Technical 100HP Tyres - stylistic choices

[Cian]

Now that the Eagle F1s are effectively unavailable in 195/45R15, what are people doing for tyres that look "right" on the car?

I've bitten the bullet and ordered two VERY dear Uniroyal Rainsport2's despite the Rainsport3's being cheaper and having a better official rating (the tyre label, as trustworthy as that isn't...) purely because of the V-shaped profile versus the Rainsport3's rather odd non-single-sided one that I can see looking ridiculous.

Only other branded tyre I could find that looked right were Toyo Proxes but the wear repuation and atrocious rain performance rating made them seem like a bad idea for my pocket and the climate here.

 

[AB100]

Now that the Eagle F1s are effectively unavailable in 195/45R15, what are people doing for tyres that look "right" on the car?

I've bitten the bullet and ordered two VERY dear Uniroyal Rainsport2's despite the Rainsport3's being cheaper and having a better official rating (the tyre label, as trustworthy as that isn't...) purely because of the V-shaped profile versus the Rainsport3's rather odd non-single-sided one that I can see looking ridiculous.

Only other branded tyre I could find that looked right were Toyo Proxes but the wear repuation and atrocious rain performance rating made them seem like a bad idea for my pocket and the climate here.

Rainsport 2s with 195/50-15 profile. Didn't give much of a toss about the look or the 'noise' or the 'economy'. Wanted them to be good in the wet and a fair(ish) price.

 

[Aston Martin]

 

[Matt100HP]

Sorry, I ususally try to be civil, but this is beyond belief. What kind of moron buys tyres predominantly based on aesthetics? The RS3s are a better tyre and are much more widely available. There's nothing wrong with RS2s, but buying them over the cheaper, better RS3s is just stupid. Tyres are, first and foremost, a practical safety item, not a cosmetic item.

RS3s (or whatever the best Rainsports are at the time) will be going on my 100HP if it ever needs new tyres before I sell it; they're the best tyre available for the 100HP for UK road driving use.

 

[Gavv8]

Got Khumo ecsta sports on the front of mine at the mo, they've been pretty good all through the crap weather and they grip like hell but i've almost killed them now so i'm going to try GT champiro's next as my local tyre monkey has a deal going on them..in terms of aesthetics...well i've got avon zv3's on the back and the tread pattern looks amazing...trouble is they are not much good at being a tyre.

 

[306maxi]

Have to say I kinda agree. Buy the best tyres you can afford and don't care about the looks....

 

[A3jeroen]

They are all black aren't they?

gr J

 

[Rooflessdriver]

I have F1'scon the back and yoko s drive on the front but looks like I need to replace the yoko's again after just a year.
Both side walls have a surface 'cut' in the side which happened with the previous ones too.
Really annoying as they are both less than a year old with loads of tread.
As there is no scuffing on the wheels not sure what's caused it but won't buy them again as they are obviously very soft.

As to OP's comment about toyo proxies in the wet, I have been using them on my MX5 for years and never had any issues!

 

[HHR]

I had Toyo Proxes on my old Panda and thought they were superb in all weathers. I was surprised to see they had such a poor rating to be honest. I will be getting Uniroyal RainExperts next.

I can't imagine anyone looks at how stylish the tread pattern is!

 

[daveofkent]

I think everyone's being a bit hard on Cian its not like he was going on about some stupid modification - just out of a load of good quality tyres (they were all good) he like the ones with the nicest looking tread.

You'd be surprised at the number of people that do the same, it's a lot more than you think. It's his money to burn & I tend to agree that the No2 looks nicer although it wouldn't have made me get them over 3 I can see what he means.

 

[AB100]

I think everyone's being a bit hard on Cian its not like he was going on about some stupid modification - just out of a load of good quality tyres (they were all good) he like the ones with the nicest looking tread.

You'd be surprised at the number of people that do the same, it's a lot more than you think. It's his money to burn & I tend to agree that the No2 looks nicer although it wouldn't have made me get them over 3 I can see what he means.

Yep - you make sense. Everyone has their own aesthetic. I don't particularly care about tread pattern, nor that my indicators are orange or even that the car needs washing.........but if I see a photo that's more than 0.1 degrees off-level it drives me nuts.

 

[Wee Smurf]

My car is very dirty at the minute.

When it comes to tyres, I prefer performance over looks personally but I suppose everyone to their own.

 

[Remould]

Try Toyo PX4,an "all seasons" tyre that wears well and looks good also.

 

[306maxi]

Try Toyo PX4,an "all seasons" tyre that wears well and looks good also.

A car like the 100hp needs proper summer tyres, no all season crap.

 

[Stu DemonD]

I must have got the last two of the Eagle F1s still around; they were fitted a few weeks ago.

Still at a loss as to what to replace them with when the time comes, although I still run winters as well. Need to order 2 more of those in August. I can't see myself opting for "all season" to be fair.

 

[Remould]

A car like the 100hp needs proper summer tyres, no all season crap.

So you fit summer tyres and then park the car up when the weather drops to 7 degrees?,and do you actually know what an all season tyre is?, have a look at Toyos site and you may learn something!

 

[Stu DemonD]

I move to Winter tyres once the temperature starts to drop and I put my Summer tyres back on once it starts to warm up.

 

[306maxi]

So you fit summer tyres and then park the car up when the weather drops to 7 degrees?,and do you actually know what an all season tyre is?, have a look at Toyos site and you may learn something!

Nope, I put my winters in then. All seasons are jack of all trades master of none.

 

[Remould]

I move to Winter tyres once the temperature starts to drop and I put my Summer tyres back on once it starts to warm up.

That's the proper way to do it, but not everyone's circumstances allow this, taking labels away most of the everyday tyres sold are all season tyres, it's just that there not labelled that way.

 

[306maxi]

That's the proper way to do it, but not everyone's circumstances allow this, taking labels away most of the everyday tyres sold are all season tyres, it's just that there not labelled that way.

Rubbish, the majority of tyres sold are summer tyres.