Yoko A539s, the worst tyres ever!!!

[john.med]

Bought a set of 4 from black circles last July, since then I've put up with general understeer and just comedy handling in the wet. But for £45 a corner fitted I thought I'd got what I'd paid for. Was putting my new discs and pads on the front yesterday, and after 10-11k they're just about legal (so I swapped them over to the front, need the tread for braking etc). I've not changed my driving style in years and have driven more annually on Pirellis and Contis.

In short, I won't be buying any Yokohamas again.

 

[-Leigh-]

You made them last 10k? Do you drive like a girl? I went through a set on the front in 6k.

And they're awesome tyres in the dry when warm!! Not so good in the wet, but good enough for general driving.

 

[Day]

Known around here as the ditchfinder or widowmaker lol

MarkCup used to rate them highly on a dry track, not sure if he still runs them now though.

 

[john.med]

Ha ha, yeah about 10k! I do a fair bit of driving for work, so don't boot it all day long, just boot it when driving home.

They're at best ok when warm. When cold I've oversteered around the roundabout down the road, not a quality tyre!

 

[pip.]

My gf has got these on one of her cars and I like them a lot.
My only criticism is that you don't get any warning that you're at the limit of adhesion.:dapprove:

so I swapped them over to the front, need the tread for braking etc

You should always have your best rubber on the back mate.

 

[-Leigh-]

They don't make them anymore, so nobody else will die from having them on their cars.

 

[Hutchie]

i must of got a good set mine already lasted 8k, look like new, can turn in dead well :rasp: even on wet greasy muddy roads, and i drive like the 17 year old that i am, like a nutta!! lol

 

[mr_merc]

10k miles?! You must drive like a f anny then.

Have to say that, barring wet driving, I found they were excellent value and good for the track as well. Not the best tyres, but then they weren't the most expensive either.

I rated them and would still have them as summer tyres.

 

[Fred@BTM]

best tyres ever made bar none IMO, you girls need to learn to drive

 

[drhowser]

i've always thought they were good, just the fronts are normally cooked after about 4k!!

 

[MarkCup]

Agreed.

Low grip levels in the wet, but I found them very very progressive.

In the dry, they put up with abuse and temperatures that would have treadblocks hanging and falling off a set of Michelin PE2's.

I wish they still made them, on my 15s they'd be about £1.00 each.

 

[Laura]

i liked them, lasted longer than my F1s too which went from new to bald in 5k

 

[TheJesus]

best tyres ever made bar none IMO, you girls need to learn to drive

wouldn't go that far, but they are very good, certinaly not as bad as people are making out imo... but then maybe they drive even slower than me?

 

[Ali]

I thought they were ok. Certainly not the worst tyres ever!

 

[bradfincham]

Yeh i didnt think there too bad either.

The yokohama paradas that ive got on mine now are better although not so great in the wet.

 

[sideways danny]

definitely not the worst ever, that honour goes to the Avon ZZ1

 

[jph172]

I must admit im not a fan either, found they were very soft rubber and plenty of sideways action in the wet,that was when i had my 1.2, i think it would be suicidal to still them on my car now.
I use Uniroyal-the rain tyre. Not that popular but incredibly good value and superb in the wet

 

[fmp_]

i always rated the A539. Ran them on my saxo, before moving onto the AVS Sports. Which again i liked alot.

i guess different people extract different things from tyres.

 

[TheJesus]

speaking of your Saxo, can you PM me or email me links to your vids on youtube Matt?

 

[dandycaptain]

Think those are bad? Try Federal Super Steels. And if you survive, let me know what you think.

 

[TJB182]

I had them on my focus, and i found them to be very good in the dry. Not sure how they would be on the 182. They did unnerve me a couple of times in the wet.

 

[ianeire]

Think those are bad? Try Federal Super Steels. And if you survive, let me know what you think.

This man, he speaks the truth.

 

[Blinkin182]

I had some on an old MR2 called Fate. Brought a whole new meaning to the phrase "let fate take its course", sadly the course was always straight! Nankangs are like rubberised ice. The 182 I've just bought has got a pair of 'Sunny' tyres up front, don't know why but I get the feeling they will prove to be Federal useless. Why oh why do people fit budgets on a car like that?

 

[fmp_]

i ran some Marshall Power Racer 2's on my saxo as a first ever set of cheap track day tyres..... they were awesome! bugger all grip, but never wore down! i think they were made of clay or something!

 

[Blinkin182]

lol yeah the worlds first tyres that are quarried, not manufactured!

 

[Hutchie]

yokies officially rubbish in snow back end skating around like i had trolly wheels on the back????

 

[Wizbit]

heh. I have had A539s on my Williams and 172 for years and only ever 'lost' the Williams once - and that was me trying to be clever in the damp. I've always found them great tyres - especially for high speed cornering. I even preferred them to the Yoko AVS.

Also, the tyre dealers I have spoke to when buying them always comment on how grippy they are. One dealer said they offered 'unique' grip and I should stick with them when I asked him if I should change to a Pirelli or Goodyear for better grip.

oh, and since they have stopped making them, I need a replacement. Any suggestions?

 

[Fred@BTM]

best tyre ever made IMO is the A539

 

[ben_p]

best tyre ever made IMO is the PE2

i knew you would see sense!

 

[Fred@BTM]

^no that's average, PS2 is good though

 

[.GAZ.]

best tyre ever made IMO is the A539

i would say so too!!

had them on my XR2i back in 99 lol

 

[oz_clio]

nankangs= death.
pretty soft for a budget tyre ive managed to wear them out in under 9k
pirelli pzero neros next

 

[AndyT23]

^^ The Pirellis might last you a month or two then . I've always found pirellis pretty grippy but very soft and gone in no time, whether I've used them on two wheels or four (by two wheels I mean on my bikes not murdering the Cup lol)

 

[john.med]

I started this thread having found them to wear v.quickly, purely compared to other tyres I've had on my 172. I've never used them on track, and yes in the dry they're alright,... but the wear factor is poor, and wet use bad, but then I've had OEM tyres and Pirellis expensive stuff, and really wasn't blown away buy them either... Think the best all round I've had were the OEM Conti Sport thingies,..

I had Yokos on my 320i and they felt incredible, rear traction was immense.

What do people really rate and what are available? I'm going to need a set of four soon.

 

[joebristolgym]

A539's I had on my Vts were great (in the dry, distinctly average in the wet), but very soft and were looking the worse for wear after about 3k miles. Replaced them with a set of Nankangs as was about to sell the car because they were cheap and actually they weren't as bad as I thought they might be.

My 182 has PE2's on the back that look like they're seen better days but still grip fine - however someone put 'Acceleras' on the front adn round Castle Coombe the other week it was anbelievable amounts of understeer - rubbish tyres. Thinking F1's or Parada 2's will be the replacements.

 

[col182]

can't go wrong with a dark horse or a colway tbqfh

 

[.GAZ.]

:lolup: :lolup:

Colway some boy Colin

 

[col182]

stunners ftfw!!!