GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Mutley75 on 27 February 2023, 21:12
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My GTI is now 4 years old - I've owned it from new and it's just had its second MOT @ 21,000 miles. Last year I hit a pot hole which bulged the tyre wall on the front left tyre. As it was damaged and losing pressure, I had it replaced like-for-like without too much thought. The alloy was totally fine and the wheel alignment wasn't knocked out - on level ground, the car will drive in a straight line without having to adjust the wheel.
Anyway, fast forward to this year's MOT and my current tread depths are:
Front Right - 4.5mm (original tyre)
Front Left - 6.5mm (new last year)
Rear Right - 6.0mm (original)
Rear Left - 6.0mm (original)
Although the alignment appears to be ok, the car does feel overly sensitive to road camber - but seems to pull both left and right, rather than in the same direction. I'm fairly certain this is only since replacing the front left for a new tyre and I am assuming the tread depth mismatch is likely causing this? The tyre pressures are at 38psi all round (lower than stated in the manual but 41psi seems way too hard).
The tyres are Pirelli P-Zero. Which, apart from being a little on the firm and noisy side, seem to be generally ok. However, having read good things about Michelin PS4's I'd quite like to get a couple of those fitted to the car.
So here's the dilemma...
I'm looking at around £180 per tyre, so basically £360 in total. But only one of the tyres is anywhere close to needing to be replaced. So would you guys suggest:
1) Replace the front right 4.5mm for another Pirelli P-Zero and move the rears to the front so both front tyres have the same level of wear. Cost £180.
or
2) Replace both the 4.5mm and the new 6.5mm on the front for 2 x PS4s and sell the good one on eBay (probably get £50 used), leaving the 6.0mm on the rear (yeah I know new tyres should go at the back etc etc). Cost £310 (assuming selling the nearly new one).
I'm not against the second option but having never driven PS4s, are they really worth it and actually that much better than the P-Zeros?
Are there any other options or tyres that I've not considered? In hindsight I should have bought two PS4s last year when I replaced the one on the front left, but hey ho!
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I'm not saying 'if it was me' because it was. I had P-zeros on my last and current car and on both I replaced with PS4S. On my current car I replaced all four even though they had 5-6mm left (but one had a puncture which prompted the change). The PS4S compared to the P-zeros are more comfortable, quieter, grip much better overall but especially in wet and cold conditions. They also have much better rim protection. Very pleased with them. So I would change all four.
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The first thing I would do iis fit the 6mm rears on to the front to see if that improves the way the car drives. I previously had Ps4 on a GTi, they are good, but I prefer to get some use out of good tyres before hammering the credit card. :)
As and when you do change, 235 35 19 are a consideration, sometimes cheaper than the 225 and offer more substantial rim protection?
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The first thing I would do iis fit the 6mm rears on to the front to see if that improves the way the car drives. I previously had Ps4 on a GTi, they are good, but I prefer to get some use out of good tyres before hammering the credit card. :)
As and when you do change, 235 35 19 are a consideration, sometimes cheaper than the 225 and offer more substantial rim protection?
Good point. I'd be annoyed to splash out on two PS4's only to find there was some other issue that required £££ also.
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I'm not saying 'if it was me' because it was. I had P-zeros on my last and current car and on both I replaced with PS4S. On my current car I replaced all four even though they had 5-6mm left (but one had a puncture which prompted the change). The PS4S compared to the P-zeros are more comfortable, quieter, grip much better overall but especially in wet and cold conditions. They also have much better rim protection. Very pleased with them. So I would change all four.
Is the right answer! Or rather, the answer I wanted to hear to help justify to myself it would be worth the investment! That said, justifying to myself is infinitely easier than justifying to the mrs why I need to spend north of £700 to replace 1 slightly worn tyre - because she won't get the 'more comfortable, quieter, better grip' etc argument.
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Check out for Michelin offers, I've had cashback on a few occasions including last time when I bought 4x 4s's, way better than the P Zeros and cheap non stick items the supplying dealer fitted for the last MoT.
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I'm not saying 'if it was me' because it was. I had P-zeros on my last and current car and on both I replaced with PS4S. On my current car I replaced all four even though they had 5-6mm left (but one had a puncture which prompted the change). The PS4S compared to the P-zeros are more comfortable, quieter, grip much better overall but especially in wet and cold conditions. They also have much better rim protection. Very pleased with them. So I would change all four.
Is the right answer! Or rather, the answer I wanted to hear to help justify to myself it would be worth the investment! That said, justifying to myself is infinitely easier than justifying to the mrs why I need to spend north of £700 to replace 1 slightly worn tyre - because she won't get the 'more comfortable, quieter, better grip' etc argument.
It was difficult to justify to me as like clubsport above, I like to get my money's worth but I'm so glad I did. Pirellis are just not good enough.
Petec is right, you can get some pretty good deals, mine were from Blackcircles and it was a keen price.
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You will notice a big difference between the Pirelli's and Michelin's. I changed mine after 4yrs and 25k. Car feels much better, grip and comfort on 19's.
You will soon forget about cost.
Does give a bit better rim protection too.
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No strictly comparing apples with Apples, but our Golf has Pzeros and my BMW has PS4.
The Pzero are not great in the wet. In warm wet conditions and in the dry the PS4 are better.
However when it is cold and damp, like we have now the PS4 are much worse than the Pzero in terms of grip.
I am fitting Goodyear assymetric 6 in place of the PS4 when the time comes.
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Take the 4.5 & 6.5mm front P-Zeros off and sell them as part worns, move the 6mm p zeros onto the front and let them wear out. Put two Michelins on the rear of the car.
New tyres should always go on the rear, understeer is easier to correct that oversteer in a fwd car…but encouraged in a rwd :wink:
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I am fitting Goodyear assymetric 6 in place of the PS4 when the time comes.
Good deals on these in February from ATS with £32 off a pair meaning 235/35/19 are just £130 a corner.
225 often slightly dearer.
EDIT: just checked, the 225/35 is £7.50 dearer than the wider 235/35 :rolleyes:
RE-EDIT: ATS March promo now £32/£64 on Michelins and the GY £32/£64 now finished
Take the 4.5 & 6.5mm front P-Zeros off and sell them as part worns, move the 6mm p zeros onto the front and let them wear out. Put two Michelins on the rear of the car.
New tyres should always go on the rear, understeer is easier to correct that oversteer in a fwd car…but encouraged in a rwd :wink:
Agreed with selling the odd ones as part-worns
Agreed with the general consensus of putting the new ones on the back too with the proviso being if the current rears are hardly worn then there will be little to gain from fitting new ones to the back. Unless of course you just want to burn them down more quickly so you can have a matched set sooner if mixing brands.
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Yeah ideally want to end up with four the same, but not all at once. And before I sell the car (possibly in two years time). I’m not driving on p-zeros only to buy some nice PS4s for some bugger else!
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I’m not driving on p-zeros only to buy some nice PS4s for some bugger else!
:grin: :grin:
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At your cars current average mileage of 5k-ish a year, you'd be good to wear out either sets within two years unless you're planning on lots of exuberant driving. Since 7.5-8mm is roughly the depth of a brand new tyre, and your fronts are down to 4.5mm at 4 years/20k miles.
With that info, replace the two fronts for the Michelin's and let the new owner worry about buying new tyres for the rear, if they even reach 5mm in two years.
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At your cars current average mileage of 5k-ish a year, you'd be good to wear out either sets within two years unless you're planning on lots of exuberant driving. Since 7.5-8mm is roughly the depth of a brand new tyre, and your fronts are down to 4.5mm at 4 years/20k miles.
With that info, replace the two fronts for the Michelin's and let the new owner worry about buying new tyres for the rear, if they even reach 5mm in two years.
My thoughts exactly. Think that’s what I’ll do.
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Sounds like a plan.
The PS4S will be good on the front, they seem to improve steering feel until they get down to around 3mm.
Mine are now at just below 3mm so been waiting for the Michelin promo on March 1st - one pair of fronts duly ordered yesterday!
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Exonian how much u pay on offer. Cheapest online I can find in Ireland is €188 😭. Maybe someone can point me in way of better deal🤞🏻 Thanks.
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Exonian how much u pay on offer. Cheapest online I can find in Ireland is €188 😭. Maybe someone can point me in way of better deal🤞🏻 Thanks.
I got 4 Pilot Sport 4S fitted at Christmas for £653, usually crop up at £147ish (€165) after a 15% discount every wee while on Blackcircles. Not sure if they ship down south but I can always help you out if you need it.
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Exonian how much u pay on offer. Cheapest online I can find in Ireland is €188 😭. Maybe someone can point me in way of better deal🤞🏻 Thanks.
Mine are 235/35/19 not 225.
£308 for the pair via ATS, probably slightly cheaper through Camskill who are also doing Michelin promo and might be more accessible in Ireland if you have a trusted local fitter(?)
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Thanks guys I’m prob a month off changing front tyres an can get them fitted local. May take u up on that offer willni as not v far off border an blackcircles don’t seam to deliver south.
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Take the 4.5 & 6.5mm front P-Zeros off and sell them as part worns, move the 6mm p zeros onto the front and let them wear out. Put two Michelins on the rear of the car.
New tyres should always go on the rear, understeer is easier to correct that oversteer in a fwd car…but encouraged in a rwd :wink:
I never realised you could have Pirelli on one axle, Michelin on the other. Had naively assumed they all had to be the same manufacturer. Having read all the posts/good reviews about PS4s, I'm looking to swap the P Zeros from my TCR to them. My current fronts are 3mm, backs 6mm after 15k miles, so put the backs to the front and PS4s on the back, then swap the fronts in due course.
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Thanks guys I’m prob a month off changing front tyres an can get them fitted local. May take u up on that offer willni as not v far off border an blackcircles don’t seam to deliver south.
No bother buddy, just message me when the time comes. You could also send them to a fitting garage in Newry / Armagh etc depending on which town is closest to you over the border if you're less fussy on the fitter.
I never realised you could have Pirelli on one axle, Michelin on the other. Had naively assumed they all had to be the same manufacturer. Having read all the posts/good reviews about PS4s, I'm looking to swap the P Zeros from my TCR to them. My current fronts are 3mm, backs 6mm after 15k miles, so put the backs to the front and PS4s on the back, then swap the fronts in due course.
I think that's a trade off from Quattro / XDrive cars, as they tend to throw a fit with different brands.
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I never realised you could have Pirelli on one axle, Michelin on the other. Had naively assumed they all had to be the same manufacturer. Having read all the posts/good reviews about PS4s, I'm looking to swap the P Zeros from my TCR to them. My current fronts are 3mm, backs 6mm after 15k miles, so put the backs to the front and PS4s on the back, then swap the fronts in due course.
As Will says, some cars can be a bit sensitive to different tyres between axles but it’s perfectly legal to have a different brand of tyre on each corner. Just check out some of the horrendous mixes of Chinese crap fitted to cars on your local second hand car forecourt. All MOT legit but definitely not recommended!
Steering response, traction and general handling would be better with the PS4S on the front BUT I’d still go with putting the Pirellis up front and then try and burn them down over the summer so you can eventually have PS4S on both axles :cool:
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Personally I prefer to have all the same so you get the full benefit of the Michelins. Also found a lot of the interior rattles calmed down. I know it is wasteful to bin tyres with so much life left and believe me, I don't like opening my wallet unless I really have to, but I think it was well worth changing all four.
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Pilot sport 4s are SOOO much better than pirelli had pirelli on mine from new and thought they were ok but after swopping to PS4S's it was like a different car!
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Personally I prefer to have all the same so you get the full benefit of the Michelins. Also found a lot of the interior rattles calmed down. I know it is wasteful to bin tyres with so much life left and believe me, I don't like opening my wallet unless I really have to, but I think it was well worth changing all four.
I've decided to bite the bullet Watts and have all 4 changed to PS4s. I checked Halfords/National, Asda & Blackcircles, but Kwik Fit are doing 10% off and are my nearest garage. ATS were slightly cheaper, but further distance to go.
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Personally I prefer to have all the same so you get the full benefit of the Michelins. Also found a lot of the interior rattles calmed down. I know it is wasteful to bin tyres with so much life left and believe me, I don't like opening my wallet unless I really have to, but I think it was well worth changing all four.
I've decided to bite the bullet Watts and have all 4 changed to PS4s. I checked Halfords/National, Asda & Blackcircles, but Kwik Fit are doing 10% off and are my nearest garage. ATS were slightly cheaper, but further distance to go.
Hope you enjoy them :smiley:
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Good decision funboxster :smiley:
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Although we've all probably seen the adverts on Youtube at some point, I've found that app Honey very good for discounts especially when it come to tyres, always finds a 10-15% off code & obviously for other things as well.
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Personally I prefer to have all the same so you get the full benefit of the Michelins. Also found a lot of the interior rattles calmed down. I know it is wasteful to bin tyres with so much life left and believe me, I don't like opening my wallet unless I really have to, but I think it was well worth changing all four.
I've decided to bite the bullet Watts and have all 4 changed to PS4s. I checked Halfords/National, Asda & Blackcircles, but Kwik Fit are doing 10% off and are my nearest garage. ATS were slightly cheaper, but further distance to go.
Blackcircles have got 15% on Michelins and Costco have just put the offer on Michelins starting today.
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Personally I prefer to have all the same so you get the full benefit of the Michelins. Also found a lot of the interior rattles calmed down. I know it is wasteful to bin tyres with so much life left and believe me, I don't like opening my wallet unless I really have to, but I think it was well worth changing all four.
I've decided to bite the bullet Watts and have all 4 changed to PS4s. I checked Halfords/National, Asda & Blackcircles, but Kwik Fit are doing 10% off and are my nearest garage. ATS were slightly cheaper, but further distance to go.
Blackcircles have got 15% on Michelins and Costco have just put the offer on Michelins starting today.
Thanks all for your advice and comments.
mcmaddy- I've checked Blackcircles this morning and it's only 10% off? Am I missing something?
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Personally I prefer to have all the same so you get the full benefit of the Michelins. Also found a lot of the interior rattles calmed down. I know it is wasteful to bin tyres with so much life left and believe me, I don't like opening my wallet unless I really have to, but I think it was well worth changing all four.
I've decided to bite the bullet Watts and have all 4 changed to PS4s. I checked Halfords/National, Asda & Blackcircles, but Kwik Fit are doing 10% off and are my nearest garage. ATS were slightly cheaper, but further distance to go.
Blackcircles have got 15% on Michelins and Costco have just put the offer on Michelins starting today.
Thanks all for your advice and comments.
mcmaddy- I've checked Blackcircles this morning and it's only 10% off? Am I missing something?
maybe deal has changed. Costco will be cheapest though.
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Personally I prefer to have all the same so you get the full benefit of the Michelins. Also found a lot of the interior rattles calmed down. I know it is wasteful to bin tyres with so much life left and believe me, I don't like opening my wallet unless I really have to, but I think it was well worth changing all four.
I've decided to bite the bullet Watts and have all 4 changed to PS4s. I checked Halfords/National, Asda & Blackcircles, but Kwik Fit are doing 10% off and are my nearest garage. ATS were slightly cheaper, but further distance to go.
So, 4 new PS4s fitted today at ATS/Euromaster. Just over £600 for all 4, as they have a Michelin offer on. Early doors, but I've noticed how quiet they are. I'm selling the two rear P zeros in the for sale section, for a nominal amount.
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So, 4 new PS4s fitted today at ATS/Euromaster. Just over £600 for all 4, as they have a Michelin offer on. Early doors, but I've noticed how quiet they are. I'm selling the two rear P zeros in the for sale section, for a nominal amount.
:smiley:
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Just had this in an email, hope it helps someone.(https://i.postimg.cc/XNDr0XnJ/Tyres.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kDKJQJ63)
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Personally I prefer to have all the same so you get the full benefit of the Michelins. Also found a lot of the interior rattles calmed down. I know it is wasteful to bin tyres with so much life left and believe me, I don't like opening my wallet unless I really have to, but I think it was well worth changing all four.
I've decided to bite the bullet Watts and have all 4 changed to PS4s. I checked Halfords/National, Asda & Blackcircles, but Kwik Fit are doing 10% off and are my nearest garage. ATS were slightly cheaper, but further distance to go.
So, 4 new PS4s fitted today at ATS/Euromaster. Just over £600 for all 4, as they have a Michelin offer on. Early doors, but I've noticed how quiet they are. I'm selling the two rear P zeros in the for sale section, for a nominal amount.
Won't regret that!! day and night better than pirelli in my opinion mine was like a different car after fitting them.