New Tyres - Looking for options

traco

I need a new set of tyres for the car (ML). Size is 255/50 R19. Looking for a good summer tyre that performs well in the rain as I do a fair bit of motorway miles (UK & Ireland) and that happens to invole a lot of wet weather driving. Winter is not an issue as I have a set of snow and ice tyres that get put on at the end of October.

Currently there are Pirelli P Zero Rosso fitted, they were OK but to be honest I was never entirely happy with them in the rain particularly as they started to wear down. They are still legal but at this stage they need to go. Being quoted €285 per corner fitted and aligned.

Originals were Michelin Diamaris and they were a good tyre so considering these but they are expensive. Quote so far is €315 a corner fitted and aligned.

A few places I've called have suggested Hankook Ventus ST (pic below) as an option and I've been quoted €220 per corner for these. They placed 6th in a 2010 Autobild 4x4 test and online reviews seem positive.

Now I have a reservation with Hankook as I have another car with Optimos on them and I find them very poor in the wet. They tend to spin up at junctions when pulling out, hard braking can casue ABS to kick in and can slide on cornering if pushed. They are on almost 2 years and have worn very little so I am guessing they must be a hard compound and that would explain the characteristics.

So has anyone any experience with the Ventus ST on a large heavy car or is there some alternatives that I should consider. High performance in wet weather is important.



Thanks

db330

I have these one a pajero, 295/45 R20, I got mine at €180 a corner,

but they are very good in the dry, but i don't like them in the wet, I can't compare them to anything really though, as i went from the old wheels (255) to these wheels with new tyres.

I just don't have confidence in them in the wet as the ABS has kicked in a many occasions with them on (done 10000kms with them). On the old wheels I had Dunlop dueller or something and i think those in 255 form were better in the wet but no where near the Hankooks dry performance.

Hope this wss of some help to you

traco

db330 wrote: »

I have these one a pajero, 295/45 R20, I got mine at €180 a corner,

but they are very good in the dry, but i don't like them in the wet, I can't compare them to anything really though, as i went from the old wheels (255) to these wheels with new tyres.

I just don't have confidence in them in the wet as the ABS has kicked in a many occasions with them on (done 10000kms with them). On the old wheels I had Dunlop dueller or something and i think those in 255 form were better in the wet but no where near the Hankooks dry performance.

Hope this wss of some help to you

Thnaks, that's a great bit of info, dry grip is never that much of an issue, its not as if its a high performance sports car that needs to handle track days. Its the emergency breaking on a wet motorway that worries me or hitting some standing at speed on a motorway, that seems to be where it spends most of its life.

Hopefully a few more will add some input and I can decide if they are an option or not.