Golf R Observations and Questions

[triode12]

Ahh, ok. Makes sense - have a friend with them who is a fan as well. I prefer something sticky rather than something long wearing. And you're right. The Rosso really aren't very good and are not worth the money that people pay.

I think that Pirelli make an ongoing mistake in doing everything as "P-zero" when it covers everything from not very good to really quite good.

Couldn't agree more. Bad marketing. It even confuses the tyre retailers/shops.

[triode12]

Where a tyre finishes in a performance test is irrelevant. (assuming major brands, not the unknown ones that sometimes pop up in a test)
As a tyre the RE-050/RE-050A are excellent. They may not be the "best" tyre available but they are very good none the less. HSV dont put them on their cars because they are "average"
Ferrari, Porsche and im sure may others have them fitted as standard equipment (yes I know they use other tyres as well) but depending on the intended market, they are used. If they were "average at best" then I am sure Ferrari & Porsche would not have them fitted to their cars.
If talking about street use then any of the top tyres will be way more than adequate. If for the race track......thats a different matter. But street tyres on the track end up having the blocks distorted and severe feathering as well as. One good track day and they are more or less turned into swings. So in saying that when on the track you really need track tyres as that is what they are intended for.
As for the Moderator crack...sorry about that!

I don't think Ferrari fits BS as standard tyres on their cars, they would more then likely be Pirelli P-zeros. And the Porsches would use Michelins or Contis.

[Corey_R]

And for the money they ask I would expect a better performing tyre. Simple as that. And, as a result, they cannot be considered excellent. They are simply average in their class.

This is my point. It's not that they are "Excellent for the money" or "Excellent at dry" or "Excellent at wet" etc. They're not. They're just simply average compared to their competition. And when I mean competition, I'm talking both "category" (i.e. "Ultra High Performance Tyre" or whatever), and "price". For what it's worth, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric has been a cheaper purchase than the Bridgestone RE050 for quite some time now. I'm sure when the F1 Asy 2 is more readily available, it'll be the same case.

So why pay more for a clearly inferior product?

A few questions:
1)What tyres do they fit as standard to the R?
2)What tyres do they fit as standard to the Golf GTI?
3)What tyres do they fit as standard to the Polo GTI?

As others have said in their own way already, it depends on the wheel option. To answer more specifically though, Volkswagen have contracts to tyres from Continental, Bridgestone, Michelin, Pirelli, and Dunlop (sorry if I've missed a brand). They don't use typically Goodyear though. From each brand they use, they can use multiple models of tyre. Volkswagen pretty much use what is available to them at the time, is suitable for the vehicle, wheel, and loadings. However, I must say that I haven't ever noticed them using a "bad" tyre in recent times.

Volkswagen don't typically discriminate between models with tyre choice either. For example, my 9N3 Polo GTI had Continental ContiSportContact 2's, as did many Golf GTI's and R32's (I haven't seen any Golf R's with them, but then they're old now).

But as Ideo mentioned. We're not talking about cars at price points where everything is expected to be the ultimate. And just like you can replace the OEM stereo with something much better, you can often change the OEM tyres with something better. It just so happens that right now, the best overall option is the Goodyear F1 Asy 2. Next year, who knows, Continental might take it back again with a CSC6... maybe Bridgestone take the crown. I'm not really biased towards any tyre brand - in fact, Goodyear is the only brand mentioned in this post which I haven't personally purchased a set of tyres from.

(I was going to replace my previous cars tyres with F1's after experiencing them on a friend's Golf, but my R came in before I needed to.)

[Rosey456]

so specifically the R
Do they arrive in Australia with different tyres? Some have one brand and some have another. Interesting and strange, but who am I to question motor manufacturers.

as for Ideo.
I dont like to have blues on forums but seriously young boy.
OMG VW FITS IT IT MUST RULEZZZZ!!!!111!!!? Are you still in high school dreaming of driving your daddy's car someday.
Who speaks like that? Kids in high school that arent old enough to drive, just drool!

You may not agree with my posts nor do I care, but surely you can type like an adult. Unless you aren't.

[dave_r]

My 19's came with Dunlop Sport Maxx GT's, others have had bridgestones and I believe some Conti's. As mentioned they use an array of different brands and models, probably whatever is available at the time of build. So I wouldn't put too much stock in the fact that if they're fitted OEM they must be good. I don't like the dunlops tbh.

[Corey_R]

so specifically the R
Do they arrive in Australia with different tyres? Some have one brand and some have another. Interesting and strange, but who am I to question motor manufacturers.

Yeah exactly. My 18" R wheels came with the Bridgestone RE050, but I know others who have had Michelin on them... they really do just chop and change all the time

[Ideo]

so specifically the R
Do they arrive in Australia with different tyres? Some have one brand and some have another. Interesting and strange, but who am I to question motor manufacturers.

as for Ideo.
I dont like to have blues on forums but seriously young boy.
OMG VW FITS IT IT MUST RULEZZZZ!!!!111!!!? Are you still in high school dreaming of driving your daddy's car someday.
Who speaks like that? Kids in high school that arent old enough to drive, just drool!

You may not agree with my posts nor do I care, but surely you can type like an adult. Unless you aren't.

As my incredibly subtle post has gone over your head let me break it down into some nice “adult” words for you.

You have all the hall markets of a fan boy. Your argument appears to be "well, VW fits it so it must be good". Despite all evidence to the contrary you carry on with this ludicrous charade of pretending you know what you are talking about, once again backed up with, “well VW fits it to all sorts of models so it must be good”. Despite VW fitting lots of different tyres at lots of different times.

Given this lack of intellectual reasoning and analysis which is clearly evident in your continued misguided posting on the subject, it was only prudent of me to try and appeal to your obvious base intellectual reasoning by speaking in fan boy talk. I based this assumption on the evidence in front of me. Which is pretty clear cut on the matter. However, it now appears as though I was mistaken in this instance. You are not a run of the mill fan boy.

Which leads me to a final question on the subject: is this lack of comprehension of simple concepts such as “average” and “not the best” down to environmental factors or were you just dropped on your head as a small child?

[Corey_R]

Alright guys... let it go...

Kiss and make up ok

[adzy]

Oh well, that was entertaining

Anyway, does anyone know the weight difference between the standard leather seats and the Recaro seats? Cheers

[SilvrFoxX]

Oh well, that was entertaining

Anyway, does anyone know the weight difference between the standard leather seats and the Recaro seats? Cheers

depends on the arse in it

[adzy]

depends on the arse in it

Lol

[FastGolfR]

Yeah exactly. My 18" R wheels came with the Bridgestone RE050, but I know others who have had Michelin on them... they really do just chop and change all the time

Our 18"s came with Dunlop Maxx GT's. They seem pretty good even on the track.

[FastGolfR]

Tyre Pressures for the Track

Hi Everyone,

Can anyone suggest tire pressures to run for track days for the Golf R with Dunlop Maxx GT's 18"? About 20C ambient.

I have tried 42 cold. 35 cold. 42 is too high for the rears as they crown too much. Handling seems poorer at 35. Any suggestions? I need to stick to road tires, can't change to R spec tires for track days.

I have had the R on the track twice now. It is very quick for a road car. At Qld. Raceway I am getting times similar to a couple of Nissan Skylines on R Spec tires and I am a novice on the track. I am very impressed with the performance AND so much FUN!! I even find leaving it in Sport mode does the trick regarding keeping the revs in the power band. A truly brilliant car.

[DreamensioN]

My 19's came with Dunlop Sport Maxx GT's.

FWIW my 19's also came with the Dunlop Sport Maxx GT's.

[FastGolfR]

Damn, those R35 GTR's are quick!!

I have to agree. Just had a track day with them! On race rubber they are very quick indeed.