OEM Tyres MY19 model

[Mutley75]

Whilst waiting patiently for my GTI in March I’ve been looking at some soft GTI p0rn on AutoTrader and couldn’t help but notice all the 2019 models with 19” appear to be fitted with Pirelli P-Zero rather than Bridgestones. The 18” all appear to be Bridgestones though. Can anyone confirm this or do VW use a variety of brands and it’s just the luck of the draw? I’m hoping I don’t get Bridgestones based on what others have said on here. I’ve had P-Zeros before I really liked them albeit on 17” and a different brand.

[kmpowell]

That's correct, 19's get P-Zeros, and 18's get Bridgestones.

[Mutley75]

Excellent. I think. Any opinions on those when fitted to the Golf? I found them really grippy on a previous car, with average durability.

[kmpowell]

Excellent. I think. Any opinions on those when fitted to the Golf? I found them really grippy on a previous car, with average durability.

There's one school of thought on here that the P-Zeros are dangerous in anything other than a tropical heat country, and if you drive on them you will instantly crash your car.

There is however a sensible school of thought that says they are decent summer tyres, and are also perfectly good enough for the winter months and weather conditions if you drive sensibly & properly. I've done 1200 miles on mine so far in the UK winter (snow, ice, rain etc) and as of yet I've not crashed my car.

Read of that what you will. 

[Watts]

I had P-Zeros on mine and having rotated them a few times changed all four at 20k. They aren't a bad tyre but I did get a fair bit of tramping with them, even in the dry. I changed to Michelin PS4S and they are much better, I wouldn't go back to Pirellis unless they were cheap and I was skint.

[mcmaddy]

I'm probably the only one on here who thought the factory Bridgestones were absolutely fine. Never had any loss of grip (apart from snow) no tramping, no sliding, perfectly good tyre. On the other hand I think the Michelin PS4 I've now got on are crap. Traction control light flickering on which I never got with the Bridgestones, car just feels very loose and squidgy and not a very good driving experience at all.

[kalimon]

I'm probably the only one on here who thought the factory Bridgestones were absolutely fine. Never had any loss of grip (apart from snow) no tramping, no sliding, perfectly good tyre. On the other hand I think the Michelin PS4 I've now got on are crap. Traction control light flickering on which I never got with the Bridgestones, car just feels very loose and squidgy and not a very good driving experience at all.

I'm with you, nothing particularly wrong with them as far as I'm concerned.

[watchdog]

I'm probably the only one on here who thought the factory Bridgestones were absolutely fine. Never had any loss of grip (apart from snow) no tramping, no sliding, perfectly good tyre. On the other hand I think the Michelin PS4 I've now got on are crap. Traction control light flickering on which I never got with the Bridgestones, car just feels very loose and squidgy and not a very good driving experience at all.

I dont mind Bridgestones.  Had them on previous Audi models before the GTI and have no complaints, and i also like the lip which gives excellent protection to the wheels.

[Talk-torque]

Think the major problem with Bridgestones is that they refuse to wear out, just getting harder as they get older. My fronts lasted over 24K miles, by which time they were pretty rubbish, grip wise, but still legal - just. I really only kept them so long because I was uncertain about changing the car and that uncertainty meant I replaced them with 2 more. I’ve never had any real problem with them TBH, but they are much better when new!

[hog_hedge]

The stock Pirelli P-Zeros are average but not the best tyre in the wet or cold, there’s definitely worse tyres out there. I replaced mine with Goodyear Eagle F1 A3 and the Goodyear are miles better in the wet and don’t spin up as freely. There’s no way I would waste the Pirellis though and I would be happy to run them until they needed replacing, there’s just better tyres out there.