05.08.2008 from Reynard D\\'argent | Note 1.08 |
(2,000 km driven) | |
- Grip in dry conditions
- Braking in dry conditions
- Grip in wet conditions
- Braking in wet conditions
- Grip in snow
- Driving comfort
- Internal noise level
- Tyre wear
- Fuel consumption
N/A
Tyre size and vehicle make
225 / 45 R18 ZR
Subaru Impreza WRX
Result: Would you buy again? Probably not
Comment:
I bought the car about 2000 km ago with a pair of Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3s that were over 80% worn on the front & a pair of almost new Accelera Phis on the rear. In the dry the Acceleras perform fairly well (although by no means anything special) but in the wet they are positively lethal!! Anything but gentle braking in the wet causes all sorts of horrible handling imbalances in the car and general wet weather grip is terrifying - lift off oversteer, power oversteer, loss of adhesion resulting in sudden uncontrollable break away even in slow/gentle changes of direction and all without any warning whatsoever, and this on a AWD vehicle renowned for terminal understeer if you step over 'the limit'. These may be a good cheap tyre for use in drifting or as a budget road tyre if you know the chances of rain are slim to none. If there's even a slim chance that you'll be driving in the wet then my advice is to stay well clear of these tyres - they may be cheap but your life, and that of every other road user, is worth much more than what you'll be saving by buying these tyres. Believe me when I say that I'll be replacing my almost new Accelera Phi tyres long before my almost worn out Eagle F1 GSDs (in fact as soon as my local tyre fitters get some tyres of the right size into stock) because I just don't feel the car is safe with the Accelera Phi tyres fitted.