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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: mariamartinez on 19 July 2017, 18:06
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Hi I need to replace at least one of my tyres and currently have an odd set of tyres (Bridgestone x1 vs Continental x3 225/40/18) with 40%-65 wear (1 conti has about 65% wear down to 3-4mm). sorry this odd set is how the wheels came when I bought. Have a couple of questions.
1. I guess the logical option is to replace the most worn tyre Continental with a Bridgestone. If so I would have 2+2. So can I mix 2 up front and 2 on the rear...if so is they any logic in which goes where? Is this logical or not?
2. If on the other hand I did move completely to Bridgestone OR Continental is any preferable or is it personal choice....they are around the same price.
thanks
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I've had three different tyres on the gtd at one time. There's no reason to care unless you are racing and looking for lap times. I'd buy whatever I wanted in the end all round. Fronts wear about three to four times faster than the rears unless you have an R. Stick old tyres on the front to eat them up quick.
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With tyres I find you usually tend to get what you pay for, stick with brand names that you recognise and you'll generally be fine. As for which brand, that really is personal choice.
My own personal choice is i'd avoid Bridgestone Potenza's. They're too hard and too noisy. My tyres of choice would be Michelin PS4, Good Year Asymmetric 3 and Continental Sport Contact 5 in that order. None of them will last as long as the Bridgestone's, but they should all be grippier and quieter.
It is better to have matching tyres on the same axle if you can help it, but it doesn't matter as much as ensuring that they're all fit for purpose with above legal minimum grip, no damage to tyre wall, correct pressure and the correct size and speed rating.
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Just get rid of those Bridgestones asap. You will notice a vast improvement if you go to any of the choices above especially on the front axle as tramping and grip in cornering and various weather conditions are very poor with the Bridgestones.
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As if perfect timing, this months evo (issue 238) has their annual tyre test and this years car is the Mk7.5 GTI.
(http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u488/jameshodson1/B0075550-FA79-483D-8381-CC403B5387C1_zpspord0qxv.jpg) (http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/jameshodson1/media/B0075550-FA79-483D-8381-CC403B5387C1_zpspord0qxv.jpg.html)
Winner is Michelin PS4. You might be able to save a few quid and zoom in and read the results :smiley:
(http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u488/jameshodson1/8321775B-2637-4B2E-986D-22E2A75FB365_zpspxxqa5s9.jpg) (http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/jameshodson1/media/8321775B-2637-4B2E-986D-22E2A75FB365_zpspxxqa5s9.jpg.html)
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Just get rid of those Bridgestones asap. You will notice a vast improvement if you go to any of the choices above especially on the front axle as tramping and grip in cornering and various weather conditions are very poor with the Bridgestones.
That's exactly what I am planning on doing and my car has not even be built yet :laugh:
I know that sounds crazy. But I really do think the Bridgestones are that poor.
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Just get rid of those Bridgestones asap. You will notice a vast improvement if you go to any of the choices above especially on the front axle as tramping and grip in cornering and various weather conditions are very poor with the Bridgestones.
That's exactly what I am planning on doing and my car has not even be built yet :laugh:
I know that sounds crazy. But I really do think the Bridgestones are that poor.
Didn't realise that VW were still putting such a crap old tyre on their performance models...!
Found this review from 2011 when it was only a year old and it wasn't great even then. 6 years ago. :rolleyes:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/tyre-guides/45325/bridgestone-potenza-s001
I've only had mine a week and half so haven't really been driving hard anywhere but in the dry everything seems ok through the bends. But when it rained, it didn't feel like there is much grip which is backed up by the above review.
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Thanks Jim_mk7.5! I also see autoexpress last week? did a really nice summer tyre test, results are partially shown here: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2017-Auto-Express-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm. Michelin PS4 wasn't tested but Continental Premium Contact 5 and Dunlop Sport (BluResponse version) were with similar good results.
In my personal situation its a bit tricky to get rid of the potenza because its only half worn and the 3rd Cont Sp Contact is worn.
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I have always been a huge Michelin fan on the Mk7 and I think the Contis have also got good feedback
I ran and still have the Michelin Super Sports (predecessor to the PS4) when I used to track my car and just could not believe how good they were especially in the wet and really showed how Sport Pilot Cup 2s are dire unless in ideal circumstances
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Thanks Jim_mk7.5! I also see autoexpress last week? did a really nice summer tyre test, results are partially shown here: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2017-Auto-Express-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm. Michelin PS4 wasn't tested but Continental Premium Contact 5 and Dunlop Sport (BluResponse version) were with similar good results.
In my personal situation its a bit tricky to get rid of the potenza because its only half worn and the 3rd Cont Sp Contact is worn.
I can't imagine it can be a good thing driving with 2 very contrasting tyres especially on the front axle unless you are a very reserved driver and could be potentially dangerous and confusing to the ESP of the car. I might sound a bit paranoid but my experiences were very different once I changed the front set and couldn't imagine driving with 1 of each.
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Thanks Jim_mk7.5! I also see autoexpress last week? did a really nice summer tyre test, results are partially shown here: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2017-Auto-Express-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm. Michelin PS4 wasn't tested but Continental Premium Contact 5 and Dunlop Sport (BluResponse version) were with similar good results.
In my personal situation its a bit tricky to get rid of the potenza because its only half worn and the 3rd Cont Sp Contact is worn.
I can't imagine it can be a good thing driving with 2 very contrasting tyres especially on the front axle unless you are a very reserved driver and could be potentially dangerous and confusing to the ESP of the car. I might sound a bit paranoid but my experiences were very different once I changed the front set and couldn't imagine driving with 1 of each.
I'd agree with that and think it's best to play captain cautious when it comes to tyres. In that one off event where you really need some predictability for your life I'd be worried that two different tyres on either axle wouldn't cut it. As we all know from the tests, different brands perform very differently in certain circumstances so having two different ones on a single axle can't be a good idea. I've been careful with mine and kept rotating them to keep the wear even so I'll be replacing all four soon. Plus these are performance cars, they deserve quality!
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Had some heavy rain this am.. Can confirm that brand new S001's have seemingly zero traction when wet, despite summer temps. Pretty shocking really for a performance tyre on a performance car. Might have to direct an email of complaint in the direction of VW UK.
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The bridgestones are hard, but they are actually a good all rounder. My GTI has them (from new), just rotated them at 8k miles and its still like its on rails. I will be replacing with Michelin PS4’s though, ive heard nothing but good things about them.
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I swapped to PS3 on the front of my last gtd. Like night and day. I also had Goodyear f1's which aren't considered top notch and they were better than the bs but not as good as PS3
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I've done nearly 7000 miles on the factory Bridgestones and not once have I thought I need to replace these for something else. If it's damp or raining you can't drive the same as you would in dry conditions so why try and then complain that the tyres aren't up to it. Tyre pressure makes a massive difference so to everyone whining about the Bridgestones have your checked your pressures are correct.
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I've done nearly 7000 miles on the factory Bridgestones and not once have I thought I need to replace these for something else.
Lots of people have a different experience of Bridgestone tyres.
When I changed from Bridgestone to Goodyear, it really was like driving a different car. Many people find the same thing.
In my experience, Bridgestone tyres were really poor when it was cold and wet. Where I live in the UK, that is 6 months of the year. So for 6 months I had to be careful not to accelerate too hard out of junctions or the wheels would easily spin. Careful not to brake too hard or the ABS would be on, when meeting another car on a dark country lane. Careful when accelerating out of a roundabout because there was a risk of understeer. Goodyear tyres fixed all that. After changing the tyres it became much more difficult to loose front end grip.
It was when I changed the tyres I realised just how poor the Bridgestone tyres were and how good the car was.
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I've done nearly 7000 miles on the factory Bridgestones and not once have I thought I need to replace these for something else. If it's damp or raining you can't drive the same as you would in dry conditions so why try and then complain that the tyres aren't up to it. Tyre pressure makes a massive difference so to everyone whining about the Bridgestones have your checked your pressures are correct.
Thing is though is that with a great tyre like PS4's the difference between performance in wet and dry is not that big but with the Bridgestone's it is huge.
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I think Daz echoes my thoughts exactly. I'm no Lewis Hamilton and don't drive stupidly, yet its obvious to me.
We've kicked this one around so much on here over the years though and the majority agree.
I can't remember, but gut feeling is that the GTD seems to suffer more than the GTI, probably down to massive diesel torque at low revs.
Of course the R is different again and the 4WD fixes the problem.
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Of course the R is different again and the 4WD fixes the problem.
Absolutely. I still remember I couldn't believe Dan Prosser who ran that R long-termer at EVO saying when time came for changing tyres he went with Bridgestones again because although not the best, they worked ok on the car. Having read EVO for years he generally knows his stuff so it goes to show how much the AWD covers up a bad tyre.
Also on a recent racing event with my Clubsport on Bridgestones I could spin the tyres even in 4th gear iirc on the wet it was horrendous. Ok all that extra torque from the JB1 can't have helped much to tone done the behaviour but other Clubsports with Michelins didn't seem to struggle half as much on corner exits so a change is on the menu for next spring to enjoy more of what the car has to offer.
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At least that was track levels of driving, rather than just on the road.
I could spin my GTD wheels without trying at all - 1st or 2nd or 3rd or even 4th in the wet!
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I've just come back today from a place called Resipole in Scotland and the rain was really belting down today. It's single track roads from where I stayed to the ferry to Corran and had quite a few stamps on the brakes for Johnny Foreigner coming the other way as they obviously don't understand how passing places work. No Abs, no skids no loss of traction so I'm still unsure as to how many people say the Bridgestones are dangerous. Soaking wet gready roads coming back down through Loch Lomond and still no loss of traction or dramas. I'm not saying they are the best tyre and I'm 100% certain Michelin and Continental will be a better tyre come change time but they are a decent tyre and I've had no issues at all. I'm wondering if the PP helps negate any issues that others may be having?
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The Bridgestones are actually not too bad, they need temperature. As for someone saying it's summer temperatures - most of Europe has warmer springs than the UK summers.
Once the Potenzas are up to temp (almost hot to touch) they grip incredibly well, though they are still quite noisy. You are unlikely to get them hot enough though on short trips on this rainy little rock in the Atlantic. Takes me a few miles and that's only if the thermometer shows over 25.
For tyres, I had a few different ones on my mk7s so far.
Bridgestone Potenza - poor grip cold, not the very best wet grip (wheel spin) but reasonably good around corners even in the wet, seems quite hard wearing, only beaten by the P7 below for wear. Incredible grip once up to temperature.
Pirelli P7 - hard as feck, long lasting but little grip, worst wet grip (even worse than the Potenzas) at least in 225 45 17 (they are more suited to my partner's mk6 1.6 TDI in 205 55 16).
Dunlop Sportmaxx RT - well, they are soft and sticky at even quite cold temperatures, almost my preferred tyre, performance dropped towards last third of its life. More so than other tyres; on a road trip with very long distance driving on hot tarmac you start to feel it's loosing out on grip (gets too soft).
Conti Sport Contact 5, good all rounder, a very German tyre that way if you like. Decent grip even at moderate temperatures but I found it to get a bit noisy towards the end.
Avon IceTouring ST (winter tyres): After reading reviews I was positively surprised, though I would not buy again. Very bad for wear, but decent traction on snow (used for winter holidays on the good old continent).
Michelin Alpin A4 (winter tyres, i.e. the old model, A5 is current): Good grip and hell they are good for wear, got more mileage out of them than on hard summer tyres, despite driving them in the dry (read: rainy UK). Work well in snow too. Almost got some of these again, but wanted non-directional ones.... which led me to buy the Nokians. Well and they were on H speed rating (130mph)
Nokian WR A4 (winter tyres): Great grip (tested briefly on front), good for wear so far (only drove 10k miles with them on the back). Got them as they are non directional ones, and have a higher speed rating (think V = 149mph).
Will get the Michelins replaced by another pair of those after this winter, already wanted some last year but then got 10k miles with only 1mm wear on the Michelins (on the front!), which leaves them still over 4mm - legal min tread for winter tyres where I go. Not worth chucking out yet only so I can do the cars top speed....
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No Abs, no skids no loss of traction so I'm still unsure as to how many people say the Bridgestones are dangerous. Soaking wet gready roads coming back down through Loch Lomond and still no loss of traction or dramas.
I've been up Fort William direction a few times, back when I had my motorbike. :cool:
Good to know the Bridgestones will work ok when it is warm and wet. The temperatures are mid teens there at the moment. Wait until the winter comes.
In my experience soaking wet roads are not greasy. When it starts raining - on damp roads a layer of oil will lift which makes the surface greasy. I have had 2 minor accidents in these conditions. On both occasions I believe poor tyres were a contributing factor. On soaking wet roads that oil layer is quickly washed away. Though the road can look slick between heavy showers.
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' I believe poor tyres were a contributing factor.' Your honour :embarrassed:
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I've just come back today from a place called Resipole in Scotland and the rain was really belting down today. It's single track roads from where I stayed to the ferry to Corran and had quite a few stamps on the brakes for Johnny Foreigner coming the other way as they obviously don't understand how passing places work. No Abs, no skids no loss of traction so I'm still unsure as to how many people say the Bridgestones are dangerous. Soaking wet gready roads coming back down through Loch Lomond and still no loss of traction or dramas. I'm not saying they are the best tyre and I'm 100% certain Michelin and Continental will be a better tyre come change time but they are a decent tyre and I've had no issues at all. I'm wondering if the PP helps negate any issues that others may be having?
I also never had any issue in daily driving where you barely (shouldn't) go anywhere near the tyres and chassis limits. But if all the driving I did was like that I wouldn't have gone with a car like the GTI (well the Clubsport actually). It's when you want to have some fun and start to push more that their weaknesses rise. Even then it's not that they make the car dangerous but they deprive you of that last 10-20% of the performance the car could offer on a better tyre.
On the Clubsport at least with the extra power and the more focused chassis that inaccessible top end is maybe even more, as it's obvious that the car could accept more pushing if the Bridgestones didn't give in before that. A friend with a CS in Germany that is over-sensitive about suspension and road feed-back changed from Bridgestones to MPSS in the first week and he was swearing it changed the car in every way.
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' I believe poor tyres were a contributing factor.' Your honour :embarrassed:
... minor accidents... nobody else involved... both cases it had just started to rain... case 1, high sided off a bike after rear tyre lost grip then found it again, on a greasy motorway exit... case 2, slammed on brakes too late wheels locked up and slid through a junction, the car didn't slow down at all on those tyres :angry: That was my wife's Mk5 Golf. I will never accepted a tyre recommendation from a tyre fitter again.
After the bike accident I noticed on a bike forum that there were many complaints about the OEM Dunlop tyres in cold wet conditions.
After the car accident I read about the difference between top brand tyres and ditch finders in all conditions.
Both accidents were my fault. Though I did expect the tyres should have performed better.
These accidents have made me realise the importance of really good tyres. I have a lot more confidence in the tyres fitted to both our cars now. Having an accident really does focus the mind.
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I also never had any issue in daily driving where you barely (shouldn't) go anywhere near the tyres and chassis limits. But if all the driving I did was like that I wouldn't have gone with a car like the GTI (well the Clubsport actually). It's when you want to have some fun and start to push more that their weaknesses rise. Even then it's not that they make the car dangerous but they deprive you of that last 10-20% of the performance the car could offer on a better tyre.
I'm sure there was a review of the Mk7 on youtube and the tyres were mentioned. The guy said something like - this car is not good at pushing into bends, but it is not actually the car, the tyres just 'give up'.
Must see if I can find it.
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I also never had any issue in daily driving where you barely (shouldn't) go anywhere near the tyres and chassis limits. But if all the driving I did was like that I wouldn't have gone with a car like the GTI (well the Clubsport actually). It's when you want to have some fun and start to push more that their weaknesses rise. Even then it's not that they make the car dangerous but they deprive you of that last 10-20% of the performance the car could offer on a better tyre.
I'm sure there was a review of the Mk7 on youtube and the tyres were mentioned. The guy said something like - this car is not good at pushing into bends, but it is not actually the car, the tyres just 'give up'.
Must see if I can find it.
Nice, that echoes exactly how I feel when pushing the car.
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Found it! One of the guys mentions the tyres 3 times.
At 2:35 mins, "com'on underseer really! It's not the car, it is the tires. I'm confident of that."
Then just after 4 minutes he said, "I hate these tires, they just give up!"
At 4:45 mins, "Tires gave up again!"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXJR_Km0mA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXJR_Km0mA)
It says in the description the tires are Bridgestone Potenza S0001s :huh:
This review says the car has Bridgestone Potenzas at 7:55 minutes in - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_AWLwGAVVs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_AWLwGAVVs)
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To be honest if you watch the first video it's the same corner on both occasions and the same driver. I can't see the car twitch or anything, also weirdly look at the way they drive... What did my track day instructor tell me? Use all of the road ;)
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Found it! One of the guys mentions the tyres 3 times.
At 2:35 mins, "com'on underseer really! It's not the car, it is the tires. I'm confident of that."
Then just after 4 minutes he said, "I hate these tires, they just give up!"
At 4:45 mins, "Tires gave up again!"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXJR_Km0mA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXJR_Km0mA)
It says in the description the tires are Bridgestone Potenza S0001s :huh:
This review says the car has Bridgestone Potenzas at 7:55 minutes in - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_AWLwGAVVs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_AWLwGAVVs)
And that is on a hot sunny day. Imagine in the cold wet months we get here.
All I can say drive the car with pretty much any premium tyre other than the Bridgestones and I cannot imagine anyone recommending the Bridgestones. I know 3 people personally who have changed them and for various different tyres and all have noticed a significant improvement. I also agree with the people who say it is towards the final 20% limit of the car that it is most noticeable as well as for me off the mark in dry or wet I always found the Bridgestones unbearable.
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To be honest if you watch the first video it's the same corner on both occasions and the same driver. I can't see the car twitch or anything, also weirdly look at the way they drive... What did my track day instructor tell me? Use all of the road ;)
The editing is playing tricks with you. They probably only had a few external camera shots. I doubt that internal camera shots would be for the same corners or show understeer for that matter. :undecided:
I had a quick scan through some of the comments. The reviewer commented, "The tires were Bridgestone S0001s, part of the performance package from the factory. They had surprisingly low grip levels and as soon as they squealed at all they gave up."
There were a couple of interesting comments - "he hates the tires ? I hate his slicked back hair and red t-shirt.." :huh: :grin:
And - "The car CAME WITH THOSE TIRES. So, by definition, IT IS THE CAR...."
I wonder how many people didn't like the GTI, thinking 'IT IS THE CAR!' When it was actually the tyres.
True story - remember the really bad winter a few years ago - I know a woman who change her new Audi A4 for a 4x4, because the A4 was so bad in the winter. So she changed a car with summer tyres for a 4x4 which probably had all-season M+S (Mud and Snow) tyres. I pointed out to her that she should have just changed the tyres. She hadn't thought of that and said it would have been much cheaper. :whistle:
People think 'IT IS THE CAR'. In reality it is just the tyres. Changing the tyres can make it feel like driving a better car. Or the car just handling the way it should.
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As I have to put two new tyres on the GTD soon has anyone seen any good deals for 19" tyres or is mytyres or black circles the best deals? I've got the P zeros at the moment and can't fault them but maybe a change would be good.
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As I have to put two new tyres on the GTD soon has anyone seen any good deals for 19" tyres or is mytyres or black circles the best deals? I've got the P zeros at the moment and can't fault them but maybe a change would be good.
I've got P Zeros and will be looking to change soon. I'm sticking with them as in a recent test they did exceptionally well and it stated they were a new version much improved. They were second only to the Michelin PS4 but they seem to be quite a bit more expensive (especially when in my case you have to buy 4) and I suspect (hope) the Pirellis will last longer. Plus performance wise they weren't far off the top.
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I've just come back today from a place called Resipole in Scotland and the rain was really belting down today. It's single track roads from where I stayed to the ferry to Corran and had quite a few stamps on the brakes for Johnny Foreigner coming the other way as they obviously don't understand how passing places work. No Abs, no skids no loss of traction so I'm still unsure as to how many people say the Bridgestones are dangerous. Soaking wet gready roads coming back down through Loch Lomond and still no loss of traction or dramas. I'm not saying they are the best tyre and I'm 100% certain Michelin and Continental will be a better tyre come change time but they are a decent tyre and I've had no issues at all. I'm wondering if the PP helps negate any issues that others may be having?
Guess it really depends on your driving as in were you pressing on or enjoying the scenery. I'm sure the PP is better due to the LSD but there is no denying that the S001 is an old tyre, it did not perform well in wet tests even back in 2011 and there are many better options now available.
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Pressing on in places but not dawdling anywhere as seen the scenery before. I'm not saying the Bridgestones will be replaced with another set, far from it I'll probably go down Michelin or Continental come change time but I've had no issues what so ever since new with mine.
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Pressing on in places but not dawdling anywhere as seen the scenery before. I'm not saying the Bridgestones will be replaced with another set, far from it I'll probably go down Michelin or Continental come change time but I've had no issues what so ever since new with mine.
Just as a side note Chris, you need to update your thingy below your posts. It still says you're waiting on your GTi :smiley:
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Ah so it does. Totally forgot about that, cheers.
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I have had the new car a few weeks now. I am really surprised by how noisy it is. On any rough piece of road the tyre roar is really loud. The Mk6 was much, much quieter on Goodyear AS2. I wouldn't say the Mk7 was any better at smoothing out the bumps either :sad: Though I am wondering how much of this is being caused by the OEM Bridgestone tyres.
I'm torn between changing the tyres now or wait until it starts to get cold just to see what they are like. I will be changing them anyway.
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I have had the new car a few weeks now. I am really surprised by how noisy it is. On any rough piece of road the tyre roar is really loud. The Mk6 was much, much quieter on Goodyear AS2. I wouldn't say the Mk7 was any better at smoothing out the bumps either :sad: Though I am wondering how much of this is being caused by the OEM Bridgestone tyres.
I'm torn between changing the tyres now or wait until it starts to get cold just to see what they are like. I will be changing them anyway.
I know the Bridgestones are far from perfect but I'm generally happy with them for the type of driving I do.
They do tramp like a b!tch in damp conditions under hard acceleration though :sad:
I can't warrant chucking £400 away on a set of PS4's, plus running the considerable risk of alloy damage during fitting.
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I've done 7800 miles on the factory Bridgestones and while they are noisy I can't see the point in just binning them. You may aswell just run them and replace them when they need replacing.
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The optional extras on my car cost over £7k. Personally, I really do not need Art Velour seats, keyless, dynaudio, lane assist, dynamic light assist and a reversing camera. Even the performance pack is not a necessary option for me.
For just £450 (PS4) to £650 (PS4S) I get a quieter, more comfortable car, with improved acceleration, cornering and braking. Personally, I think that is money very well spent!
It would probably take me 3 years until the Bridgestone tyres need replacing. I really don't think I could stand them for that long. 3 months maybe. :undecided:
I have always planned on replacing the tyres for something better, sooner rather than later.
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It must just be me but I don't find them any noisier than my Transit.