Pirelli PZero Rosso maybe not as good as I thought
08-15-2003, 09:43 AM
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Pirelli PZero Rosso maybe not as good as I thought
As we had a track day at Zwartkops Race Way, with the Audi Club, I was able to try out my S6's 3900 km (2240 miles) old Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres for the first time on a race track.
The PZero's may be 99% as good as the Bridgestone S-03's on public roads with dry tarmac, but when pushed hard, as it happens on a race track, which is much faster/harder than on public roads, it's a different story. The PZero's slide and screech a lot more and at lower speeds. The sliding was very progressive and in fact a hell of a lot of fun
, as it was pretty neutral and well balanced. The S-03's on the other hand grip better and are quieter, but when they start sliding (later than the PZero), it is much more biased towards understeering.
I estimate from the lap times, that the Pirelli's, at Zwartkops (1.6 miles), are +/- 2 seconds slower than the Bridgestones, however I was not pushing as hard as the last time I was at that race track and the wear of the PZero's was actually minimal. Nonetheless, although I am not unhappy with the Pirelli's, I am a bit disappointed. After having been on the track, I have to concur with Tirerack.com's evaluation of the Pirelli's and the Bridgestone handling capacity on dry tarmac and their race track.
If only Bridgestone could make their S-03 tyres just a bit more comfortable...
The PZero's may be 99% as good as the Bridgestone S-03's on public roads with dry tarmac, but when pushed hard, as it happens on a race track, which is much faster/harder than on public roads, it's a different story. The PZero's slide and screech a lot more and at lower speeds. The sliding was very progressive and in fact a hell of a lot of fun
, as it was pretty neutral and well balanced. The S-03's on the other hand grip better and are quieter, but when they start sliding (later than the PZero), it is much more biased towards understeering. I estimate from the lap times, that the Pirelli's, at Zwartkops (1.6 miles), are +/- 2 seconds slower than the Bridgestones, however I was not pushing as hard as the last time I was at that race track and the wear of the PZero's was actually minimal. Nonetheless, although I am not unhappy with the Pirelli's, I am a bit disappointed. After having been on the track, I have to concur with Tirerack.com's evaluation of the Pirelli's and the Bridgestone handling capacity on dry tarmac and their race track.
If only Bridgestone could make their S-03 tyres just a bit more comfortable...
08-15-2003, 10:48 AM
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True
Although I have not tracked the S03's, I have tracked the S02's and the Rosso's.
The rosso's reached the edge a little sooner than the S02's and they had a tendency to slide but like you, it was very controlled. It wasnt like they were giving up the ghost, they were just transitioning from grip, to grip plus controlled slide. Very predictable. They still have a little ways to go before they would start to really loose all traction.
I do like the Rosso better for a street tire. THey ride quieter and more comfortable than the S03's(on the car the past 14K). The rosso tends to trammel a little more though, than the S03 on the grooved roads out here. But still very nice.
Oh and the Rosso, really handled the heat well also at the track. The S02's got a little greasy after a long stint.
The rosso's reached the edge a little sooner than the S02's and they had a tendency to slide but like you, it was very controlled. It wasnt like they were giving up the ghost, they were just transitioning from grip, to grip plus controlled slide. Very predictable. They still have a little ways to go before they would start to really loose all traction.
I do like the Rosso better for a street tire. THey ride quieter and more comfortable than the S03's(on the car the past 14K). The rosso tends to trammel a little more though, than the S03 on the grooved roads out here. But still very nice.
Oh and the Rosso, really handled the heat well also at the track. The S02's got a little greasy after a long stint.
08-15-2003, 11:16 AM
#5
True, but they're not 99% as good on the street's dry tarmac...
...you just drive too gingerly on the street to really notice the difference. Rossos sure ride more comfortably though. But they're noisy, slippery and sloppy in the corners compared to S-03's.
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08-15-2003, 04:35 PM
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Speaking of the Bridgestones, they made a tire better then the S-03... can't remember the name
, look on tirerack.com, try them out. The S-03 were already good, so the new ones...
08-15-2003, 04:39 PM
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Could have been your tire pressures
I had P-zero Reds on my 996 and definitely didn't have any grip problems. Had S-03s on a 2000 A6 4.2 we used to have and they seemed to have a software sidewall lending to a marginally less comfortable ride and, in my experience, slightly less responsive turn-in. Just my $.02.