1B MY12 Jetta Tire Issues

[Bennybrus]

Hi Everyone,

Please be kind, i'm not sure If I'm doing this right! lol

I've got a MY12 1B Jetta TDI which I bought brand new at the beginning of 2012 and so far have clocked up 15,000kms.
All four of my tires have catastrophic scalloping on the inner edge with the front pair being slightly worse. The tires are Bridgestone Potenza RE050 225/45/R17. They came factory fitted on the 'Porto' wheels that come with the sports pack option for the comfortline models.

Has anybody else had this or a similar problem? Also, have you had any luck with your respective dealerships in getting replacements?

Many thanks in advance!

[Bennybrus]

Update: I've had the tyres rotated for free by a Bridgestone Tyre Centre (Derrimut) who did a great job and were very friendly. They said the tyres are performance tyres and are not really suited to non-performance driving styles, and recommended a particular variant of the Turanza for my next set as they are more suited to my relaxed driving style (i.e. Will get a longer life out of them).

As for my dealership (Werribee VW), they can forget me ever going there again. The sales experience with them was great but my god the service department is a completely different story. Look after you customers and they'll look after you! Steer clear of Werribee VW when it comes to the service dept!

[brad]

Scalloping / saw toothing is pretty common on VW group cars with that chassis. Usually it's just the back tyres that have the problem.

I'd recomend you get a quality wheel alignment (Try TruTrack in Melbourne) & run your tyre pressures around 34-36psi. X-rotation every 7500km-10,000km is essential.

I would disagree with the comments about performance tyres not suited to driving sedately. Thtat's a bit of a load of cobblers.

[Bennybrus]

Scalloping / saw toothing is pretty common on VW group cars with that chassis. Usually it's just the back tyres that have the problem.

I'd recomend you get a quality wheel alignment (Try TruTrack in Melbourne) & run your tyre pressures around 34-36psi. X-rotation every 7500km-10,000km is essential.

I would disagree with the comments about performance tyres not suited to driving sedately. Thtat's a bit of a load of cobblers.

Hi Brad, thanks for the info. I have been told about the chassis quite a lot but does it really get that bad? My fronts were the serious offenders and they were just driving me insane!

Do you have any recommendations for my next set? It'd be great to get some info from the more experienced VW owners (such as yourself)

[ope126]

Hi Everyone,

Please be kind, i'm not sure If I'm doing this right! lol

I've got a MY12 1B Jetta TDI which I bought brand new at the beginning of 2012 and so far have clocked up 15,000kms.
All four of my tires have catastrophic scalloping on the inner edge with the front pair being slightly worse. The tires are Bridgestone Potenza RE050 225/45/R17. They came factory fitted on the 'Porto' wheels that come with the sports pack option for the comfortline models.

Has anybody else had this or a similar problem? Also, have you had any luck with your respective dealerships in getting replacements?

Many thanks in advance!

I have the same combination of tyres on my Jetta and it suffers from the same sort of tyre roar / scalloping.
My car only has 11,000kms and has only been on the road for 12mths...

It just had a superior wheel alignment / balance / rotation and maybe it might settle down soon.

Watch this space.

[Umai Naa!!]

The Bridgestones have always done it.

Even on Golf 5 and 6. It seems as though that tread pattern and its variants, does not lend itself well to the chassis' suspension geometry.

I'd say the Turanzas, or tyres with a similar tread pattern are the go. Likewise for running pressures of around 36-38 PSI, and getting a wheel alignment from someone who knows what they're doing.

[brad]

Hi Brad, thanks for the info. I have been told about the chassis quite a lot but does it really get that bad? My fronts were the serious offenders and they were just driving me insane!

Do you have any recommendations for my next set? It'd be great to get some info from the more experienced VW owners (such as yourself)

I have a Skoda Octavia (like a VW Golf/Jetta chassis but better put together )

I'm a Michelin fanboi so I'd suggest PS3 or Primacy.

You wont go too wrong with Turanza but the Michelin are more durable. Toyo Teo+ & Yokohama DB are also good.

The scalloping seems to happen less when the tread blocks on the edge of the tyre are smaller & more "joined together".

[Bennybrus]

It just had a superior wheel alignment / balance / rotation and maybe it might settle down soon.

Yep it helped heaps for me but theres still a slight 'howl', but thats expected.

I'd say the Turanzas, or tyres with a similar tread pattern are the go. Likewise for running pressures of around 36-38 PSI, and getting a wheel alignment from someone who knows what they're doing.

That's what the Bridgestone centre guy was saying the same sort of thing, and yes you're definitely right about getting the wheel alignment by someone knowledgable! I once took a Rav4 to Kmart Tyre and Auto and the damn thing was going worse then when I took it in!

I have a Skoda Octavia (like a VW Golf/Jetta chassis but better put together )

I'm a Michelin fanboi so I'd suggest PS3 or Primacy.

Haha you wish mate But really they are the same thing with a different name. Fanboy or not, I have heard only good things about the PS3!

[brad]

Haha you wish mate But really they are the same thing with a different name. Fanboy or not, I have heard only good things about the PS3!

Same underneath but Jetta is made in Mexico(?), Golf in Germany(?) and Skoda in Czech Republic. Skoda people are pretty keen to dispell the old reputation of Skoda. Add German engineering & processes/systems; a policy of not allowing Skoda/Seat the latest technology (therefore the bugs are ironed out) & a huge desire to do it better than the Germans & the result is a slightly better vehicle that comes off the production line. Sure there are a few "Friday" cars but overall the build is better. You just have to look at the reliability & customer satisfaction surveys that come out of the UK - Skoda is generally streets ahead of VW. Pity Skoda look so crap

[Diesel_vert]

Tyres with a non-directional tread pattern (irrespective of whether it's symmetric or asymmetric) would help, since they allow you to swap the tyres diagonally. This means the tyres have the opportunity to rotate in the opposite direction, which may level out the saw-tooth wear pattern.

Click on the links for more information:
Tire Rack - Tire Tread Patterns
Tire Rack - Tire Rotation Instructions

If this action is performed at regular intervals (say, between every 5 000 km to 10 000 km) from new, it may reduce the severity of the saw-tooth type wear pattern.

Although regular tyre rotations form a basic component of car maintenance, it's particularly important if the tyre is new, as irregular wear patterns are more easily formed when the tread compound is still "soft" or "pliable". As the tyre ages, the compound hardens, and becomes more difficult to correct for irregular wear.

This is why it can be sometimes too late for a tyre rotation to make a noticeable difference.

[Bennybrus]

Same underneath but Jetta is made in Mexico(?), Golf in Germany(?) and Skoda in Czech Republic. Skoda people are pretty keen to dispell the old reputation of Skoda. Add German engineering & processes/systems; a policy of not allowing Skoda/Seat the latest technology (therefore the bugs are ironed out) & a huge desire to do it better than the Germans & the result is a slightly better vehicle that comes off the production line. Sure there are a few "Friday" cars but overall the build is better. You just have to look at the reliability & customer satisfaction surveys that come out of the UK - Skoda is generally streets ahead of VW. Pity Skoda look so crap

Yep Jetta is made in Mexico, Golf in Germany (and soon Mexico too).The new Octavia looks awesome, especially the RS! I reckon it'll be a great seller in Aus.

Tyres with a non-directional tread pattern (irrespective of whether it's symmetric or asymmetric) would help, since they allow you to swap the tyres diagonally. This means the tyres have the opportunity to rotate in the opposite direction, which may level out the saw-tooth wear pattern.

If this action is performed at regular intervals (say, between every 5 000 km to 10 000 km) from new, it may reduce the severity of the saw-tooth type wear pattern.

Although regular tyre rotations form a basic component of car maintenance, it's particularly important if the tyre is new, as irregular wear patterns are more easily formed when the tread compound is still "soft" or "pliable". As the tyre ages, the compound hardens, and becomes more difficult to correct for irregular wear.

This is why it can be sometimes too late for a tyre rotation to make a noticeable difference.

Thanks for the info Diesel_vert! Unfortunately for me, looks like my tyres are beyond the point of return!

[brad]

Yep Jetta is made in Mexico, Golf in Germany (and soon Mexico too).The new Octavia looks awesome, especially the RS! I reckon it'll be a great seller in Aus.!

Unfortunately I think it will still be a low volume vehicle as long as VW Aus has control of Skoda Aus. Australians are quite conservative vehicle buyers too & they are unaware of the Skoda brand.