Bridgestone Tyres

[Geomets]

Bridgestones bad. Contis wallowy. Michelins good traction (dry-wet), good steering feel too. Dunlop sportmaxx RT very good,  in the same league with the Michelins and the lightest tyre in their segment too (by a kilo!). My money would go on the latter two. Thankfully I got my Golf with Dunlops   225/45/17 the standard fitment here in Brooklyns in the GTI. I would trust the Goodyear Assymetric 2 as it's the same company with Dunlop and they have good reviews if not a little better than Dunlop.

[stiggy786]

If my GTI comes with Bridgestones when I collect it is there a case for replacing them with Michelins immediately and selling the 'stones to the tyre shop on the corner "as new"? How much you reckon they'd fetch? (18s)

[mcmaddy]

I found with the bridgestones that were on my jetta that they took ages to warm up. during the summer they were fine and a good tyre but once the temperature dropped they didn't like it and just refused to work properly.

[Sootchucker]

Whilst I agree with all the comments on the Bridgestones, which VW really should stop supplying, but to be honest I'm terrified with the GTD wheels having a diamond cut face on its outer edge, that this will be damaged when the tyres are replaced.

I always seem to have very bad luck with alloy damage during a tyre change over the years, and wonder if there's anything I as the owner could do to protect the rims during the tyre change process (I.e. Masking the edges of the wheels with detailing tape etc) ?

Or am I just being paranoid ? 

[SRGTD]

Whilst I agree with all the comments on the Bridgestones, which VW really should stop supplying, but to be honest I'm terrified with the GTD wheels having a diamond cut face on its outer edge, that this will be damaged when the tyres are replaced.

I always seem to have very bad luck with alloy damage during a tyre change over the years, and wonder if there's anything I as the owner could do to protect the rims during the tyre change process (I.e. Masking the edges of the wheels with detailing tape etc) ?

Or am I just being paranoid ? 

I don't think you're being paranoid. I'll be in the position of needing to get some new tyres some time this year, and I'm also concerned about my un-marked wheels getting damaged.

There are a few places that have touchless tyre changing machines, which minimises the risk of damage, but I think they are few and far between.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Hx_rpdxJY

Some owners also take photos of their wheels, and get the manager of the place they're getting their new tyres fitted to agree the condition of the wheels before the new tyres are fitted, so if wheel is damaged while fitting a new tyre, the fitting company can't say 'it was already damaged sir before we fitted the tyre'.

It might be worth investigating whether there are any aftermarket alloy wheel / tyre suppliers, who would hopefully have some decent equipment, and staff who understand the susceptibility of diamond cut alloys to damage, so would treat them with care, unlike some of the national tyre fitting chains, who I certainly wouldn't use.

[monkeyhanger]

Go some place with decent changing equipment. Costco have the new/good changing equipment and write-up the wheel condition prior to fitting. If they agree with you that your wheels are immaculate prior to fitting and then they aren't afterwards then they'll have to make good. Don't go to a divey place that use crowbars etc to lever the tyre off.

Surprised to hear that Dunlop Sportmaxx are a full kilo cheaper than the competition - unsurprising then that the sidewall is so fragile - I went through 3 of these during the first winter of ownership for my first Scirocco, sidewall bulges from some very minor pothole impacts. Never had a sidewall bulge on any other tyre in my ownership of a car.

[RikWebb]

For any tyre hunters



Costco - two gives you 40 - 4 gives you 80 quid of fuel

[monkeyhanger]

@Rikwebb: Just had my coupon book from Costco - Michelin Pilot Sport 3s suitable for the GTI/GTD end up being effectively £100 each with £20 worth of fuel on each corner!

13th Jan to 02 Feb isn't long to make your mind up though. I'm sure just a set of fronts would work wonders for GTD initial traction (although you'd have to get them put on the back at Costco's insistence and then swap them over later yourself).

[karlak]

You can also purchase them at Costco, but not have them fitted there and then if you wish. Then take them back for fitting when you require them.  How long Costco will allow you to hold on to them, will pretty much depend on the manager in the tyre centre.

The fitting of new tyres only to a rear axle can be a right pain with Costco......  Had it last time with them and a rather detailed discussion as to why they do it.  Seems Costco in the USA were sued by a driver after they fitted tyres to the front of a car.  They subsequently span out in the next shower of rain and crashed.  This was on a Rear Wheel Drive car !!  How that equates to the same theory on a FWD car is beyond me.  But, those are their rules now..

[Gnasher]

Not just their rules, it's what the tyre manufacturers (at least a good majority of them) recommend.

The reason being that if the put new tyres on the front of a car with part worn tyres on the rear, this can radically change the balance of grip towards the front, meaning more chance of the car oversteering (whereas prior to the tyre change this balance could have been towards understeer). If the tyres are changed to being the new ones on the rear, this keeps the balance the same whilst still giving an improvement in grip all round (on the front, worn tyres are replaced with part worn tyres and on the rear, part worn tyres are replaced with new)

That said, I bet they're still slippy as hell until the waxy type coating is worn off lol!