Another tyre question - sorry !

[Sootchucker]

HI guys, am looking to have all 4 tyres replaced this coming weekend, after just over 2 years and 18.5k with the Bridgestones.

I think I've narrowed the choice down to either (in no particular order)

1. Continental Sport Contact 5
2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrical 2
3. Michelin Pilot Sport 3

Apart from price, one other criteria which I can't find mentioned in any literature is rim protection. The current Bridgestones to be fair have quite a decent one, and do overhang the edge of the rim quite well. Do any of the above 3 offer decent rim protection as well.

Also, putting aside performance differences between the above 3, would all 3 be quieter than the Bridgestone Potenza S001 that I currently have fitted, as I find these a really noisy tyre on anything but a perfectly smooth surface ?

[Booth11]

Sootchucker, all great tyres on your shortlist. 

Regarding the Conti 5P’s, there are 2 versions available – one with rim protection (RP) and one without.  The one with RP, has a small lip around the tyre edge.  I’ve had both versions of this tyre.  On my Mk6 GTI, I had 2 sets of the version with the rim protection (RP), on all wheels bar one, which had a non RP tyre.  My Mk7R, came shod from the factory with the NON RP Conti 5P’s, (though some owners seem to think they have the one with RP, it is actually the non RP type, well mine are anyway).

My opinion (for what it’s worth) is that the NON RP Contis are actually better for rim protection than the ones with the small lip.  Now it may come down to the style of wheel, but certainly with my old Glendales the protecting lip was absolutely useless.  The presence of the upturned protection lip means the sidewall of the tyre is set back, so there is NO overhang whatsoever, in fact the opposite, and the lip itself is next to useless for protection.  And the one wheel that had the NON RP tyre appeared to be better protected due to the curve of the side wall meeting the edge of the wheel and the actual sidewall overhanging more affording some protection.  The Pretorias also sit slightly further back in the tyre so are better protected anyway.

When it comes time to replace the Contis on the R, if I stick with the same tyres, I will definitely get the version without RP. 

With respect to noise, I think the Contis are ok. I've only ever had them on 19's (with ACC/DCC) so certainly with the GTI there was a bit of road noise, but on the R they seem MUCH quieter, not intrusive and are perfectly acceptable noise-wise IMO.

Here’s a few pics to show the difference of the Contis with and without RP.  Hopefully you will see what I mean.

R – version without RP







Mk6GTI – version with RP

[Sootchucker]

Thanks Dear - very much appreciated.

Another quick question as well please. I've just remembered that I want get the recent kerb damage to my front alloy seen to before I have new tyres fitted. I've had a few quotes, but on turnaround, most are quoting around 3-5 working days to complete.

I obviously don't have a spare 18" Nogoro, and only the space saver, (which I don't want to use for prolonged periods, so looking in the garage, I found the spare from my old Golf MK5 GT-TDI. It's a steelie, never been on the road, and is a 16"*6.5J rim fitted with a 205/55/R16 tyre.

Would this be more suitable for running around for a week in, or would I still have to treat it like a space saver Opps sorry no - (i.e. 50mph)?

[Gnasher]

I'd check the speed and load rating on the tyre is suitable for the car - if only from an insurance perspective.

On the new tyres front. I just fitted a set of 235/35 R19 Eagle F1 asymmetric to a set of 19x8.5 wheels and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of protection on the rims (very similar to booths R photos above). 225/40 R18 would give good protection especially on a narrower rim.

[Exonian]

I'll agree with what Ms. B says about the rim protectors - I have a set of 19's in my garage with my old Conti 3's on; three tyres are OEM fit with no rim protector and they are nice and square at the sides and the other is an 'aftermarket' tyre with rim protector that is shaped exactly like in Rebecca's picture and if anything has less protection.

Buying 18's it looks like the Conti 5P's give the best tyre for the money as most of the premium tyres seem to be between £60 and £70 ish from Tyreleader etc.
With 19's the Uniroyal Rainsport 3 is a runaway bargain at the moment at just £86 ish from Tyreleader compared to over £100 a corner for the other big brands.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

I can tell you for a fact that Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrical 2's are fantastic tyres and offer decent rim protection too (as good as you can expect from low profile tyres). They replaced my front Continental Sport Contact 2's (OEM) and are far more grippy, quieter and a little more attractive to look at (if a tyre can be considered attractive lol). They use softer compound than your Bridgestones, so won't last as long. But they will definitely give you more grip and confidence in both wet and dry!

Just out of interest – I'm still running the original Continental Sport Contact 2's on the rears (now at 25k) and still plenty of tread left.

It's my view that the Mk7 performance models (GTD/GTI/R etc.) benefit from softer compound tyres on the fronts with harder compound on the rears because of the extra torque produced. I'm guessing it's slightly less prominent in the R as it uses the haldex system which shifts power from front to back (although majority of power still directed to front wheels).

[GeoBog]

Throw an eye at the Michelin Pilot Super Sport as well which is a better tyre than PS3 and PS3 are brilliant especially in the wet.

On another thought, has anyone found a decent tyre fitter that doesn't f**k up the gloss black - diamond cut alloys on the MK7?

[Gnasher]

Throw an eye at the Michelin Pilot Super Sport as well which is a better tyre than PS3 and PS3 are brilliant especially in the wet.

On another thought, has anyone found a decent tyre fitter that doesn't f**k up the gloss black - diamond cut alloys on the MK7?

Depends where you are - I know a place in Lincoln that specialise in alloys and stretching tyres etc. It's were I took my BBS wheels for tyres.

[Booth11]

Throw an eye at the Michelin Pilot Super Sport as well which is a better tyre than PS3 and PS3 are brilliant especially in the wet.

Agree. When it's time to change mine this is the only tyre that could usurp the CSC 5P.  Or maybe the CSC 6 

[monkeyhanger]

I'll agree with what Ms. B says about the rim protectors - I have a set of 19's in my garage with my old Conti 3's on; three tyres are OEM fit with no rim protector and they are nice and square at the sides and the other is an 'aftermarket' tyre with rim protector that is shaped exactly like in Rebecca's picture and if anything has less protection.

Buying 18's it looks like the Conti 5P's give the best tyre for the money as most of the premium tyres seem to be between £60 and £70 ish from Tyreleader etc.
With 19's the Uniroyal Rainsport 3 is a runaway bargain at the moment at just £86 ish from Tyreleader compared to over £100 a corner for the other big brands.

Those 19" Uniroyals are very soft - would be lucky to get 10k motorway miles out of them, but wet grip is like velcro.

Conti  5Ps are great until they get down to 4mm and then they go quite bad quite quickly. Michelin PS3/PSS would be my choice, they're great from 8mm down to 2mm.