Zetec

Time to buy some tyres. My Zetec's boots are shagged after a little under 45,000km and it's time to replace them soon. I have noticed a lot of ads for tyres lately and the specials offered on TV and in the mail. I was wondering if anyone had yet replaced the tyres on their Zetec or CL (obviously I'm looking at 16 inchers) and has an idea on what they paid. I am deciding between the following brands and sizes.

Goodyear Eagle NCT 5 ECO 205/50/R16 (stock tyre and size which I have been SERIOUSLY impressed with). Goodyear tyre centres are running a program where you get 4 for the price of 3 and as always you also receive lifelong replacement on punctures, kerb damages repair/replacement etc. I was quoted $836.00 for a full set of 4 including fitting, blanace and free rotation at 10,000km/12 months. Sounds pretty good to me considering the tyres normally retail at around $300 each. They are also the "W" rated tyres, which are slightly higher than the "V" rating on the stock Zetec tyres. I'd be happy to proceed with these tyres again and will check prices elsewhere to maybe sneak it below $800.00

Deciding against Eagle F1's, they wear too quickly for my driving style and are even more expensive than the ECO's.

Michelin Pilot Preceda 205/50/R16 Rated 2nd on the Wheels comparison from last year sometime for the exact same size on a Focus Zetec, seem to be a good competitor on price (although I'm yet to get a quote) and looked the goods in the comparison. I will compare the quotes on the two and read the review in detail, perform my own review of my current tyres and weigh up the benefits/disadvantages, however if anyone has experience with these or any other SERIOUS possiblities (please, no SAVA or any cheapies!!!) that would fit into the $200-250 bracket and have a good rep (like perhaps some Kumhos) then let me know and I'd love to share this resource with anyone looking for new tyres in the futures!!! As much as I love the directional F1's, my driving style (hard) just doesn't suit them as they are a stickier, softer tyres and I both need something longer lasting but also with better wet weather grip due to my somewhat Southern existence...!!

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whippet_zetec

Matt,
I have the NCT's on my focus and are very impressed with them in the wet, used to have NCT's on my falcon too and found them to be pretty decent wearing and quiet too (and that was against the Yoka's I used to have on).....

At the end of the day my only advice is dont scrooge on the tyres, they are the only thing that keeps you on the road...

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Zetec

Trust me on that one, I won't be scrooging at all, nothing worse than a cracker chassis, great suspension, good brakes and shit tyres. Might as well go and buy a Corolla if I want screaming wailing pig understeer.

Have received a quote back for the Michelins at $912 fitted with the lot. Will work on that one and am still seeing what I can get, but at this stage I'm happy to stick with the ECO NCT 5's.

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Projekt`[J]

Matt have a look at some Bridgestone Potenza GIII's, don't know if they'd be your style of tyre but maybe worth having a look at.

I think i must have a problem with my NCT's or something because yeah there awesome in the wet even with the amount of grip i have left but iv'e noticed on a really hot day my NCT's break into understeer with out even trying. I have a mate who has the same tyres on his commodore and he complains of the same problem as me.
I personally don't think i would use NCT's again next time, might have to try something different but thats what i rekon ne way.

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Zetec

Well I have been quoted $228 per corner for the Michies, making a total of $912.00 fitted for 4 including balance and alignment. This is vs $836.00 straight off the bat for the ECO's, which I reckon I'll have a dig at getting below $800.00. I have some thinking to do and then I am waiting on a quote from Bridgestone on some Potenza GIII's. Will keep you all posted!!

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lincolnr

Matt, those Goodyears are rubbish. Don't know why you're bothering. The prices you're getting quoted are down right ludicrous as well. Shame you're now in Melbourne as I would've sorted you out in Sydney.

The Precedas are nice and a lot better than the NCTs. There are two types of F1, the GS-D2 and GS-D3, the GS-D2 is the tyre that is on the 17" option on the Focus. I don't agree that it's soft, you'd probably get the same kind of mileage. The GS-D3 is softer and would probably give you 30,000. You get what you pay for in the end with tyres... I would've thought you would want more grip and better performance with your style rather than super long mileage.

That is, even a GS-D3 would still last 30,000km with enthusiastic driving.

My recommendations would be:
- Best budget tyre, hands down, the Sumitomo HTRZ II+ at around $165 - have a lot of experience on this tyre and it is a seirously fun and cheap tyre.

I got some prices for you in Sydney. This should be what you should be getting down there too, if you ring around:
Potenza GIII - $200 - good value tyre. Perform well, not too aggresively sporty, like the RE711 that it replaced. It will last longer than the RE711 ever did, but doesn't quite grip as well.
Goodyear NCT 5s - $180 - that's just stupid, IMO. Sure, they last a bit longer, but I think they're over priced for what they are.
Michelin Precedas $220 - they're good. I'm hearing mixed opinions on wet weather performance though.
Dunlop Direzza - $200 - would be between this and the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 if it were me.

Cheers,
Lincoln

Zetec

Did I mention I'll be back up in Sydney to visit the folks??!?!?!!! I think I'll be giving you a call mate. I have to service my car too through Power Ford so I'll see how the budget stacks up :o) Thanks for your efffort, I didn't even put 2 and 2 together when it came to tyres, I forgot you were a tyre banshee!!!!! Thanks for that.

I was pretty close on the Precedas though!! And I was going to push the NCT 5's to at least as low as $200 per corner. I am starting to like the idea of the Goodyear F1's though, I know how wicked they are on the 17's for the Focus, so they are back on my shortlist!!! TOO MANY DECISIONS!!!

Thanks again.

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lincolnr

The GS-D2s on the Focus 17s are rubbish. Sorry, they're old and there are much better tyres out there. I'll let you get the GS-D3s though. :)

I've got the EVO tyre review of the ST170 on my website http://www.mymane.net/photos/EVOJuly02

The GS-D3s are decent and should be around the $200 mark as well. If you're in Sydney, I'd do an even better price on those Sumitomos. If you're on a budget, they're the business, I tells ya. I'm putting them on my flat mate's 307 XSI this week. I've run two sets on the parent's Liberty and they've transformed that car over the A539s, Avon ZZ1s and OEM Potenza RE040s.

Yeah, how quickly you forget about my rubber fetish! hehe

Timmeh

I wouldn't get any Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, I have driven cars with both the D2's and D3's and over time they get extremely noisy and grip levels drop. I cannot wait to rid my car of the rubbish, and have been expediting that event.

NCT's too are terrible, I am not sure who would be crazy to pay out for them again.

I'll be strapping Michelin Pilot Precedas on my car, I took both a WRX and a Pursuit out with them on. Being non directional, they are incredibly more quiet than my Eagle F1s, and good grip levels in both wet and dry. They're my choice, and I am anal about my tires too.

Tim

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The MaDDeSTMaN

Hehehe, your driving style hard? Well, if the drive along the GOR last weekend was any indication, I'd have to agree with you there.

I'd like to be able to offer an intelligent suggestion, but tyres aren't something I know all that much about - in fact, I'll be asking for some advice on here soon (but obviously not in the Focus section of the Forum) regarding what tyres to get for my Escort.

Good luck mate, we're certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to tyres, which makes it all the more difficult to choose...

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