Tyres

19-04-2003

Need a new pair of standard 185x65 R15s for my 1.6 156. Any recommedations? Thanks

Fraser · 19-04-2003

No advice I'm afraid - just a welcome to the forum.
Somehow I think others will provide plenty of advice http://www.alfaowner.com/forum/ubb/icons/icon25.gif
It's good (and useful) in here. Hope you like it.

Chris Nason · 19-04-2003

205/60s give the same rolling radius (or within 3%)
Chris

19-04-2003

Ta. Friend in work suggested I drop in. He's truely an Alfa nut.

Not sure that threads on buying a 3.0 GTV are really what I should be reading right now though, might be an expensive evening...

spining · 20-04-2003

hmmm
that tyres are a little bit too little, I think...

I mounted to my bella 215/45/17 on the front wheels and 235/40/17 in the rear... that's the way to go...

20-04-2003

try eagly f1,s bit pricy but good rubber

VeloceMitch · 20-04-2003

I have eagle F1's on my new 156, they seem to grip better than the P6000's on my last 156 but I think they are a bit noisier.
Not as bad as the Michelin XGT I had before the Pirrelis tho. They made so much noise, when part worn that I had a wheel bearing changed by mistake!.

20-04-2003

Thanks guys. Checked the Goodyear website, they don't seem to do Eagle F1s in 185x65 R15. Thanks to cable/gas/water/BT the roads around here are so lousey I don't much like the idea of 17" 40s even if I did have the cash (and we still don't have broadband!!!)

My buddy swears by Michelin but he drives a big fat A6 and they don't seem to do Pilots in this size either. Anyone out there had good experience with rubber on the standard 15" rims?

spining · 21-04-2003

yeah...
my whife have an opel corsa irmscher tuning, with 15" wheels...

good stability, because of the wheels but also from the sport suspension...

but an 16 or 17" is better...

I know is a little bit harder than an 15", but the way the car is going with that...

mac0 · 22-04-2003

Hi, there are two sizes of 15" rim 6" and 6.5" wide. You can fit 205/60's to the 6.5" rims which give huge amounts of grip over the 185's. Understeer has almost disappeared since using Avon ZV1 205's. Previously tried Michelin/Continental/Pirelli 185's all had very poor grip in the wet with the heavy JTD nose.
ps as a bonus 205's are typically £20-30 cheaper than 185's!

25-04-2003

Sounds like a better option. From the manual it looks as though 6.5J rims were only fitted to the 2.0. Short of removing a tyre how do I tell which size of rim I have?

As a fallback, doesn't anyone on the forum run with standard rims and tyres?

BTW anyone been down to Goodwood for the revival meeting? Thought I might make it across the puddle for this year's do and I could use a few pointers.

Kristian Benning · 25-04-2003

There was a test in Auto Express in Sep 2002 for this size tyre.
Best first:

Vredestein Sportrac
Continental PremiumContact
Kumho Ecsta KH11
Hankook Optimo K406
Michelin Pilot Primacy XSE
Goodyear Eagle NCT5
Pirelli P6000 Powergy
Bridgestone Turanza ER30

bazza · 25-04-2003

I had the Vredesteins put on the front of my car after my tyre place showed me this test. I've been very impressed with the grip, in the wet and dry.
I was worried that this extra grip would mean the tyres would wear quickly, but I've been pleasantly surprised. I've had them on for more than 6 months now, and I haven't measured, but they've still got tons of tread. Apparently they come with 9mm of tread, where all other tyres come with only 8mm, so that must help. 1mm extra doesn't sound like a lot, but it's 12% extra tread.

25-04-2003

My research shows that for 205/40 17's that Bridgestone Potenza S-02's are the best alrounder except for noise followed by Michelin Pilot Sports, but don't know if either are available in the size you want.

RicksAlfas · 25-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Nemesis:
My research shows that for 205/40 17's that Bridgestone Potenza S-02's <hr /></blockquote>My research which involved driving a 145QV like a loon, found these tyres were fit only for slinging on a rope against the side of a fishing boat. They cried enough at 6,000 miles on the front, didn't grip in the dry and were only OK in the wet. Cost a bleeding fortune too. By comparison, I always get 12,000 or so out of Michelin Pilots (195/55/15s) which hang on in all conditions. I have used Pilot SX-GTs since my first QV in 1996, and now use Pilot Exaltos on my current one.

As an aside, I have P-Zero Neros on my 156, in 215/45/17 and I won't be rusing to have them again....

spining · 27-04-2003

yeah, me either, I don't like at all the pirelli...
my previous tyres on my bella (stock) where the pirelli p7000...

hmmm
better the eagle f1

Ben.D · 27-04-2003

The P7000s look good though.

spining · 28-04-2003

yeah, u're right, the look is great...

unfortunatelly the grip pf the pirelli on the romanian roads is not the best thing u can get...

28-04-2003

Changed pirelli p7000 for eagle F1s, I find them a tad less noisy, cant decide on the roadholding till the weather turns. One bonus though is the rim bead that protects the alloys in case of minor misdemeanour.

Stori · 29-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by RicksAlfas:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Nemesis:
My research shows that for 205/40 17's that Bridgestone Potenza S-02's <hr /></blockquote>My research which involved driving a 145QV like a loon, found these tyres were fit only for slinging on a rope against the side of a fishing boat. They cried enough at 6,000 miles on the front, didn't grip in the dry and were only OK in the wet. Cost a bleeding fortune too. By comparison, I always get 12,000 or so out of Michelin Pilots (195/55/15s) which hang on in all conditions. I have used Pilot SX-GTs since my first QV in 1996, and now use Pilot Exaltos on my current one.

As an aside, I have P-Zero Neros on my 156, in 215/45/17 and I won't be rusing to have them again....<hr /></blockquote>What are your complaints re: the PZero Nero's and what are you going to replace them with and why.

RicksAlfas · 29-04-2003

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