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SC Tyres


sunnydippy

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Hi Everyone,

I needed to pick your brains about Tyres for my 78 SC.

The tyres on my SC are over 10 years old now and I can see cracking on the edges and so I'm keen to have them replaced.  The tyres currently on my car are as follows:

Front
Michelin Energy 205/55R 16 91V

Back
Continental Conti Premium Contact 2 225/50R 16 92W

Now, these are the tyres that the car came with.  I did have a puncture a year back and had one of the rear Conti's replaced and so that one is new.  In essence I only need 3 new tyres but want to put the correct tyres on.  I'm also not keen on having mixed brands.  Is there a defacto brand and tyre type that should go on a SC, or can I simply replace them all with Conti's?

Any thoughts?

Sunny.

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Hi Sunny it depends a little on how you use your car, but there’s also a lot of opinion around on this subject so tread carefully. For about the first 15 years of ownership I used Conti Sport Contacts, liking the mix of attributes they brought and having used them a lot on other cars.  Then someone on here nagged me for a year or two to try Bridgestone SO2s, so I bought a couple.  I found the grip to be far better and they were also good in the wet.  They didn’t last as long as the Contis but I felt it a fair compromise and have used them for six years now.  So that’s one version, now expect messages in support of Conti, Michelin, Kumho and Yokohama..........

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I was in the same boat as you when I bought my 3.2 just over 5 years ago as tyres were 10 years old with some cracks appearing. Bridgestone SO2 was what the overwhelming majority on this forum recommended and that's what I got, I am very happy with them.

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Thanks Guys.  I see I may have opened a can of worms!  To clarify though, I don't use my car on the track and just take it out on the odd weekend.  So it's Conti's or Bridgstones then.  I would save on one tyre if I went for Conti's though! £££!

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1 hour ago, Lesworth said:

Bridgestone S02's here as well. I don't do track days and find the tyres grippy enough for brisk progress and no issues in the wet. They seem to have a 'square' shoulder profile which helps to fill the wheel arch as well.

Agree 100%

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Now you’ve all got me thinking!

The conti’s I can pick up anywhere but the Bridgestone are a bit more difficult to source. Black circles seems to be a place that stocks them.  Performance aside, visually is it the square shoulder that makes them more appealing?

 

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They’re both good tyres and it’s very much an individual preference of what you’re comfortable with on your particular car.

Ive stuck with Conti’s on my current car simply because when I bought it it already had 2 new rears so I bought two fronts to start off new all round. Rears tend to wear first. I replace every 10 years anyway ,which is due next March ,so I may well go for Bridgestone , not because I don’t like the Conti’s, simply a chance to try Bridgestones on the Porsche.

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I’d had both Conti’s and Bridgestone’s, there’s not much between them In reality it’s down to your personal driving style and the feedback you want.

Just to add some spice, Michelin PS4’s seem to be in vogue for many sports car makes.

 

 

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7 hours ago, Jonny Hart said:

Personally I don’t like ‘square’ tyres on the 911 for country lanes and typical British roads.   I find, the Contis offer a more supple ride than the Bridgestones on these less than ideal surfaces.  

Just wondering if those on firmer Bilstein suspension prefer contis and those on Boge SO2!

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1 hour ago, Mondrian said:

Just wondering if those on firmer Bilstein suspension prefer contis and those on Boge SO2!

Could be right. Conti’s on bilstein cars. S02’s On much softer koni equipped car. They’re both good tyres, just the conti’s get my vote. Even run them on daisy and that car gets some grief including track days. 

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I have Contis but im not that enamoured with them. I only have them as the fronts came with my new wheels and i matched the rears. They are disappointing compared to the Vredesteins I had on previously. I would have had them again but they didn't do the right size. I've never had SO2s. Ultimately, unless you drive on the limit they will all do the job. Go for whichever gives you the best deal monetarily.

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1 hour ago, sunnydippy said:

Thanks everyone for your wise words.  I think ultimately it comes down to preference and cost, in which case Conti's win as I already have a new tyre on one wheel.

Good choice. I have run Sport Contacts on several cars (currently on the Z4 Coupe too) and they are a good blend of grip, life and cost. Makes a difference when you have several cars to maintain and you don't do track days. If I was still tracking a car I would use S02s.

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5 hours ago, Mondrian said:

Just wondering if those on firmer Bilstein suspension prefer contis and those on Boge SO2!

I have Bilstein's and Chris at CG fitted Conti's to my car

Edited by Beaky
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I have Koni/Bilstein combination on mine,  I’ve had a couple of sets of Toyo TR1’s on mine and a couple of sets of So2’s,  as mentioned, the SO2’s have square shoulders which look good,  but this + a hard compound to me creates a harsher ride on our sub-standard roads,  the grip in the wet is far superior to the Toyo’s,  but I much prefer the ride quality of Toyo’s for everyday use with a lot less tram lining. 

I went round Snetterton in Twinny’s 3.2 Conti shode targa and I was very impressed,  but that could be down to the driver, 😃

Contis,  Toyo’s and Bridgestone are all great makes so you can’t really go wrong as a lot of it is subjective.

  • Thanks 1
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Your right that any premium brand new boots will feel amazing against 10yo hard tyres

just a quick question
What Conti's did you fit?
Premium or Eco
I've not been able to get Sport Contact. Conti UK said they stopped making them mainstream and might be available through specialist later

I've supplied Michelin Exalto to last few customers. Drives well but I favour Conti's 

Edited by crisc204
spellingz :)
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