ravenx

As you know I now have a bubbly Pirelli P6000. P6000's have performed extremely bad from the day nr. 1 and I just don't want to go and spend a dime for another P6000. But also I am hesitating to change to Bridgestone Potenza S02 PP's as a set of those (actually a set of any max performance tire) costs £900 here and my car done only 6050km's. Moreover having second thoughts about the future of Bridgestone as this recent Firestone recall hit them quite hard.

What would you do?<p><a href="http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/audis3"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ravenx_glow.GIF" BORDER=0></a>

NikoS3

Ravenx I do not know whether i will help you or not. I have also heard that the P6000 are not at all good for this king of car, eventhough most of the S3's and TT's come with these. On the other hand, i have S02 on my Golf Gti and i must say that they are more than perfect, eventhough a bit rough on bumpy road (I CURENTLY HAVE 195/50 r15 WITH Bilstein & Eibach) i.e most Greek roads, but on the highway it goes like a cart.
I hope my S3 comes with S02 (so far only the cars given to the magazines have these tyres, and i guess i know why...), otherwise i will try, on way or another, to change to these tyres.

I think that the Michelen's are good also.
I understand that the cost is high, at the end it mainly depends on how you intent to use the car and the tyres.

Nikos.

AudidudeNZ

researched tyres when waiting for my S3 to arrive. The Bridgestone S02 is very highly rated but so are the Pilot Sport and Pilot MXX3. The latter has a question mark over performance in very wet conditions - can't clear as much water as more modern V treads - but has superb dry performance. The Sport addresses this problem.
Hope this helps.<p>Greg Spark
New Zealand

ravenx

Most test I read chose S02 as Nr.1, and Michelin Pilot Sport scored quite bad in 18" tests done by Sport Auto Mag.<p><a href="http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/audis3"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ravenx_glow.GIF" BORDER=0></a><ul><li><a href="https://www.audiworld.com/forum/m/a3/msgs/3350.phtml">Sport Auto Mag Tyre Test</a></li></ul>

ravenx

I have seen Michelin Sports and actually liked them but the tests and posts I read made me change my mind. But I especially liked the rim guards <i>(a raised rubber ridge encircling the lower sidewall above the rim-fit line, which provides protection against kerbing damage for both the tyre and the rim, also enhances tyre appearance)</i> on Michelin Pilot Sports and the sidewall seemed strong enough to last more than the P6000's on our road conditions.

As you have S02, can you tell me if they have rim guards as well? Any bubbles so far? (Even Michelin MXX's on my Tipo 2.0i 16V had bubbles and they were only 185/55 R 15) Bridgestone web page claims that they have.<p><a href="http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/audis3"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ravenx_glow.GIF" BORDER=0></a><ul><li><a href="http://www.bridgestone-eu.com/bs/s02.htm">Bridgestone S02 PP</a></li></ul>

NikoS3

Yes they do have the rim-guards and are very effective too.I have to say that i had no problem with these tyres at all, no bubbles whatsoever, imagine that i have changed two of my rims (BBS, the ones that the first BMW M3 had, which are not that strong to tell you the truth, eventhough they look great) but none of the tyres. The only problem i had was that it requires a lot of km in order to get them to grid which is infact due to the combination of the power of the front wheel dirve Golf anf the rather bad quality of mmost Greek roads. Lately, the re-surfaced many of the roads in Athens and the grip is phenomenal.

I friend of mine had a bubble in the first 100km, but he had a Civic VTi and went in a grave-like hole at more than 100km/h. He got a new one the next day, for free.

I hope it helps. i would also go for these tyres, byt i try to go fast on roads that i know (i.e. i know the position of the holes, if any). I would not like to destroy the rims or any other part of my S3.

Nikos.

ravenx

<p><a href="http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/audis3"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ravenx_glow.GIF" BORDER=0></a>

AudidudeNZ

or words to that effect.
Doug Ramages comment on the thread you pointed to highlights the variability of a lot of these tests. It seems to me that Pirelli P Zeros, Bridgestone S02, and Michelin Pilot Sport or MXX3 all do pretty well overall. And then of course there is the issue of how well they suit your car and pocket.
I've actually had some very good experiences with Falkens - you might like to check those out - very good value.<p>Greg Spark
New Zealand

ravenx

I need a tire with strong sidewall in order to survive the road conditions here. Besides, as S3 tends to understeer a lot, I need the as much grip as possible from my tires. I currently set front tire pressure to 36psi in order to minimise understeer and help my tires survive massive holes in the road, but even this was not enough and one of them gave in.

It's either Pilot Sport or S02 PP for me, but still not sure which one to go for.

Thanx for your comments<p><a href="http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/audis3"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ravenx_glow.GIF" BORDER=0></a>

ravenx

<p><a href="http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/audis3"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ravenx_glow.GIF" BORDER=0></a>