Tyres for S3

[106_racecar]

Hi all

I have just bought an S3 and it needs new tyres.  I would like some feedback on your thoughts as I am a new S3 owner.

Given that I am mainly using the car for commuting I was looking at spending $800-$1000.

The options so far are:

Goodyear F1's GS-D3 - On the car at the moment but chewed out on the front edges which makes them noisy - had one place tell me that these would be their choice and that the Falkens were expensive, although I didn't think $255 was too bad, although I don't want to throw money away. $190

Dunlop Direzza's DZ101 - which are good on my Outback, certainly most Outbacks typically have Geolanders $190

or Falken FK452 - Apparently these are quiet and recommended by a tyre place that mainly does euro cars.  I had ZE502's on my A6 and they didn't think that they were that spectacular. $255

Also heard that Bridgestone RE0040 are good but wear rapidly.

I was also offered a set of GT Radial tyres for $155 each which sounds good, but how good can they really be at that price?

Any other idea's?

[mark2 golf]

i have gt radial on my Mk2 they are good for the money good for a daily driver very hard wearing last for ages pretty good grip but when i have it as a full time project car i thing i will go to gs-d3 but i would recommend the gt radials from my experience they will last twice as long as the others but if you want to thrash it around corners the gs-d3 are the way  to go

[djrisk]

If its the S3 i think it is, get some new wheels with tyres, S3s look heaps better with 18 inch wheels.
As for tyres, i had yokohamams on my S3, Bridgestone are good, or maybe some toyos

[beeker]

Goodyear F1's GS-D3  or Mich PS2's if you can afford it

[veedubman]

good cheap toyo t1rs

falkens are good
but very numb!

[106_racecar]

It looks like the Goodyear F1 GS-D3 are the way to go - There is something about the Falkens that i'm not sure of, I think that they are not so good after a few hours driving ... they do give a good comfortable ride.

[RS ZWEI]

It looks like the Goodyear F1 GS-D3 are the way to go - There is something about the Falkens that i'm not sure of, I think that they are not so good after a few hours driving ... they do give a good comfortable ride.

Go the GSD3s's, they are really good tyres.
MTMS3 has them on his S3. He seems to like them and was getting round Taupo race track well on them

[Trofeo]

Go the GSD3s's, they are really good tyres.
MTMS3 has them on his S3. He seems to like them and was getting round Taupo race track well on them

yep highly recommend them. I gave them a fair hiding with plenty of 4 wheel drifts through the infield at taupo and they held up brilliantly. Ran them at 36 PSI and they have no noticeable wear on the outside shoulders at all. They've done approx 20,000kms and i reckon i'll get at least 10 more out of the fronts and more from the rears (i should rotate them i guess..).

[Lunar7]

I used the Falken ST-115, got good life and grip

[GLIDN]

you will find the more you drive on GSD3's the more you will hate them on a dialy basis. They are noisy, expensive for what they are , and from personal experience are about as good as Bridgestones in the wet which are very non exsistant.

Go mich PS2 or toyo T1R's or Falken 452's.

[gti vr6]

18" Wheels are good for posing but thats about it. If the car came with 17's I'd stick with that size.
Dunlop Eagle F1's are good value for the money. Expect to pay around $220.00.

My 2c

[GTiAndy]

GSD3. They keep winning tyre tests.
I've done an estimated, combined 100,000,kms on GSD3's. When I drive a similar car to the one I won at the time virtually all other tyres are crap. Direzza are in a lower class entirely - had them on a v7 STi, they were rubbish in the wet even with AWD. SP Sport MAXX are good but wear poorly ( I've done 1:25 around Taupo track 2 on GSD3's in a naturally aspirated p11 Primera. 1:23 on Toyo RA1 competition tyres. Toyo T1R are good but 10% off the pace set by GSD3. Some Yokohama Advans are brilliant as are RE series bridgstones but cost and wear are important too aren't they?
 If you want ultimate dry grip there are a few better tyres than GSD3 by up to 10%. If your want ultimate wet grip there are very few that can match GSD3. If you want the ultimate all round tyre that is near the best in all categories costs around your indicated budget and you are an attentive, demanding driver you will enjoy GSD3. 

[oily]

With the GS-D3 you need to be careful as they some are made in Germany, Australia and China !

German ones are the ones to get.

Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE001 are better for not much more.

If you are after high VFM daily driver tyres, the Toyo T1-R or the Hankook RS-2 are recommended.

[Trofeo]

With the GS-D3 you need to be careful as they some are made in Germany, Australia and China !

German ones are the ones to get.

Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE001 are better for not much more.

If you are after high VFM daily driver tyres, the Toyo T1-R or the Hankook RS-2 are recommended.

i had heard that about the GSD3 origin too - so i checked mine and they are made in china. I can't tell any difference between these ones and the last ones that were german.

[GTiAndy]

There have been many cases of de-lamination of Asian sourced GSD3's during track use in the UK...
 I'd like to see some evidence of Bridgestone Adrenalins being even close to as good as a GSD3. The ones I've seen have shoulders like a politician when given the big ask...

[Trofeo]

There have been many cases of de-lamination of Asian sourced GSD3's during track use in the UK...
 

hmmm.. well i did notice that where the tread joined the flat part of the tyre there were cracks - sort of like perishing that you get on old tyres.. very minor and could have been there for ages  i will be keeping an eye on them now. thanks for the advice!!

[oily]

There have been many cases of de-lamination of Asian sourced GSD3's during track use in the UK...
 I'd like to see some evidence of Bridgestone Adrenalins being even close to as good as a GSD3. The ones I've seen have shoulders like a politician when given the big ask...

Try driving on them.

 

The Potenza is in a different class to the Goodyear.

Not as durable (IMO the GS-D3's best virtue) but much more responsive and grippy.

Even better are the Potenza RE-01R , the best road tyre ever from Bridgestone.

Unfortunately unavailable new in NZ.

[NasTnaS]

i had GSD3s, could not fault them as at all... really good tyres. also pretty good on the track too!

[106_racecar]

Thanks for the feedback.  At this stage I have decided to give the GSD3's a go given that they were already on the car and I have managed to get them at $170 each which I though wasn't too bad for a 17" tyre.

[Trofeo]

Thanks for the feedback.  At this stage I have decided to give the GSD3's a go given that they were already on the car and I have managed to get them at $170 each which I though wasn't too bad for a 17" tyre.

where did you get them for that price  that's a damn good deal!!