[SiFi]

Going OT In know. But just a thought when it comes to buying the cheapest tyres, make sure you get what you think you are paying for. On another 'net forum, someone offered some Toyo R888s at an insanely cheap price, a punter asked what compound they were based on the picture supplied. The "agent" for the vendor was cagey, until someone else found that a parallel importer had imported a number of very soft compound tyres to offload.

Toyo had issued the following bulletin, which explained why the offered tyres appeared so cheap. 

http://www.toyo.com.au/RacePDFs/Bulletin%20Parallel%20import%20Proxes%20R888.pdf

PRODUCT SERVICE BULLETIN
ISSUE DATE: May 30, 2006.
Parallel Imported Toyo brand Proxes R888
Motor Sport Radials in Australia.

TOYO MOTOR SPORT TYRE DEALERS AND END USERS
A quantity of parallel imported Toyo Proxes R888 motor sport tyres have been
available from a parallel importer based in Sydney recently.

PROXES R888 TREAD COMPOUNDS
The majority of the parallel imported Proxes R888 tyres are in either "GGG"
or "SG" tread compounds.

Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited has been importing very small quantities of
Proxes R888 with the "GGG" compound, in the 195/55R15 size only, for specific users
through Toyo motor sport tyre dealers. "GGG" compound tyres have only been provided to
users after the motor sport tyre dealer & Tyre Technical Department have identified the
using conditions as being suitable for this tread compound.

PARALLEL IMPORT PROXES R888 TYRE PERFORMANCE FOR END USERS
Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited retails Toyo motor sport radials through
specialist motor sport dealers who have the knowledge to advise end users regarding
the most suitable product for their using conditions, as well as the optimum inflation
pressures and suspension tuning for optimum tyre performance.

Retailers and wholesalers of parallel import Proxes R888 tyres are not specialist
Toyo motor sport tyre dealers and are therefore unlikely to have the knowledge to advise
end users regarding the product that is best suited to their application. Most importantly,
it is unlikely that end users purchasing parallel import Proxes R888 tyres know the tread
compound of the tyres they are purchasing. "GGG" & "SG" tread compound tyres are
suitable for a very narrow range of using conditions. It is unlikely that end users purchasing
parallel import Proxes R888 tyres with "GGG" & "SG" tread compounds will have tyres that
are suitable for their using conditions, and therefore are likely to be disappointed with the
performance of these tyres.

It is also possible that users purchasing more than one tyre are receiving tyres with different
tread compounds that are then fitted to one vehicle, creating handling problems due to the
different warm-up and grip characteristics of the different tread compounds.

SHELF LIFE OF PROXES R888 TREAD COMPOUNDS
The "shelf-life" of the "GGG" and "SG" tread compounds is considerably shorter
compared to the compounds imported by Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited. The
majority of the parallel import Proxes R888 tyres in "GGG" & "SG" tread compounds were
produced in 2004. Performance of the "GGG" & "SG" compounds will not be as the
manufacturer intended where tyres are more than 12 months old. This is one reason why
Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited keeps very limited stocks of Proxes R888 "GGG"
tyres.

WARRANTY AND SERVICE
Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited does not provide warranty or product service
on any Toyo brand tyre not imported and sold by Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited,
(tyres fitted to vehicles as original equipment tyres excepted).

Stephen Burke,
Motor Sport Liaison Officer,
Tyre Technical Department,
Toyo Tyre and Rubber Australia Limited.

[Aircon]

I've never met a tyre guy who really knew his stuff for the types of cars that I run, apart from Jim Richards when he owned Bob Jane in Box Hill (and you'd expect him to know!)

but the rest...maybe they can give good advice on 'normal' cars, but the so called 'specialists' don't really know what to do with Ferraris if you want anything out of the ordinary....or at least not that I've met in over 30 years of playing with these OHOS.

Best thing is to do your own homework so that you know what you want, THEN go to a recommended company to purchase from.

Boy...do I have some stories.

[flamestone]

Just get the correct sizes for road use, and get a wheel alignment too. Not a Bob Jane $33 one either... it takes at least an hour to do a proper job on a Porsche, maybe double....

On the subject of not skimping so that you get the best out of the car and tyres, that's front AND rear wheel alignment. 

[98octane]

I had to get new tyres for my GTI recently and had the same problem of finding a place to get good advice.

Initially, I went to Beaurepaires/Bob Jane etc for their recommendation.  It seemed to me that they didn't know much more about tyres than I do (which is not much).  After asking me what I want out of my tyres (maximum grip for twisty roads!), they merely plugged my tyre size into their computers and recommended some rack-rate Dunlops for $250 per corner.  But I certainly wasn't convinced by their recommendations, so I went online and found a VW forum discussing tyres for my exact car model.  Once  I'd narrowed to two or three tyres (based on comments in the forums), I ran around three or four tyre stores for their best prices on each.  I found Bob Janes (yes the same store) had  Bridgestone Adrenalin Potenza RE001s on sale for $189 per corner.  Bridgestone in Mulgrave offered to beat this price, and that is where I ultimately bought the RE001s for $185 per corner.  I went to Bridgestone because I was more impressed with their attitude and the store is more conveniently located.  My mate has these same tyres on his Pug 206 GTI 180.

I've had the tyres for a month now and driven in all sorts of conditions.  Keeping in mind the GTI is FWD, in the very wet twisty roads of the Otways and the back of the Dandenongs, I was amazed how well these tyres gripped around tight corners, sweeping bends and even under heavy braking.  In the dry, they grip even better, to the point that my courage is (actually, was ) the limit of how fast I can throw the car around a hairpin bend.  In highway and city driving, there is less road noise that my old "normal" Dunlops but the ride is little hard (but I'm used to it and don't care about this at all).

So, it looks like I bought great tyres and saved $260 compared to the original offer.

[Aircon]

I had to get new tyres for my GTI recently and had the same problem of finding a place to get good advice.

Initially, I went to Beaurepaires/Bob Jane etc for their recommendation.  It seemed to me that they didn't know much more about tyres than I do (which is not much).  After asking me what I want out of my tyres (maximum grip for twisty roads!), they merely plugged my tyre size into their computers and recommended some rack-rate Dunlops for $250 per corner.  But I certainly wasn't convinced by their recommendations, so I went online and found a VW forum discussing tyres for my exact car model.  Once  I'd narrowed to two or three tyres (based on comments in the forums), I ran around three or four tyre stores for their best prices on each.  I found Bob Janes (yes the same store) had  Bridgestone Adrenalin Potenza RE001s on sale for $189 per corner.  Bridgestone in Mulgrave offered to beat this price, and that is where I ultimately bought the RE001s for $185 per corner.  I went to Bridgestone because I was more impressed with their attitude and the store is more conveniently located.  My mate has these same tyres on his Pug 206 GTI 180.

I've had the tyres for a month now and driven in all sorts of conditions.  Keeping in mind the GTI is FWD, in the very wet twisty roads of the Otways and the back of the Dandenongs, I was amazed how well these tyres gripped around tight corners, sweeping bends and even under heavy braking.  In the dry, they grip even better, to the point that my courage is (actually, was ) the limit of how fast I can throw the car around a hairpin bend.  In highway and city driving, there is less road noise that my old "normal" Dunlops but the ride is little hard (but I'm used to it and don't care about this at all).

So, it looks like I bought great tyres and saved $260 compared to the original offer.

I knew we'd finally agree on something. The guys in the shops don't drive ferraris, lotus, porsche etc....so what do they know? Have you ever bought tyres and gone back to the shop to give a report? no! Best thing is to do your homework, as you did, then shop for the prices. It's what you did and you're happy. as scud would say 'the end'

[flamestone]

Have you ever bought tyres and gone back to the shop to give a report? no!

Ummm... yes actually for at least the last 4 sets that I can recall.

But you're right.  And Brenton obviously knows it, otherwise he wouldn't be here having is thread occasionally highjacked.   

[Brenton]

Thats right Flamestone

I came to my fellow Aussie Exotic owners to get some information as I have only had the car for 6 months and therefore onle had the tyres that came with the car. Bridgestone on the front and Hankook on the rear. (unpredictable and unstable mid corner when fully loaded)

Yes on my Liberty GT B (work car) I have gone back to the tyre guy and told him what I thought of the tyres and also kept him upto date with how they have performed over the length of their life. He is unfortunately a Subaru Evo guy and dose not know about porsches.

F.F.
cheers, everytime you put your helping hat on you come out with more fatastic advice.
I will get prices on Continental and Michelin. then read reviews and find the ballance.

p.s. I knew the answer was not going to come straight away so the change of tyres is probable 3- 4 months away but I want the right set as I only drive the car every couple of weeks or so.

Here is a pic of what we are talking about . cheers guys.

Also any other points please keep them coming.

[waz356]

Hi Brenton,

just as an FYI, North Terrace Tyres recommended Yokohama Advan V103's for the 993. That was for road use not track. I haven't tried them though. I'll be having coffee with a mate in the morning who had a 996 GT3 and I'll ask him what he used - he went through a LOT of tyres.

Have you asked Ben at the Porsche Centre what is recommended from the factory?

Cheers,

Warren

P.S. I passed your number on to Cheryl. Thanks.

[AshSimmonds]

...I'll be having coffee with a mate in the morning who had a 996 GT3 and I'll ask him what he used - he went through a LOT of tyres.

And not many brake pads!

[993tits]

Not that I have any knowledge on A) Tyres or B) Porsches but the 996 runs two different offsets........one for narrow body cars and one for wide body cars

The 96 C2 Cab should be narrow body and run the offset for 265 rears........the Turbos, GT2's and C4S are wide body and run 295's. The GT3 is a different animal altogether and runs whatever the hell it damn well pleases but they can be up to 315's.

If your 996 Cab is running 295's, then it has wider wheels than standard or the rears have been fitted with the offset of the widebody cars.

My turbo has almost one big fat tyre across the back!............Porsches Rule!