The Official Polo Tyre Thread

[tooch]

I've got a set of Audi TT rims (17x7.5, +32 I believe) which I will be getting tyres for soon. Car has stock suspension at the moment but thinking of chucking a set of lowering springs in it soon.

Should I run 215x40x17 or 205x40x17? I'm leaning towards 205.

[gjuu]

Car - 08 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 16x6.5 (Standard GTI rims)
New Tire - Federal 595 RS-R
Tire Size - 205/45/16
Cost - $800
Tire Replaced - Original Continental
Km's On new Tire - 200km

Thoughts on New Tire - They are only new so this will obviously change over time
- Sticky off the line. A lot easier to get moving without being blinded by the ESP light. I haven't had the chance to fully test them yet but after a few spirited launches at the lights i expect great things.
- Sticky around corners - unbelievably so... corners and roundabouts that i take every day fighting understeer are taken as if on rails
- Quiet - for now. From reviews etc i have read I was expecting them to be noisy but they seem quieter than the originals.
Overall impression is that even if they only last a short time they are well worth the price for the fun they add just driving around the streets.

Update: Just put some kms on the tyres with a trip up to Port Douglas (about 420kms each way). For those that don't know from Townsville to Cairns is highway driving of around 350kms of some of the most attrocious roads you have ever seen in sections. But from Cairns to Port Douglas great windy roads along the coast.
So first day after 350 kms of highway driving then hit the windy road...the tyres felt as fresh as with grip to spare into and around the corners with heaps of traction coming out.
To give you some idea of the road speed of the corners, the speed limits are between 80 to 100km/hr with advisory corner speeds of down to 20kms/hr...so lots of sharp corners but a speed limit that allows for cornering fun and powering through the short sections of straight road between the corners.
The car and tyres performed amazingly with a TON of grip - the wife commented that it was like riding a roller coaster with the really sharp turn in, the flying flat around a corner and powering out.
The following day took a trip to back to Cairns and did it all again on colder tyres - I couldn't tell the difference in the feeling of security.
The only thing - which time will tell - is how long they last.

[POwers]

Car - 06 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 16x6.5 (Standard GTI rims)
New Tire - Kuhmo KU-39s
Tire Size - 205/45/16
Cost - $185 each fitted
Tire Replaced - Original Continental sc2's
Km's On new Tire - 10km

Tried to find the ku-31's everywhere but no one has them (sydney) so I got these, the pattern looks similar to the conti's and the noise is about the same so far, yet to take it on the freeway will update when I do.

[Spec83]

Car - 06 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 16x6.5 (Standard GTI rims)
New Tire - Kuhmo KU-31s
Tire Size - 205/45/16 87W
Cost - $135 each fitted @ Stylish Wheels, Moss St
Tire Replaced - Toyo T1-R
Km's On new Tire - 50km

These tyres appear to be bigger than the Toyo's they replaced, but are the same size/specs... Dry grip seems fine thus far. I would have replaced with T1-R's again except the price on those is well north of $200 each now..

[POwers]

nice price on those 31's Spec83 they dont sell them anywhere in syd atm!

[leegil]

Car - 06 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 18x7.5 (Speedy FIN rims)
New Tire - KU21
Tire Size - 215/35/18
Cost - $640 (special price through Kumho, install Bob Jane)
Tire Replaced - Original Continental
Km's On new Tire - 20km

Too early to tell but new tyres were 'green' and sure spun as soon as I drove out. I needed to clear the 'new' coat off it. You can feel the harsher ride straight away on the 35 profile. You feel the same bumps as on original 205/45/16 but the bumps are a little harsher...not by that much but just noticeable. The KU21 has an outside face to the tyre and thus the tread orientation looks a little strange when mounted on the car (not symmetrical).

[kaanage]

I still contend that the 175 width XM2 is more than enough tyre for most Polos as I only held up one car in the group + the gentle and progressive breakaway characteristics make it very controllable as the limits are approached. In fact, even at a track day, it would be a good tyre for inexperienced drivers to learn with as they could learn the car's on the limit cornering behaviour and recovery techniques when overcooking a turn at slower speeds with highly predictable response.

After another cruise with these tyres (all 4 this time), I can confirm that while the limits aren't super high, they have a very wide performance plateau so you get loads of feedback as you reach the limits which allows you to slide the car quite controllably, if your chassis/suspension is well balanced. You also get audible warning from tyre squeal both in corners and under brakes as the Golf R I caught and passed will testify.

[kangfu]

Has anybody ran 225/45/17s on the Polo without problems? The fronts might rub against the strut from a quick inspection. Wanting to go higher profile for road comfort. I have 7.5 wide wheels so 225's are fine, just worried about the front struts.

Thinking of maybe running some spacers up front to be sure? I have too many potholes in my area.

[fuzion]

Has anybody ran 225/45/17s on the Polo without problems? The fronts might rub against the strut from a quick inspection. Wanting to go higher profile for road comfort. I have 7.5 wide wheels so 225's are fine, just worried about the front struts.

Thinking of maybe running some spacers up front to be sure? I have too many potholes in my area.

depends on tyres.

Lora's Polo runs 215 40 17s on the TT rims but runs a PZero Nero's which carry a thicker sidewall than most. So a 225 on a 45 profile would definitely end up rubbing and wouldn't be the right side for the polo. As you want the comfort go for a decent quality tyre and nitrogen and the car will be smooth and fine to drive.

You have to remember being a short wheel base the bumps will be felt as they have no where to travel in the chassis/body of the car.



--

Car - 08 Polo GTI
Rim Size - Audi TT 17x7.5
New Tyre - Pirelli PZero Nero
Tire Size - 215/40/17
Cost - $680 (rrp is $340-380 a tyre)
Tyre Replaced - Bridgestone Adrenalin
Km's On new Tyre - 1300 already!


ps. tire is spelt TYRE in Australia and UK, in America(s) it is Tire.. Where you from? lol

[kaanage]

You have to remember being a short wheel base the bumps will be felt as they have no where to travel in the chassis/body of the car.

Are you implying that chassis flex will help absorb the bump in a longer wheelbase car? I would think it is more the lightness that would make the bumps more noticable (the "Cadillac ride" beloved of Americans is achieved by having a short wheel base with large overhangs at each end and as much weight as possible in these overhangs).

Cost - $680 (rrp is $340-380 a tyre)

Is that from a local supplier or through tirerack?

ps. tire is spelt TYRE in Australia and UK, in America(s) it is Tire.. Where you from? lol

Probably he's from somewhere weird where they refer to an "anti-roll bar" as a "swaybar" and a "damper" as "shock absorber" lol