Tyre Test in Autocar

[BarryS]

Following my post last month on the Evo tyre test results, Autocar have something similar, with broadly similar results:

Car's used were Mondeo 2.0CDi with 235/45 R17's and Merc C350 on 225/45 R17's.

Mondeo results (indicative of front wheel drive)
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 (top like in the Evo test)
2. Michelin Pilot Sport
3. Continental Sport Contact 3
3. Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
4. Pirelli P Zero Rosso

Autocar Verdict: Michelin best in dry. Pirelli rubbish at everything. Bridgestone not much better for FWD compsared to the RWD test below where it's in no.2 position

Merc results (indicative of rear wheel drive car)
1. Goodyear Eagle F1
2. Bridgestone Potenza
3. Michelin Pilot Sport
4. Conti Sport Contact 3
4. Pirelli P Zero Nero (different version to that in the FWD car size)

Autocar verdict: Michelin good in dry, bad in wet. Conti best aquaplaning results but average elsewhere. Pirelli slightly less rubbish than in FWD test.

Comparing these results and the Evo tests, seems like you can't go too far wrong with Goodyear, Conti, Bridgestone or Michelin, at least in these performance tyre versions. Would be nice to have the Eagle F1's if they were available in my CLK's size though (which they aren't).

Barry

 

[Goldfish11]

I swear by Bridgestone Potenza RE050's I have been using them for years and easily get 30000+ miles (I even had 42K off one pair). It is like driving on rails compared with the standard fit Conti's

 

[Deleted member 2227]

I don't why they are still testing Goodyear F1s when the Excellence Range is on sale. I was recomended Goodyear Excellence tyres and am chuffed with them. They are excellent in the dry, not very noisy and their wet weather performance is the best I've ever experienced.

 

[zakelwe]

I don't why they are still testing Goodyear F1s when the Excellence Range is on sale.

Because we don't all drive like our mother in law in a Nissan Micra?

I have never been a fan of Goodyear but seeing it wipe the floor- I will repeat that -wipe the floor with other tyres in both Evo and now Autocar, this must be the best all round tyre for Mercs in the UK at the moment. And they are cheap to boot too. P

GO GET SOME.

Regards

Andy

 

[GrahamC230K]

I don't why they are still testing Goodyear F1s when the Excellence Range is on sale. I was recomended Goodyear Excellence tyres and am chuffed with them. They are excellent in the dry, not very noisy and their wet weather performance is the best I've ever experienced.

I don't think the Excellence is a replacement for the Eagle F1 and so is not in competetion with it. The Excellence would be pitched against other tyres in it's class in a suitable test I am sure.

I think the Eagle F1 GS-D3 is a more performance oriented tyre and the F1 Asymmetric the latest performance design.

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Because we don't all drive like our mother in law in a Nissan Micra?

I have never been a fan of Goodyear but seeing it wipe the floor- I will repeat that -wipe the floor with other tyres in both Evo and now Autocar, this must be the best all round tyre for Mercs in the UK at the moment. And they are cheap to boot too. P

GO GET SOME.

Regards

Andy

Thanks for that advice. I take it that you have already bought a set of excellence tyres and found them wanting? Maybe if you haven't actually bought a set, you regularly drive a Mercedes fitted with them?? Please do inform us of your experiences.......so that I can learn what bits of information I haven't gleaned from actually driving my car in the dry, wet and at speed.

 

[big x]

I don't why they are still testing Goodyear F1s when the Excellence Range is on sale. I was recomended Goodyear Excellence tyres and am chuffed with them. They are excellent in the dry, not very noisy and their wet weather performance is the best I've ever experienced.

They tested the new F1 asymetric not the old type.This sport tyre has also done well in the more sophisticated German magazine tests.
The video is worth watching:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=228551&CT=V

adam

 

[marcos]

Thanks for that advice. I take it that you have already bought a set of excellence tyres and found them wanting? Maybe if you haven't actually bought a set, you regularly drive a Mercedes fitted with them?? Please do inform us of your experiences.......so that I can learn what bits of information I haven't gleaned from actually driving my car in the dry, wet and at speed.

I take it from the comments that you must drive like my nan

I presume that from zakelwe's comment that the tyres he is referring to are MB approved ? I also presume that he has tested these tyres personally?

 

[Mudster]

I fitted Goodyear F1's to my 560 sec, mainly because it's such a hand full in the wet even with ASR. I wouldn't run on anything else for this reason alone, it makes a rather heavy car a lot more sure footed. So I would think on some of the smaller cars it must be a boon.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I wish I could read it for myself!! Blooming postal strike means my subscription copy is still nowhere near my door mat.

IIRC the Pirelli P Zero Rosso seemed to get really good press only a year or two ago, and it was OEM on the C55, RS4, et al. Can't believe they've faired so badly.

I look forward to reading the article ...soon!!

 

[zakelwe]

Thanks for that advice. I take it that you have already bought a set of excellence tyres and found them wanting? Maybe if you haven't actually bought a set, you regularly drive a Mercedes fitted with them?? Please do inform us of your experiences.......so that I can learn what bits of information I haven't gleaned from actually driving my car in the dry, wet and at speed.

And I trust you have driven the Goodyear F1 Asymetric to be able to come out with your :-

"I don't why they are still testing Goodyear F1s when the Excellence Range is on sale"

Pray tell me how you rate them back to back with the Excellence.

Regards

Andy

 

[zakelwe]

I take it from the comments that you must drive like my nan

I presume that from zakelwe's comment that the tyres he is referring to are MB approved ? I also presume that he has tested these tyres personally?

Hey, it wasn't me who started the " I drive on these so I don't know why they bother testing any other tyres " malarky. Go read the thread again and see who has it all written in stone from his own viewpoint. A clue, it ain't me.

The F1 is aimed at one market segment, ie performance, and the Excellence is under RAIN.

The F1 is described as

"Combining our revolutionary Active Cornergrip Technology and Racing Compound "

The Excellence is described as

" It offers you the safest possible drive, with superb performance in handling, and an exceptional feeling of comfort"

So hence my comment on mother in laws in Nissan Micra's. I don't need to have driven it to know it is less a performance tyre, Goodyear test drivers have done it for me. Or are you saying they do not know what they are talking about ?

Regards

Andy

 

[zakelwe]

Oh, and by the way marcos, can you tell me how you found R2D2's post actually useful ?



Cheers

Andy

 

[Shude]

IIRC the Pirelli P Zero Rosso seemed to get really good press only a year or two ago, and it was OEM on the C55, RS4, et al. Can't believe they've faired so badly.

The Pirelli P-Zero Rosso was designed in conjunction with Lamborghini and was OEM on the Diablo among others!

I see the RWD car was tested with the P-Zero Nero which is a totally different tyre to the Rosso but still part of the P-Zero system series.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Andy - you'll see my reply under yours. We are pretty much saying the same thing. The difference is, mine was just as to the point, but was nicely put and kept to the facts.

Yours on the otherhand, read just a bit too sarcastic for someone with only 9 posts at the time and doesn't know the person you were making ill comment about, hence you got the reaction you did.

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Andy - you'll see my reply under yours. We are pretty much saying the same thing. The difference is, mine was just as to the point, but was nicely put and kept to the facts.

Yours on the otherhand, read just a bit too sarcastic for someone with only 9 posts at the time and doesn't know the person you were making ill comment about, hence you got the reaction you did.

Thank you Graham. Absolutely spot on. Andy if you do a search you will find 219 different threads on tyre choices mentioning F1's.

Your "pray tell" comment is a bit daft as my hobby is roadtesting! I have run C Classes on 3 different types of continentals, two lots of Michelins, 3 lots of Dunlops and one lot of Goodyears all on C Classes.

I have driven C Classes with F1's and Excellence and both are very good tyres, however, my understanding is that F1's are the old technology and are soon to be dropped (at least in their current guise) and the excellence range are the latest Goodyear technology and are proving extremely good.

IMHO the F1 is likely to be better on outright dry grip but the excellence is better in the wet-ie its the best tyre I have ever driven in the wet.

I could have bought a set of F1's but chose to buy a set of Excellence instead. It would be a good idea before telling me what to buy to check what my experience might be first.

Shall we start again?

Hi Andy welcome to the forum.

 

[DieselE]

I wish I could read it for myself!! Blooming postal strike means my subscription copy is still nowhere near my door mat.

I'm in the same boat.

OT I know but the only item of post delivered yesterday was the "Lifeboat" magazine. Nice to know that the RNLI can get through when others can't.

 

[C43AMG]

Andy - you'll see my reply under yours. We are pretty much saying the same thing. The difference is, mine was just as to the point, but was nicely put and kept to the facts.

Yours on the otherhand, read just a bit too sarcastic for someone with only 9 posts at the time and doesn't know the person you were making ill comment about, hence you got the reaction you did.

Zakelwe,

Yes as Graham mentioned above you should calm down take it easy, until you get to know the people on this Forum and what vast experience they have.

Yes and welcome to to the friendliest Forum

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Your "pray tell" comment is a bit daft as my hobby is roadtesting! I have run C Classes on 3 different types of continentals, two lots of Michelins, 3 lots of Dunlops and one lot of Goodyears all on C Classes.

'tis true. R2D2's Research & Development activities would make MB's own R&D dept look like a half-hearted effort!!

 

[big x]

The asymmetric tread pattern as shown in the Goodyear F1 below seems to have taken over the market recently. Compared to the old F1-GSD-D3 with the V-thread pattern the advantages of the new tyre are better ride and lower noise levels.The old F1 is going to be around for a while yet as it's not a good idea to mix different tyres on the driven axle.

adam