Tyre test : Michelin Pilot Sport v Fulda Carat Extremo

[garystu1965]

Just had four new tyres fitted.

Fronts - 225/45/R17
Rears - 245/40/R17

They are Fulda Carat Extremo's

Total cost £330.

The Michelin's which I've just replaced were horribly noisy on anything other than the newest surface. On some surfaces it emitted a loud booming sound. Awful.

On the 17 mile drive back to work with the Fulda's on the difference in road noise was very noticeable. On the newest surface total silence but on at least three other types of surface it was nearly silent. Even on rough country roads (single track) there was hardly any road noise.

So far I am extremely pleased with the tyres. I understand they came quite high up in a recent AutoExpress tyre test.

 

[glojo]

There is also a very good write up in Mercedes-Enthusiast. It would be interesting to try to get a long term report on a brand of tyre I had never heard of until a few weeks ago?

Good luck,
John

 

[GrahamC230K]

I read a review of Fulda's once that said they were really heavy!

£330 for those sizes is exrtemely good value - is that fitted?

Can anyone get their hands on the AutoExpress test results? What other tyres were in the test?

My Uniroyals make my orange trianle light up on the twisty B road stage, I mean route to work, where my F1's would have been firmly stuck to the tarmac.

 

[GregE240]

Strange.

My ex missus had Pilot Sports on her Boxster S and I thought they were pretty darn good, quiet as well?

Mind you, on a track, when they "let go", boy, do they let go!

I'm guessing the Fulda's are considerably cheaper than the French rubber as well?

Greg

 

[Shude]

I'm guessing the Fulda's are considerably cheaper than the French rubber as well?

The Fuldas are about half the price.

 

[Satch]

Somebody once told me that sometimes tyres can get much louder as they wear. Thought that sounded odd but couple of weeks back saw an article about the very subject. The resonace patterns change and if the tyre develops a "feathering" wear pattern on the tread that can really generate a lot of noise.

 

[garystu1965]

Somebody once told me that sometimes tyres can get much louder as they wear. Thought that sounded odd but couple of weeks back saw an article about the very subject. The resonace patterns change and if the tyre develops a "feathering" wear pattern on the tread that can really generate a lot of noise.

Yep that may have been the case with mine as they were half worn when I bought my car from the stealer.

£330 for those sizes is exrtemely good value - is that fitted?

Yes. Fully fitted. He's a mate who has a 4x4 specialist tyre shop in Leek, Staffs.

 

[garystu1965]

My mpg has plummeted since the new tyres though.
It's dropped from 40mpg to 34mpg

 

[fuzzer]

My mpg has plummeted since the new tyres though.
It's dropped from 40mpg to 34mpg

ohh , i think ill keep my 62mpg conti sport contact 2's

 

[Dieselman]

I read a review of Fulda's once that said they were really heavy!

£330 for those sizes is exrtemely good value - is that fitted?

Can anyone get their hands on the AutoExpress test results? What other tyres were in the test?

My Uniroyals make my orange trianle light up on the twisty B road stage, I mean route to work, where my F1's would have been firmly stuck to the tarmac.

Graham

just for you

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/website/?ae_data/special_features/tyretest2005/

 

[Dieselman]

Strange.

My ex missus had Pilot Sports on her Boxster S and I thought they were pretty darn good, quiet as well?

Mind you, on a track, when they "let go", boy, do they let go!

I'll vouch for that!!!!!!!!

 

[glojo]

I'll vouch for that!!!!!!!!

What... That his ex missus has a boxster!!

Regards,
John

 

[jgevers]

Hi,

Tyres are very personal I think. The Pilot Sports seem to give the highest G readings when I was tyre testing a few months ago. GoodYear F1 was only marginally better in the wet. Fulda Carats were very bad in the wet and only marginally better in the dry.

If you are looking for ultimate grip from a road car tyre go for Bridgstone or Michelin. Both these will be a bit more of a handful when they finally let go.

I have never tested for noise or rolling resistance but I would expect the German tyres to be quiter and the French tyres to have a lower rolling resistance.

If you are not bothered by ouright grip, but want something that is reasonable in all areas I would go for the GoodYear F1 or Toyo Proxes.

regards,

Job

 

[GrahamC230K]

Cheers Dieselman. Intersting reading.

 

[Rose Chap]

Just to add to this...

Over the weekend I replaced all four tyres on my CLK with Michelin Pilot Sport 2's.

225/45 17 on the front and 245/40 17 on the back. First impressions are that they seem quieter than the old Continental Sport Contacts on the front and Pirelli PZero Rossos on the rear.

I'll keep you all posted should anything unusual occur! I won't know about ultimate grip until a) it rains again, and b) I push a little bit harder on a long bend than is usually expeditious.

Andy

 

[Alps]

I thought id add my 2 pence worth, Ive had Mochilin pilots on the rear 255/35/18 for a while now.. no complaints, I used to have Pirrelli p-zero rosso on the front, very good tyre, although i did find they wore rather quickly! Ive replaced the front with some michelin pilot sport 2`s ,and they are very grippy and not too noisy, although the actual tyre is thicker than norm, so it rubs on turns.. which is a slight problem!