Dunlop Sportmaxx Tyres

[Teutonic_Tamer]

No point throwing away money and getting your current ones changed....

I disagree.  What if the ShyteMaxxes break grip, and send you sideways into a wall or hedge, or oncoming traffic.  The 'apparent' cost of wasting money on buying new tyres will long be forgotten when you have to cough up an insurance excess, and the subsequent increase in premiums.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

recent tests put Dunlops 4th overall in performance testing,

Which test was that?  The highly biased (biased against Michelin, by NOT using 'extra load' tyres, which we all know the GTI must have, by law) Evo test?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

If you want a good, cheap tyre I would strongly recommend Falken FK452.  I paid £101 a corner fitted and tbh I think i could have got this cheaper by buying online.

But you can get PS2s for about £130 each - so why scrimp and save £30 - especially when tyres are so 'safety critical'?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I just wonder if these Dunlops will ever wear out, I mean I didn't own the car for the first 9000 miles and maybe its done a lot of motorway miles, I certainly do my fair share of motorway driving now, but the rears look almost perfect, and the fronts are even with tons of wear remaining!

Maybe the stealer slapped on a new pair on the front before you bought it? 

But yes, the rears will last ages if not rotated.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I reckon most drivers would notice the difference between tyres.

Agreed.

It was suprising to me just how much extra grip I had when I changed from Conti's to Ultrac's .....and Conti's are generally considered good tyres.

Hmmmm.  I personally don't think that Contis are considered as an 'out and out' sports tyre like the PS2 is.  Contis are more considered for their structural stability, and ability to carry high loads at v-max - which is why they are used on big heavy German cars which blast up and down the Autobahns on their speed limiters. 

I think in purely 'grip stakes', Conti SportContacts have always come below Michelin Pilot Sports (both the orginal directional, and the current asymmetric PS2s).

I've recently swapped to 19" alloys from lightweight 18" alloy and straight away I could feel the difference. I have slightly more mechanical grip, but at the expense of feel (which is strange as I thought I'd get more feel with less rubber depth!).

The lack of 'feel' is simply down to the smaller sidewall height (or lower profile).  The lower the profile, the less the sidewalls flex, and therefore they transmit less 'feel' back to the driver.  This sometimes explains why GTIs on the standard 17" rims can 'appear' to be faster round a track - but if the test drivers had big enough cahonies to actually push the 18"s to the limit - then they would always be faster than 17"s.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

You either buy better softer more expensive rubber for some extra grip/quieter on the road, on the down side they also tend to wear out faster.
F1 Asymmetrics seem to get the most praise, but if you do change make of rubber insure you change as an axel pair and but the new boots to the rear first.

Phil
Can you explain this theory to me....

To be honest I want the best tyres where they are going to be of most benefit to me. On a GTI that means the tyres that have to put down the power, do the steering and do most of the braking.

Not necessarily.  Vehicle 'stabilty' should surely be the most important.  If you have boots up front with say 6mm of tread, whilst boots at rear have only 3mm, then you are seriously compromising stability - especially in the wet.

And by using your scenario of traction, steering and braking - but with new boots at the rear, and part-worn at the front - then the tyres should still be able to cope.  However, IF at 3mm, they are not able to cope on the front end (due to aquaplaning or whatever), then they are NOT fit to be on the car at all - be that front or rear. 

The only thing I can think of would be handling balance if you are worried about a lack of grip inducing oversteer. But that's not really something the GTI is know for.

But it would happen, even on the GTI with shyte boots on the rear - trust me on that one.

[ub7rm]

No point throwing away money and getting your current ones changed....

I disagree.  What if the ShyteMaxxes break grip, and send you sideways into a wall or hedge, or oncoming traffic.  The 'apparent' cost of wasting money on buying new tyres will long be forgotten when you have to cough up an insurance excess, and the subsequent increase in premiums.

I think you're getting a little carried away here, though they may not be the best tyre they are not dangerous either.  If you drive like a moron you will end up in a wall or hedge regardless of tyres.  If you drive with any tyre thats too worn for what you are asking it to do you will end up in a wall or a hedge.  The trick is to know your limits and the cars (tyres) limits.  Sportmaxxes are not so bad that this limit will come out of nowhere and surprise you....

If you want a good, cheap tyre I would strongly recommend Falken FK452.  I paid £101 a corner fitted and tbh I think i could have got this cheaper by buying online.

But you can get PS2s for about £130 each - so why scrimp and save £30 - especially when tyres are so 'safety critical'?

Most people will save £60 - £120, not insignificant 

I got a local mobile tyre fitter to supply and fit, but they can be got as cheap as £76ish plus post + fitting so depending where you live you could get them for about £90 a corner.  Saving £80-160 

I haven't tried PS2's or the favourite eagle F1 assym, so I'm not able to compare them, however I'm the stereotypical Scot and hate paying over the odds for anything, if its worth it I'll pay it, if i'm just paying for a name - forget it.  I did a lot of research before I replaced my sportmaxxes and found that the Falkens had rave reviews and they were cheaper than almost every other tyre that gave the same level of performance.  I agree scrimping on tyres is a bad idea - if that means you are getting an inferior product.  With the Falkens this is definately not the case, you are simply paying less for an outstanding product.  (I'm not on commission honestly  )

[R32UK]

No point throwing away money and getting your current ones changed....

I disagree.  What if the ShyteMaxxes break grip, and send you sideways into a wall or hedge, or oncoming traffic.  The 'apparent' cost of wasting money on buying new tyres will long be forgotten when you have to cough up an insurance excess, and the subsequent increase in premiums.

Well then you might want to slow down a little and adjust your driving according to the conditions.

[illyun]

Well DOTE, I think you've heard a lot of opinions there but if I were you, I'd take into consideration my finances, my style of driving and the opinions of those who have had first hand experience of the ShyteMax's and other tyres.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

No point throwing away money and getting your current ones changed....

I disagree.  What if the ShyteMaxxes break grip, and send you sideways into a wall or hedge, or oncoming traffic.  The 'apparent' cost of wasting money on buying new tyres will long be forgotten when you have to cough up an insurance excess, and the subsequent increase in premiums.

I think you're getting a little carried away here, though they may not be the best tyre they are not dangerous either.

Then we had best agree to disagree. 

If you drive like a moron you will end up in a wall or hedge regardless of tyres.

Agreed.  But the big problem with the ShyteMaxes is that they brake away without ANY warning when cornering.  Virtually every other decent tyre will give the driver some feedback, and therefore warning when the limits of grip are being neared.

And another big problem - when the GTI was first launched, and given to all the press hacks - it was unanimously touted as being superb in its handling, and also giving good feedback on the limit too.  But when Wolfsburg started to fit the ShyteMaxxes, they really spoiled the handling. 

Finally, there are many 'safe' places to drive on the limit - including race tracks and private airfields. 

If you drive with any tyre thats too worn for what you are asking it to do you will end up in a wall or a hedge.

Huh - who said anything about driving on a tyre 'too worn'?

The trick is to know your limits and the cars (tyres) limits.

Agreed.

Sportmaxxes are not so bad that this limit will come out of nowhere and surprise you....

Sorry, but I strongly disagree, and my POV also seems to be supported by others here.

ETTO though.

If you want a good, cheap tyre I would strongly recommend Falken FK452.  I paid £101 a corner fitted and tbh I think i could have got this cheaper by buying online.

But you can get PS2s for about £130 each - so why scrimp and save £30 - especially when tyres are so 'safety critical'?

Most people will save £60 - £120, not insignificant 

So how much is your insurance excess?    Or how much does it cost to get a kerbed Monza 2 repaired?