Replacement Tyre for NON-GTI/GT/R32 Golf

[kaanage]

A friend of mine has a MkV Golf with OEM 205/55R16 Continentals (PremiumContact 2s, I think) and needs them replaced.
He was looking at Bridgestone Turanzas and I really like the Michelen XM1+ Energys fitted to my MkVI.

What do other non-GTi/GT/R32 owners find is a good replacement tyre? Or should he stick with the Conti's?

I'm asking this in a new thread as all tyre threads seem to get taken over by the performance model owners.

[hooba]

I've found the Michelins to be a good tyre, and would go with them again.

[Diesel_vert]

If you're not after performance, then you might as well go luxury. And to that end the Michelin Primacy LC would fit the bill nicely.

[cube_3]

Goodyear Eagle NCT5 good allround tyre and have found them to be long lasting.

[kaanage]

Uggh! I had NCTs as OEM on my 2005 Focus and they were truly aweful (poor traction, braking, wear).
Has the 5 version been improved?

[WEDEL.1]

I have Pirelli P7 fitted to the TDI in 205/55 x 16, no complaints.

Maris

[WEDEL.1]

Uggh! I had NCTs as OEM on my 2005 Focus and they were truly aweful (poor traction, braking, wear).
Has the 5 version been improved?

Original tyre on the TDI was NCT 5. No complaints.

Goodyear Eagle NCT5 Passenger & Light Commercial Tyre Reviews Australia www.goodyear.com.au

Maris

[brad]

Turanza isn't quite as good as the PremiumContact2.

You haven't actually stated what he/she is looking for in a tyre, what he likes/doesn't like about the current tyre or the budget.

I had 205/55x16 CSC2 on my Octavia & they were very good (wear, grip, communication, progressiveness) but got a bit noisy beyond 30,000km. Currently on Michelin Primacy & they are everything the CSC2 were & quiet as well.

A small tip. Lots of 205/55x16 with decent alloy wheels being flogged on various forums & ebay - cheaper than buying just tyres from the shops. My 1mm worn Michelins with unmarked alloys cost me $400

[kaanage]

My friend isn't after ultrasports levels of performance (hence the thread title) but isn't using his car as a taxi or exclusively on highways (although long highway trips are important). Mileage, quietness and comfort are probably more of a priority than cornering but good wet braking would also be important.

He's pretty happy with the Conti's but is exploring what else is available.

Thanks for all the responses. I'm very surprised by the apparent improvement in the NCTs - I don't know what version were on my Focus but they pretty much put me off that tyre model for life (except for your reports on the version 5)!!

[brad]

There are probably a dozen tyres that fit the bill. You won't go too wrong with Michelin (any of them). Toyo Teo are very quiet too. I was very happy with the Pirelli Dragons I had on the Cabrio but I have no idea if they were noisy or not.

Personally, I wouldn't take the punt on the Goodyears (NCT5 or Excellance) but that is for irrational reasons & not because I've driven on them.

[cube_3]

Uggh! I had NCTs as OEM on my 2005 Focus and they were truly aweful (poor traction, braking, wear).
Has the 5 version been improved?

Well I can only speak from my experience with them. I had them as OEM on my 2004 MK4 Golf and found them to be excellent for general driving. I did 85000Km on the OEM's before replacing them and they still could have done at least 5000K more (I replaced them as I had a Friends and Family tyre discount valid at the time). I replaced them with another set of NTC5's and am now approaching 160000Km and there is still a good amount of life left on the tyres.

[WEDEL.1]

That is phenomenal!!

[barrenjoey owl]

I have Pirelli P7 fitted to the TDI in 205/55 x 16, no complaints.

Maris

Thumbs up to P7's $184 at Bob Jane or Jax........ so quite after CSC2's

[kaanage]

I did 85000Km on the OEM's before replacing them and they still could have done at least 5000K more (I replaced them as I had a Friends and Family tyre discount valid at the time). I replaced them with another set of NTC5's and am now approaching 160000Km and there is still a good amount of life left on the tyres.

How hard/conservatively do you drive?
I don't hammer cars like I did before degrading into an old fart but I don't baby them all the time and I only got 55Mm out of my NCTs before they were noisy as hell as well as the previously poor general behavior.

[Phunked]

I am said driver mentioned by op (thanks Kaanage : ))

The Conti's have always been a little noisy, so I'm looking for something that gives me good grip and mileage (I've managed 70,000 on the CSC2s). I don't cane the MKV, and I'm doing a good mixture of country and city miles. I like to know that the tyres will look after me if something unexpected happens, so I don't mind spending a reasonable amount of $$$.

Looks like the P7s are getting a good rap. Is the mileage comparable with the CSC2s?

Cheers,
Simon.