Tyres for my LR Focus

[FOCUSonTHIS]

Just want to get your opinions of what tyre i should put on my Focus. I have narrowed it down to 3.

Goodyear Eagle F1
Bridgestone GIII
Continental ContisportContact 2

[kenny21]

Ide say bridgstones cause ive tried others and bridge's have always been the best handling tyre and least noise and a lot less roll in the tyre. They seem to handle pretty damn awsome in the dry, stick well compared to others and in the wet i think they heads over some of the other manufacturers

[Martyvan]

Im going to be putting Bridgestone's on mine...... I think they look good, should be awesome in teh wet, only thing i am unsure of, is how soft the rubber compound is, and how long they will last.

They may last 30,000km, or they could last 50,000km...

Would be interesting if when advertising their tyres they quoted a softness level of a particular tyre... maybe on a scale of 1-10... 1 being Sand slugger's and 10 being their most expensive 30 profile high performance rubber.... nah... too difficult.

[Mick K.]

If you go for Goodyear F1-GSD3s, make sure they are "Made in Germany"... the "Made in Thailand" variety are nowhere near as good apparently.

Here is some info from a Tire Rack survey...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...ay.jsp?type=MP

The winning tyre (Dunlop SP Sport Maxx) isn't available here in 205/50R16.

All of the tyres in your list are good and will undoubtedly handle better than the OEM Goodyear NCT5s, but won't last as long.

Can you post some pricing comparisons - that would help others here (including me!) who are soon looking for new tyres.

MK

[zetec]

If money is no option, I'd take the Continentals ANYDAY (standard on ST170 and XR5 Turbo), they are an outstanding tyre in both wet and dry, wear well and are quiet on the highway.

But for similarly good performance, both wet and dry, but a LOT less expensive, I'd go the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, the tyre standard on the LR Focus 17" wheel option. Bang for your bucks, you can't beat the Goodyears, they have consistently impressed everyone I know who has them or who has bought them. They will be my next tyre without a doubt.

I might add - Adam has 17" wheels. The performance of tyres across different wheel sizes is actually proven to be very similar so a good tyre on a 17" size will still be just as good on a 16" (if available in that size).

For a good set of 16" tyres, I'd recommend Michelin Pilot Preceda (my current tyres) which are brilliant in every way apart from wet handling which seems to be acceptable but not outstanding. Beyond that, I believe the Eagle F1's are available in 16 inch size (hopefully).

[Mick K.]

Here is a link to the December 2005 Car & Driver tyre review.

It is 4.5Mb

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...y_f1_gs_ds.pdf

[amlohac]

I have the eagle f1's on my focus, and they are by far the best i have used. Handling in the wet is just insane. They are a bit on the pricey side, but very very worth the extra few dollars. They also got first in wheels mag tyre test last year.

[FOCUSonTHIS]

Originally Posted by Mick K.

Here is a link to the December 2005 Car & Driver tyre review.

It is 4.5Mb

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...y_f1_gs_ds.pdf

I got cable so I will download it

[FOCUSonTHIS]

The ContiSportContact2 is out of the question at $300+ for a tyre.

I can get the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 for $229 fitted and balanced

Bridgestone GIII at $248 tyre.

Also reading up on reviews I might get the F1's but let me know your opinions and tell me your experiances about the tyres

[Fast Eddie]

Martyvan, Check on the sidewall and find the Tread Wear Indicator (3 digit number). The lower the number the softer the tyre.

Zetec, your Michelin Pilot Preceda's are pretty good on the dirt too!!

If you can afford it GO F1

[FOCUSonTHIS]

F1's are the cheapest so far

[Martyvan]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

Martyvan, Check on the sidewall and find the Tread Wear Indicator (3 digit number). The lower the number the softer the tyre.

Thanks, I have always wondered if there was a secret code amongst the jumble of letters and numbers

[zetec]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

Martyvan, Check on the sidewall and find the Tread Wear Indicator (3 digit number). The lower the number the softer the tyre.

Zetec, your Michelin Pilot Preceda's are pretty good on the dirt too!!

That's true Eddie! Although I'd put that down more to the stability control and driver talent than tyres... in that order :king:

[Scareybear]

Have you looked at Yokohama's new range?, Awesome tyres.

[simonr]

Scarey bear can u give us some prices on those tyres?? (COST AND RETAIL :P) and the equilvilent yokohamas..

[FOCUSonTHIS]

nah i haven't scareybear....can you suggest a tyre at all and i can get some prices?

[warbo]

I have F1's on my foci, I have the 16" wheels on mine and they are awesome, hangs on very well and alot quieter than the previous original tyres that were on there

[photn]

I hate it when people vote and then dont post.. just gives me the shiza cause then the thread acts if there is a post in there but there isnt... then you go to all that trouble to click on it and scroll down how many times a day that it gets done and nothing.. just NOTHING!..

cant tell im haveing a good day at work can you?!

[mitch_lx]

GTI Volkswagens come with either Continental CSC2 or Dunlop SP sport MAXX.

Everyone complains that the sidewalls on the contis are too soft, they dont retain their integrity through corners causing understeer. Ontop of that, since their sidewall is soo soft owners are reporting sidewall deformations on a very regular basis. Which becomes quite expensive when you find yourself replacing individual tyres.

Mine came with Dunlop SP sport MAXX, which are much stiffer. The car felt immediately better than the one which i test drove which had contis.

The dunlops made the car ride a little bit more on the rough side but handling was excellent. They wear quite well too, but are a little on the noisy side.



Adrenalin Potenza RE001 will probably be on the short list when it comes time to replacing the dunlops, i will also keep michelin Pilots on the cards too.

[Piotr]

I would go with the Bridgestones. Im on my 2nd set of GIII's (1st one on the 15's and now on 16's) and they are great. Lots of grip wet or dry, little tyre noise and good life.

The GIII"s are now bring replaced with the RE001 so id give those a go.

[FOCUSonTHIS]

Guys check the date of the post. Already bought the Goodyear F1's. I was asking last year

[Ives]

Originally Posted by mitch_lx

GTI Volkswagens come with either Continental CSC2 or Dunlop SP sport MAXX.

I'm pretty sure Golf GTIs come with ContiSportContact 2.

Good choice with the Eagle F1 GS-D3. You cant loose with any top of the line tyres from the big companies.

[mitch_lx]

^^^ depending when it was built they swapped to dunlops for a while there

[Mick K.]

I'm looking at http://www.cheaptyres4u.com.au that has 205/50/16 Goodyear Eagle F1s for $165 each fitted and balanced - that sounds like a good deal to me.

MK

[Piotr]

Originally Posted by FOCUSonTHIS

Guys check the date of the post. Already bought the Goodyear F1's. I was asking last year

DOH

Good thread mining sean

[Martyvan]

Im putting Grid III's on mine... but i get them pretty cheap, my old man works with Bridgestone

Have heard they had pretty good all around characteristics...

[FOCUSonTHIS]

Originally Posted by Piotr

DOH

Good thread mining sean

Piotr he is a bit of a gold digger too lol....sorry Sean

[Martyvan]

Originally Posted by Martyvan

Im putting Grid III's on mine... but i get them pretty cheap, my old man works with Bridgestone

Have heard they had pretty good all around characteristics...

Im not Putting Grid III's on mine anymore...

They dont make them in 205/50/16 any more.... They only make the RE001's in that size now (Bridgestone) But i can still secure them at a 'pretty good price' So i guess i will have directional (Side and rotation) tyres on soon... should be good to do a bit of a handling test... given im still moving up from the OE tyres on my Nov 02 Build Zetec... These should be going on in the next week or so.... before the rain comes in Qld (Heres hoping anyway!)

[photn]

I DID not DIG this up. some one Voted in this thread and brought it up to top. then more people kept voting and it sh!tted me