84 replies to this topic

[Matt]

you can buy these tyres cheaper at camskill 01946 518202 speak to scott

rears 225 45 R17 £69.50 inc postage and VAT

liam

Not any more!!

[snoopstah]

I have GSD3s on mine (using rear alloys on the front, rather than standard front alloys) for 30,000+ miles and I find they're a fantatsic tyre - similar to the RE040s in the dry but they have hugely better characteristics in the wet - breakaway occurs at about the same point but the dynamic friction (the amount of grip they have once they've let go) is vastly greater than the RE040s. In laymans terms, it means that if you do put down a bit too much power, the back end doesn't step out anywhere near as suddenly as with the RE040s. I also find they give much more feel regarding where the limit of adhesion is in the wet. And aquaplaning is vastly improved - you can drive through standing water with very little fear of it not cutting through. Downsides are the sidewall seems a little softer, and then tend to tramline a bit more on motorways (but that might be just because the fronts are wider). I also struggle to get more than 8000 miles out of the rears, but then that's about what I got out of the 040s. I'd rate them as 5% better than the RE040s in the dry and 75% better than the RE040s in the wet, for road use - I don't track the car, so can't say how they'll cope heat/pressure wise with prolonged heavy use. I really think that if this tyre was fitted as standard we'd see significantly fewer winter accidents. *waits for the RE040 fan boys to arrive* Edit: Oh, and I have the standard GSD3s on the rear, not the extra load ones.

Edited by snoopstah, 28 May 2008 - 07:41 PM.

[mdm20]

I am looking forward to your findings as I can get my current 255/40/17 GSD3's pair fitted, balanced, valved and old tires disposed for £150, so should be able to get these real cheep.

[Tolksee]

So come on then, tell us how the 195s on the fronts are working out.....

[S20 VX]

So come on then, tell us how the 195s on the fronts are working out.....

Same here, would also like to know if the steering has become any heavier to turn at low speed due to extra grip. What do 195's look like on the front, do they hang over a lot?

[NOBLE]

Lynx, Im about to order to bridgestones at £440 a set. Tell me if im doing the wrong thing and that your experiment with the F1s was a winner. - Noble

[thelynxeffect]

Lynx,

Im about to order to bridgestones at £440 a set. Tell me if im doing the wrong thing and that your experiment with the F1s was a winner.

- Noble

Sorry, only just say your post..

I've only done about 400 miles on them so far due to the hub carrier bolt failure the other week but I still think they are a mighty fine tyre, turn in feels the same, the front and rear is planted (even with my VERY rough geo after replacing track arms and camber shims) The fronts look good, no 'overhang' they look like they are the correct size, just wider, does that make sense?? the tread pattern still makes me look twice as I walk past. Overall, I'm very happy, I would have liked to be able to report back with about 1500 miles by now but I'm sure that when I do my feelings won't have changed.

Edited to say: the fronts deffo grip more!, without a doubt, no question. not sure if it's a compound thing or the width but they grab the road good and proper!

They are so cheap, camskills were very good if you have a mate who can fit them on the cheap.

I would say, try 'em

whats the worst that could happen, it's not like you'll end up pregnant.

Edited by thelynxeffect, 29 May 2008 - 09:00 PM.

[convict]

Really question, but what's the insurance implication of fitting 'mis-fitting' tyre sizes?

[jules_s]

Lynx,

Im about to order to bridgestones at £440 a set. Tell me if im doing the wrong thing and that your experiment with the F1s was a winner.

- Noble

I've seen you post this £440 a few times now....

Are you mad?

Sub £400 is always the mark for Bridgestones...

>clicky<

£440 is madness

[walkes]

do these not rub the wheel arches on full lock ?

[EdButler]

Really question, but what's the insurance implication of fitting 'mis-fitting' tyre sizes?

Its wear and tear so it shouldnt be an implication... Lets face it, most people are running on budgets and even remoulds - now thats dangerous with this countrys weather

[Jameshs]

pictures of fitted tyres

[NOBLE]

Lynx,

Im about to order to bridgestones at £440 a set. Tell me if im doing the wrong thing and that your experiment with the F1s was a winner.

- Noble

I've seen you post this £440 a few times now....

Are you mad?

Sub £400 is always the mark for Bridgestones...

>clicky<

£440 is madness

Not in the north east mate. normal prices are coming out at £524!
Eagles grip better and are cheaper therefore makes sense really.

Edited by NOBLE, 30 May 2008 - 08:49 AM.

[mcarrick69]

Not in the north east mate. normal prices are coming out at £524!

I remember paying less than £100 a bridgestone from foxhunters at whitley bay a while back... May be worth a quote.


£308 from camskill for 4 goodyears with free delivery by the looks of it.

Edited by mcarrick69, 30 May 2008 - 08:50 AM.

[NOBLE]

Got mates at both Tyne Tyres and Foxys. Both lads are coming back with sh*t prices this time round. GSD3 £320 all sorted at foxhunters. Will run with that.

[Whippet]

I'm probably missing something but can't quite grasp this - how come you can fit wider tyres on the front - how do they physically fit on?

Edited by Whippet, 30 May 2008 - 09:15 AM.

[snoopstah]

I'm probably missing something but can't quite grasp this - how come you can fit wider tyres on the front - how do they physically fit on?

An wheel can typically accept a wide range of tyre widths - the sidewall simply flexes slightly in or out, depending on the width of the tyre compared to the width of the rim. If you go too far, there is the risk that the tyre can pop off the wheel at high loads, but tyre manufacturers typically specify the range of wheel widths that are acceptable/safe for a given tyre - it can be quite surprising how wide the range can be.

[jazzyjeff]

Really question, but what's the insurance implication of fitting 'mis-fitting' tyre sizes?

Its wear and tear so it shouldnt be an implication... Lets face it, most people are running on budgets and even remoulds - now thats dangerous with this countrys weather

Thats a bit of a broad generalisation to make!

What has the wear and tear aspect got to do with it? What Convict was asking was is there any scope for insurers to imply that the wrong size tyre (or even, for that matter, wrong size wheel!) as per manufacturer specification might have compromised safety in the event of an accident, and refuse to pay out? Or should have been declared as a mod? If so then the onus is then on you the insured to argue otherwise...

JJ

[mandarinvx]

I'm probably missing something but can't quite grasp this - how come you can fit wider tyres on the front - how do they physically fit on?

An wheel can typically accept a wide range of tyre widths - the sidewall simply flexes slightly in or out, depending on the width of the tyre compared to the width of the rim. If you go too far, there is the risk that the tyre can pop off the wheel at high loads, but tyre manufacturers typically specify the range of wheel widths that are acceptable/safe for a given tyre - it can be quite surprising how wide the range can be.

Another linky to this table - showing min/max tyre widths

[timmyp]

What has the wear and tear aspect got to do with it? What Convict was asking was is there any scope for insurers to imply that the wrong size tyre (or even, for that matter, wrong size wheel!) as per manufacturer specification might have compromised safety in the event of an accident, and refuse to pay out? Or should have been declared as a mod? If so then the onus is then on you the insured to argue otherwise...

Changing tyres shouldn't count as a mod, and as long as the tyre width vs wheel width is within tyre manufacturers recommendations, and the tyre is road legal the insurance company won't be able to argue that, and if they did manage to, then by the same precedent you'd be able to get a payout from the tyre manufacturer for dangerous recommendations for far more than the value of a VX!

If you've changed the wheels you will have to inform the insurer, but probably because the new ones are more likely to get nicked than any safety issue.

Edited by timmyp, 30 May 2008 - 12:09 PM.