My TT is going to need tires soon, which thrills me since the Yokohamas that are on there are really noisy. I was told by a fellow TT owner that Audi owners and Yokohamas don't get along well - any reason for this?

Anyway, I've had all the road and tire noise I want out of the MINI. I want to hear only the turbo spinning up, the exhaust note, and the Bose when I drive this car. Any suggestions? I am a fairly aggressive driver, love to corner, and no plans to track this car. I don't want a long life hard compound, but I don't want to be replacing tires every year either, (the Yoko's on my MINI lasted for 7K).

I apologize for asking what has surely been asked multiple times, but any thoughts on this subject would be appreciated.

 

I was directed to the Falken Zeix 512's as a good tire that'll last a bit, but still performs alright. Not really any complaints so far. Its an all season, so its a big step down from the BFG g-force tires I was using before, but thats a diff. class, so i shouldn't compare them.

You want long life and low road noise, rotate your tires frequently. Thats probably the number one cause or road noise, they start getting flats on them, and they end up sounding like 33" mud tires.

 

Under hard accleration, do you have traction in first gear? lol... That's all I really want!

 

no, you want quattro.

I'm totally seeing your side of things with these damn rental cars I get. currently a 07 chevy malibu, i try to slip out into traffic from work (traffic going 55), and all i get is tire spin, until the traction control kicks in, and drops revs until the tires catch.. I can't take it!!!

My TT is quattro, which is good, WITH NO ESP!!! And I don't want it!

 

Well....

Over the past three years I've run Toyo T1S, Bridgestone RE750, and I am currently on Michelin Pilot Sports. I get about 15,000 out of a set of tires and they each usually have seen 1000 miles or so on the track. They've all handled well on the street and on the track. Don't know if I can say that one is definitely better than the other, to be honest with you.

The street tires don't see the track much anymore (have a set of RA-1's) but when it's wet at the track I still run my streets.

Just about all of the performance tires are going to get noisier as they wear, but I don't really concern myself about tire noise, I care more about handling.

 

I just had to replace my tires cuz my front left blew out(lucky I didn't lose control), but i went with Sumitomo(sp?) hrt+ and I like them, they were like $167 for each but they ride nice and no road noise. and the cornering is so much better.

 

I guess the damage had already been done to the tires when I bought the car. I had Falkens, Yokohamas, and Kumho tires on the MINI, and the Kumho's outperformed the other two in all respects. The BFG's were under consideration. I'll have to take a look at the Michelin's as well. I know this is contrary to a lot of the member attitudes, but I'm trying to slow my butt down on the street. I was on borrowed time in the MINI having been stopped for 80 in a 30 once...and getting let off. But this car, a Quattro makes it difficult to be good. I haven't found the ESP to be nearly as aggravating to spirited driving as MINI's system.

Thanks for the input, now I have to decide if the budget will allow new wheels at the same time. The previous owner put aftermarket wheels on - and they are okay, but not MY choice.



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dang the yellow TT's look clean

ya id swap the rims for a black w. polished lip. but the ones on aren't too bad.

 

I like the wheels - just not on this car. It might just be a personal preference, but I like polished/chrome wheels on yellow cars.

 

I put the Falken Zeix 512's on my 18's as well. I love them cant complain one bit. When the summer comes and autocrossing takes back off then its going to be time for some of Falkens High Peformance tires but for the winter the 512s are good and dont cost that much.