How to decide? (C43 tyre choice)

[colin.c43]

I need new rear tyres on my C43. Current tyres are Continental ContiSportContact all round. My priorities are safety and grip in the wet (let's face it, we get a lot of rain!) followed by quiet running. Price not relevant - once the right tyre is chosen then I'll shop around for the best price.

I currently have Michelin Primacy HPs on my BMW, and I'm very happy with them.

Q1. Is there any problem mixing Continentals on the front axle and Michelins on the rear? (I know never to mix on the same axle.)

Q2. Does anyone know the difference between Michelin Primacy and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres? Which should I choose?

Q3. Is there any other brand/model of tyre that anyone would recommend, bearing in mind my priorities?

Q4. Will it ever stop raining?

 

[HB]

Just go conti sport 3 all round. It's the best by far.

 

[colin.c43]

What's the difference between 3's and 5's, apart from price?

 

[BlackC55]

I use Dunlops on my C43. I did have Falkens (2000 Miles to wear them out) and decided on a different brand as I was just curious.

I love the Dunlops. Endless grip in the dry, quiet and not harsh like the Falkens.

 

[R120]

Interesting - i need new boots all round on my C43 - Which dunlops are they?

 

[DRBC43AMG]

Michelin Primacy on the 43 at the moment but going to Michelin PS3's with the 18". The previous PS2 worked fine in all conditions and wore out well

 

[ahsanist]

I have Conti sport 3 all round on my C36. It's a very hard wearing tyre, with great grip.
I did have Mich Pilot sports on the back while Conti's on the front, lasted around 2 years.... also very good grip.

As far as I know, the Michelin Primacy is more of a general hard wearing tyre compared to the sportier Pilot sport geared more towards performance cars

 

[R120]

I have just been offered Pirelli Rosso's on all 4 corners for 500 quid by my local tyre shop - anyone had experience on these?

 

[G.P]

I have just been offered Pirelli Rosso's on all 4 corners for 500 quid by my local tyre shop - anyone had experience on these?

Yes I have had the Rosso's on a Leon. There are better tyres like the Goodyear, Dunlop or Yokohama, the Rosso's are noisy but not as bad as a Bridgestone.

I now have the Yoko Advan Sports on the Leon and I still can't belive the grip levels over the Rosso's. . .

 

[colin.c43]

I've just fitted Michelin PS3's.

 

[DRBC43AMG]

I've just fitted Michelin PS3's.

Good work

 

[DRBC43AMG]

I have just been offered Pirelli Rosso's on all 4 corners for 500 quid by my local tyre shop - anyone had experience on these?

I like them too, but as mentioned by G.P they are a bit noisy. I found a big drawback when the tyres were wearing out.... they tram lined like crazy. The Missus thought the car was going to jump off the road at any moment

 

[Yozzer]

I have just been offered Pirelli Rosso's on all 4 corners for 500 quid by my local tyre shop - anyone had experience on these?

Yes and I had them on a clk 320 CDI, rear tyres did 9k miles, front did 11k
Also had them on a SlK 55 prior to that and they only got me 7k miles but I did drive that car harder.

I was about to ask about Yokohama on the C63 when I saw your post, would anyone know how they are different to the Pirelli P0 so why Yokohama for a C 63 but Pirelli P0 for the SLK 55 and is it a good idea to change the tyre brand on a new C63? If so what?

 

[ahsanist]

Whats wrong with what the manufacturer recommends?
they spend millions of pounds or deutsche marks on research and development, thinking about the right tyre for the right performance car... right? so they must kinda know what they are doing?

 

[R120]

Surely a lot of what tyre comes on a car out the factory is based on which tyre company the car company is getting the best deal off.