Why are P Zero's so Rubbish?

[rockits]

I'm still amazed at how bad P Zero's seem to be on every car I've had the displeasure to have them with.

The XJL Supersport I've recently bought has them on and I can't wait until they wear out. The back end is really struggling to even get half the 510bhp down. The E55K had similar power both supercharged and felt so planted with so much mechanical grip on Conti Sport Contact 5 I think.

Michelin PS4 or PS4S will be going on as replacement.

The PZero seems to need it to be dry and warm. Anything outside that and they are downright dangerous. Should have a clear health warning on the side!

 

[allandwf]

They aren't, our weather is

 

[rockits]

You might have got the mail on the head there.

Any I have ever had seem to be worse than most tyres when cold and seem to have a very narrow optimum operating temperature. Obviously not so ideal for most of the UK climate.

I've found the Pilot Super Sport to be the best tyre I've driven money no object on a car that only does dry miles and never goes out in the rain. I have them on the back of the 4200.

The PS4's are on the Alfa and was a massive improvement. I've had the Goodyear's Assymetrics and was very impressed with those as well.

Just shows how different cars can respond differently to the same tyres.

Bottom line seems to be PZeros are.not a great tyre for the typical UK climate.

 

[allandwf]

I agree, I have Continental Winters on the Brera, but it will go back onto its Pilot Supersports in April. The Maserati and the F car was, are, a toy, so I didn't mind skitting about on the Pirellis,was good fun at times although I could see it being a chore if it was more of a daily, or if you weren't aware.

 

[whereskeith]

I have p zeros in Spain and I remain unimpressed

 

[MarkMas]

They aren't, our weather is

Which might explain why, paradoxically, Sottozeros are so good (IMHO). I'm dreading taking the winter tyres (Sottozeros) off and putting the (summer) P zeros back on.

 

[alfatwo]

They work just fine on Alfa Giulia's and especially well on the 500 plus Quadrifoglio Verde
There warm weather tires though, they don't do northern Anglo Saxon weather too well, just like most of us on here!

Dave

 

[rockits]

The XJ is almost undrivable at the moment unless you use max 50% throttle or less.

 

[JonW]

Which might explain why, paradoxically, Sottozeros are so good (IMHO). I'm dreading taking the winter tyres (Sottozeros) off and putting the (summer) P zeros back on.

Agree 100% with this... my GT S was fantastic with the Sottozeros on it. If anyone is looking for a full set of these with 6-7mm of thread on them, PM me - I have a set of them in my garage!

 

[mjheathcote]

Even back 20 years ago in my Lotus Elise days, my then S1 111s had factory P Zero's which were known by owners as 'ditch finders'!

 

[Ewan]

If you check the tyre tests completed by EVO each year, the P Zero consistently scores highly and regularly finishes at or near the top. But they are not winter tyres! I’ve used various versions of the P-Zero over the years and they’ve been great - but I do have winter tyres as well, which go on for Dec-Feb. As a March-Oct tyre on most Masers, they’re ideal.

 

[tasnam]

If you check the tyre tests completed by EVO each year, the P Zero consistently scores highly and regularly finishes at or near the top. But they are not winter tyres! I’ve used various versions of the P-Zero over the years and they’ve been great - but I do have winter tyres as well, which go on for Dec-Feb. As a March-Oct tyre on most Masers, they’re ideal.

So what does everyone use if they don't like P Zero?

 

[GeoffCapes]

When I had P-Zero's on my GT, over in France for my first Le Mans trip where the weather was hot, the roads were dry and smooth they were absolutely outstanding.

Get back home on colder, bumpy wet roads and they are rubbish. When I put Pilot Super Sports on it it was a car transformed. Back to being brilliant again, and was just as good over in France on the same warm, dry, smooth roads.

 

[zagatoes30]

I consistently stick to my 2 favourites, Goodyear Eagle F1 asymmetrics (all versions) for out and out performance but I find them noisy or Continentals Contact Sports (3 & 5s) although they need as 1000 miles to bed in before they start to work at their best.

Also am becoming a bit of an evangelist for winter tyres, even without snow the bite and grip on cold roads is just in a different league, I actually think Mrs Zs Skoda Octavia handles better on winters in the cold than it does of summers in the warm.

 

[ofenomeno99]

They're amazing in hot climates.

 

[rockits]

I'm an agreement 100% on winters. Last couple of years I haven't had them fitted to the sportier cars and it shows. Night and and day. Have been using the 4x4's last couple of winters on all weather tyres and they seem a decent compromise in all weather's all year on a less powered 4x4"s.

Best tyres I've used and tend to stick to are PS4's and PS4S's for good all round performance on most cars. Goodyear Assymetrics F1 for same reason. Pilot Super Sports for money no object use.... not cheap and don't last as long. Conti Sport Contact 5 were decent on E55K.

Never really got on with any Pirelli's ever on any car in any model. over last nearly 30 years. Like most have said I think the PZero may be a great tyre in a narrow window. Spring/summer use only maybe. Ewan probably has it right with PZero in Spring/Summer than a winter tyre in Autumn/Winter.

In my experience the PS4 seems to work well all year round. Not as good as a dedicated winter tyre in Autumn/Winter but good enough for most.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Other than on warm, dry roads, my Vantage skips about on PZeros like a crazed fool on an amphetamine binge. Patches of damp of greasy road can unsettle it easily if you're ******* the gas. Even on dry roads, if you give it too much right foot the rears will spin, even at the enthusiastic end of speed limits. Combined with the car's very responsive steering, it's certainly fun, but does mean you need to be on high-alert. I shall be switching PS4Ss after I've finished off the PZeros at the Car Limits driving day in May.

 

[rockits]

I look forward to watching the finishing off of the PZeros in May then

 

[Felonious Crud]

I look forward to watching the finishing off of the PZeros in May then

It'll be the first time I've driven with the traction control off. Much smoke will doubtless occur! Being a cautious soul, I should probably make sure the replacements have been delivered by then.