre off the wheel (btw thats what he gets paid for you know) he also noted that I would not be able to notice the difference (tread patterns are identical) in handle or grip between the two.

But see what Bridgestone say.

Bridgestones Reply

I can confirm that the DOT codes are important in this case. In the rear size, several different specs of tyre are made for OE fitment to other vehicles.

In particular, in the rear size, we make a fitment with the same load and speed rating for the Lotus Elise. While both cars are similar, both have different handling characteristics. Fitting the incorrect tyres could affect the handling characteristics of your car.

In this case, using the DOT code to distinguish which is the correct tyre for your car is probably the easiest way of ensuring you have the correct tyre for your car.

[doberman]

Just wondered if people have tried other tyres?

I have a decent set of Bridgestones all round currently but on my other cars I have found Goodyear Eagle F1's to be very good, anyone tried these on a VX220T?

I have fitted F1's to the rear and they handle really well. they look a lot better than the Bridgestones too.
I diidn't realise you can't get them for the fronts, but who cares, the car still handles like a dream.

Doberman

[i need nos]

time and time again u read about this but as in many old posts i have tried goodyear eagle f1 and michellin pilot sport and michelin pilot continental and more, the three tyres i have listed have stiffer tyre wall than other budget tyres and have great tread patterns, i can honestly say esp with the goodyear f1 and the michellin pilot sports that u will not even feel the diffrence in handling in normal fast road conditions, and with the michellins i found them to be better grip than the bridgstones round corners, the thing is with the vx and the elise, they find a set of tyrs to suit the cars ability and recommend them as the only tyre to use? this is infact a load of toss in some cases.. its only cos the standard tyre width on the vx is 175/**/17 that bridgestone make these, i bet u if those tyre sizes were available in goodyear eagle f1s and michelin pilot sports and anyone other than myself had the bottle to try them the results would shock u all, in a good way!

[jazzyjeff]

I have fitted F1's to the rear and they handle really well. they look a lot better than the Bridgestones too.

Er...they're a thin strip of rubber around a wheel...how exactly do they look any better??

JJ

Edited by jazzyjeff, 04 September 2006 - 10:29 AM.

[i need nos]

I have fitted F1's to the rear and they handle really well. they look a lot better than the Bridgestones too.

Er...they're a thin strip of rubber around a wheel...how exactly do they look any better??

JJ

he is refering to the tread pattern, and yeah they look like a better tyre cos thats what they are, have a better feel in the wet to, due to the aqua pattern ..