The factory datasheet shows its BS 73db vs PS4 71db.
Its definitely quieter, they aren't allowed to lie about those things.
As was said earlier that is a lot of difference.
I know you refuse to accept that the PS4's are better. We've had this argument about a million times on here.
I don't recall ever saying the PS4s weren't a better tyre! What I have said is I don't see the point in binning perfectly good tyres that are virtually brand new. I never had any issues with the factory Bridgestones, yes they took an age to warm up during cold weather but then I adjust my driving style for the road conditions which a lot of people don't and then complained that they couldn't floor it out of junctions or roundabouts on greasy surfaces.
They're rock hard and have poor grip even when warmed up. You don't need greasy surfaces to find them lacking. What's the point if having to drive a hot hatch like it's got 75ps to avoid the Bridgestones letting you down when pretty much all of the "equivalent" alternatives from Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental, Michelin, Uniroyal, Pirelli etc perform way better in all areas - especially grip and traction.
When you're driving a car costing hundreds a month in depreciation, why tolerate tyres that compromise the hot hatch characteristics of the car for the equivalent of a monthly payment? I do bemoan the fact that I feel the need to bin VW's choice of tyre. I'd much rather VW charge £100 more and select a tyre befitting the car's abilities. Other manufacturers do this for their hot hatches.
You've been quite lucky that your original GTD came on Dunlops - if mine hadn't come on Bridgestones, I may not have chopped it in fir an R in the pursuit of some decent grip and traction (and ended up binning the Potenzas that came with anyway). Now you have a PP, with LSD. Your traction with more than 1/3 throttle in 1st, on Bridgestones would be very poor wet or dry, hot or cold without the LSD.
I had the slight inconvenience of selling the Polo's tyres and getting a £310 set of PS4s for a net cost of £110. The car and my confidence in its abilities is transformed. Those Bridgestones last almost the length of most people's PCPs, that's a serious compromise - like making Usain Bolt run in wooden clogs.
How Bridgestone get away with marketing themselves as a performance tyre manufacturer is beyond me. The only advantage to them is they last forever (because they are so hard).
