The Official Polo Tyre Thread

[shaneth]

Ok Guys, Just had an idea. We have had alot of Threads about tyres so i thought it would be a good idea if we Start a thread where people can Post what Tyres they replaced there OEM tyres with and how they compare. And yes this may be only our personal feelings so not altogether technical but its a better start then no info at all.

Please leave chit chat at the absolute minimum. The less off topic stuff people have to read the easier it is on those who are after info. If you have questions use the PM function instead.

If you could follow the setup that i have used should also help people read the info.

And if you have updates edit your original post instead of starting a new one.

Can we have this added to the FAQ if all goes well.

Ill start off.

Car - 06 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 16x6.5
New Tyre - Michelin Pilot Preceda (PP2) Michelin Website
Tyre Size - 205/45/16
Tyre Replaced - Continental Compac Sport 2 CCS2
Km's On new Tyre - 200km
Thoughts on New Tyre - well i know its only 200kms old but i definitely feel more inspired round corners. Brakes just as well if not better then the CCS2. Ride quality is good. Ill take it for mountian run soon and then add more.

[jamesatfish]

Great idea shaneth!

Car - 07 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 17x7.5
New Tire - Michelin Pilot Preceda (PP2)
Tire Size - 215/40/17
Tire Replaced - N/A (tyres were fitted by the dealer before delivery)
Km's On new Tire - 4000km
Thoughts on New Tire - I've always been a fan of the Michelin tyre range and these 'baby' Pilots seem to live up to the family name. Reasonable grip on the track for a road-spec tyre and they seem fairly progressive at the limit, minimal scrubbing visible after a track outing which is a good sign as to the tyre life.

[Ben_GTI]

Car - 06 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 16x6.5
New Tire - None Yet
Tire Size - 205/45/16
Exisiting Tire - Continental Contact Sport 2 CCS2
Km's On Tire - 47000km

Thoughts on New Tire - Well the conti's have been alright, but don't seem to offer that much grip. Going to try out Toyo T1R's next. They're cheap at only $179 fitted, so if they don't last 50,000km like the contis (at $300/corner) I won't mind. If they turn out crap, a track day will follow.

[VW GTI]

Car - 07 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 17x7
New Tire - Michelin Pilot Preceda (PP2)
Price - Quoted 290-300 a corner (dealer)
Tire Size - 205/40/17
Tire Replaced - None
Km's On new Tire - 4500km
Thoughts on New Tire - Awesome, holds through corners really well, lots better than my previous car that had federals and nowhere near as much power pulling at the rubber. Will definitely get them again.

[mitch_gti]

Car - Polo GTI
Rim Size - Standard GTI Wheels
New Tire - None yet
Tire Size - 205/45/16
Existing tire - Dunlop SP sport maxx
Km's On new Tire - 11,700km
Thoughts on Tire - Pretty damn good tire, has won plenty of awards in car magazines. Lives upto reputation but it seems like its quite a hard compound (hard ride) wet weather grip is soo soo.
I wouldnt have a problem getting these tires again, but out of curiosity i will be trying Michelins. IF i stay with 16inch wheels ill be getting Pilot Exalto's, if i step upto 17inch ill be getting PP2's

[philthy]

Car - 06 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 16x6.5
New Tire - Kuhmo Ecsta KU-31
Tire Size - 205/45/16
Tire Replaced - Continental Contact Sport 2 CCS2
Km's On New Tire - 8000km (contis lasted 37000ks)

Thoughts on New Tire - good value compared to contis. Good grip in the dry, quiet (until they start to lose grip - howl like a bitch then ). Very grippy in the wet. Nice and progressive when they do start to slide. No probs with wearing so far.

[mozzzy_2000]

Great idea shaneth!

Car - 07 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 17x7.5
New Tire - Michelin Pilot Preceda (PP2)
Tire Size - 215/40/17
Tire Replaced - N/A (tyres were fitted by the dealer before delivery)
Km's On new Tire - 4000km
Thoughts on New Tire - I've always been a fan of the Michelin tyre range and these 'baby' Pilots seem to live up to the family name. Reasonable grip on the track for a road-spec tyre and they seem fairly progressive at the limit, minimal scrubbing visible after a track outing which is a good sign as to the tyre life.

Hey fellas I was wondering what is the biggest tyre you can fit on the Gti? jamessatfish says he has replaced his stocks with 215s on 17" rims whilst people have commented that 205s are the biggest you can fit. What's the story? I reckon the GTi would look awesome with fat tyres like 215s. Is this feasible? I have no problems with my dunlops, infact they're pretty grippy especially in summer but it would be good to know what other options are out there.

[jamesatfish]

Hey fellas I was wondering what is the biggest tyre you can fit on the Gti? jamessatfish says he has replaced his stocks with 215s on 17" rims whilst people have commented that 205s are the biggest you can fit. What's the story?

So far the biggest I can get to fit is the 215/40/17s. I tried a set of 225/45/17s that came with my track wheels, but they were scraping the inside of the guards even before I turned the wheels.

Looking at the various tyre calculators online it seems 225/40/17 might be possible but I haven't been able to find any rubber in that size to try it out.

[jamesatfish]

Two R-Spec reviews:

Car - 07 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 17x7.5
New Tire - Falken Avensis R-Spec (can't remember exact model #)
Tire Size - 215/40/17
Tire Replaced - N/A
Km's On new Tire - 2000km
Thoughts on New Tire - Rubbish. Absolute Rubbish. These are supposed to be R-Spec tyres but they behave more like crap road tyres - they get hot too quickly and they don't grip when hot (or cold for that matter). I ran a set of these at Wakefield on 2 occasions and the best I managed was 1 second SLOWER than on the Michelin Pilot road tyres I ran previously. Now relegated to Motorkhana duties where I don't feel so bad turning the fronts into smoke. About $250 a corner.

Car - 07 Polo GTI
Rim Size - 17x7.5
New Tire -Kuhmo V70A R-Spec
Tire Size - 205/40/17
Tire Replaced - Falken Avensis R-Spec
Km's On new Tire - 1000km
Thoughts on New Tire - I was a bit concerned about dropping back to a 205 width tyre as the last thing the Polo needs is less grip especially at the front wheels. I was very pleasantly surprised though - these are fantastic tyres and the grip levels well exceed any of the 215 width tyres I've used on this car previously. Typical R-Spec characteristics - minimal grip when cold and the fronts were worn after about 500kms of mixed track/highway/motorkhana driving. Turned a 1:15.2 at Wakefield in the wet so pretty good grip in all conditions but quite scary when you hit standing water as there is minimal tread to disperse water. About $400 a corner.

[mozzzy_2000]

Cheers dude. Very interesting. I am personally not doing any track work but I still like the idea of 215s on this car. Thanks for the input.