The Official Polo Tyre Thread

[Kai]

okay so i went AD08's this time.

205 a corner. (my price)

[PogoAmy]

Hi all,

I killed a Conti on my GTI today, and have decided to replace all four tyres with ones that don't pop at the merest brush of a feather.

Straight up, I am crap at maths. So, considering that my speedo is out to the point where if it says 100 I'm actually doing about 92, can somebody please advise if I went for 205/50/16 tyres rather than 205/45/16 as are on the thing currently, would that make my speedo more correct or even less correct?

Also, are there any potential pitfalls with this change? (Other than slightly bigger sidewalls?)

I ask as the tyres I want (and can get a very good price on) aren't available in 205/45/16. At least not in Australia.

Thanks!
PogoAmy.

[Blitzen]

The larger diameter sidewall of a 205/50 R16 will improve the accuracy of your speedo, but not that much(2-3km/h), but as you will have larger sidewalls, this gives the tyre more free will to flex under lateral load, and offers less grip while cornering than the equivilant tyre in a 205/45 R16.
Even going to a larger diameter wheel(17inch with 205/40 R17 rubber) will only improve the accuracy of the speedo marginally.

[RhysQ]

Hi all,

I killed a Conti on my GTI today, and have decided to replace all four tyres with ones that don't pop at the merest brush of a feather.

Straight up, I am crap at maths. So, considering that my speedo is out to the point where if it says 100 I'm actually doing about 92, can somebody please advise if I went for 205/50/16 tyres rather than 205/45/16 as are on the thing currently, would that make my speedo more correct or even less correct?

Also, are there any potential pitfalls with this change? (Other than slightly bigger sidewalls?)

I ask as the tyres I want (and can get a very good price on) aren't available in 205/45/16. At least not in Australia.

Thanks!
PogoAmy.

yes a 50 profile tyre will increase your 'actual' speed but a 50 profile tyre will look quite silly on GTI rims. someone here got thier polo delivered with 50 profile tyres and it looked like a tractor. you're better off sticking with the 45 profile. lastly, a 50 profile tyre will feel like crap to drive on (handling wise).... it will be so sloppy in the corners.

[PogoAmy]

Thanks Blitzen and [-Polo GTI-], I really appreciate your help.

Cheers!
PogoAmy.

[mozzzy_2000]

It is said that speedos can be upto 10% inaccurate just normally! And of course as your tyres wear and get smaller the callibration will go out of wack naturally.

[Blitzen]

Its VERY longwinded, but this is the ADR spec(ADR18 ) for speedometers and instrumentation.

http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/files/ADR%201803.pdf

[PogoAmy]

Car - 07 Polo GTI
Rim size - 16" stock
New tyre - Kumho Ecsta ASX 21
Tyre size - 205/45/16
Tyre Replaced - Continental CCS2
Km's on new tyre - 100km
Thoughts on new tyre - Probably too soon to tell, as I haven't had any wet weather to play with and have done bugger all mileage, however thus far they feel grippier and nimbler than the Contis (which I gather EVERYBODY replaces when they lose one, for I'm selling three almost new ones dead cheap and nobody seems even vaguely interested). Cornering is less 'spongy' and there's less-to-no slippage on the occasional more spirited than usual takeoff.

Cheers!
PogoAmy.