Golf R - 19" Talladega Alloys, tyres?

[ansGTI]

Well after owning an Edition 35 for 7 months, having come from an Edition 30, I've made the plunge and purchased a 2012 Golf R. I am so chuffed, I was smiling for the entire 130 mile drive home. I gave the car the once over at the dealership I picked it up from, but upon arriving home I've noticed something which I think is wrong.

The 19" talladega alloys came with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 235/35 19 91Y tyres on from factory, or at least most Golf R's I've seen appear to be running these. Now my car has a set of these on the front, with around 4mm of tread left. However on the rear I have some not so premium tyres, or a brand I've never heard of called Runway (Performance 925) and the markings read 235/35ZR19 91W.

Should I not have 91Y rated tyres on the rear of my Golf R? This is what it would have come with from the factory.

This was a VW dealership I got this car from, and to me it's obvious the front tyres were shot so they've moved the back ones around and put two cheap tyres on the rear before putting it up for sale. I'm annoyed I never noticed this before I left them.

[Booth11]

Does sound like they've shoved cheaper tyres on the rear.  The load index of 91 is the same but obviously the speed rating of W is lower than Y rated tyres.  It might help to look at this chart. 

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyrspeed.html

If the rears are ZR W then speed rating is up to 270kph (168mph)  compared with 300kph (188mph) for Y.  It's not illegal to use tyres with lower speed rating but it's not recommended to have rating different to that specified for your car.  You could have a word with the dealer, they might try and wriggle out of it but nothing to lose by questioning it.

I have a GTI on 19s and that came with Y rated tyres all round, from factory. 

[ansGTI]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah it's from an insurance perspective I'm mostly concerned about with. I used to run Michelin's on both my Edition 30 & 35 so I'm pretty good with the understanding the load and speed index. I guess I'm asking someone to confirm should I have 91Y over 91W and could it invalidate my insurance as this is not the speed rating of the tyres fitted at the factory?

Thanks, Andy

[Booth11]

Have you asked on the R Forum?

[ansGTI]

 

No I haven't, and I didn't think to. I'll register in there and ask. Thanks!

[Booth11]

No I haven't, and I didn't think to. I'll register in there and ask. Thanks!

Hope you find what you're looking for, and enjoy the R 

[Rhyso]

Equally I didnt think you should have mis matching brands between the axles due to the Haldex system 

[dubber36]

I'm not sure that mismatching brands effect the Haldex as long as they have more or less the same rolling radius. If the grip levels are different when pressing on, the Haldex will just do what it does. It's when you are driving in a straight line and one axle is turning faster than the others due to the tyres being smaller, that issues can occur.

It's quite normal for dealers to fit cheap tyres on used cars. There is nothing illegal about it, they just save a few quid. If the car you are buying looks like it needs any tyres, it's best to get it written into the deal that they fit the tyres of your choice. Often tho' they will have already fitted the nasty tyres before it goes on the forecourt, so you'll have a job to negotiate them changing them again.

Were these tyres on the car when you first saw it and did the deal? If not, you could play the 'Approved Used Car' card, by insisting that the car is not complete with those tyres. I did it with my car when it had no mats or MDI leads in it. However tyres cost a bit more money than mats and wires.

[ansGTI]

Thank guys.

I called my local dealer and had them check ETKA and I had it confirmed the car should have 235/35 R19 91Y tyres fitted, or at least this is how it would have left the factory.

I spoke to the supplying dealer and explained everything - I've had it confirmed through ETKA and a few websites specilising in tyres that the wrong tyres are fitted. It's obviously OK to go up a speed rating but to go down from a Y to a W, especially a car like the R is defintely not advisable.

Anyway I've put an email together with pictures and it should find it's way to the after sales manager for him to review. I'll wait and see how they handle things from here I guess