Skip advert
Advertisement

Vauxhall Astra VXR - Fast Fleet

It's all tyre-talk with the Astra this month: 4 new ones, and the lack of a spare

Vauxhall Astra VXR tyre

The Astra is wearing a set of new Michelin Pilot Exaltos this month, the original ContiSportContact 2s having come to the end of their useful life after an admirable 25,000 miles.

I’ve had previous good experience with Exaltos on a Clio 172 I owned a while back, so they seemed worth a shot in 225/40/18 size on the VXR. I’m not disappointed. Grip levels feel on a par with the Contis at their fittest, but there’s now a more progressive loss of grip as the front edges into understeer. It’s a welcome characteristic that makes KE55 both more relaxing and more fun to punt along a tricky B-road. Good stuff.

Advertisement - Article continues below

One thing that’s not so good is the VXR’s lack of a spare wheel. This was brought home to me shortly after having the Michelins fitted, when I found myself stood on a petrol station forecourt watching one of them drop from 32 to zero psi in 30 seconds flat.I’d been adjusting the pressures when the air-hose nozzle snagged on the thread around the top of the valve, causing it to split from the valve stem behind (which, on the VXR, is made from metal rather than more-forgiving rubber). The tyre sealant kit was clearly going to be no use here…

Thankfully, as it was the middle of the day, the ever-helpful Central Tyre of Wellingborough was able to come to the rescue (cheers, Matt), but had it happened at 10pm I’m sure it would have taken a lot longer than half an hour to get mobile again. Saving weight is all well and good, but as we discovered at eCoty 2006, there’s a lot to be said for carrying a spare wheel.

Running Costs

Date acquiredFebruary 2006
Total mileage27,085
Costs this month£516 (four tyres)
Mileage this month2,705
MPG this month31.7mpg
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
News

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV

If you have to have an SUV, a Stelvio QV is acceptable. Now it's being heavily discounted.
8 Jul 2025
New cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – all the debuts from Aston to Zenvo
Festival of Speed 2025
News

New cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – all the debuts from Aston to Zenvo

The Goodwood Festival of Speed was spectacular yet again. Here are the highlights from the British motoring event of the year
14 Jul 2025
Porsche 963 RSP 2025 review – driving the ultimate one-off Le Mans racer for the road
Porsche 963 RSP review front
Reviews

Porsche 963 RSP 2025 review – driving the ultimate one-off Le Mans racer for the road

That the 963 RSP even exists is absurd. Driving it felt like a fever dream
13 Jul 2025