New tyres suggestions?

[adekil]

So yesterday I noticed both fronts worn down, which was great news as the Bridgestones will go...

Despite requesting Conti 5s or PS3s my lease company has sent KwikFit out and they've just turned up with Conti 3s instead to replace both fronts.

So far after reading some reviews on these tyres I'm probably not going to be much better off than the Bridgestones, which I'm a little surprised about as some of my mates have these on their GTI/GTDs/Audi's and they haven't complained.....

whats everyone else's experience with Conti 3s???

[adekil]

Update:

KwikFit guy was obviously guessing as he's now done and I have 2 new Conti 5s fitted 

[ffrank]

Ha, good result

I had the 3's on my GTD, well, I still do on the rear. They are better than the Bridgestones by the sounds of it but 5's will obviously be much improved.

[adekil]

Just took the GTD out and even though the tyres are brand new and not worn in, a big big improvement! Drove normally and where I would have had a few minor tramps/flashing orange on the dash whilst pulling away, not a single one 

Tyres look great too and suit the car so forgetting for a moment that this is a company lease i'm very tempted to pay out of my own pocket and replace the two rears as well to touch it all off nicely.

[GolfTi]

Proper tyres

[caprigreen]

perhaps I should be in formula 1 as I am a driver who can look after my tyres, no tramping not had any problems with the bridgstones.

[GolfTi]

The Bridgestones are a very hard compound tyre so will last a long time. Other tyres have a softer compound which gives more grip. Personally I prefer the extra grip and traction.

[monkeyhanger]

perhaps I should be in formula 1 as I am a driver who can look after my tyres, no tramping not had any problems with the bridgstones.

Perhaps you are holding back. If I was only interested in applying 1/4 throttle to get moving at a roundabout then I would never suffer tramping, but why should you have to apply more caution to pull away at a roundabout than an ancient Citroen 2CV just to avoid tramping? Crap tyres, you can adapt your driving style to prevent tramping, but the question is why should you have to drive the car at a fraction of it's potential to prevent an issue that would not be there had VW fitted almost any other brand of premium tyre?

[caprigreen]

perhaps I should be in formula 1 as I am a driver who can look after my tyres, no tramping not had any problems with the bridgstones.

Perhaps you are holding back. If I was only interested in applying 1/4 throttle to get moving at a roundabout then I would never suffer tramping, but why should you have to apply more caution to pull away at a roundabout than an ancient Citroen 2CV just to avoid tramping? Crap tyres, you can adapt your driving style to prevent tramping, but the question is why should you have to drive the car at a fraction of it's potential to prevent an issue that would not be there had VW fitted almost any other brand of premium tyre?

Yes to be fair I am holding back . I have treated the car very carefully and its not a daily driver as I have a car provided for my work. I have had the car 5 months and done 3,400 miles I am now starting to drive it a lot harder so may soon be changing my opinion.  Although I have not had a problem I would not discount the views of the forum. I have favoured Michelin PS3 on my MK5 golf and will probably go for those when the bridegstones wear out. Trouble is with my careful driving they will last for ages. The only way to tell is to change the tyres and see the difference. I see some people are saying that the change in tyres has transformed the car. That is something to look forward to when the novelty of the new car has worn off. Having looked at my fronts today they seem hardly worn, if I was on the Michelins they would be half worn by now. As someone has stated its a soft compound for grip and hard for wear. Difficult to get the best of both, unless anyone knows different.cheers Steve

[monkeyhanger]

Caprigreen: Yes, the Bridgestones are rock hard, they will last a long time if the car is driven carefully, if you're only keeping the cars 3 years on limited miles, you may never wear them out.

My biggest regret with my GTD is that I didn't bin the Bridgestones early on. With better rubber and the DTUK box (tramping easily with and without the DTUK box), I may have never ordered the R in the pursuit of some reasonable traction. As much as I dislike driving DSG, i've had a good few gos in my Dad's DSG GTD which came on Dunlops and it is very hard to lose traction with his, even now he's inherited my DTUK box.