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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: ROF1984 on 27 August 2021, 22:41

Title: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: ROF1984 on 27 August 2021, 22:41
Hi Guys,

Long time lurker, first time poster, a lot of super information in this forum. I have a late 16 plate manual Mk7 PP GTI,absolutely love it from day 1. Its a great driver's car, i love the nimbleness of it and of course its practical for everyday for my uses!

I am currently running 19'' Santiagos with Pirelli P-Zeros 225/35/R19 Y88 all round but I want to give the Michelin PS4s a go. The time has come to change fronts (down to 3mm thread wear) but the rears still have a good 6.5mm left. It seems a bit of a waste to not keep the rears(maybe move them to front?)

I suppose budget constraints at moment only dictate I can replace a pair at the moment.
Would there be any issue mixing front and back from different manufacturers? I plan on getting same threads 225/35/R19 Y88 for the PS4s.

Or should I just suck it up and bin all the P-Zeros if I am changing manufacturers?

Any advice is much appreciated :smiley:



Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: Watts on 28 August 2021, 06:36
Hi and welcome to the forum :smiley:

I would (in fact did) swap all four at once when I moved from p-zeros to PS4S. They are a much better tyre IMO, better ride, grip and comfort. Quieter too. If I were you, I'd swap them around and wear them down a wee bit more and swap them in the Autumn. Unless you see a really good deal in the meantime.
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: madstaff on 28 August 2021, 10:11
I would do as Watts suggests and swap them around and even the wear out, then change all 4 at once.

I had Yokohama 520s on my old mk2 gti and it handled beautifully, had to have new fronts on and the 520 had been replaced by Parada, IIRC, and it upset the balance.
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: Crockers on 28 August 2021, 11:19
Big mistake having better grip on the fronts to rears. Best way to end up with an oversteer into a ditch.
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: Watts on 28 August 2021, 13:19
Big mistake having better grip on the fronts to rears. Best way to end up with an oversteer into a ditch.

Not necessarily. Those good people at Michelin reckon differently - "Reinforcing our test results, recent independent studies have reported that there is no demonstrated link between accident rates and tread depth. And of course, thanks to the 6,000 people Michelin employs in its Research and Development activities, today’s tyre technology makes it possible to have high levels of grip right down to the last millimetres of tread."
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: mcmaddy on 28 August 2021, 13:44
Big mistake having better grip on the fronts to rears. Best way to end up with an oversteer into a ditch.
it's usually a lack of talent and not knowing yours or your cars limitations as to why you end up in a ditch.
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: baka on 28 August 2021, 16:53
Pretty sure the 'most tread goes on the back' mantra you get from all the tyre shops is to do with aquaplaning.

A tyre with less tread depth can potentially displace less water before aquaplaning, so you want that tyre to be on the front, so you get fairly benign understeer, rather than the back aquaplaning first and spinning out.

Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: Finglonga on 28 August 2021, 17:44
Big mistake having better grip on the fronts to rears. Best way to end up with an oversteer into a ditch.

You are in a front wheel drive car, that was the excuse people used years ago in the rear wheel drive cars when they ran out of talent. :grin:
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: Rudedog on 28 August 2021, 22:05
Have to agree which goes against many motoring forums....

Lift off oversteer is frightening when experienced but far better that which can be corrected than terminal understeer which, as it says, is terminal!

Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: willni on 29 August 2021, 11:13
As the temperatures start to drop and the wetter weather is inbound, I don't think we'll be rallying about the same so I'd imagine our driving styles won't be indicative of under or oversteer.

But yes I also agree swap the tyres to the front and let them wear down a good bit, bit of a waste to throw away perfectly good tyres. On the next set regularly rotate them so they wear consistently.
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: Toppy on 29 August 2021, 16:52
I did both with my car, swapped the fronts and back over to even out the ware but after about 2 weeks wiped 1 of the front tires out with ripping the side wall on a pot hole.
Budget constraints only enabled me to get 2 PS4S at that time so i put the 2 new ones on the front. It’s been like that for over 6 month now and i have not noticed any issues at all with the handling in the wet or dry.
I am not saying its the correct thing to do but I haven’t noticed any adverse effects.
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: davo245 on 02 September 2021, 08:10
Swop front to back will all wear out even then at that depth then fit PS4 or PS4S that's what I did massive improvement on the P zero I had before In all conditions money well spent :smiley:
Title: Re: Replacing Front/Rear Tyres MK7 GTI PP
Post by: ROF1984 on 17 September 2021, 23:17
Hi guys,

Just a quick update on this, I've sold my current PZeros on the car to a neighbour of mine (for a good price who also has a GTI :-) ) so....... I'm just going replace all four tyres with new PS4S.

I hope they are a step up from the Pirellis. I did find them a bit lacking in the damp conditions.

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.