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Hi, Zip. Well, they just feel a bit clumsy compared with the Pirellis, which were more progressive though with less overall grip, especially when more than half worn. It may be partly the sidewalls, which seem more flexible (and hence more comfortable). Steering response doesn't seem so crisp, though it's better with about 38 psi in the fronts and a little less in the rears. Once you're settled into a corner they hang on like grim death, wet or dry. They react well to slinging the car through roundabouts but you do feel you have to throw it in rather than twitch the wheel, if you get my drift. Maybe I just need to calm down a bit.
Remember that I have stiff suspension (Abbott springs + Konis, with poly bushes to control arms and anti-roll bars) so I feel safe in ascribing this change in steering feel to the tyres. However, I've just had my alignment checked and I was toeing out a bit, now corrected to 1.0 mm toe-in. Will seek out some more corners and post any revised impressions!
Hadn't heard about the Autoexpress article or its findings. My fuel consumption always seems high and certainly hasn't got any better with these tyres, quite possibly worse - but I can't be remotely scientific about that. I have auto transmission and tend to accelerate hard so expect to use quite a bit of fuel. I also use the car much less for long trips these days. Once again, I keep records for business purposes so will try monitoring a few tanks-full and report back anything interesting.
Finally, the tread pattern doesn't incorporate any continuous grooves round the tyre at all, just very long angled blocks. I wonder if this has any effect on rolling resistance when running straight? I'm also not sure that all sizes/profiles of D3 have the same tread pattern.
posted by 81.131.229...
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