The SP 9000s are certainly not a cheap as chips tyre - and they will work much better on your Ford than on a Munro. And a Bridgestone will work better on the Munro than on your Ford. Simple, 'cos they were desined to.

So if the Monaro is designed specifically with Bridgestones in mind why does it perform better with Falkens?

Why couldn't the Falcon perform better with Falkens?

Those distances aren't small differences. 8.4m (22%) is a huge amount. I bet Dunlop won't use "but our tyres aren't designed to work on Monaro's" as a defence. They produce a high performance tyre to sell to the market - not just to XR & FPV vehicles - and they now look sh*thouse.

Also, was the XR's suspension designed for a 245/45/17 or a 245/40/18? Wouldn't there be a difference in the abilities of these two tyres due to the difference in profile?

No1. Possibly because the Falken suited the car even better than the opriginal equipment tyres - I didn't say that the OE tyres were going to always be the best - just that a car which is designed to work with one particular tyre may not necessarily work as good with others.

No2. See above just the same argument from opposite perspective.

No3. I agree - on the surface this is how it looks.

No4. It was designed for the standard fitment tyres ie 17s @ 45 profile - if you fit 18s @ 40 profile I would think the difference extremely marginal.

So if the Monaro is designed specifically with Bridgestones in mind why does it perform better with Falkens?

Why couldn't the Falcon perform better with Falkens?

Those distances aren't small differences.  8.4m (22%) is a huge amount.  I bet Dunlop won't use "but our tyres aren't designed to work on Monaro's" as a defence.  They produce a high performance tyre to sell to the market - not just to XR & FPV vehicles - and they now look sh*thouse.

Also, was the XR's suspension designed for a 245/45/17 or a 245/40/18?  Wouldn't there be a difference in the abilities of these two tyres due to the difference in profile?

good to see somebody else is looking at things(statistics)and questioning the facts presented in a logical way

Ah yes rainy ... statistics ... you tell me what you would like proved and I will do some tests and gather a set of statistics to do it for you. And if Joe Bloggs comes along tomorrow and asks me to prove the opposite, I will show him how to use the exact same statistics to do so :lol:

Sorry rainy... but...

guys

instead of arguing between our selfs, why don't we look at the big picture here.

you must choose a tyre for it's allround charictistic. not cause it's cheep or handles better in the wet.

I have used cheaper tyres that handle great in the wet, but the tread did not last long.

I have used tyres that are a bit more expensive with raesonable wet and dry handling and great mileage.

the best tyres I have used on a ford where dunlop fm901.

the worst I have had are the dunlop sp3000.

the answer is you just have to find a tyre that suites your particular driving style and stick with them.

I'll second the bit about the SP3000's being the worst - that's why I traded them at 500km for Michelins - no regrets.

The only time Monaros have been fitted with Dunlops in recent memory was when Expensive Daewoo needed them most. To win the 2002 and 2003 Bathurst 24Hr races. Along with both cars racing on Dunlop in this years Nations Cup series.

That includes Mr P Brock driving the O5 car.

Thanks Zeke

What Michelin did you get and how much?

The dunlops make a lot of road noise

I reckon the SP3000 are the loudest tyres I have ever heard. I am in Canberra tonite after the cruise down from sydney........ jesus they are noisy.

I will not be buying these again...... way to loud for my money.

my 2 cents worth

Has anyone had problems with the wheels being out of round?

I had a new set of Dunlop sp3000 fitted by Ford (to their credit)on my 17's after 2 weeks because Ford could not get the body vibrations sorted (Tyres out of round), better, but still far from perfect, and now being told it's the tread pattern problem by the service manager (running at 39 psi). Is this a common problem?Suggestions would be welcome!

My XR6T is only new this year and has 17in SP3000 tyres. I have had two replaced and still am having vibration issues. I have noticed that when cold they also cause the car to wobble. Ford has now wiped their hands with me saying this is a normal characteristic of these ttyres. I am a very unhappy buyer...

Any other people with similar issues. Do I wait until they wear out and then what do I buy. How do I get the wheeels and tyres checked out independently not through Ford !!!!

Just noticed I didn't reply to Rapt's post of 28 November - sorry!

Michelin Pilot Preceda's. Variable results in mag tests from mediocre to excellent. (only saw the exceellent before buying)

My impressions - quiet, smooth, round - all good. haven't explored limits of adhesion yet so can't really comment on that aspect.

Look a bit narrower than the Dunlops in the same size, which I don't like but can live with.

The short story is that I quickly realised I would never get a smooth vibration - free ride on the OEM Dunlops (in common with every Australian made Dunlop in the past few decades). So I needed to changeover fast while I could get a good trade-in on the as-new Dunlops. Didn't have a lot of time to shop around, but might not have chosen anything different anyway. The Michelins are very quiet!

I noticed someone else posted that they bought 2 of them in the last week, but can't remember who.

Cheers

zeke