Cheap Performance Tyres. Anybody interested?

Nexen N8000 is one of those. Is it really good? Be honest la...

Well, for the price Nexen N8000 is a good tyre for ride comfort, low noise, and good handling. Tyre proved quite good when new but after a few thousand km the grip in the wet disappeared completely despite of gigantic channels in them.

In general, Nexen N8000 tyres are only good for comfortable ride and low noise. That's it, nothing more. They do not match the top range tyres in terms of performance and become unusable even before reaching 20,000km!

It is softer than the factory fitted CSC3 on P308T. The sidewalls are so soft that you think that the tyre is bending like hell when you drive spirited and corner fast. If you are a spirited driver then stay away from these tyres.

I think better stick to one of these!

Overlooked Hi-Performance Tyres

It is our common belief which had been 'inherited' for generations that imported tyres, especially from Europe and Japan are superior when compared to 'made-in-Asia' donuts.

For instance there are cheaper regional made tyres which are as good if not better than European equivalents for local weather and road condition. My first experience was using a set of made in Indonesia rubber compound on my 206B. To my surprise they are very comfortable and quiet without loosing grips especially on wet.

Now it is about time to replace those rubber donuts on my 308T. The original European made CSC3 225/45/17 tyres cost more than RM3000.00 per set!. There are cheaper European/Japanese made tyre which cost around RM2000++ per set as well. Majority of the 308T owners opt for these tyres instead.

There are also low-cost hi-performance tyres made in Korea and Taiwan which cost less than 50% of the price quoted for CSC3. Tread patterns look aggressive with four generous longkangs. Why not give a try.

What about locally made hi-performance tyres?
These are all-weather high-performance 'forgotten tyres' with an attractive uni-directional tread design and circumferential grooves for superior wet weather handling.The manufacturer claims what makes these tyres unique is their exceptional performance in the wet. There are also three different tread compounds onto a single tyre -creating a balance of comfort, water dispersion and cornering stability.

Probably I may give a try. These tyres cost less than 40% of the CSC3!

Pre-40,000 km DIY Inspection [cont.]

My 308 had just clocked almost 40,000km and due for periodic maintenance. Today is a public holiday and is another fine day for DIY mechanical inspection prior to sending the 26-month old 308 [OTR] to my favorite SC.

Will not elaborate further. Click HERE for similar kinda of works I did before. For record, latest photos will be posted here later ... This afternoon gonna renew insurance/roadtax.

update: Insured the car for RM80k only. The premium was RM1400++, roadtax RM90.


Tyre and Brakepad Consumptions
Main contributions to tyre and brakepad consumptions are the same as what are actually effect fuel consumption - i.e who drive where, when and how....

I drive my 308 mainly for long distances covering at least 600km return trip. Sometimes up to 2000km covering highways, trunk roads as well as state roads. Normally I drive between midnite and before sunrise. Hence the consumptions are much less than the average.


After nearly 40,000km - front brakepad had gone 6.6mm and tyre tread reduced by almost 5mm.

Consumptions:
Bosch friction pads [front]: about 1mm for every 6000km
CSC3 treads: about 1mm for every 8000km

See how to remove front brakepads

Will be back...

I'm still alive and active but pls accept my apology for not be able to update this blog often. Lately I'm too busy la. I'll be back after my car is 2 yrs otr or has clocked 40,000km wecf...

The car has just clocked 33,000km after being abused for 20 months. Apart from the battery, no other part has been replaced as yet. Looks like tyres and brake pads will last as long as the spark plugs.... i.e beyond 40,000km.

Tyre condition after 33,000km of abuse

The reason for the extended km is because I drive the car mostly for long distances... unlike those who drive in cities who spend more time on brake pedals than the accelerator...

I'm happy with the car. Probably I'm just lucky to own one of the least problematic 308Turbo on Malayan soil to date...

Thanks again for visiting.

30,000th km Service

AHW308 has done almost 30,000km and ready for the scheduled service/maintenance. Will be sending to regular SC on Monday Sept 27th. As usual I will BMO oil and my choice is Mobil-1 Gold*. This time got FREE umbrella [or Lap-top bag]...
[*Mobil-1 Gold 0w-40 membuat enjin terasa lebih mantap dan solid pada red-line berbanding pelincir 0w-30, 5w-30 dan 10w-30]

Pre-Service Inspection
As usual I did my own inspection prior to sending the car for servicing.

Tyres:
New tyre thread depth = 8mm
Average remaining thread depth is 4.175mm
so, sudah makan 3.825mm/30,000km or 1.275mm/10,000km.

If wear limit is 2mm, the remaining usable thread is 2.175mm, i.e lasts another (2.175/1.275)* 10,000km = about 17,000km (making CSC3 tyres to last beyond 45,000km)

Brake Pads:
Front Bakepads sudah makan about 2/3. May require replacement during next service @ 40,000th km. Rear brakepads only gone 50%

click HERE for my typical pre-service inspection.

The 1.5yrs old car. Just done 30,000km.

updated on Sept 27th
Expenses:
Mobil-1 'Gold' : RM245.00
Oil Filter: RM41.00
Drain Plug Washer : RM3.60
Plastic Rivets [for mud-guards - 2nos.] RM3.00
Labour Charge including 'special request' : RM112.00
Service tax: RM5.60
TOTAL maintenance @30,000km: RM410.20

Understanding Tyre Myths and Facts

MYTH: Wider tyres have a larger contact patch than narrow tyres hence better grip.
It is neither tyre width nor aspect ratio [profile] influences the size of the tyre's contact area with the road surface. The size of the contact patch is actually determined by the weight on the wheel and the tyre pressure. Wider tyres will shorten contact length hence contributes aquaplaning.

MYTH: A larger contact patch gives more grip
Larger contact patch is irrelevant to better grip. If u understand applied physics [remember Amonton's Law, F=uN ? where F is the force generated, u is the coefficient of friction, and N is the weight on the surface considered, i.e the weight on the tyre]

The actual grip that a tyre can achieve is influenced by the coefficient of friction of the rubber compound used in the tyre. The higher the coefficient, the more grip which can be generated.

So its not the tyre width but the compound used that determines the grip [put aside about suspension first - we are only discussing tyres here].

So, why not use narrow high profile tyres then?
The answer to that is heat (we are talking on grip here, not handling). The point is that, to get a contact patch of a certain size on the road, it needs a certain portion of the tyre to be flat. Now, for a narrow tyre, the contact patch will be quite long compared with a wide tyre. This introduces two problems for the tyre.

First, to get that long flat section to give the required contact patch area, the sidewall of the tyre needs to deform quite a lot. This deformation actually causes continuously bending and unbending the rubber of the sidewall as it flattens and then the tread curves again resulting in a lot of heat being generated.

The second relates to the length itself. There will be a greater percentage of the tyre tread in contact with the road than if the contact patch length were shorter; this reduces the amount that the tread can cool. Also, there is a greater percentage of sidewall at any given time that is actually under bending stresses, again resulting in less opportunity to cool. As a result on this increased generation of heat, and the reduced capacity for self cooling, the tyres need to be made of a harder rubber compound that is more able to resist heat. This harder compound will however, have a reduced coefficient of friction hence loosen grip.

FACT: The tyres that are wider can have a softer compound with better frictional properties. Due to the reduced bending stresses, and greater cooling opportunities, the tyre will tend to stay within a narrow temperature range quite consistently, giving greater grip, while reducing the tendency for overheating - hence better performance.

As far as tyre profile is concerned, the main benefit is one of handling - the lower sidewalls give reduced sidewall deformation under lateral loading, which results in improved steering response and a more stable contact patch.

FACT: On the issue of wheel size [the diameter, not the width], it is therefore clear that increasing the wheel/tyre diameter combination is beneficial. The reason for this is that the tyre will not have to deform so much to get the required contact patch length, and the percentage of the tyre tread in contact with the road will be less than for a smaller diameter combination.

What about tyre pressure?
Obviously, tyre pressure plays a very important part, but there are limits also. Too high tyre pressure can damage the carcass. Too low presure will generate massive heat, and have the tyre slipping on the rim.

One issue to consider is that, for wet weather driving [for cars equiped with ABS and ESP - like 308T], in contrary to normal practice, it is better to increase tyre pressure, not reduce it. The reason is that there is a relationship between tyre pressure and the speed at which there is the onset of aquaplaning. The lower the pressure on the road (pressure being a factor of weight and contact area), for a given tyre design, the more likely the car is to aquaplane.

What factors are important in terms of tyre grip?
Tyre width has no direct relation to the amount of grip generated; it is a secondary factor, and the width basically relates to cooling potential and so the tyre compound that can be used. The size of the contact patch has no bearing on the amount of grip generated at all, apart from the extreme of where the compound is getting so hot that it no longer acts as a solid.

The tyre pressure has a bearing on the heating and cooling characteristics of the tyre. Having a lower tyre profile gives improved handling through reduced sidewall stress and improved contact patch shape stability but less resistance to aquaplane.

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Nitrogen Tyre Inflation Myths

Some Myths of the Nitrogen Tire Inflation are:

1. NITROGEN RETAINS TIRE PRESSURES.
This is NOT true at all even though nitrogen leaks by diffusion through a tire at a slower rate than air. But air contains almost 80% Nitrogen! There are numerous issues (valve stem, puncture, rim seal) that can still cause major leaks. Even if Nitrogen will maintain pressure longer than tires filled with compressed air, but is not a substitute for regular pressure checks.

2. NITROGEN MAKES TIRE TO LAST LONGER AND IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY.
NOT true. Maintaining recommended inflation will actually lead to longer tire life and increased fuel economy. So always check tyre pressure.

3. NITROGEN ARE NOT AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE.
Since air has about 78% Nitrogen there is very little difference [i.e almost negligible] compared to 100% Nitrogen filled tyres in expansion and contraction when the tyre temperature is increased or decreased respectively.

Note: Nitrogen inflated tyres have only around 20% more Nitrogen than normal 'air' inflation. There is no benefit to such a small increace actually.

What is the Best Wet Weather Tyre for 308T?

Probably Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 is one of the best tires to drive on wet roads. Experts and experienced drivers recommend Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 for fast driving in wet weather condition . This tyre is probably one of the best resistant to hydroplane. This tire also doesn't wear out as quickly as other high-performance tires, according to many reviews.

Critics say the Eagle F1 GS-D3 matches or exceeds even the top-ranked summer performance tire when it comes to hydroplaning. According to reviews this tire also doesn't wear out as quickly as other high-performance tires.

For instance Continental Sports Contact 3 is the competitor but Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 a lot cheaper [RM800++ vs RM550].

Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 however looses to other 'summer' tyres on dry roads, and testers find the former is also less comfortable to drive and noisier but the differences are slight, and critics recommend the Eagle F1 GS-D3 as a solid all-around summer tire that is extra-capable on wet roads.

Since I always love to drive in wet weather condition, it looks like my next tyre change must be Goodyear F1 GS-D3... because "all tyres are not the same on wet..."

Goodyear F1 GSD3 225/45R17 price:
made in Germany - RM550 ea
made in Thailand- RM450 ea

The best hi-performance wet tyre is actually Goodyear Hydragrip. Unfortunately the tyre size is limited to 16" and not available locally.

Click HERE for tyre search

308T Tyre Consumption
Probably most of us are wondering how long can CSC3 225/45 R17 tyres on 308T last. Wild guess could be between 30,000km to 40,000km. Right? No?

Remaining tread depth 5.45mm after clocking 20,000km


Let us calculate...

New tyre tread depth = 8mm
By measurement, average remaining tread depth on AHW308 tyre after clocking 20,000km = 5.45mm
hence, the average rubber compound consumption = 8mm-5.45mm = 2.55mm (i.e 2.55mm/20,000km or 1.275mm/10,000km)

By taking tread wear limit = 2.5mm
then, the actual usable tread when new = 8mm-2.5mm = 5.5mm.

Since the tyre consumption is 1.275mm/10,000km, then the expected tyre life = (5.5/1.275)*10,000km [i.e around 43,000km]


Solving Infamous Pulling to the Left Problem

It seems that majority of 308 cars in Malaya and everywhere on earth have various degree of drifting sideway towards LHS. AHW308 too, but bearable and improved after exchanging front tyres with the rear [at 10,000km].

Taking advantage of different tyre wear, at 20,000km [almost tyre half-life] there is virtually no more drifting after 'X'-swapping FL tyre with the one on RR. [Note: FR and RL tyres no change place]. Cubalah...

read MORE on tyres

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Tyres for Peugeot 308 Turbo

Recommended "All-rounder" Performance Tyres [225/45 R17 for Peugeot 308 Turbo]. Arranged in alphabetical order: All are best for wet weather condition, hi-speed stability and cornering precision.

BRIDGESTONE - Potenza RE050A

The Potenza RE050A Pole Position features a high silica content [90%] tread compound molded into an asymmetric tread design, large tread blocks and a continuous center rib on the outboard side to provide responsive handling, high-speed stability and traction on dry roads, while wide circumferential and lateral tread grooves to minimize hydroplaning and aid wet traction.

The tire's structure includes twin, steel belts reinforced by spirally wrapped nylon to stabilize the tread area and enhance traction, high-speed capability and ride quality while minimizing weight. The fabric cord body and higher sidewall reinforcement helps blend uniform ride quality with steering response and lateral stability.

CONTINENTAL - SportContact3

The CSC3 is developed for powerful sports cars, sports coupes and luxury sedans. The CSC3 is designed to combine outstanding braking capability and agile steering precision.

CSC3 tires feature an asymmetric design with solid tread blocks and a continuous rib on the outboard shoulder to improve responsiveness and cornering stability, while continuous intermediate ribs provide constant rubber-to-road contact to reduce noise and control the longitudinal forces experienced when braking. The continuous circumferential tread grooves help disperse water to resist hydroplaning and their asymmetrically angled walls further stabilize the tread ribs, increasing steering precision and reducing deformation while cornering. The notched shoulder blocks on the inboard portion enhance wet weather traction. The tire's structure includes twin steel belts reinforced by nylon to stabilize the tread area and enhance handling as well as high-speed capability.

GOODYEAR - Eagle F1 Asymmetrical

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric is developed for high performance cars. The asymmetric in the name describes both the tire's tread design and internal structure, both of which are designed to enhance performance in dry and wet conditions.

The tread uses Goodyear's Racing Compound Technology to combine carbon black for dry traction, silica for wet traction and a new generation of polymers to optimize tread stiffness. This compound is to increase cornering traction while a continuous center rib improves high speed stability and an open inboard tread pattern disperses water. Wide circumferential grooves also allow water to flow from between the tire footprint and road. The internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced with three layers of cord to enhance tread stability and high-speed capability.

MICHELIN - Pilot Sports PS2

The Pilot Sport PS2 is a low profile, high-speed tires. Initially developed for OEM on some sports cars and performance sedans such as BMW Alpina Z8, McLaren SLR and Porsche GT2 & GT3 models.

PS2 features two different tread rubber compounds [a hybrid silica/carbon black compound] molded into an asymmetric design with large outer shoulder blocks and continuous intermediate and center ribs to enhance steering response and cornering stability. The tread design also features wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches that help channel water through the footprint to enhance wet road traction. On the inside, the tread design is supported by two high-tensile, lightweight steel cord belts reinforced by Aramid/nylon hybrid filaments to provide improved steering response and resistance to distortion while enhancing ride quality and high-speed durability.

Lap Timing Test
[by the courtesy of TIRE RACK Performance Specialists]




Check tyre prices in Malaya HERE


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Tyres for 308THP

First batch of 308THP's were fitted with CSC3 225/45 R17 tyres. These tyres are superb on wet condition. Its directional stability is exceptional. Very responsive on curves - wet or dry. A little bit noisy and ride harshness but WELL worth it!
I love these tires. I have been driving on them for the last five months covering more than 10,000km. The car feels livelier and more sure-footed especially on wet. I can't decide if I should say it feels like I'm riding on rails or if it's glued to the road. Whichever it is, the car feels very stable and responsive.

Continental has won a coveted award from the UK's no1 modified car magazine, "FastCar". Announced in the magazine, Continental's ContiSportContact 3 took the top spot in the Best for Safety category.

"FastCar" Magazine also commented:
Safe is the name of the game with Continental Tyres and their wet weather performance is the absolute best. The ContiSportContact 3 tyre is focused on serving up awesome handling for powerful performance cars. We like Continental tyres a lot. The ContiSportContact 3 is the ideal choice for drivers who want the highest levels of safety without compromising on performance. In terms of safety, the use of a supple third generation silica compound allows for supreme wet braking performance. A high proportion of rubber on the outer shoulder and a stiff asymmetrical tread pattern ensures optimum performance handling.
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric is probably the most logical alternative to CSC3. Just like the asymmetric CSC3, the "asymmetric" in the Eagle F1 Asymmetric name describes the tire's tread design and internal structure - both of which are designed to enhance performance in dry and wet conditions. Having three wider channels it looks like CSC3 performs better on wet than GY F1, but the later should be quiter, more comfortable and lasts longer
The tread uses carbon black for dry traction, silica for wet traction and a new generation of polymers to optimize tread stiffness. This compound is molded into an asymmetric tread design with wide, solid outboard shoulder blocks to increase cornering traction while a continuous center rib improves high speed stability and an open inboard tread pattern disperses water. Wide circumferential grooves also allow water to flow from between the tire footprint and road.

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my308 is Tired!

Of course all cars are tired before they can be taken for a spin. I'll be tired at the end of the coming 2Thousand-km journey* ...

High-performance driving is not exclusively a pleasure limited the owners of exotic sports cars. I would say Peugeot 308 turbo can be considered as the entry level to hot hatch.


The most important 'upgrade' is not just how fast a car takes to sprint from 0~100kph, but how short it can decelerate form 100-0kph. It is also not what the top speed is, but also how safe to take corners and hairpins.

The popularity and success of the local tune-up business is an indication of the increasing interest in driving "beyond average". Pro car tuners not only concentrate on engine bhp/torque and suspension/chassis but also on wheels and tyres modifications to the extreme in order to squeeze out what ever can in order to maximize performance.

As far as tyres are concerned, go get pro guide for the tyre aspect of 'tuning' to make correct choice of tyres for the improved handling and safety. Remember that when driving, tyres are the only contact between the car and the road. Selection of the wrong type of tyres can lead to serious if not fatal accidents.


The following are some of the acceptable tyre sizes for 308THP. [in parenthesis are %increase in circumference] wrt std stock tyre 225/45 R17

195/55 R17 [+1.89%] the tyre width is too narrow for J7.5 wheel. Not advisable.
205/50 R17 [+0.39%] Best priced
215/50 R17 [+1.97%] Better tyre for comfort and fuel economy
225/45 R17 [0%] Best Compromise
235/45 R17 [+1.42%] Highly recommended upgrading w/o changing wheels.



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