[Audi A3/S3] Eagle F1 or PS3?...

[DukeDesmo]

So, new tyres time for the A3 (3.2) have Goodyear Eagle F1 at the moment and they have been good but worn very quickly so thinking maybe Michelin PS3 as I've heard good things about them, including that they may last longer?

Any advice or recommendations?

[Paul]

Given the choice, I would choose the Michelin's every time.

Not because i have tried them, but because I have run a set of PS1 and later PS2's every year since 2002 and never been let down. I will certainly be trying a set next time around.

A couple of years back , when the F1's were first released, i tried a set and hated them. I had issues with them and had them removed and sent back to GY. I wont be spending my money with them again.

[DukeDesmo]

What was wrong with your F1's? Mine haven't worn particularly well (not helped that the tracking looks to be out) and are quite noisy but grip-wise have been great, not too bad even in the snow.

[Paul]

I never really saw what all the fuss was about regarding the F1's, They just didnt give me confidence on the road, backed up by increasing noise issues whilst still legal with even wear.

The noise/drone got so bad, it sounded like a wheel bearing was failing. I had an MOT coming up so I had all 4 taken off, (before they were worn out i might add) and sent back to GY for anaylsis. Some months later I recieved a "within tolerance" report for each tyre.

If that what i am likely to expect from a GY product, then I wont use them.

As for the car, as soon as i swapped back to Michelin's the issues went away, I did have the 4 wheel alignment checked out , just as a precaution, having just spent £600+ on tyres, but no changes were required.

I have since found out that the noises/drones are not uncommon. Several other TSNer's have had similar issues.

Edited May 27, 2010 by Paul

[DukeDesmo]

Well, I went for the F1 in the end. I've not had any problem with the two that I had on the front, other than the tracking scrubbing them but I got a four-wheel alignment done at the same time so hopefully no more of that and I got a much better price on them than was available for the PS.

They'll likely only be with me for a year anyway so I'll see how they go but seemed OK on the 50 mile drive I did today.

[PetrolDave]

Can't comment on the PS3s but I've had PS2s and F1s.

I liked the extra rim protection of the F1s and once they had bedded-in (which does take much longer with F1s than any other tyre I've ever had) I though they were great with a good balance of wet & dry grip, handling and road noise.

The PS2s were about 20% more expensive than the F1s but lasted 50% longer, so I went back to the PS2s.