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Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: VWNOS on 20 January 2014, 06:53

Title: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: VWNOS on 20 January 2014, 06:53
My GTi has Conti Sport Contact 2's all around. They're a bit hard (noisy) but always been happy with them. I need to replace the fronts and was planning to fit Michelins.

Had a look at the rears yesterday and one of them has about 4mm left and the order 7mm (had to replace it due to a puncture), so now I'm thinking of replacing the 4mm tyre also, so I've near-new boots all around. Will keep the 4mm as a spare incase I get another puncture!

I don't want mixed tyres on the same axle, so would you:

1) fit 3 x new Conti Sport Contact 2's, or

2) replace the rear tyre with another Conti 2, and put Michelins (or similar) on the front

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Mattyj on 20 January 2014, 07:23
Personally i wouldn't bother with michelins great tyre but too soft and a bit pricey i'd get another set of contis myself i'm running fk453's happy enough with those on a gtd
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: dubber36 on 20 January 2014, 07:55
If you want Michelins, I'd put two new Michelins on the rear and your 7mm Conti, along with a new one to match on the front. 7mm is as good as new, so there shouldn't be any imbalance at the front.

It is good practice to fit new tyres to the rear of a front wheel drive car, plus the Contis will wear faster on the front, meaning you'll be able to buy another pair of Michelins to match sooner, having got your moneys worth from the Contis.
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: VWNOS on 20 January 2014, 09:06
Thanks chaps. Have decided to stick with the Contis this time.
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: charlie on 20 January 2014, 09:45
Good choice :cool:
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Booth11 on 20 January 2014, 09:48
On a similar note (sorry to hijack your thread), I need to replace just 1 tyre, so looking for a bit of advice.

Front o/s tyre needs replacing due to wear, n/s front tyre is only 4 months old (replaced due to puncture), rear tyres have plenty of tread left.  So the plan is to swap the rears to the front and put new tyre and nearly new tyre on the rear.   Is the best thing to do?  All contisport contact 5's.
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: VWNOS on 20 January 2014, 11:24
Yes, makes sense. I was previously told by a Bridgestone tech to switch tyres front to back diagonally, to even out tyre wear (rather than swap on the same side).
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Mattyj on 20 January 2014, 11:26
Sounds good to me mate
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Mattyj on 20 January 2014, 11:27
Yes, makes sense. I was previously told by a Bridgestone tech to switch tyres front to back diagonally, to even out tyre wear (rather than swap on the same side).

Thats ok if non directional
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Booth11 on 20 January 2014, 11:41
Yes, makes sense. I was previously told by a Bridgestone tech to switch tyres front to back diagonally, to even out tyre wear (rather than swap on the same side).

Thats ok if non directional

Yes, was just going to make that point.  ContiSportContact 5p's are asymmetrical so can't do that.  Can be swapped to front but must be on same side.
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: VWNOS on 20 January 2014, 12:25
Are Conti SC 2's asymmetrical?
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Booth11 on 20 January 2014, 12:32
Are Conti SC 2's asymmetrical?

Yes, I believe they are. 
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Booth11 on 20 January 2014, 12:40
Also bear in mind that CS 2 is the predecessor to the newer and much improved CS 3.  Perhaps it's worth considering replacing all 4 with the latter?  Or all Michelins?
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Booth11 on 20 January 2014, 12:52
Well, just ordered mine from Blackcircles and spoken to the fitters who have agreed to rotate the other tyres, balance etc for no extra charge.....result.
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: dubber36 on 20 January 2014, 12:55
Are you confident that the fitters will take the utmost care with your Gendales? I do a 60 mile round trip to get my tyres, but Nigel has a very expensive tyre fitting machine that doesn't touch the rim at all.
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Booth11 on 20 January 2014, 14:16
Are you confident that the fitters will take the utmost care with your Gendales? I do a 60 mile round trip to get my tyres, but Nigel has a very expensive tyre fitting machine that doesn't touch the rim at all.

In all honesty, I don't know.  I'm using an independent garage this time.  The last mainstream place I used did damage the wheel, but since it was already marked, it was hard to prove.   Tbh, 3 of my Glendales need refurbing anyway.    I need somewhere local as it's got to be slotted in between school run and work.
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: charlie on 20 January 2014, 15:53
Last time I had tyres was on my previous gti told the fitter wheels are perfect and when you fit them I want them back perfect he did a good job so all I think you have to do is point it out to them and all should be ok hopefully :whistle:
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Booth11 on 20 January 2014, 16:28
Last time I had tyres was on my previous gti told the fitter wheels are perfect and when you fit them I want them back perfect he did a good job so all I think you have to do is point it out to them and all should be ok hopefully :whistle:

I agree charlie, but it somewhat undermines that statement when the wheels are kerbed and not perfect.  I will however point out that, despite the existing marks, I still expect care to be taken and no additional damage to be inflicted through the fitting process.

You only have to look at a Glendale and it marks  :wink:
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: ttdan on 20 January 2014, 20:32

It is good practice to fit new tyres to the rear of a front wheel drive car, plus the Contis will wear faster on the front, meaning you'll be able to buy another pair of Michelins to match sooner, having got your moneys worth from the Contis.

So the front wheels do all the steering, put the power down, carry most of the weight and wear the fastes and the new ones should go on the back? Where does that come from?
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Mattyj on 20 January 2014, 20:42

It is good practice to fit new tyres to the rear of a front wheel drive car, plus the Contis will wear faster on the front, meaning you'll be able to buy another pair of Michelins to match sooner, having got your moneys worth from the Contis.

So the front wheels do all the steering, put the power down, carry most of the weight and wear the fastes and the new ones should go on the back? Where does that come from?

Don't waste your breathe mate had this discussion before also front will dive and grip more under heavy braking apparently a car is set up to understeer or something i'm with you mate
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: charlie on 20 January 2014, 20:48
Last time I had tyres was on my previous gti told the fitter wheels are perfect and when you fit them I want them back perfect he did a good job so all I think you have to do is point it out to them and all should be ok hopefully :whistle:

I agree charlie, but it somewhat undermines that statement when the wheels are kerbed and not perfect.  I will however point out that, despite the existing marks, I still expect care to be taken and no additional damage to be inflicted through the fitting process.

You only have to look at a Glendale and it marks  :wink:
i can imagine monzas aren't much better  :smiley:
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Red Tornado on 21 January 2014, 00:27
Yes, makes sense. I was previously told by a Bridgestone tech to switch tyres front to back diagonally, to even out tyre wear (rather than swap on the same side).

Thats ok if non directional

Yes, was just going to make that point.  ContiSportContact 5p's are asymmetrical so can't do that.  Can be swapped to front but must be on same side.

Asymmetric tyres can be swapped front to back diagonally as an asymmetric tyre has a clearly defined inside and outside edge (check your tyre's sidewall) whereas a directional tyre (think the original Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 with the 'arrowhead' tread pattern) can only safely rotate in one direction ie the direction the tread points (usually depicted by an arrow on the tyre sidewall), for optimum water dispersal, so needs to stay on the same side if swapped, otherwise the tread would be pointing in the wrong direction as it were.

So your Conti SC5s could be swapped front to back and to the opposite side (the outside part of the tyre will still be on the outside) if it helped even out tyre wear :smiley:
Title: Re: Need to replace 3 tyres - thoughts
Post by: Booth11 on 21 January 2014, 08:03
Yes, makes sense. I was previously told by a Bridgestone tech to switch tyres front to back diagonally, to even out tyre wear (rather than swap on the same side).

Thats ok if non directional

Yes, was just going to make that point.  ContiSportContact 5p's are asymmetrical so can't do that.  Can be swapped to front but must be on same side.

Asymmetric tyres can be swapped front to back diagonally as an asymmetric tyre has a clearly defined inside and outside edge (check your tyre's sidewall) whereas a directional tyre (think the original Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 with the 'arrowhead' tread pattern) can only safely rotate in one direction ie the direction the tread points (usually depicted by an arrow on the tyre sidewall), for optimum water dispersal, so needs to stay on the same side if swapped, otherwise the tread would be pointing in the wrong direction as it were.

So your Conti SC5s could be swapped front to back and to the opposite side (the outside part of the tyre will still be on the outside) if it helped even out tyre wear :smiley:

Cheers for the info  :smiley:  yes, I was confusing directional and asymmetric.  It is only directional tyres that cannot be cross rotated.