Fiat X1 9 Tyres

Bought these to fit my small sports car. You might think odd choice to buy an "Eco" tyre, but because I was looking to keep the same size and profile as factory standard, there's very little choice, usually each brand only has one model, which I think is the case with Continental too.

Anyway, replaced all four tyres at once with Continental Eco 3, chosen mainly because of a good review in Which? magazine that praised the fact that this is a completely new design, unlike the other regular European brands (you know the ones), whose designs are 10-20 years old. Good handling in the dry or wet and good wear they stated, got me thinking these where the ones to go for.

Unfortunately the immediate impression from driving the car out from the tyre fitter was lack of grip, which has persisted to this day, and 18 months later its still the same. Compared with the old tyres (Michelin Energy's which were the same size and profile) the change in handling of the car is staggering. I thought that because the Michelins where an "energy" model they would be similar to the Continentals "Eco" model, but I have found that is not the case.

I replaced all four because the cars' engine is at the back the front tyres don't wear at all - but were nearing 10 years old (and were showing small visible cracks), the rears needed replacing because they were nearing their wear limits.

Where it used to give that sports car feeling of driving on rail tracks round high speed corners, all that is now gone, replaced with just nagging understeer, vagueness and general softness.

I would thought they would be great for car models where low noise is a factor though, but that's pointless for my application!

I'm not happy at all and will replace them as soon as they show a little wear. A waste of money for me.