Tyres

[Teutonic_Tamer]

TT what do you think about the bridgestone potenzas that came on my gti?

Are they the RE050?  If so, again, some very mixed impressions of these, with some finding them perfectly OK, and others having real concerns about wet weather performance.  I have personally driven two different GTIs, along with a few other types of cars with those - and on some cars, I couldn't fault them, yet on others, they were ar$e twitching in the wet - and this was the same with the GTIs - one was great, one was scary!  I just think that Bridgestone have some quite apparent 'quality control' issues.  Lots of Elise and Vauxhall VX220 owners will say the same - no consistency between batches.  So if you get a good 'batch', they will be superb.

[Wurzel]

Which do proper tests though.

No they don't!  A massive part of the Which 'evaluation' is price - so according to them, an £80 Dunlop is much better than a £150 Michelin! 

Absolute rubbish. Michelin and Continental usually come out top. Have you even looked at Which recently?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

i'm gonna try to get them swapped if they turn up with dunlops - they sound shocking!

Sorry, but you will have no chance.  I previously lodged a formal complaint with Volkswagen UK CS - but they just stated they were EU-approved, and therefore fit for purpose - though they did also admit to having lots of complaints about them!

well i'll certainly give it a go if they turn up on dunlops.  where there is a will there's a way.  and in my experience if you treat people with some respect and be nice sometimes you get something back.   in this case i would be hoping for some goodwill on the part of my dealer with a change of tyre.

I honestly think you'll be wasting your time.  Because IF Volkswagen knew there was a prob with dunlops back in 2006/7, why is it they are still factory fitting them.

IF yours does turn up with them on, just chalk it down to 'experience'.  You may, afterall, actually like them!     Anyway, arn't they now a slightly revised 'Dunlop SportMaxx TT'? 

[AlanD]

Wonder who they named them after

Their number 1 fan?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

18 inches...

OK, thanks.  But I just realised you are in the Netherlands, and your roads are much better than ours.  Do you have m-ways with concrete road surfaces, rather than the more normal tarmac?  Because Contis are particularly bad on concrete surfaces.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Wonder who they named them after

Their number 1 fan?

Yeah, rite!   


Must remember to hide my Dunlop t-shirt and basball cap when I turn up to the JKM RR day! 

[AlanD]

Didnt know you was coming down to that. Shall see you then

[matchboy]

you say don't skimp, but surely after paying 27k for a car you can't then go out and buy brand new tyres for it - it should come with tyres that can cope with all situations!

then you seriously need to be looking at an Audi 'S' or 'RS' car, or a Porsche or a BMW 'M' car -

RS - i'm not made of money, a GTI and an A4 is enough for one family!! S3 - fast, handling is sh1t.  i'd love a porsche but with a baby not practical.  Had my brother's for a week and is too expensive as you can't help ragging it all the time so use a shed load of petrol.  BMW - i'm not a fat bald middle aged tosser so i'll leave those alone.  M3 is a wicked car but i'm not a drug dealer so i'll pass.

B. i can actually drive.  i certainly won't end up in a hedge or a lamp post - i'll leave that to chavs in sh!t cars.

I'm sorry, but no matter how talented the driver, you can NOT overcome the laws of physics.  If/when your tyres let you down, even the finest professional drivers in the world (of road cars or race cars) can overcome shyte tyres.  Just look back to how Lewis Hamilton lost the WC in 2007 due to shagged tyres on his McLaren, yet the same scenario favoured him at Brazil 2008, when Jarno Trulis tyres were shot.

So unless you are some multiple world rally champion or F1 champion, I, with the highest possible respect and friendship, suggest you 'smell the coffee'. 

again, you missed my point.  what i was saying was that i'm not a sh1t driver therefore i won't be driving like a (unt, therefore i won't end up in a hedge.  if i'm unfortunate enough, God forbid, to have a blow out i really don't think my choice of tyre will make any difference.  plus i won't be doing 200mph so i won't do a lewis.  and comparing a GTI to a McLaren F1 car is stretching your argument just a little don't you think?

C. even though you don't know me and i know you weren't having a go, i'm actually offended by the whole "never have the intention of using the GTI for what it is made for" comment!  i drive hard but safe, and it really winds me up when i see a GTI going at 60mph on the motorway - buy a micra if you want to drive like a pussy.  don't get me wrong, i enjoy the way the car looks and people looking at it, but its certainly not my primary reason for buying it so i can drive round the town centre all day posing.  its meant to be driven, and it certainly will be i can promise you.

Sorry, I certainly didn't mean to adress that comment at anyone in person, including you - but we all know it does happen.  And whilst there may be a real genuine reason to drive like Miss Daisy - such as you already have 11 points on your licence, for the most part - I bet a good 50-70% of GTI owners (and other similar cars) never, EVER get driven to anywhere near their capabilities!

i don't have any points because i have eyes/constantly on the look out for unmarked vehicles.  as for your statistic, having read a few of your posts today it doesn't surprise me you making such a sweeping statement with no facts to back it up!  

[matchboy]

i'm gonna try to get them swapped if they turn up with dunlops - they sound shocking!

Sorry, but you will have no chance.  I previously lodged a formal complaint with Volkswagen UK CS - but they just stated they were EU-approved, and therefore fit for purpose - though they did also admit to having lots of complaints about them!

well i'll certainly give it a go if they turn up on dunlops.  where there is a will there's a way.  and in my experience if you treat people with some respect and be nice sometimes you get something back.   in this case i would be hoping for some goodwill on the part of my dealer with a change of tyre.

I honestly think you'll be wasting your time.  Because IF Volkswagen knew there was a prob with dunlops back in 2006/7, why is it they are still factory fitting them.

IF yours does turn up with them on, just chalk it down to 'experience'.  You may, afterall, actually like them!     Anyway, arn't they now a slightly revised 'Dunlop SportMaxx TT'? 

well we'll see!  but i don't usually waste my time for the fun of it so i believe i'll be ok!  but thanks for your concern anyway!

[hutch924]

TT what do you think about the bridgestone potenzas that came on my gti?

Are they the RE050?  If so, again, some very mixed impressions of these, with some finding them perfectly OK, and others having real concerns about wet weather performance.  I have personally driven two different GTIs, along with a few other types of cars with those - and on some cars, I couldn't fault them, yet on others, they were ar$e twitching in the wet - and this was the same with the GTIs - one was great, one was scary!  I just think that Bridgestone have some quite apparent 'quality control' issues.  Lots of Elise and Vauxhall VX220 owners will say the same - no consistency between batches.  So if you get a good 'batch', they will be superb.

yeah the are re050a and  i have used it in the wet and they seem top notch in the wet gripping far better than the dunlops i had on the astra did and in the dry they possibly feel the best tyre i have had on a car but thanks for the reply to my question