View Full Version : S03’s. Avoid!!!
Gents,
I thought I’d let you know about my new shiny tyres. They are rubbish!
Previously I had a set of cheap Fuldas and these had reached about 1.8mm all round and needed replaced.
With these old tyres, braking was stable, turn-in crisp and the back end was glued to the tarmac. But I wanted more!!!....
After reading EVO magazines excellent tyre test, I decided to use their points scoring and deduct wet performance and subjective points (tested on a Ford Focus!). After recalculating the S03’s came out top.
Driving home tenderly after fitting them, I got my first fright! Through a v slow (30 mph) left hander the back end washed out on a steady throttle. The Fuldas could take it at 45mph. Not good I thought, but gave them the benefit of the doubt until properly scrubbed in.
Well, it’s now been about a week and a half since having fitted them and things have not improved much. Turn-in is less sharp than before, the ride is less compliant, there is less steering feel and under hard breaking (not trail breaking), the back end is all over the place. The car is just generally less stable.
I have had the alignment checked and playing with the pressures does not seem to help much.
On the upside, wet performance seems fine. But this is probably due to the 8mm extra tread.
In short, I’ve wasted £500 :cry:
Don’t buy them.
TER…
Claudius
01-10-2002, 16:37
Tyres is a very delicate subject.
All the tyres from the S-O series suck. Some swear by the S-O2s, but then again, some people fit HKS fuel cut defenders, so that doesnt mean much...
I have learned not to believe the hype or the magazines, the hard way, by buying the wrong car (a Carrera 4 (964)(hype) and an M3 3.2l(press)).
Try stuff and learn, but dont believe all the suckers out there!
Spanpody
01-10-2002, 16:52
If you had done a detailed search on this forum you would have found that the Pirelli PZero Assimetrico's (yellows;)) come highly recommended. Thats the way I went when I re-tyred my V and they are great!
Where about in Scotland are you based ?
Aye, wish I'd gone for the Pirelli's. But there you go.
Like Claudius says, live and learn. I just hope this stops some other poor sod from buying them.
Spanpody, I'm up near Stonehaven. You?
TER...
Spanpody
01-10-2002, 17:10
Some people on here rate the S03's highly, some dont.
I'm near Edinburgh :)
TER...
I've used S03's for some time now after replacing my S02's. They don't have the outright grip of the S02, but do get loads better as they wear down. I havent found them as bad as you describe though. I also found having fairly aggressive geometry settings made a huge difference.
Saying that I won't be bothering with them next time.
Dave
ive got one
02-10-2002, 18:05
im running my 6 gsr on so3s and have to addmit the first 2 weeks (500+miles) i thought i had made a masive mistake , these were my second set of so3s (first set great as well) but once scrubbed in they are great , tyre pressure is critical though , i can tell by the feed back if they are low , even just 1 or 2 psi !
i run mine @(if its any help to you)
front 36 psi
rear 34 psi
and i will defently have another set on the car very predictable and till they get low(2mm) they are very constant with there performance allways know what to expect .
scoobymike
02-10-2002, 19:00
I was more than happy when my S03 had finally gone. Worst tyre I've ever had on my EVO.
Mike
PS: If you used the search facility you would have known
Dave Wilson
02-10-2002, 19:26
I've got SO1's (old tyre?) and they're FAR too soft. Grip isn't too bad but they feather incredibly easily. Next time it's Avon ZZ3's or Toyo T1S's.
Dave Henshall
03-10-2002, 10:03
Originally posted by ive got one
im running my 6 gsr on so3s and have to addmit the first 2 weeks (500+miles) i thought i had made a masive mistake , these were my second set of so3s (first set great as well) but once scrubbed in they are great , tyre pressure is critical though , i can tell by the feed back if they are low , even just 1 or 2 psi !
i run mine @(if its any help to you)
front 36 psi
rear 34 psi
and i will defently have another set on the car very predictable and till they get low(2mm) they are very constant with there performance allways know what to expect .
snap ! - my s03's were crap until the other day when i blem them up after the gforce RR day, 31 in them , gone to 36 psi - and the car feels much much better. i stuck 36 in the rear aswell, but im on new f1's with squidgy sidewalls - so the sidewall will compensate for the same pressure to give the compliance for the AYC.
Marco Polo
24-10-2002, 19:08
Hi lads
I sell Bridegstone tyres (not for a living thank God), and the S03's ARE NOT as good as the S02's.....with the SO3 the tread wear is 220 which is a bit harder compound....... .and the S02 treadwear is 240 which is a softer compound .....the reason Why Bridgestone have made these tyres a bit harder compound is because people are moning that the S02 don't last that long ,well you can't really have both , good grip and longlasting it dosen't work.......:D
I've now done about 1800 miles on the S03's and they have improved. (or I have just got used to them!).
The rear still does not feel as well planted as before and the AYC is more intrusive. Turn in is much better now, but the feel and outright grip is just not there.
On a wet surface with the old boots I could feel the limit, but it seems much more of a guessing game with the S03's.
Live and learn - P Zero's next time.
TER...
what i heard of so3's their cool and pzeros i dont like them i have them im gonna try goodyear f1 eagles
Dave Henshall
25-10-2002, 11:34
Originally posted by moses
im gonna try goodyear f1 eagles
dont do it! ask me, claude, gaz, richw - - big no no if you are a "driver"
dave what do u recommend mate
NumptyScrub
30-10-2002, 14:00
Yoko semi's (AO32-something) like Claudius' uses are apparently the nuts for grip (apart from standing water ie. puddles). PZero are great too, but wear quickly.
I've had the Eagle F1's on for a couple of months now and for me (ie p*ss poor slow driver :p) they're great, but don't expect them to grip like the Pirelli's, they just aren't soft enough. They will last longer though.
If you drive near the limits of grip, get the softer tyres. No sense in compromising grip if you're used to keeping the car at the limit, you may forget you're on slippier tyres and miscalculate a bend with drastic results.
Me, I just want tyres that keep me on the road... I'll probably be getting the PZero's next anyway, especially if their wet grip is better than the Eagle's.
Derek
Originally posted by Marco Polo
Hi lads
I sell Bridegstone tyres (not for a living thank God), and the S03's ARE NOT as good as the S02's.....with the SO3 the tread wear is 220 which is a bit harder compound....... .and the S02 treadwear is 240 which is a softer compound .....the reason Why Bridgestone have made these tyres a bit harder compound is because people are moning that the S02 don't last that long ,well you can't really have both , good grip and longlasting it dosen't work.......:D
The higher the number the harder wearing the tyre.
Fuldas are good, very very good, (I've posted this fact before) the reason (as outlined then) is the harder sidewall, you get the lovely GY F1 main carcass but with a different compound rubber than the softer F1s' this gives (to my mind) the EVO driver everything he wants for an everyday tyre, great turn-in (though a little tardy when cold) a good ride (very high inherent resonance) their tread design could be better lacking finesse on downhill turns (they like to be 'loaded' quite heavily) but that is the price you pay for hard sidewalls.
Not a serious track tyre but for the roads they should knock-out an F1 and be better behaved than the Pirellis'. (crap sidewall/tread area transitions)
Christ, the treadwear number on the Michelin Pilot sport cups I just bought is 80, I take it they won't last long but will grip like ****. ;) Sidewalls seem very stiff also, know anything about them V-bird?
The only Sport Cups I know of are a Road Legal Track Tyre, they have IIRC 4mm of tread when new so won't last very long say 2000miles max, but will grip like nothing else out there.
They are better than the Yokos' in my books because they are so predictable, you really can hang the tail out and hold it there and play games right on the edge, they may not last long but they rate 20/10 in the fun stakes, oh yes, I'm a real fan of this tyre, enjoy them, you will stop your car at the end of a drive and get out laughing, just simply laughing.
Scrub-in is just 50miles.
Dave Henshall
01-11-2002, 07:49
Originally posted by moses
dave what do u recommend mate
ive had a032r, f1, s03, s02.
id have the o32rr if it was alwyas dry and i wasnt paying for them . if it was raining and i didnt drive hard then the f1's. only ones that were a balance were the so2, but they dont last long in the dry - u pays your money and takes you choice - i did a front set of a032r in 2.5 k miles :(
Dave Henshall
01-11-2002, 07:56
Originally posted by clivew
Christ, the treadwear number on the Michelin Pilot sport cups I just bought is 80, I take it they won't last long but will grip like ****. ;) Sidewalls seem very stiff also, know anything about them V-bird?
yep!! my mate did a set of 4 on his TDI golf in just under 9 months - they are soft!!!
Originally posted by Dave Wilson
I've got SO1's (old tyre?) and they're FAR too soft. Grip isn't too bad but they feather incredibly easily. Next time it's Avon ZZ3's or Toyo T1S's.
Had a set of ZZ3’s and absolutely loathed them.
Dave Wilson
02-11-2002, 05:24
What was up with the ZZ3's Braf?
I guess after making a statement like that an explanation should be given, as usage is important.
Living in an area the size of a postage stamp my typical drive is short but often intense. The Avon’s I found very hard to get heat into. When cold they were harsh and slippery. As they aged this behaviour worsened.
Having said that I must admit that I found PZero Asimmetricos’s similar to but better than the Avon’s in this regard. Just to complete the picture I have fitted at present Eagle F1’s and find they work well for me. The Eagle’s I find rewarding even when cold and consistent as they wear.
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