Bridgestone tyres. (Bridgestone)

Member Name: firemanspam

Product:	Bridgestone
Date:	05/08/08 (1111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Grip and traction,

Disadvantages: Wear, they will not last forever.

Bridgestone, makers of the famous Potenza range,these are made by the famous Bridgestone Corporation, in Leamington having made them since 1930.

These tyres are used by the legendary Vauxhall sportster - the VX220, and had to be designed specifically for this vehicle. These are sold as sports, or high performance tyres, they are approved for many cars, e.g. Maserati, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, and the Mercedes A class.

These tyres boast a high grip tread compound, which is moulded into an asymmetric tread pattern. This compound will not last as long as a harder rubber, although they will grip a lot better. As for this tread pattern, well, these are designed to shift water, as well as gripping in the dry. Like the compound, you need to settle for the best of both worlds, in other words compromise. If you use these on the track, you have the option of changing tyres with the weather, but not on your private car on the road.

The outer part of the tread is fitted with solid shoulder blocks, and the inner this is a continuous band of rubber, so as to reduce noise. I'm not convinced this works but I am well pleased with them.

The tyres are fitted on my alloy rims, and the balancing weights are fitted on the inside, out of sight, why do most tyre fitters fit them on the outside?

Has I shopped around in my local tyre fitters, plus on the internet, then yes I realise there are places selling them for less, but after you've paid for p&p, plus fitting, and balancing, Oh and a new valve, It was clear that the saving wasn't worth the hassle.

In my own opinion, I think tyres are more important than both steering & brakes.

A good tyre fitter is worth his weight in gold, and the fitter I use automatically runs this hand across the tread before doing anything else. Immediately, he knows if the steering geometry is out, in some cases this can save you a fortune. I've had warning that my tracking was out a number of times, and recently I was informed my camber angle was wrong, this information saved me a pair of tyres.

All new tyres need to be be run in, then checked as soon as possible, for correct pressures and also wear. The current trend is not to rotate your tyres on different axles, and this does even out the wear, and also make tyres last longer. BUT, the disadvantage of this practice, is that all of your tyres will wear out at the same time, and most people (myself included) prefer to change them in pairs. I must just add however, that if buying a full set of four, expect a decent discount.

The tyres seem as good, or better than Goodyears, Pirellis, or Dunlops, but this is just my opinion. They do grip better in the wet than quite a few others, and in my view, this is one of the times you really need maximum grip.

I know precious little about designer tread that a lot of tyres tend to have, nowadays, but these tyres look old fashioned solid chunky tyres, not only when they are new, but after a lot of wear, while some "cool designer treads" look like they are going bald after a few thousand miles, this is due to some of the tread being just a few millimetres deep, or less!

My pwn tyres, are fitted to pristine alloys, and look perfect. Most tyres nowadays have a direction of rotation on them, although these don't.

Right, have you got the slightest idea what your pressures should be? because what it says in the handbook may be correct. and may not. This is due to the fact that manufacturers have to declare a pressure, which is suitable for an average driver of average weight. Your car could be much heavier, or lighter, or loaded more to the front, or rear, you see my point. It's best to have a tyre fitter's opinion. You may find for instance, that yours are wearing on the middle section only, indicating too much pressure, even though it may exactly what it says in the book. If they are wearing on the outasides, your pressures are too low, or your steering geometery is out of alignment, (ask your tyre fitter).

As for prices, it depends on what size you need, you will find some sizes are common, and therefore more cost effective than others, also the more rubber in the tyre, the more it costs.
When you buy two or even four tyres you will find them to be quiet compared with your old ones, this isn't because they are super-dupe silent versions, it's simply because the new rubber is more flexible than the old hardened cases, plus the new tyres have a lot more tread to absorb vibration and noise.

As for availability, they are available everywhere, you won't have no trouble finding them, but you may have to wait a day or two for delivery.

Please check yours!

Summary: Well made tyres, expensive but good.

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