Comments on Asimmetrico tyre

Get this. I detected a slight vibration at some speeds, which was similar to how the car feels on cold tires after sitting some days. I checked the right rear, where I felt it was originating, and found a large bulge about 25% around the inner sidewall on the PZero Asimmetrico. Damn. The tire had about 50% of its tread wear left and I was just getting to the point where I was going to burn them a few times before replacement Don't want to do that now, as I fear a blowout and damage to the HRE wheel.

Anyway, I went to Tire Rack to order a new set as I don't want uneven tread wear and the fronts were pretty well spent (after 10K miles...). Interestingly, I used to get that in rear tires on Carrera, but fronts would get twice that mileage.

Anyway, an interesting fact was that Tire Rack had to get my VIN # and get PERMISSION to sell the tire from Pirelli, who has a consumer hold on the tires and will only release them for certain cars. I guess it has to be a Porsche or a Ferrari, mid or rear engine. Now, I knew the tyres were ideally suited to that configuration, but why are they limiting sales?

BTW, I checked the research on the Tire Rack and looked at the rating of the tyre. It isn't that good, mainly because it gets poor grades in regard to hydroplaning and wear. It is as good as any in dry. I found the poor rating on hydro to be curious as I have run my car on wet curving off-camber roads in Indiana (cool surface) up to 75 mph without the slightest concern of loss of grip. OK, maybe I was a bit tense about it, but the tyres held in there beautifully, even when running over leaves and such. I noticed the comments and ratings on Tire Rack were from

There was a test result, however, which seemed more valid than subjective consumer ratings, at http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/max_perf_summer.jsp and http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/bs_s03_rd.jsp. The PZero Asimmetrico was compared to other tires on a BMW front engine rear drive car. That makes the tests somewhat invalid for a TR. Interestingly, the overall ridability of the tire was superior to any tested, but it didn't fare as well on the track testing (although the test talks in terms of 'driver confidence,' which sounds subjective.

Anyway, I really liked the Asimmetrico and decided to get another set, to the tune of about $1000. My car has 235/40/18 and 285/30/18 tires on HRE wheels. Its an awesome combination, vastly superior to the OEM tires and wheels (16" Goodyear Gatorbacks), which sit in my garage as spares.

Maybe my next set will be Bridgestone S03, but I didn't like the comments about road noise and comfort, particularly in the tire size that I use which has a lower profile (than BMW test car) and is stiff enough when encountering little ledges and potholes. I have actually had a HRE rim bend from hitting a ledge (where the road surface steppes up at construction areas) at 40 mph. The soft rims need some bit of forgiving by the sidewall.

Anyway, enough rambling. (Its just that I can't drive today!...I was going to be driving to the Oak St FCA show.)

Later. Jim