I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I made my first post on this forum. I asked for advice regarding brakes, and the crew here were very welcoming and helpful. Thank you all, and I am sorry that I did a hit and run.
Why did I not stick around? To be honest, I kinda felt like a school kid who had not done their homework. I’ve only just gotten around to replacing the front pads and rotors on my C30 T5R. I went with the recommendation from @Philia_Bear, that being the DBA T2 and Bendix Euro+ pads.
At first I couldn’t tell much difference, seeing as I hadn’t driven the car in over a year and the old brake pads were down to the backing plates. But two of my Pirelli P7 tyres were damaged, so I put two Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres on the front, and moved the remaining Pirellis to the back.
Oh my what a difference! The new Michelins are quieter, the ride is more supple, and there is much more grip (wet or dry). The ABS can now take a well earned holiday, and the traction control rarely engages (used to drive me nuts!). I have more feel through the steering wheel, brake pedal, and even the accelerator pedal. Between the new tyres and the new brakes, this car now stops much more quickly, and yet does so more smoothly than ever before. I’m not very good at maths, but I think I’m about 1000% happier with these brakes (Thanks again @Philia_Bear! ), and approximately 3780% happier with these tyres. I am astonished that such performance is available at $215 per tyre (205/50 R17).
I have always said that if the tyres are bad, the steering, suspension, brakes, and power unit will all underperform. But never have my words been so definitively demonstrated. I’ve always loved the C30 conceptually, but I’ve struggled to bond with it over the six years I've owned it. Even in the dry it was a bit of a handful. Now I think I’m finally falling in love with it and I’m feeling much more motivated to get under it and give it a good seeing to.
Now I’ve finally done my homework from a year ago (i.e., replacing the brakes), I intend to check in here regularly. My interests lean toward the technical aspects of vehicle design, and my knowledge has largely been forged on the anvil of old RWD Peugeots. Nevertheless my interest is not exclusive to particular models as I enjoy learning the general principles behind the design, so I shall henceforth endeavour to contribute where and when I can.
I look forward to seeing you all here frequently, and thank you in advance for putting up with me!
Respectfully, JJ.
P.S. Anyone else tried the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and/or the 4S? (4S isn't available in my size). I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts on them. And although they didn't work for me, I'd be interested in people's thoughts on the Pirelli P7 also - maybe there are applications where they positively shine?