Tyres - what did you get?

[brenno]

Last edited by Transporter; 03-08-2010 at 08:24 AM. <<<<<????????????

[NZTiguan]

Hi all,

Picked up an '09 Tiguan 103TDI in the family this morning and am trying to work out why it has Hankook tyres fitted.

The '08 Tiguan 103TDI came with Bridgestones, and I was expecting similar on our car.

In the Wheels COTY for this year, they noted the Bridgestones rode better than the Pirelli's available in the petrol model.

Having experienced how tyres can make or break a car in the two Mk5 Golf we've had (Goodyear terrible, Michelin great), I'm keen to get the best tyre possible for the Tig.

Do the Tigs come with Hankooks in their home market? If not, it's fairly annoying that VWA feel the need to fiddle with the specifications.

Can anyone who has driven the Tiguan on the Hankooks and Bridgestones offer their thoughts on a comparison?

Cheers.....

they come with various tyres at various times for various markets from what I've seen. Mine came with Michelin Latitude Diamaris on my 17" wheels which I'm VERY impressed with so far PLUS they look FANTASTIC with their directional pattern which is different from the inside to the outside of the tire.

Cheers

Cheers

[Transporter]

Hi all,

Picked up an '09 Tiguan 103TDI in the family this morning and am trying to work out why it has Hankook tyres fitted.

The '08 Tiguan 103TDI came with Bridgestones, and I was expecting similar on our car.

In the Wheels COTY for this year, they noted the Bridgestones rode better than the Pirelli's available in the petrol model.

Having experienced how tyres can make or break a car in the two Mk5 Golf we've had (Goodyear terrible, Michelin great), I'm keen to get the best tyre possible for the Tig.

Do the Tigs come with Hankooks in their home market? If not, it's fairly annoying that VWA feel the need to fiddle with the specifications.

Can anyone who has driven the Tiguan on the Hankooks and Bridgestones offer their thoughts on a comparison?

Cheers.....

As long as they last and perform well I wouldn't mind Hankook.
I replaced original tyres on my T5 with hankook and so far I'm happy with them - they allready outlasted original Michelin Pilot Premacy, can't fault them.

[TonyTA]

Picked up an '09 Tiguan 103TDI in the family this morning and am trying to work out why it has Hankook tyres fitted.

The '08 Tiguan 103TDI came with Bridgestones, and I was expecting similar on our car.

In the Wheels COTY for this year, they noted the Bridgestones rode better than the Pirelli's available in the petrol model.

mmm.interesting.

I've driven a couple of Tiguan's over the last week or two and seen several more at various dealer's yards.
Only checked the one Tiguan to see what it was wearing (Bridgestones). In fact, I called VWA yesterday to ask if there were any differences in spec between 08 and 09 build's. They told me there was no difference at all.
Wonder if dealers are changing the rubber, or if VWA forgot to mention that there had been a change from 08-09?

[clip]

I'd be running into my nearest tyre guy and trading the Hankooks for the Bridgestones. The Mich's are good too, as are the Pirelli's, but I've found the Mich's noisier than most, for some reason.

[TonyTA]

Surely, someone our there has driven their Tiguan enough to need new shoes and can give us a comparison?

Do we have any dealers among us who have test driven both perhaps?

[brenno]

As long as they last and perform well I wouldn't mind Hankook.

That's not really the point though. If you buy a new car, with supposedly fantastic dynamics, you expect it to be delivered with the tyres that it was tested and calibrated with, particularly the ESP system.

I'd be pissed if the dealers were changing the rubber. That is disgusting.

So, keen to know if anyone else got Hankooks on their Tiguan. To date, ours is the only one I have seen.

[NZTiguan]

.

So, keen to know if anyone else got Hankooks on their Tiguan. To date, ours is the only one I have seen.

It seems really weird to me that a European made vehicle would have Korean tyres, in NZ the only vehicles I've seen with Hankooks or Khumos (or however it's spelt) as standard are Kia or Hyundai. I've certainly not seen a Tig with Hankooks in NZ, I'd be asking the dealer to "please explain".

Cheers

[TonyTA]

That's not really the point though. If you buy a new car, with supposedly fantastic dynamics, you expect it to be delivered with the tyres that it was tested and calibrated with, particularly the ESP system.

mmm...I've visited half a dozen in the last 3 weeks and had several tell me all about the excellent reviews the Tiguan has got in the Australian media. Some of them just kept going on and on about it even though I've read most of the reviews and said as much.

If the Tiguan now comes with different tyres to those supplied in the review cars, then surely these reviews are no longer truly valid as a sales tool are they?
As you say, the car will have different dynamics with different tyres, all be it subtly different, but different non the less.

[phaeton]

Hankook a is one of many OE tyre brands for VW; they also back VW's Racing Cup in the UK.

[Transporter]

I'd be running into my nearest tyre guy and trading the Hankooks for the Bridgestones. The Mich's are good too, as are the Pirelli's, but I've found the Mich's noisier than most, for some reason.

What knowledge do you have about the tyres and especially tyres on Tiguan to say that Hankooks are so bad that you would change it right away for Bridgestone?

I had Michelin on my T5 since new they didn't last 25,000km and I can't say about Michelin that they're the bad tyres. I replaced them with Hankook and I'm very happy with them.

[NZTiguan]

If the Tiguan now comes with different tyres to those supplied in the review cars, then surely these reviews are no longer truly valid as a sales tool are they?

Good grief that's a bit OTT isn't it, I doubt there's many cars produced in the World that ALWAYS 100% come with the same brand of tires. I'd think that the fact the Tig comes with 16" 17" or 18" wheels would make vastly more difference than the rubber that's on them. I think you guys are reading far too much into a set of tires. If they're REALLY not performing as you expected or are incredibly noisy etc then by all means complain and get them changed but to suggest a road test isn't valid cos of different rubber is "out there" IMHO.

Cheers

[Sharkie]

Actually different tyres make a huge difference to the way a car drives and handles. It all depends on what you want from the tyres.

There are substantial differences between different tyres as far as performance and noise goes. The regular tyre tests in Oz publications have highligted that fact repeatedly. 4 Tiguans on 4 different tyres will have fairly substantial differences as far has handling and noise goes and it is valid to say that a test on 1 brand will have a different result than a test on another brand.

I have seen cars "fail" comparison tests (in the press) on tyre related issues alone. I have also seen that during performance testing 1 brand can be 4s a lap quicker than another brand ... this is not strictly relevant to Tiguans though ....

If you want performance ensure you have a performance tyre fitted (specify in the sale contract if you have to); for long life pick a suitable tyre and the same applies to noise levels. Make sure you have 1 you are happy with.

When (if) I buy a Tig I actually won't care much (I'd complain if it was a Korean brand though) what the stock 16" have on them, they'd be stored in the shed immediatly upon arrival home, as set of 18"/19" RS6 clones with Goodyear F1 DS-3Gs would be waiting..... (In 2007 this was rated the best performance tyre) http://www.goodyear.com.au/TyreDetai...&from=nPerPage

[clip]

What knowledge do you have about the tyres and especially tyres on Tiguan to say that Hankooks are so bad that you would change it right away for Bridgestone?

I used to sell them, tyres that is. The Hankooks IME were OK for the family sedan or hack, OK in the wet, long lasting, good value for money. I never said they were bad, just that I would be swapping them. Why?, because I want a better performing tyre on my car. I'm not so interested in wear, infact, I'll happily sacrifice wear for better grip. Hell, I'm used to only getting 5000k out of my bike tyres - and a rear alone costs me $330!

I had Michelin on my T5 since new they didn't last 25,000km and I can't say about Michelin that they're the bad tyres. I replaced them with Hankook and I'm very happy with them.

Short life (like your Mich getting 25000k) does not equal bad tyre (as you rightly say), just as long life also does not equal 'good tyre'. As far as grip etc, the softer compound, faster wearing tyre will be giving you the better grip and more safety. It's a compromise.

I used to sell tyres in the country to some guys that would always keep one set ahead. They used to buy a new set, leave them in the shed for 4 or 5 years, then bring those back in and have them fitted, buy the new set and stick them in the shed etc etc. They got fantastic life out of them because the compound had gone hard from age and sitting in the shed. Just don't get in their way if they need to stop or go around corners

However, having said all that, I have not run Hankooks on a TIG. I don't even have a TIG yet!

And I did also say that "I would be running..." I didn't tell brenno that he should run and get them changed.

[clip]

Actually different tyres make a huge difference to the way a car drives and handles. It all depends on what you want from the tyres.

what he said