Brera 3.2 pro-drive new tyres, budget or not

[myscimitar]

I need to get 2 new front tyres and this works out at about £250-£300 for the 'Named' brands, but budget come in at about £100, so my question is: Are these ok to put on my Brera, and how will that effect the drive?

[Tibbz2000]

Are the budgets the infamous Accelara?

[wynne71]

Driving my lowly 1.9 derv 159 I am happy to put the cheaper and mid range tyres on the car. Currently running on 4x Nankang AS1s and all is good.
Would I put the same tyres on a 3.2 Brera S? Probably not. If I could afford to run the 3.2 I would be looking for tyres that match the performance of the larger engine.
But then I would also shop around and get some feedback from other 3.2 drivers and their experiences with differing makes and models of tyres, not just jumping in with the mega buck tyres.

There are a growing number of options on the 19" wheels now.

[wynne71]

Are the tyres 235 or 245 profile? I never can remember.

The 245 profile offers far more choice:

Tyres 245 40 19

The 235 profile really restricts the choice:

Tyres 235 40 19

[jan_147]

it is the second one.. So we are very limited. I was thinking on buying a pair of ContiSport 3, and a pair of the infamous acceleras. Is it a bad idea?

[Squadrone Rosso]

As Martin44 on here for a real opinion based on direct comparison

[David C]

Originally Posted by jan_147

I was thinking on buying a pair of ContiSport 3, and a pair of the infamous acceleras. Is it a bad idea?

VERY bad idea.

Not wanting to start yet another thread on "that" brand, but whatever you go for, you want all four the same.

[jan_147]

Sorry for hijacking the thread, BUT, do you guys have any 'cheap' online stores for tyres, that ship to Eu (Slovenia)

I have found this one: Car Tyres - MPV Tyres - People Carrier Tyres - 19" R19" - 235/40/19, 235/40 R 19

Any other good sites? Thanks

[Arpa]

After having various Pirellis and now the infamous budget brand on my Brera Q4 (about 5k so far), I wouldn't put anything other than the best I could afford if I had a front wheel drive Brera S.

That said, I've been relatively happy with the performance of the 'A's and while leaving the asc/vdc on, haven't had what I would consider a scary moment (apart from an OAP deciding she wanted my side of the road too!) in both 'spirted' wet and dry driving. I haven't driven a front wheel drive Brera though so not sure how much effect the Q4 has (suspect quite a bit).

I'm doing at least 20k a year though so the budgets will only be on through the better summer months with fresh winter rubber for when the temperature drops.

If you're putting many miles on them, the price trade off of the cheaper tyres will mean you can replace them more often for the same money which is probably more effective then running knackerd premiums. If you're doing less miles or just enjoy the occasional country hoon, better to have the better rubber even if it is for that extra bit of confidence when you turn in.

[Martin44]

Acceleras on a 3.2s are boardering on dangerous in the wet and acceptable if not remarkable in the dry

The continentals are better and the pirellis are best

This is all based on correct rated tyres of each of these brands on the same car and i'm talking driving on a track, just everyday driving of a Brera S

I get 20k out of a front set on the s...however a lot of my driving is motorway

Hope this helps

[Martin44]

Sorry - NOT drving on a track

[Old Engineer]

On another tack... When I look to buy a second hand car the first thing I do is look at the tyres. If it doesn't have premium tyres there's a fair chance that the owner doesn't care about looking after the car. Will it have used cheap oil etc. Time to walk away.

[swq4]

For something like that don't stick cheapos on - its not that sort of vehicle: http://www.tyremen.co.uk/tyrefinder.aspx £220 per wheel

[myscimitar]

Hi, they are the 235's

[myscimitar]

Thanks all, money a bit tight at moment, so I thought I would ask, They have pirelli on at the moment, but for a car that done just 11.000 miles, bit shocked already near limit, on front. The other option, till I get dosh is part worn, I found a company on ebay near me, that has 5mm Pirelli's at £100, might consider that.

[David C]

Have you never considered rotating tyres front-rear to equalize wear?

[Arpa]

I'd personally prefer a set of cheaper new budget tyres with lots of tread to a set of premium part worns.

I found my Pirellis when well worn were far more 'lively' in the wet than my current budgets. I'm evidentially no tyre expert but would propose that if hitting standard water at speed, tread depth is going to be the most important variable.

Just for reference, I had 4 'A's (wont name them in case the swear filter kicks in) fitted for 360gbp. I found Cheap Tyres Discount Tyres Buy Tyres Online & Japanese Import Car Parts Spares Tuning Performance Servicing Accessories to be the cheapest (no affiliation).

[alfaholic1001]

The Q4 was built from the Zero Neros upwards - I wouldn't risk any other make/type personally- perhaps get your alignment set up looked at if your going through them quickly as mine has special AD alignment and the car not only handles better the tyres wear better also.

just my 0.02$ but i drive it like i just stole it most of the time- despite all suspension/brakes/handling changes the only thing that keeps you between the hedges is in fact a very small footprint of rubber on each corner- dont skimp.

[Alfa.Romeo]

Originally Posted by alfaholic1001

The Q4 was built from the Zero Neros upwards

The OP has a Brera S, so its not Q4. P Zeros are very good though, and if money permits thats what would be my choice

Is strange, so many tyres, so many opinions and variables.....

we had an MX5 (widely acknowledged to be a fine handling car) a year or so back with pirellis on...... bl**dy awful things. Not much grip in the dry, and even less in the wet. My wife (who I 'call miss daisy' for her driving style) managed to spin it on roundabouts on three seperate occasions while on pirelli's.....

wouldn't go near them personally..... or bridgestones, I had them on my civic, thought a wheel bearing was going until I changed the tyres... in fact the the only 'premium' brands I have been impressed with are continental. Mid range I would pick any from dunlop, uniroyal, vredestein ultra sessanta or falken.... only my opinion of course.

[DuncsGTi]

Personally, tires are one of the things I would never skimp on, they are the only part of your car in contact with the road. The cheapest I would go is something like the FALKEN FK 452 at about £150 a corner on camskill with very good reviews.

[wynne71]

I bet the Pirellis on the MX5, bet any money they were P6000s. Truly shocking tyres!

Originally Posted by wynne71

I bet the Pirellis on the MX5, bet any money they were P6000s. Truly shocking tyres!

and the winners is....................

[AlfaBrera1]

P zeros are great on my S. I found my first front set became pretty skittish when worn close to the limit, but otherwise bags of grip in wet and dry conditions. They lasted about 14k on the front with no uneven wear issues. I dont think thats bad for a 260hp front drive car, and no worse than my previous 147 TS. The rears are still fine at 17k. Thats with fairly spirited driving. Personally, I would not put budget tyres on the S.