Member Since: 26 Jan 2010
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 23
Pirelli Scorpions ?????
Hello everyone, I know there seems to be numerous previous threads re replacement tyres for a D3 (2009), but I can't seem to find anything too recent, so I was hoping for some advice/info re the latest edition of Pirelli Scorpions (255/60R/18). I have been quoted around $430/tyre. From what I can see, there appears to be a few concerns with the earlier examples of this tyre.
I see from previous comments that GG's and the Conti Cross Cut UHP tyres have also been recommended. I don't want to increase road noise from what was evident from the OEM Wranglers. Driving is probably 75% on road, with regular trips to Flinders Ranges (rocks) and west coast around Pt Lincoln and Coffin Bay.
Hoping to hear comments as to others experiences with these tyres and any other recommendations.
I feel I can comment here as I had the 18" Scorpions and then the Wrandlers fitted to my D3.
The Scorpions were obviously fitted from new and in my opinion were superb. They did everything that was required in a tyre, good grip and handling, quiet, and could give you reasonable confidence off-road as long as you didn't do anything silly. These lasted for 38,000 miles.
I then bought some new 18" wheels off Ebay which had been taken straight off a new D3 for £350 complete with Wranglers. (Cheaper than buying a new set of tyres)!
The first thing I noticed about them was that they seemed slightly noisier than the 38,000 miler Scorpions. The second thing I noticed was that they were nowhere near as good in the wet. In fact, I had to change my driving style slightly to accommodate them. These remained on the D3 until I sold it with 75,000 miles on it although about 10k was done with my spare set of MTRs during this time.
So, In my opinion, the Scorpions win out.
15th Jan 2011 8:38 am
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1929
For my part I had a few real scares with worn (but not excessively worn) Scorpions on very wet A roads. Replaced them with UHPs and found them to be far, far quieter. The (day old) UHPs were also surprisingly good in the snow. My Scopions didn't last anything like 38K, and I wouldn't say our car is driven hard. Hoping that the UHPs will be better.
This forum is very good on tyre advice but there are some more objective reports online. I found 2 excellent tyre review sites. The UHPs got great reviews.PAGODA
15th Jan 2011 10:10 am
Roughshooter
Member Since: 04 Jan 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 13
I am very interested in an update here too. Just returned from my shoot - first outing with the Disco. Mud/leaves over chalk but never a problem on for the ML270 but to-day I was sliding everywhere and lost forward motion entirely, very galling as two Rav 4 & a Honda CVR had no trouble . All the onboard systems seemed to be working so it must be the tyres. I've had the car 3 weeks & it came with 19 inch IOTA ACCEIRA tyres fitted new by the main dealer.
Pirellis seem to be £124 from the dealer (not sure yet if they fit 19 inch wheels).
So, given I do quite a few road miles in the week & my off-road stuff is mostly steep muddy tracks, what would anyone recommend?
15th Jan 2011 6:06 pm
Phil1644
Member Since: 14 Nov 2009
Location: Probably still in work!
Posts: 303
If your dealer is offering you new Scorpions in 19" size at that price I would snatch his arm off, that looks far too good to be true
15th Jan 2011 6:10 pm
Roughshooter
Member Since: 04 Jan 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 13
Well, it was late on a Saturday (to-day) and the duty chap did say he wasn't the tyre expert but we looked at a fairly prominent sign that quoted this figure. I'll probably get a bad shock when I speak to them next week! Whatever happens I don't think that I can live with the current boots - way too embarrassing.
15th Jan 2011 6:27 pm
All Terrain
Member Since: 16 Dec 2010
Location: Dorset
Posts: 22
I have Scorpions in 19" on my recently purchased 57 plate D3 and they aren't very confidence inspiring in the wet at speed on the MW, currently have a set of the new general ATs in the garage waiting to go on next week. That said I did take the car rough shooting in Mid Wales at new year in snow and mud and the only place where it struggled was on an icy hill where anything would have lost traction. I think the Scorpions are ok but bearing in mind their cost I wouldn't rate them if I was looking for new tyres now. Looking forward to the ATs and trying them out.
DJ
15th Jan 2011 6:46 pm
All Terrain
Member Since: 16 Dec 2010
Location: Dorset
Posts: 22
Roughshooter, from what you describe for your needs I would look at an all terrain tyre.
DJ.
15th Jan 2011 6:48 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
Have seen Scorps work well in some pretty hardcore offroading and not had an issue. Whilst tyre choice is a factor, it's not the only one. D3s are big old busses and heavy, often lighter 4x4s will be better but they can't carry what you can. AT type tyres should help, but that's only one factor.
15th Jan 2011 6:50 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1929
Kwik Fit were offering 5 Scorpions (18s) fitted for around £500 in Andover. They had a special on, and anyway haggle like crazy with them and I've always found they'll drop to what have always been unbeatable prices.PAGODA
15th Jan 2011 7:41 pm
Roughshooter
Member Since: 04 Jan 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 13
Thanks chaps, much to consider but I think DSL has hit the nail squarely on the head. I suspect that having allowed my heart to rule my head when acquiring the Disco I failed to allow for the simple physics involved in moving a much larger mass about the woods. Previous 4x4 (there have been a few) have been conventional high/low ratio auto boxes and I suspect that the addition of TR requires that I adapt my driving style. So, I am off to Andover for a lesson on driving Discoveries this week-end in order to remove pilot error from the equation before deciding what tyres to change to.
18th Jan 2011 9:05 pm
AndyO
Member Since: 09 Apr 2010
Location: Nr. Cambridge
Posts: 5
Roughshooter, ditch the Accelera Iotas ASAP!!!
We got an 06 HSE a few months back and after I complained about uneven wear on the Scoprion Zeros the garage replaced the rears with those Iotas......absolutely dreadful tyres. Presumably the cheapest they could lay hands on.
Got it above 60mph and felt like it was in a high wind - rear end was actually shifting about. How's yours drive at motorway speed?
While we had the Iotas on, had traction control kick in a couple of times on light bends, it was pretty terrifying. A really poor drive. Eventually pinned it to the tyres. £100 a piece for 19s says it all!!
There's a post on here about them that I contributed to
Eventually got 4 brand new Scorpion Zeros and its a COMPLETELY different car....
Can't comment on the Iotas light offroad performance (I've had some trouble in light mud on my Zeros so that says a lot about my prowess for the rough stuff ) but given their poor traction and presumably sidewall strength on-road, I'd lay the blame there!!
Hope you can get it sorted.
21st Jan 2011 10:32 pm
Roughshooter
Member Since: 04 Jan 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 13
Thanks AndyO.
I see that the thread you pointed me to is pretty damming!
To be fair my driving is mostly non-motorway and with 4 accelera tyres fitted the on-road performance has not caused any great concern so far - possibly because there is the same grip (or lack thereof) on each corner. Did your dealer leave Scorpions on the front and fit the Iota tyres on the rear? I have always been told to fit the best tyres to the rear If you have to mix them. The reason being that the onboard systems cope well with front wheel problems but if the rear goes the electronics tend to exacerbate the situation and it all ends in tears.
But in general, I am not very impressed with the Iotas. I am now trying to decide between Scorpions and ATs. I see Kwik Fit will fit 4 Scorpions for £180 each but they add fitting, balancing & tyre disposal to that so I am still looking!
Whatever I do it seems to be an expensive example of "caveat emptor". Although, in my own defence, I did query them at the time of purchase.
22nd Jan 2011 5:15 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1929
Don't know where you are in Hampshire, but there are a couple of places E and W of Andover (close to Andover) that were offering far better on Scorpions. As I said above, Kwik Fit were offering £500 fitted for 4 (18's). There's a cheap place in Weyhill that is competitive and one on the 303 E of Andover that's well known in the area. I am v happy with Grabber UHPs for £500.PAGODA
22nd Jan 2011 6:21 pm
All Terrain
Member Since: 16 Dec 2010
Location: Dorset
Posts: 22
Roughshooter, got my Grabber AT's on now in place of the scorpions and the whole car feels more confidence inspiring both off road and on the motorway. Went beating today in Hampshire (the off road bit) and then flew back on the M27. Seriously take a look at these tyres, really good. Plus they make the car look like a proper 4x4 as opposed to the chelsea tractor look of the scorpions.
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. All the onboard systems seemed to be working so it must be the tyres. I've had the car 3 weeks & it came with 19 inch IOTA ACCEIRA tyres fitted new by the main dealer.
