Supercar Tyre Newb

[AJA_GTi 0]

Hi Folks - a long shot and deffo the wrong forum for this but my boss has asked me to source a set of good UK tyres for his R8.

 

It has Pirelli zeros on it now and they are mega lairy in the wet and on road markings and he doesnt want to crash - obviously.

 

He wants a set that are decent in the wet but not a 'winter' tyre that will fall to bits on dry roads.

 

I have searched a few Audi forums and a few models are cropping up by Pirelli/ dunlop and continental but all seem to be full on winter spec.

 

Any help appreciated (I know it's a long shot)

 

Need to nail it as he is lending me his Evo 8 soon for a week to detail/ run.

 

PS Just waiting on the exact sizes as Audi couldnt tell me despite them selling him the car

Edited December 10, 2010 by AJA_GTi

[205007 12]

R8 runs on 235/35/19 pirelli p-zero front

and 295/30/19 rear

 

Same size as Gallardo but they do need the 100y rated tyre as on gallardo

 

If you are buying a full set then you are extremley limited to the brand you can use, the front tyres are a very common size but rears are not so

Dulnop for example do not make rear tyres big enough for R8/Lambo

 

Kumho have started making a really soft compound tyre in these sizes but in my opinion if he thinks contis are lairy on an R8 then there must be something really wrong with the car

 

We ran a selection of tyres on ours and by far and away the best are contis (conti sport) in the wet followed by the Kumho

 

You can by R888s and michelin pilot sport cups but be prepared for a serious wallet bashing

 

Bear in mind any tyre you put on aside from Pirelli will invalidate the drivetrain warranty on the car if it goes into the dealer with them on

Edited December 10, 2010 by 205007

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

Bear in mind any tyre you put on aside from Pirelli will invalidate the drivetrain warranty on the car if it goes into the dealer with them on

 

This sounds the best reason ever to choose the Pirellis given what a warranty claim on something like an R8 could potentially cost!

[205007 12]

To be fair in manual form they are pretty robust, unlike Gallardo which are made of chocolate and lego

 

but yes i would not want to pay for anything to be done on the box/diff without it being under warranty

 

i think the boxes are 8k iirc

Edited December 10, 2010 by 205007

[AJA_GTi 0]

R8 runs on 235/35/19 pirelli p-zero front

and 295/30/19 rear

 

Same size as Gallardo but they do need the 100y rated tyre as on gallardo

 

If you are buying a full set then you are extremley limited to the brand you can use, the front tyres are a very common size but rears are not so

Dulnop for example do not make rear tyres big enough for R8/Lambo

 

Kumho have started making a really soft compound tyre in these sizes but in my opinion if he thinks contis are lairy on an R8 then there must be something really wrong with the car

 

We ran a selection of tyres on ours and by far and away the best are contis (conti sport) in the wet followed by the Kumho

 

You can by R888s and michelin pilot sport cups but be prepared for a serious wallet bashing

 

Bear in mind any tyre you put on aside from Pirelli will invalidate the drivetrain warranty on the car if it goes into the dealer with them on

 

Thanks for this - I must apologise, the car has Pzeros on it (modified my post)

 

I have been searching an r8 forum and Michelin PS2's are coming up.

 

The drivetrain warranty issue in deffo a big issue though...

[205007 12]

Ps2 in the wet? be brave

 

TBH though you are just wasting money unless the car is going on track, R8 is the most compliant/tractable car you can buy aside from a GTR for 'spitited road use' you would have to be driving like a bit of an idiot to crash one

 

if it was a 360 then i could see where your coming from!

[AJA_GTi 0]

Ps2 in the wet? be brave

 

TBH though you are just wasting money unless the car is going on track, R8 is the most compliant/tractable car you can buy aside from a GTR for 'spitited road use' you would have to be driving like a bit of an idiot to crash one

 

if it was a 360 then i could see where your coming from!

 

 

So basically were talking a fresh set of PZero then?

 

Or conti sports if he's not fussed about drive train warranty? The car is '08' so may not be applicable anyway soon...

 

ta

 

PS - off topic slightly but has anyone seen this http://forums.xpowerforums.com/showthread.php?t=52163 (both occupants survived but 20 year old driver sustained massive injuries and lost both legs)

Edited December 10, 2010 by AJA_GTi

[boombang 2]

Is it possible that his driving style is the problem rather than tyres?

 

Physics dictate lots of power + 1.5t + wet = hard to drive

[AJA_GTi 0]

Is it possible that his driving style is the problem rather than tyres?

 

Physics dictate lots of power + 1.5t + wet = hard to drive

 

 

He has a history of driving like a nutter. I remember he had one of the first tt's and he ended up wedged between 2 artics when lanes merged destroying both sides of the car

 

Story goes he had to get out of the car through the sunroof

Edited December 10, 2010 by AJA_GTi

[205007 12]

Sounds ominous - but seriously the R8 has got to be the one of the easiest "super cars" to drive around and the brakes are simply outstanding

 

If you dont care about drivetrain (or resale value as it will be logged on audi uk system that the car is ineligable for extension of the manufacturer warranty )then the contis will be cheaper (and better) than the p-zeros in every way

 

try southam tyres they keep most supercar stuff on the shelf for next day delivery and love a good barter!

[AJA_GTi 0]

Sounds ominous - but seriously the R8 has got to be the one of the easiest "super cars" to drive around and the brakes are simply outstanding

 

If you dont care about drivetrain (or resale value as it will be logged on audi uk system that the car is ineligable for extension of the manufacturer warranty )then the contis will be cheaper (and better) than the p-zeros in every way

 

try southam tyres they keep most supercar stuff on the shelf for next day delivery and love a good barter!

 

 

Spot on advice - thanks mate.

 

Found some conti sport 2's at camskill for reasonable money but i'll try your guys. I'll fire off an email now.

 

Andy

[CaptainK 11]

Just a quick (naughty) question - why not have the better Conti tyres fitted for normal driving, but have the original Pzeros on a second set of rims ? Then whenever you need to go to the dealer for work then you simply put the Pzeros back on beforehand and they'll never be the wiser.

[shalmaneser 26]

Cost of a set of R8 rims won't be cheap I imagine!

[CaptainK 11]

Cost of a set of R8 rims won't be cheap I imagine!

True, but if he can afford an R8 and wants the best tyres, then its a small price to pay I'd imagine - and far cheaper than the drivetrain should he need to claim on warranty for it (and the bit about resale values if its been struck off the extended warranty list).

[AJA_GTi 0]

Sent all details off to him and had a chat. He's gonna have a word with his extended warranty company about change then make a desision.

 

Also sent my drivers licence/ insurance off for the EVO 8!!!!

 

I will be tonning it up a b road near you soon!!

 

[Bogsye 22]

Not quite the same, but my Boxster had P-Zeros on it.

When cold they felt terrible on damp roundabouts (fair enough), but when they were getting near their wear limit they were pretty poor.

When warm ,and with a decent tread depth I thought they were pretty decent.

 

Brian

[JonnyGee 0]

we run an R8 as i work for a driving experience company, which tyres are u using? as in pirelli p-zero rosso or nero?? if u can still get them as i think pirelli stopped making the rosso now but they were much better in the wet,

also just so your boss is aware to be careful with potholes as the wheels crack very easily and audi wont replace them

[JonnyGee 0]

Not quite the same, but my Boxster had P-Zeros on it.

When cold they felt terrible on damp roundabouts (fair enough), but when they were getting near their wear limit they were pretty poor.

When warm ,and with a decent tread depth I thought they were pretty decent.

 

Brian

very true to,ours gets very twitchy when they start getting lower tread even though they are still legal.

[AJA_GTi 0]

we run an R8 as i work for a driving experience company, which tyres are u using? as in pirelli p-zero rosso or nero??

 

Ooh not sure mate - I'll find out Monday hopefully

[Tesstuff 222]

Also sent my drivers licence/ insurance off for the EVO 8!!!!

 

I will be understeering into a ditch near you soon!!

 

 

Highly likely mate

[feb 47]

Why is the warranty invalid if you change the tyres?!

My guess is that Audi has a business deal with Pirelli!

I have heard that the Contis harden a lot on their 2nd year of use and become unpredictable.

What about Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas? They are great in the wet.

Edited December 12, 2010 by feb