The eternal conundrum! Which tyres to plump for.. arrrghhhhh

[R32UK]

Because Im thinking of changing the GTI I wanted some reasonably priced but decent tyres a mate of mine works for a tyre retailer and recommended Cooper so had them fitted. Im impressed better than the previous Dunlops, very quiet, good in the wet no squealing when cornering and so far the wear rate seems good and at £70 each fitted a bit of a bargain

doesnt take much to be better than the dunlops 

currently running ps3's. quite impressed... 

although I am tempted to switch to my 19" eagle f1 assyms for summer.... tried and tested

[SRC]

FWIW - Anything would have been better than the budget tyres that were on my car when I bought it.  I think they were made of bakelite.  But I replaced them with Michelin Pilot Sport 3s, (on 18") which are amazingly grippy in wet or dry.  My ESP light used to go into overdrive whenever there was a cloud in the sky, but now I can't remember when I last saw it!

[RedRobin]

My ESP light used to go into overdrive whenever there was a cloud in the sky, but now I can't remember when I last saw it!

  - Great wordsmithing! 

I just don't understand anyone who skimps on tyres or who doesn't keep them properly inflated or wears them down to the canvas [/rant]

[Janner_Sy]

What stage 2+ are we talking of here?  K03 or K04? as that has a very large bearing on what tyre i would choose. 

If its just 280hp in a K03 i think you will be best going for something like the Conti5 or Eagle F1 V2.  If its 340Hp then IMO you need to be looking into semi slicks. 

The R1Rs or Federal 595RSRs might be a good starting point if your a K04.  IMO these are placed somewhere between a semi slick and a high performance road tyre

[berg]

ko4 running about 330bhp i think, hence why was very tempted by the R1R's or Federals, just uneasy about load rating not being correct.

the jon tfsi combo sounds interesting but again, not sure i would be confident mixing.

just wish michelin would pull there finger out and make the PSS for the EU market in 225/40/18

[jon-tfsi]

I heard they were due out any time. It might be worth hanging on for them if you can wait?

They are classed as a summer tyre and michelin want good reviews so they are probably waiting for summer to release them maybe.

[RedRobin]

What stage 2+ are we talking of here?  K03 or K04? as that has a very large bearing on what tyre i would choose. 

If its just 280hp in a K03 i think you will be best going for something like the Conti5 or Eagle F1 V2.  If its 340Hp then IMO you need to be looking into semi slicks. 

....A very good and fundamental point  And one which I had forgotten to consider in offering my advice 

~270 bhp on a K03 Stage 2 with Eagle F1 V2 asymmetrics is indeed a very well balanced combo, even on a wet or dry trackday (assuming you just want to enjoy some fast enthusiastic motoring, like wot I do, but without trying to break any lap times).

At a very wet trackday at Spa I had an instructor in my passenger seat some of the time and he said I was the only guy who had chosen the right tyres - But he didn't know that they were the only tyres I had! - Eagle F1 V1's.

[Gtiain]

Just ordered some Goodyear asymmetric f1 (v2) for the fronts on the back of some recommendations from you guys. Not tried them before so it will be interesting to see how they compare. 

[RedRobin]

Just ordered some Goodyear asymmetric f1 (v2) for the fronts on the back of some recommendations from you guys. Not tried them before so it will be interesting to see how they compare. 

....But if your car is FWD put the new (deeper tread) F1 v2's on the rear axle. The reasons why have been discussed at length on the forum. 

[Gtiain]

Just ordered some Goodyear asymmetric f1 (v2) for the fronts on the back of some recommendations from you guys. Not tried them before so it will be interesting to see how they compare. 

....But if your car is FWD put the new (deeper tread) F1 v2's on the rear axle. The reasons why have been discussed at length on the forum. 

Right I'll do a search. I thought BECAUSE it's fwd to put them on the fronts.

[Nodz]

Just ordered some Goodyear asymmetric f1 (v2) for the fronts on the back of some recommendations from you guys. Not tried them before so it will be interesting to see how they compare.  

....But if your car is FWD put the new (deeper tread) F1 v2's on the rear axle. The reasons why have been discussed at length on the forum.  

Right I'll do a search. I thought BECAUSE it's fwd to put them on the fronts.

I asked this a while ago and someone posted a vid from youtube with VBH showing why, I'll try and find it and link to it

Found it

[Gtiain]

Very informative thanks. 

[Gtiain]

So I'll move the rears forward and put the new ones on the rear. Cheers.

[Mk5 GTian]

Some are sticklers for same tyres front and rear but not me. If it works for you why not?

....Doesn't your ESP kick in more often when you mix tyres?

Mine did Robin. I had Vred Setantras on the back and Pirelli P Zero Rosso assymetrics on the front, and the ESP was always flickering on. Since I've had the Pirelli's all round, I see the ESP a lot less.

[Gtiain]

Some are sticklers for same tyres front and rear but not me. If it works for you why not?

....Doesn't your ESP kick in more often when you mix tyres?

Mine did Robin. I had Vred Setantras on the back and Pirelli P Zero Rosso assymetrics on the back, and the ESP was always flickering on. Since I've had the Pirelli's all round, I see the ESP a lot less.

I would have changed all four but my rears are like new and my fronts have a few mm so I thought I'd just get two. Didn't think it would matter. What do I know