New Tyres for XR5

Zippy7 · 31-03-2012, 10:27 PM

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone has recently purchased new tyres for their XR5? (235 / 40 18 95Y)

I just checked and my front passenger side is looking quite thin on the shoulder - the main grooves are fine, the treadwear indicator shows a fair bit left. Just seems to be hard on the front left corner?

Anyway, I guess I will be looking at getting a pair (or if there is a great deal, I would replace all 4 in one go)

I've only done 23,000kms in this set of boots (Bridgestone RE050A)

Prices and dates would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Batman105E · 01-04-2012, 09:15 AM

Hey Zippy,

We put new boots on our Mondeo TDCI Titanium in October last year, same size as you quoted, we got 37k out of the original set of Continentals, rotated and balanced every 10k.

We got Michelin PilotSport3, very happy with them so far, they have done 17k so far, rotated once, not as noisy as the Continentals. We don't drive the Mondeo like a race car so couldn't compare levels of grip.

There was a promo on the tyres at the time and I think we paid about $280 a corner fitted and balanced. The Contis were over $300 at the time.

Steve.

hotdiesel · 01-04-2012, 02:52 PM

Zippy7,

I've just replaced my original tyres after 41,000 kms.

The replacements are Goodyear 235/40R18 Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 95Y XL's.

http://www.goodyear.com.au/about-us/...8-842569c9a185

Goodyear are currently doing 4 for 3 offers, so for $1070 I got 4 tyres fitted & balanced together with a front & rear alignment.

The pressure was set at 38 psi all round.

allanv6gt · 01-04-2012, 06:59 PM

Replaced the OEM Continental SportContact2 @ 32.8K kms last Friday.
with Yokohama C-Drive 235/40x18 95W (W=270kmh, Y=300kmh...but speedo only runs to 260kmh) costing $270ea. The Contis wre quoted at 380-430 each.
I had these on my 89 Prelude and was very impressed with their grip.
Distance so far travelled = 50kms, but already noticed much lighter on steering and less thumpy ride (more pliant side walls?) and less tramlining.

NZ XR6 · 01-04-2012, 08:30 PM

My tyre guru advised against the Bridgestone RE002 - he said to check the web for details.

The Falken F K 452 is definitely worth considering. A big improvement over the OEM Goodyears and they cope much better with the diesel torque.

paulie0735 · 01-04-2012, 08:50 PM

I replaced the original conti's with Pirelli Pzero rosso's, very happy with the choice, about 2/3rds the price of the conti's but just as good and i got over 45,000 k's out of them

Zippy7 · 01-04-2012, 10:03 PM

Thanks for the responses guys.

I saw the Goodyear deal - Buy for 4, pay for 3, but you have to get it from a Goodyear Autocare centre... http://www.goodyearautocare.com.au/c...yres/4for3.jsp

You also have to pay extra for fitting!

I then found a similar deal on Dunlops at Beaurepaires (25% off when you buy 4 tyres) - I'm expecting you get the reduction on the fitted price

http://www.beaurepaires.com.au/specials/

And I haven't even looked at Pirelli's, Bridgestones, Michelins, Continentals, etc.

There is so much choice these days?

One thing I do not want is to get the same again. These RE050A are very, very noisy on concrete and coarse bitumen at 110kmh - felt like we were in an aircraft!!

On another note: I did see some Nexen on ebay for $120 - apparently they're a Korean competitor to Hankook and Kumho. Anyone heard of them?

madmatty · 01-04-2012, 10:07 PM

dont get the nexen they are cheap rubbish

paulie0735 · 03-04-2012, 09:16 PM

You get what you pay for, you have a great car, don't spoil it with cheap tyres.

Rastus · 05-04-2012, 10:23 PM

I'll be looking to replace tyres later this year also on our XR5. Ours has Bridgestone RE001's on the front and a shagged set of Conti's on the back, one of which thumps as if it's got a flat spot.
Liking the look of the Goodyears as per hotdiesel's link. Also hile trauling the net, the Kumho KU31's come up often, on the XR5 forum. Cheaper tyre too. Anyone here had any use of them?
As per paulie's advice though, I love our Mondeo and I'd hate to put a crap tyres on. Really want to get 4 good newies.

Zippy7 · 06-04-2012, 06:49 PM

I've booked in to get a set of 4 Goodyear F1 Assymetric2's - at this stage I'm looking at $1100 for the set - will see how much they are willing to haggle

Samtheband · 06-04-2012, 07:46 PM

Kumho ku31's mate pretty cheaply priced too.

Samtheband · 06-04-2012, 07:47 PM

Alot of people on the xr5owners forum use them.

JimStone · 06-04-2012, 11:41 PM

Interesting site - is UK but quite relivant with the majority of the tyres reviewed available in here in Aus.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/

Zippy7 · 07-04-2012, 08:31 AM

I'm off this morning to get new shoes for my XR5...

Hoping to get Goodyear Assym2's locally, else I'll be driving out to Costco.

Will report back once they're done.

Rastus · 07-04-2012, 10:15 AM

Once you've put a few K's on the Goodyears Zippy, you'll have to get back to us with a review if you can. Can't fault the published online reviews of these that's for sure. Hotdiesel, how are you finding them on your Titanium?
I see that they come up the winner in the latest tyrereviews test from the page JimStone has posted.
Thanks guys.

Zippy7 · 07-04-2012, 08:49 PM

New shoes are on.
No further discount, but I was happy with the service.
$1128.50 for 4 Assym2's, a full wheel alignment, and the road hazard warranty.
They're guaranteeing I'll still have meat on the tyres at 50,000kms.
I'm very sceptical, but he's adamant that he's got an AMG C63 through to 65,000kms with regular wheel alignments.

My pressures were set at 40psi all round (they reckon that's standard).
He said I should've been running 44psi on the Bridgestones!!!

hotdiesel · 08-04-2012, 04:55 PM

I'm pleased to see that figure of 50,000 kms.
No issues with my new Asymmetrics as all of the driving has been suburbian.
The real test will come once I do some high speed country driving.
At least the combination of new rubber & alignments has noticeably improved the car's ability to track in a straight line without wanting to meander around due to undulations in the road surface.
I can't even comment on wet weather driving since Melbourne's weather has been so fine.

allanv6gt · 08-04-2012, 07:11 PM

[QUOTE=hotdiesel
At least the combination of new rubber & alignments has noticeably improved the car's ability to track in a straight line without wanting to meander around due to undulations in the road surface.
QUOTE]

A simple change of shoes (to Yoko C-Drive) has stopped my meanderings too !! And it meandered from new (i.e. 0 kms). Feels like a totally different car.

I usually ran 36psi on the OEM Conti's, but the tyre place put 40psi at fitting the Yokohama's. I'll see what it's like in the upcoming wet in the next few days.
(bugger all rubber height between rim and road - scared for my expensive rims @ $880ea. Not sure about these low profile tyres....).

Zippy7 · 09-04-2012, 09:35 PM

Just in case anyone was thinking I was getting old, old stock, the manufacture date stamp is 3411, so that's end of August last year (6 months old).
That's a lot newer than the $200 Pirelli's that Tempe Tyres had in stock (2008 manufacture!!)

Mickmelb · 10-04-2012, 10:04 PM

For what its worth I booked today to get a new set of tyres fitted to my MC Titanium. I'm getting the Bridgestone RE050A's again that came with it they just clicked over 41000km's I've been really happy with their grip level. The only time they slipped on me was coming home from Phillip Island with the bikes on the trailer in the rain yesterday it got a bit of axle tramp taking of from some lights which made me notice they are down to the indicators. Not sure how much they cost I didn't ask, gotta love company cars. I'm surprised you find them noisy although yours are 40 profile to my 45 as I thought the opposite but my last car was a Fairmont Ghia and I was stuck with Goodyear Excellence so anything is an improvement on those. A wheel alignment will fix your unusual wear for sure.

Lord Viykor · 13-04-2012, 03:56 PM

I've had Conti's, Bridgestone Re001's and Kunho Ku31's.

The Ku31's are the best for price and wear, they are a little noisy IMO and once they wear down a bit they don't seem as grippy.

Having said that though I'm planning of fitting them to my 19" Snowflakes when they arrive.

DRU842 · 14-04-2012, 09:56 AM

We've replaced the original Bridgestones with BF Goodrich the last two goes around and have been very happy with the performance - similar cost to the Goodyear mentioned above. Got 45,00km out of the last set with regular 'service' rotation & balance compared to just under 40,000km from the OEM Bridgestones.

Zippy7 · 15-04-2012, 01:06 AM

I'm posting my wheel alignment settings, just in case anyone wants to compare.

Rear Axle
Left Camber = -1 degree 38 min
Right Camber = -1 degree 36 min
Toe - left and right are +0.5mm each, so total toe = +1.0mm
Geometrical driving axis = 0 degree 0 min

Front Axle
Left Camber = -0 degree 32 min
Right Camber = - 0 degree 28 min
Left Toe = +0.3mm
Right Toe = +0.4mm
(total +0.7mm)
Setback = +0 degree 06 min

I'm hoping thats the same as everyone else.
When I asked if that's within spec, they were adamant the settings were right and not to worry...

allanv6gt · 20-04-2012, 08:41 PM

We had a huge downpour on the way home yesterday.
My 1 week old Yokohama C-Drive performed exceptionally well. No hint of aquaplane despite the copious amount of water on the road.
Huge improvement over the OEM Continental ContiSportContact2 tyres, which aquaplaned on the slightest puddle in the road, even from new car delivery i.e. 0kms on the clock.
Truly amazing how much difference tyre selection can make.
Now I can finally drive with confidence in the wet. !!!....33000 kms later

Mickmelb · 25-04-2012, 07:14 PM

Well I thought I had tyres organised a couple of weeks ago but I've heaps of trouble trying to find some, I'm finally getting them fitted on Friday. For some reason the Titanium has 235/45/18 98Y. The 98 is the load rating which is extremely high its illegal to use a lower rating than what's on the tyre placard in the car and it turns out the only tyres in stock in the country are Pirelli Pzero rosso's which even at the lease companies rate are $365 each!!! So lucky I don't have to pay for them.
The moral of the story is if your looking for tyres make sure you give yourself plenty of time to find some.

Bucknaked · 25-04-2012, 07:17 PM

I bought some Kumho's. The conrod lasted 3 years and about 32,000k's.

Good tyres. Grippy in the wet.

ope126 · 17-10-2012, 11:28 PM

Considering getting 18" wheels for my EcoBoost. After reading this thread about tyres I thought I would check the Tyre Placard on the car.
It gives two options for 18" wheels; 235/45 R18 98W or 235/40 R18 95Y.

Apart from a cost difference, is there any reason / justification of the differences between the two tyre options noted above?

Which of the above combinations do you guys have (OEM) for your XR5's and Titaniums?

7summit7 · 30-10-2012, 12:46 AM

I have just put on Dunlop SP Sport Fast Response 235 40 R18 95W on my Titanium wagon. Only got 35000 out of the original Bridgestone 235 45 R18 RE 505a tyres. They were very grippy though. They were prone to tracking which the new ones don't do. It is a bit early to say how the new ones are but so far they seem to be similar to the Bridgestones. The problem I do have now is that the speedo is not correct. It was not good to start with but now is further out. Does anybody know if it s possible to have the speedo recalibrated?

Cheers
Mark

mondo_broady · 30-10-2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ope126

Considering getting 18" wheels for my EcoBoost. After reading this thread about tyres I thought I would check the Tyre Placard on the car.
It gives two options for 18" wheels; 235/45 R18 98W or 235/40 R18 95Y.

i'm puzzled as to why it would have both 40 & 45 series in the same diameter wheel with the same width tyre? that would give you an odometer error of some significance between the two?

XR5 stock is 235/40 R18 95Y

I have run the following:

Continental SC2 (OEM)
Pirelli P Zero
Bridgestone Potenza RE001
Vredstein Ssanta (225/40)
Yokohama Advan V103 Sport
Michelin PS3

I would rate the Michelin & Yohohama as the best (hard to split them really), then Pirelli, Continental, Bridgestone and Vredstein in decreasing order for performance.

I have not yet been able to get more than 20k out of a set of tyres. Although i do occasionally track my car, i wouldn't consider the driving i do to be anything more than normal everyday driving.

I would say go the Michelin as they can be gotten for under $300/corner if you look around...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7summit7

The problem I do have now is that the speedo is not correct. It was not good to start with but now is further out.

your speedo would have changed by 4%. all speedos will read with an error from factory (allowed to be up to 10% iirc?) so it should actually have become more accurate unless it was under 4% out, in which case it may now be slightly over?