New tyres suggestions?

[corgi]

I've said it before - VW UK need us all to moan about Bridgestones to sit up and listen (and then get VW central to sit up and listen).

Yes, endlessly  and to an extent, I agree; however, you need to be less hysterical about it, branding them "widowmakers" or whatever is not constructive.

The VW UK rep stated this in their follow up to my email, they will not act on an isolated incident. Seems no effort at all for us to moan here about them, but too much hassle to construct a well worded email to VW UK to let them know how crap these tyres are (and the wipers).

As I said, I agree, but you're previous attempt played the hysteria angle. Be realistic and constructive, I reckon it will get you further.

In the end, my experience of the Bridgestone tyre is that they are very temperature sensitive which when it is cold on many front wheel drive cars can lead to balance issues (warming up the rear tyres can take a long time). This means that you can't properly exploit the performance of the car. There is an element of danger there, cold rears on a front wheel drive car can make life tricky... I've seen similar issues on a BMW 1er but the balance issue is less of a problem - warming the rears is very easy... you then end up with understeer. Incidentally, the 19" Bridgestones on my g/f's 3er are much better and performed very well in the cold and streaming wet this morning.

[monkeyhanger]

Poor when cold? They're poor all the time. In the height of summer these tyres tramp to buggery in the slight damp at the end of my 13 mile commute. They are truly awful on a torquey GTD.

If people want VW to stop putting these on cars (not saying they will definitely take action), then they need to let VW know what they think of them. To put a tyre on a car so unsuitable as to inhibit its performance is very poor of VW, these tyres might well be fine to handle the change of pace on something with 120ps and no torque, but on a GTD or a GTI they are a real compromise. There are far better performing tyres out there at the same retail pricepoint that VW should be able to acquire just as cheaply as the Bridgestones.

Do you not agree that it's unacceptable to put your foot down in 3rd and experience wheelspin/traction control intervention unless it's on something with a massive BHP per tonne? It's like Denon delivering a £1500 hifi with £20 speakers - woefully inadequate for the job at hand.

[corgi]

Do you not agree that it's unacceptable to put your foot down in 3rd and experience wheelspin/traction control intervention unless it's on something with a massive BHP per tonne? It's like Denon delivering a £1500 hifi with £20 speakers - woefully inadequate for the job at hand.

Oh, yes, I agree on the general point. Your previous posts describing them as "widow makers" and the like are not constructive far better to let VW know that the tyres are not fit for purpose without becoming emotional about it. I've not experienced the Bridgestones on a Golf... but I have on others... and I have found that when you warm them up properly they're OK... it can take time. Perhaps they are less suited to the Golf than others?

[adekil]

Unfortunately there's no benefit when the Bridgestones are warmed up or not... I've had a fair few long motorway journeys last summer and recently and the wheel spin and tramping still occurred at the end of the journey without flooring the accelerator either.

If my sh*tty lease company will not replace then I will buy 2 new fronts which are grippy but don't last long so when they wear down more quickly they will have to legally replace them

[richbeech]

My GTD has come with Pirelli P Zeros (only picked it up today) Has anyone else had these and if so what were they like?

[itavaltalainen]

P zero are good tyres, but bad for wear. No direct comparison to golf but my brother has them on his 170hp giulietta.... if he keeps going as he currently does they will be on legal limit at 20k km = 12k miles.

Sticky thou

[richbeech]

Thanks for the info mate I'll have to keep my eye on them. My morning commute is on a long straight boring road so hopefully may last a bit longer than 12k but see how we get on. Just out of interest what sort of price should I expect to pay for P Zeros? I've seen about £160?

[monkeyhanger]

Thanks for the info mate I'll have to keep my eye on them. My morning commute is on a long straight boring road so hopefully may last a bit longer than 12k but see how we get on. Just out of interest what sort of price should I expect to pay for P Zeros? I've seen about £160?

I'm assuming that at the prices you're quoting, you are talking 19" wheels on 235/35 R19?

Costco do Michelin Supersport in 19" for about £167 each fully fitted. With the gear they have there you know they aren't going to butcher your rims (happened to me before with a black circles approved fitter), and they will give you a £50 Costco voucher for every pair you buy (promotion on regularly and on right now), effectively making them £142 each fully fitted. I doubt you will find top tier 19" rubber any cheaper than that.

[richbeech]

I'm assuming that at the prices you're quoting, you are talking 19" wheels on 235/35 R19?

Costco do Michelin Supersport in 19" for about £167 each fully fitted. With the gear they have there you know they aren't going to butcher your rims (happened to me before with a black circles approved fitter), and they will give you a £50 Costco voucher for every pair you buy (promotion on regularly and on right now), effectively making them £142 each fully fitted. I doubt you will find top tier 19" rubber any cheaper than that.

Yea 19" mate. Can't say I've ever used (or even heard of) them before but just looked on their website and it seems they've got a garage not to far from where I work so that's handy. Thanks for the info. I'm guessing the supersports are pretty decent tyres then? 

[monkeyhanger]

I'm assuming that at the prices you're quoting, you are talking 19" wheels on 235/35 R19?

Costco do Michelin Supersport in 19" for about £167 each fully fitted. With the gear they have there you know they aren't going to butcher your rims (happened to me before with a black circles approved fitter), and they will give you a £50 Costco voucher for every pair you buy (promotion on regularly and on right now), effectively making them £142 each fully fitted. I doubt you will find top tier 19" rubber any cheaper than that.

Yea 19" mate. Can't say I've ever used (or even heard of) them before but just looked on their website and it seems they've got a garage not to far from where I work so that's handy. Thanks for the info. I'm guessing the supersports are pretty decent tyres then?

They're the best that Michelin do (I think) - very good tyres, so i'm told, the range down Michelin Pilotsport 3 are very good. If you're not a paid up member of Costco (or know someone that is), you won't be able to use their tyre services. The Supersports have to be ordered in (expect a 2 day wait at most) as they're not a stock tyre at Costco.