Would these tyres suit the FWD GTI?.....

[RedRobin]

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I haven't checked if Michelin even make our tyre sizes, or their cost if so, but....

The question of my topic is to discuss and share info about which tyres best suit the GTI platform for different seasons and for all seasons.

What are your thoughts and opinions or experiences, please? 

[GrayMK5GTI]

I think for summer tyres, the majority of folk on here recommend the usual: GY Assy 2's, Michelin PS3's etc as they all provide a great balance of performance vs cost and suit the car well.

The Auto Express tyre test with the mk5 GTI tested all the top brands in a variety of conditions, wet & dry cornering, braking, acceleration etc and favoured the brands listed above among the top performers.

For winter tyres - the general concensus is that any brand of winter tyre is better than even a top brand of summer tyre (based purely upon the reviews on the forum).

[RedRobin]

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But if winter tyres are considered as a better option all year than a summer tyre is all year, just what compromises do winter tyres have in summer?

[GrayMK5GTI]

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But if winter tyres are considered as a better option all year than a summer tyre is all year, just what compromises do winter tyres have in summer?

They are a very soft compound so your sharp turn-in would suffer. They also would be more noisy and wear quicker for the same reason.

I imagine fuel economy would suffer too. 

There are "All  Season" tyres available now which are a good compromise for all year round use.

[Hedge]

My winters are way quieter than my Goodyears.

In the dry they can be a bit woolly handling wise but piss all over the Goodyears in heavy rain, snow and very cold conditions, like those found in a British Summer. 

[RedRobin]

^^^^
Then I guess it's the same as in motorsport - The exact tyre compound and spec makes ALL the difference to winning performance.

Methinks I'll probably stick with my Goodyear Asymmetrics which are exceptionally good in the wet and were also excellent when driving a very enthusiastic 462 mile drive in ~4 degree C conditions (not snow or ice encountered).

[RedRobin]

My winters are way quieter than my Goodyears.

In the dry they can be a bit woolly handling wise but piss all over the Goodyears in heavy rain, snow and very cold conditions, like those found in a British Summer. 

....Which winter tyres are yours, Ian?

Are your GY's asymmetrics?

[rich83]

Michelins? They probably wont do them in the correct spec!

[Hedge]

My winters are way quieter than my Goodyears.

In the dry they can be a bit woolly handling wise but piss all over the Goodyears in heavy rain, snow and very cold conditions, like those found in a British Summer. 

....Which winter tyres are yours, Ian?

Are your GY's asymmetrics?

Goodyear Assym 2's and Hankook Icebears.

[Matto]

I agree with what's been said above. As of a few weeks ago it was my first experience with fully dedicated winter tyres. They were fitted just before this cold snap and was around 10-12 degrees. As Hedge says, at higher temps they feel very woolly and didn't fill be with confidence at all. Now its colder and have had all this snow I am glad they are on.

Since living where I do, every year it snows I have had to dig the car out to get it upto the road. This year it drove straight out. I do find the performance of the summers and winters I use does cross over. At 10-12 degrees the summers definitely felt better than the winters. But as the temp drops these do feel alot better and less spongey.

Currently: Summers are Hankook Ventus V12's and winters are Nokian WR A3's.

[camfollower]

Think the AS2's are slightly cheaper at the mo.. sure I paid about £120 ea from camskill in the summer:
http://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s134p105410/Goodyear_Tyres_Car_Goodyear_Eagle_F1_Asymmetric_2_-_225_40_R18_92Y_XL_(R1)_FP_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_E_Wet_Grip%3A_A_NoiseClass%3A_2_Noise%3A_70dB

A group buy for £80-£90 each would be ace (not sure they have the margin on them though).

[SteveTDCi]

I run cheap nexans as winter tyres and they are way better than the Pirelli summer tyres, they are £70 each on oponeo at the minute for 225/40/18