GT and GT-P Tyres - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

GT-P · 08-26-2003, 11:26

Just a question regarding the factory tyres as fitted on GT and GT-P.

How do you find the performance of the tyres, do you think that they should be of more suitable compound to suit output torque of the GT.?

I have found that in normal driving conditions that they need to be wider or have more grip to avoid minor or even semi hard driving conditions. i.e. they smoke up too easy.

Do you think a pair of 265's on the rear would be the way to go.?

eightoftwelve · 08-26-2003, 15:07

I find the tyres actually quite good.

You will find that the reason that they smoke up so easily is not the tyres but the fact that a number called 290 is printed on the engine plastic cover. I have been told that removing the plastic cover might help

.

Seriously, the tyres are great - especially in the wet. I find the traction control system very impressive - are you driving with it off or on?

I actually smoked my tyres up reversing out of my sisters driveway and that was with traction control on and not trying!!!

DABOSS · 08-26-2003, 16:19

Auto or Manual

Aussie Pete · 08-26-2003, 18:08

The SP9000 is not the grippiest tyre available. However, for a factory fit it is very good. I think Ford use the SP9000 because it is an excellent wet weather tyre which is probably where the most 'danger' exists for average drivers.

Having said all that, I find the SP9000s prone to punctures from pickup, they wear unevenly by picking up the outer edge tread blocks, and as a result they become very noisy as they wear (despite numerous and repeated wheel alignments on different cars).

Would I buy these as a replacement tyre? Yes.

What would I buy instead? Talking to some high mileage users (WASA as an example) the Pirelli P-Zero gives more miles, better wear, and just as good performance (maybe not quite so good in the wet).

Oh, I also have the same problem you have - they have a habit of converting to smoke very easily....

TS50 · 08-26-2003, 18:15

Funny that, My SP9000's often convert to smoke very easily
hmm wonder if there is a problem somewhere?

GTP 320 · 08-26-2003, 19:26

I find them excellent,i had them also on my previous car (TE 50) they might be a bit soft on the wear but are great in wet conditions

russellw · 08-26-2003, 19:45

I'm with AP on this one. I'm on my 3rd set and as a compromise between wet and dry grip they are a good all round compromise.

Most of the comparative testing I've seen gives the S03 a slight advantage in dry conditions but nothing else comes close in the wet.

Cheers
Russ

Charliewool · 08-26-2003, 22:32

I've got about 5000ks left on my SP9000's (thanks, partially to the FPV driving course!) Just what is a better wearing alternative?... The Dunlops at around $2000 seem a little steep for 20,000 ks of driving.

TS50 · 08-26-2003, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charliewool

I've got about 5000ks left on my SP9000's (thanks, partially to the FPV driving course!) Just what is a better wearing alternative?... The Dunlops at around $2000 seem a little steep for 20,000 ks of driving.

Got to agree
my rears lasted 20,000, fronts are to be replaces this week at 27,000
and thats only because the inside edge is smooth as a babied bum, the middle and outsides still hsve plenty of tread
but that equates to $1 of tyre wear for every 10 kms of road travelled.
so a 500km round trip equates to $50, about the same as petrol.
Makes them expensive cars to run

rod c · 08-26-2003, 23:01

I had Dunlop 17" tyres on my old XR8 ute and the front ones chopped out at 20,000k's. That was after numerous wheel alignments and changing tyres back to front several times. What I did notice and the same as my BA XR8 ute with 18's is when they are cold they break traction very easily and once you hit the highway with the tyres cold you can feel a slight vibration through the vehicle until they warm up. I was talking to the Ford Tech about the front tyres scuffing out on the inner and outer edges and he suggested running 38-40 psi in the tyres and any sign of wear on the edges put another 5 psi in them. Currently he has a customer running 50 psi and having no wear problems on the front tyres at all.