Help with choosing tyres - MY12.5 Polo GTI

[mathemagician]

Hi guys,

It's time to buy my pocket rocket a new set of shoes, but since I don't know a lot about that rubbery goodness I thought I'll ask you guys for some advice

I only drive it around suburbia, some freeway driving included - no track. My priorities are:

• Low wear
• Good grip
• Low noise

I know you can't have top scores on all of the above, so I'm looking for a good compromise. I have come up with 3 options so far, what do you guys think?

1. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx (stock tyre)
2. Falken Azenis FK453
3. Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R

Size: 215/40/R17 (stock wheels)

Also, where can I get them cheap? I googled around a bit, but tyresales.com.au for example doesn't list all the tyres in my size even though they are available according to the manufacturer's website.

Thanks in advance!

[kaanage]

I think those 3 are all highly skewed towards the 2nd criteria (particularly the last which is an "everyday" semi-slick).

If the actual order is also is the order of importance, I think you should be looking at a more "touring" oriented tyre (Michelin Premacy, Bridgestone Turanza etc)

[brad]

I'm not sure what you classify as low wear. Have the Dunlops not lasted well?

Of your choices:
1) Dunlop. I don't like them so my opinion is biased.
2) They look OK - would probably suit your criteria
3) Great grip but they are a semi-slick / track day type tyre

Others to consider:
toyo Proxes4 (I know nothing about them)
goodyear eagle F1 directional 5 (ditto)
bridgestone S001 - this is what I would buy given the limited choice in the size.

[mathemagician]

Sorry guys for the late response, and thanks for the input.

Would a touring tyre be good on a sporty GTI? I do want low wear but not at the expense of reasonably good grip. Looks like the Yokohama Neovas are probably out then. The stock Dunlop SP Sport Maxx lasted me almost 40,000 km - I think that's pretty good, what do you think?

@brad: why would you buy the Bridgestones? Curious to know.

[brad]

@brad: why would you buy the Bridgestones? Curious to know.

Bridgestone generally make good tyres.

I have friends who's opinion I trust that have used S001 on their cars and they've been very happy with them.

I've driven a few cars with S001 and they've been totally acceptable for the way I drive.

I currently have RE050A on my car and think they are good & Bridgestone propaganda says the S001 is a better tyre.

Bridgestone are doing a "buy 3 get the 4th free" deal at the moment.

The other option might be the RE002 Adrenalin but I think the S001 is worth the extra spend.

Lets face it, you have to live with them for 2-3 years.

[mathemagician]

Thanks, will definitely take a look at the S001 then, especially with that 3 + 1 free special Any idea what mileage your friends got out of them?

[brad]

Anywhere between 14k & 45k but it's an irrelevant figure.

The vehicles weighed anywhere from 1100kg t0 2000kg.
The power ranged between 120kw to 350kw
The torque ranged between 200nm to 450nm
Some were lead foots & some weren't.
Some drove around the city all the time, some did lots of highway mileage.

Do a cross-roatation of the tyres every 10,000km & keep the pressures right & I'm sure you'll get another 30k-40k.

What part of Austria are you from? My FIL comes from Weiz.

[mathemagician]

Cheers, brad! I am from Klagenfurt, that's in the south - near Italy and Slovenia.

Alright, phoned a few places in Ringwood. All quotes include fitting and balancing of the new tyres and disposal of the old ones.

4x Dunlop SP Sport Maxx:
$836 @ Kmart Tyre and Auto Service

4x Bridgestone Potenza S001:
$900 @ Bob Jane T Mart

One more thing: the Dunlops were not the quietest tyres but also not that loud. How is the road noise with the Bridgestones? Kinda leaning towards them unless they're very loud.

[brad]

I don't recall what the noise was like and the only Sport Maxx I've driven on were half worn & sawtoothing so they were noisy.

I think the EU measure db in their tyre ratings now - maybe look there? Do some googling as Auto Bild, etc do a lot of tyre tests.

Also, try Jax for pricing.

I've been to Klagenfurt - beautiful area. Went to Minimundus on our first trip in '88. On a subsequent trip we went to Worthersee sailboarding (or maybe that was Lake Garda in Italy) - I know we went swimming.

[mathemagician]

Will have a google then, no worries. Also enquired with Jax Quickfit (Bayswater North) through their website, let's see what prices they come back with!

You've been to Klagenfurt? Wow, normally people only know Vienna, Salzburg and maybe Innsbruck. Minimundus is pretty cool and Woerthersee sure is beautiful, and rather large with its 16 km length. Klagenfurt is at the eastern end of it.

[brad]

You've been to Klagenfurt? Wow, normally people only know Vienna, Salzburg and maybe Innsbruck. Minimundus is pretty cool and Woerthersee sure is beautiful, and rather large with its 16 km length. Klagenfurt is at the eastern end of it.

It's only 160km from Weiz to Klagenfurt - you can do it in just over an hour. If you have "relatives" in the area you go to a few out of the way places.
Our last trip in 2013 we did almost 3 weeks just in Austria (half visiting Wife's elderly Aunties/Uncles who probably won't be with us next time). Vienna, Mortantsch (farmhouse), St. Kolomon (another farmhouse), Piesling (with the funny B) and Salzburg.

Next trip wiil be Slovenia, Italy & Malta.

Sorry, probably drifting a bit off topic now.

[mathemagician]

Nice

Called Jax. They can do the Dunlops for $780 and the Bridgestones for $819 But after booking my car for the next day they called me again to tell me that they don't have the S001 in stock after all and that there is no ETA from Bridgestone either

There is still a bit of thread on my tyres but I've had a small bulge on my front left tyre for a while now so I'm really keen to replace them ASAP... Let's see if I can find them anywhere else soon because now I really want them!

[Preen59]

I'm currently running 215/45/17 Hankook RS3. Semi slicks. Unbelievable wet grip. Not the quietest but that's ok. I've gotten about 20k out of them with plenty of life left.

[mathemagician]

@Preen59: Thanks, but I want to stick to the original wheel dimensions (see OP) and these don't come in that size.

It turns out some customers at Jax had the S001's on backorder and didn't want them anymore, so I'm getting them put on tomorrow morning for $819 I hope they really are that good!

[mathemagician]

Alright, got the S001's put in yesterday and loving them so far. So much more grip!