17 replies to this topic

[HighlanderUK]

anyone else got the Conti Sport Contact 3 tyres on their car??  Just wondered how good they are, since i usually have Goodyear or Pirelli on my previous Focus's.  Apparently these are standard on most MK3 models.

[slayingfocus]

Used to have them on my old focus. Replaced them with Conti SC 5's. Even better all round tyre. Better in the dry and much better in the rain and cold weather.
The Conti SC3's were a replacement for Pirelli Pzero Neros which were, frankly awful. Never have rated Pirellis and they confirmed my hatred TBH. Replaced with 5mm tread left.
Used to use Goodyear F1's on my older Mk1.5 and they were good, but quality control was not great with them and they all needed replacing before half worn due to splitting off the sidewall. A common and documented problem.
Would only ever fit Contis on my cars now. Simply stunning tyres

[gregsayer]

i had conti sc 3's on my old mk2.5 and my mk6 fiesta

really good tyre, but very soft didnt last more then about 7500miles

[HighlanderUK]

they do seem to be soft, but not too noisy.  My last Focus (MK2.5) had Goodyear Excellence fitted, adn they were good and lasted me nearly 2 years and 17k+ miles

[EcoMatt]

Mine came with Michelin PS3 and they are very good tyres. I will have to replace 2 after 27600 of driving on them next month. So they have lasted well and give excellent grip in dry and wet conditions.

[ChrisTBF]

Yeah, my Zetec S has the Sport contacts, they aren't very good in my opinion. The dry grip is poor, understeers very easily and in damp/slippery condition they're no better. Okay in the wet.

I would definately go for something else, a set of Vredestein, even Toyo T1-R are far better in the dry!

[EcoMatt]

The Toyos are an excellent tyre. Used them on my Focus RS and Fabia VRS with excellent results. I fitted my last car with the T1 Sports, which is the latest version of the T1 range. They gripped well and lasted about 18000 miles. They have a dual compound from the inner to outer to help with steering and stability. The side walls are firm but not bone shakingly firm. I will be sticking with the Michelins, as I feel they suit the chassis very well.

[HighlanderUK]

good to know, just passed the 11.5k mile mark in the original SC3's, rears seem ok, but i suspect by summer, i will need new fronts, especially with up to 420Nm of torque pulling through them.

like to sound of the Michelin PS3's though.......Ford recommended too.

[Andy1971]

I cannot rate conti sport contact 5 high enough, next week I get my focus but at the moment these tyres (conti sc5)  are on my civic type r ,They stick to the road like glue, sensible driving in the wet most tyres should cope adequately, I have worked with tyres etc for the past 25 years and simply you get what you pay for, There are plenty of tyres that have a Rating B and C for wet grip,  As said before various tyre review web sites are online and can help you choose the right tyre for you whether it be for grip or life span or a balance of the both.

[HighlanderUK]

cheers Andy, been swaying between the PS3's and the SC5's -- seen the new Focus & Kuga at the local dealers now have SC5 fitted as std.

Prices look the same about £140 per tyre and I just passed the 13k mile mark, might make the upgrade soon, over a week of good weather and sudden torrent of rain, and i forgot the fronts were needing changed, and almost lost the car on a roundabout!!!

[Andy1971]

Ps3 will last longer than the conti's both are excellent tyres, either tyre I would gladly use on my own car, I now have my shiney 10 plate focus and it has goodyears on the front and cheap and cheerful jinyu on the rear to be replace with more goodyears  very soon, my dad has just bought a beautiful new focus and yes conti 5s are fitted.
215/55X17 on my dads
http://www.camskill....55_17_215_55R17
or
http://www.camskill....55_17_215_55R17
or
http://www.camskill....55_17_215_55R17

all good tyres I prefer the XL just because of the stiffer side wall......

[HighlanderUK]

well i bit the bullet last Friday and now have a new pair of SC5's on the front!!  not had much wet weather yet to test them on, but so far, very grippy and i can still corner hard no bother.

[vindi93]

Well looks like time for a new set of tyres looming very soon. Car came with Michelin primacy hp tyres 215/50/17 95xl.
Managed to grap a set of hp's before they disappeared of the shelf last year. The fronts seem to last between 13-14000 miles. The rears are still the originals and the car is nearly at 27,000 miles. Mine is the 182bhp version. Its mainly driven around country roads not motorway work. Its either replace with ps3 or the Goodyear variant I think

[Andy1971]

well after todays little sod about I will be switching my tyres  as the side walls on the goodyears are as thin as loo paper,, a very light glance on a kerb and it went pop, excellent grip just too squidgy/soft sidewalls even in the XL.
IF for the right price I can find bridgestones  I will use them as they are a VERY hardwearing tyre failing that conti sc5 are a really fantastic tyre

[HighlanderUK]

i found my Goodyears didn't like sharp side of large potholes, i sliced the wall of the front near side on my last Focus, 3month old tyre.

[jbeer]

On my mk2.5 I have Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance and I'm very impressed with them

[EcoMatt]

We use them on our work cars and the grip is very impressive but I still prefer the PS3

[vindi93]

Well I went for Goodyear performance efficient grip but found them no good in damp conditions when pulling off from lights. I have now changed to bigger alloys which came fitted with falken azensis fk453 which are excellent in the dry and wet but don't last very long. So it might be sc5's or Michelin ps4 next.