ChrisUK said:

It's a 500... Hardly a performance car. Put some decent non budget tyres on it and drive it simples.

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Thanks Chris... With a non performance car it's even more important to wring every last bit of grip out if it to keep momentum up ; )

306maxi said:

True, there is quite a bit of fun to be had in a 500 with some good tyres on it though My 500 doesn't really handle, but it does grip quite well

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Yep, 100%

loveshandbags said:

How about Bridgestone Potenza RE040 ?
Appeared here but didn't see them on the Bridgestone web site.
Performance tyres are limited in 55 profile.
If one was to opt for a V rated tyre (as opposed to a H on the 500) would that not compensate for touring nature of a tyre ?


The Continental tyres are lighter in weight - unsure if I would go for another set even in the '5' version although they are still classified as a touring tyre.
Here's a recent ADAC 2013 test but it's in 60 profile - might be useful as a guide.

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Thanks. I'll take a look.

arorat said:

Whats wrong with the factory fitted tyres or have they worn out ?

I need to take the winters off this week, too fond of them btw: the winters have hardly worn over 2 seasons and we have put in a lot of mileage - is this normal ?

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No, got 4 seasons on and looking for sharper tyre for summer.

The Twins said:

Lol, I was viewing the 4 season tyre as a winter tyre really. I needed the security of staying mobile in the snow but wasn't sure I could afford another set for summer so yes as a compromise the Hankook optimis have been great.

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I guess we're just very different people, if I had a choice between getting a different backbox to replace one which is absolutely fine and getting winter tyres and keeping my summers then the choice to me would be obvious, have two sets of good tyres.

306maxi said:

I guess we're just very different people, if I had a choice between getting a different backbox to replace one which is absolutely fine and getting winter tyres and keeping my summers then the choice to me would be obvious, have two sets of good tyres.

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I know what you mean maxi : ) I will get therapy one of these days. My old summer tyres were pants though. Goodyear EG's. sold them for £200! So my 4 Seasons only cost me £120.

I'd love to see a blind test of every tyre mentioned in this thread as fitted to a load of 500s and see how many people could correctly identify which tyre is which.

I for one will admit that I suspect I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between most of them.

Manufacturers, retailers, magazines and websites all have a vested interest in making out how different tyres feel and behave (the same way they do with cars, cameras, hi-fi, washing machines, etc) but to most people who are not blessed with exceptional senses I suspect that the differences will be hard to spot.

Emperor's new clothes anyone?

Also new tyres will perform and feel differently to old, worn ones, so when you change a set, almost anything will appear subjectively better.

It's the same with spark plugs.

jrkitching said:

Also new tyres will perform and feel differently to old, worn ones, so when you change a set, almost anything will appear subjectively better.

It's the same with spark plugs.

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True. But for example the Contis feel much more edgy at the limit than my Michelins and I feel more comfortable with the 195/50's than the 185/55's as they give more margin of error even though they do use about 0.4l/100 km more fuel.

try Toyo t1r and you will wonder why you have been paying so much money for an old school label

RobinPJ said:

I'd love to see a blind test of every tyre mentioned in this thread as fitted to a load of 500s and see how many people could correctly identify which tyre is which.

I for one will admit that I suspect I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between most of them.

Manufacturers, retailers, magazines and websites all have a vested interest in making out how different tyres feel and behave (the same way they do with cars, cameras, hi-fi, washing machines, etc) but to most people who are not blessed with exceptional senses I suspect that the differences will be hard to spot.

Emperor's new clothes anyone?

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No, really, there is quite a difference in feel of various tyres
Some have better ride, some sharper steering etc etc.
I can feel the difference. I guess if someone cannot feel a difference then it doesn't really matter what tyres are used.

Generally depends how hard you push your car.

I know my mother in law wouldn't be able to tell a difference other than noise, steering feel and only grip if really, really bad.

And that's not a sleight on my mother-in-law, just that she drives differently, and has different priorities. She really doesn't care that much as long as the car isn't completely dangerous.

The Twins said:

No, really, there is quite a difference in feel of various tyres
Some have better ride, some sharper steering etc etc.
I can feel the difference. I guess if someone cannot feel a difference then it doesn't really matter what tyres are used.

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That's the point I'm making - you think that you can feel the difference - but could you really? On a humble car like the 500? I wonder....

RobinPJ said:

That's the point I'm making - you think that you can feel the difference - but could you really? On a humble car like the 500? I wonder....

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Robin you can because don't forget it is in low grip roads (especially in Greece as the strength of the sun melts away the tarmac leaving it very slippery) where you feel the difference between good tires or not. On some roads with brand new tires I can have serious wheelspin on the Fiat 500 in first, while in some roads with old tires I have no wheelspin at all in 1st gear under full power.

If you push the performance envelope of the Fiat 500 (which isn't very high so you can be reaching grip limits at relatively low speed, for example taking a wide 90 degree bend at 50 mph you easily reach the limit of grip) you can see the difference easiy.

If you are driving in London at 10mph then no you don't feel so much difference.

I've felt the difference between two different sets of new tyres fitted to a car

dave said:

Toyo t1r

http://www.tyrewizard.co.uk/car-tyres-c4/15-c8/toyo-proxes-t1r-195-50-r15-82v-tyre-p1967

take no notice of the eu label they are more like a b for rain

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The EU tyre label data is from the manufacturer, Toyo.
Presumably there’s an argument that Toyo have got their EU labels wrong?
And are deliberately or negligently understating the T1R?
What about the Japan (JATMA) labels – are they wrong as well?

130418

RobinPJ said:

That's the point I'm making - you think that you can feel the difference - but could you really? On a humble car like the 500? I wonder....

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On the '08 500 & the '09 500 comparing Neros with Conti 2s in 16s big difference in comfort. Didn't rate the budget Neros.
On an A500 & A500ss comparing P0s with the Michelins in 17s big difference in keeping the power down when it was slightly wet.

RobinPJ said:

That's the point I'm making - you think that you can feel the difference - but could you really? On a humble car like the 500? I wonder....

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Yes, we have 2 x 500 with different tyres similar mileage and I can tell a difference in the tyres. My neighbor also has a 500 with different tyres again. I can tell the difference there too.

not a case here but never ceases to amaze me the amount of times i see people talking about not putting known makes of performance tyres on their hot hatches forgetting these are the only thing that should in theory be in contact with the ground

recently i've found speed ratings to be a but of a nightmare on my other car as is the case here, in reality insurers are also picking up on this when more road/track stuff is fitted

i think the stock Bridgestones are a bit to hard in terms of compound for my taste and don't have some of the compliance of other brands.

Michelin SP3s or Goodyear Eagle F1s are always up there for me and I am running a set of of Yokahama Advan V103s at the moment as couldn't get A08s in the right load rating

i wouldn't go to the enth degree on the 500 though

wigit said:

in theory

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You may say this, but with standard springs and dampers and a road with a lot of speedhumps