Bridgestone or Continental? Decisions Decisions.....

[adewall55]

Evening all,

Nearly tyre time, got a choice of Bridgestone Turanzas and Conti SportContact2's. Anyone had experience with either, or both?

 

[rf065]

I replaced my Conti's with Bridgestone Potenzas, they were not as good as the Conti Sport Contact 2's

Russ

 

[Ronnie]

Continental probably by a whisker....

 

[Rory]

I had Bridgestone Turanza ER30's on my C Class from new (205/55R16 Front and 225/50R16 rear, so not very low profile).

Bridgestone's are noted for stiff sidewalls and even running them on the minimum pressures they were like having iron rings rather than rubber tyres.

I replace them with Michelin Primacy HP's - did the rear first and didn't make a huge difference, but just changed the fronts and the car is much less harsh.

I suppose the theory is the stiffer tyres bring better handling precision but I don't drive on the edge and haven't noticed a difference when mildly "pressing on".

 

[adewall55]

So the Conti's have it so far then. Was considering some of the budget brands (Falken/Nankang NS2) but not sure if the old addage of getting what you pay for would bite me in the backside if i went for them?

 

[jaymanek]

Kumho are a good intermediate brand...

 

[flango]

So the Conti's have it so far then. Was considering some of the budget brands (Falken/Nankang NS2) but not sure if the old addage of getting what you pay for would bite me in the backside if i went for them?

Depends on what you are after if it's your daily driver then a no brainer Conti's better by far than Bridgestone, although I do have to say (and I'll probably get shot down for this) I have a second set of wheels which I use on the car when it's on race circuits and pushed more than on the road, these are fitted with NanKang NS2's which are loads better than the NS1 rears are 245 fronts 225 x 18 and for a full set they were £280. They have had some quite severe punishment on the track but are holding up well, ride is slightly hard, but grip and braking is superb. I am currently running Conti on my road wheels but the performance of the NS2 will seriously make me think when I need to change them in the summer. £280 all in fitted & balanced, half the price of Conti's food for thought?

 

[SilverSaloon]

another vote for Continentals

 

[Alps]

contis here too, am running them on the front at the mo. I had bridgestones on my old 17`s and found them bad in the wet!

 

[Brian WH]

I have conti 2s too.

So Conti over Bridgestone, but Michelin Primacy HPs will give you more MPT.

 

[BTB 500]

got a choice of Bridgestone Turanzas and Conti SportContact2's.

I thought ContiSportContact 2 was discontinued some time ago. The "3" came out in early 2007.

So I would ask about the date codes (on the sidewall) if that's what you go for.

 

[C240Sport97]

my "new" CLS wheels are Conti Sport Contact2. they are 17" compared to the previous 15" Michelin Powergy.

Contis are great. The handling has improved, and they are also quieter.

 

[flango]

I thought ContiSportContact 2 was discontinued some time ago. The "3" came out in early 2007.

So I would ask about the date codes (on the sidewall) if that's what you go for.

I think you are correct the 3 has been out a while as when I fitted mine in 2007 I had the choice of the 2 or 3 but went for the 2 as then the 3 was a bit unproven. I think you can still get Conti Premium Contact 2 but that sort of defeats the object

 

[MangoMan]

neither.....

 

[Spinal]

Pirelli?

 

[BTB 500]

I think you are correct the 3 has been out a while as when I fitted mine in 2007 I had the choice of the 2 or 3 but went for the 2 as then the 3 was a bit unproven. I think you can still get Conti Premium Contact 2 but that sort of defeats the object

I couldn't get new ContiSportContact 2's for my SL last May, and the 3 wasn't available then in MO fit (which I wanted).

I'm sure there is still stock of Contact 2 around, but I bet they are 12+ months old. That would have been a problem for me as my SL doesn't do much mileage, and you're supposed to replace tyres after 5-6 years ... based on the date of manufacture.

I think the "3" has won lots of awards now, and is what I'd be going for personally.

 

[Seamster15]

Had the bridgestones for 22k - Very noisey and hard. Would not use again, grip got very bad even at 3mm.

 

[andy_k]

no complaints so far about Falkens from me - replaced Good Year F1s on the rear of the e55 a couple of weeks back. 1000 miles or so in they seem great, loads of grip and a nice progressive breakaway when pushed hard enough

 

[Stan the Man]

My vote is for Conti 2s, just had all corners replaced £300 all in (tyres, valves, balance and disposal)

 

[nigel cross]

Had bridgestone and Conti's 2, got Conti's 3 now love them