Poor Performance with Conti Sport 3's

[Nebo1]

I have had my R36 since October 2009 and have just clocked 15,000KM
I just had the car serviced today at VW and was slightly shocked to see both front tyres were completely bald. ( inner half of both tyres)

I am just about to put on Sumitomo's on the front as they have been reccomended as a good performance tyre but with a better life.

Any sugestions on a tyre thats good on handeling and life... at a reasonable cost

[team_v]

Kumho KU31's are pretty decent for the cost.

Otherwise you can pony up a bit of cash and get some goodyear eagle F1's or some Michelin pilot sport PS3's.

Unfortuantely, good performance requires a softer compound which wears quicker so you aren't really going to get a long lasting performance tyre.


I would get them to have a look at the alignment when it's being serviced as well since a lot of them have alignment issues from the boat trip to Aus.

[Nebo1]

Thanks.. i was meant to have a rotation of tyres and an alignment done today but it diddnt happen as the tyres were so far gone.
I will have a look at both yoour suggestions.

Anything under the $400+ for the Conti is a good deal at this stage.

Worked out the Conti's cost me aprox $50 per month in wear... expensive.

[team_v]

Thanks.. i was meant to have a rotation of tyres and an alignment done today but it diddnt happen as the tyres were so far gone.
I will have a look at both yoour suggestions.

Anything under the $400+ for the Conti is a good deal at this stage.

Worked out the Conti's cost me aprox $50 per month in wear... expensive.

I would have a look at importing tyres from tyrerack as you can get some quality rubber for up to half the price of the Australian stock.

Make sure you get the same load and speed rated tyres though as it is illegal to run lower spec'd tyres.

[R34]

I'd go KU31's for sure or ANYTHING other than Sumitomos (just my personal experience)
I have KU31's on my R36 in 19's.
I had the Sumos on my WRX after great recommendations from tireack...I wouldn't put them on a trailer personally

[Gipper]

I have had my R36 since October 2009 and have just clocked 15,000KM
I just had the car serviced today at VW and was slightly shocked to see both front tyres were completely bald. ( inner half of both tyres)

As someone else mentioned, you arent the first person to find this. Its not the tyres, its the fact your alignement has been way out since driving. Most people dont get an alignment on a new car and pay the price. After reading too many horror stories, I got mine aligned the day after I picked up my R36 and found they were significantly out of alignement off the boat. I now have even wear and still lots tread after 25,000 kms.

[brad]

What Gipper said.

Wear on the inside edges isn't the tyres fault.

if it's an R36 then it probably runs a bit of camber, so maybe that is excessive for your driving style. Was the Right front worse? If so, there's probably a bit of a toe-out issue.

You don't have a bit of a look at your tyres when you check the air pressures (or is adding air unnecessary because of the TPMS?)

[V6Passat]

I have had my R36 since October 2009 and have just clocked 15,000KM
I just had the car serviced today at VW and was slightly shocked to see both front tyres were completely bald. ( inner half of both tyres)

I am just about to put on Sumitomo's on the front as they have been reccomended as a good performance tyre but with a better life.

Any sugestions on a tyre thats good on handeling and life... at a reasonable cost

well what about slowing down and driving sensibly? this is outragouse!!! blaming the tyres for your behavoir

[brad]

well what about slowing down and driving sensibly? this is outragouse!!! blaming the tyres for your behavoir

I don't think he was driving fast enough! If he was giving it some curry through the corners the outsides might have worn a bit more.

[macdoc]

As someone else mentioned, you arent the first person to find this. Its not the tyres, its the fact your alignement has been way out since driving. Most people dont get an alignment on a new car and pay the price. After reading too many horror stories, I got mine aligned the day after I picked up my R36 and found they were significantly out of alignement off the boat. I now have even wear and still lots tread after 25,000 kms.

I had a wheel alignment within the first week of ownership of a 2007 Passat 2.0T, the whole setup was all over the place from new. I got 73,000Kms out of all 5 Conti Sport contact 2's and I drive enthusiastically. I have now done 17,000Kms on Conti Sport contact 3's and they still look new. I do rotate them every 7,500 Kms.
Off topic - still have original brake pads at 90,000 Kms, rears will need doing at approx 100,000Kms & I estimate fronts at 180,000Kms. (Measured & calculated pads & discs)

[antone_86]

Don't forget to inflate your tyre pressures to 4psi more than recommended - good for fuel economy and mileage.

[szikou]

Hi Guys,

Besides the Dealer, can somebody please recommend a good place in Melbourne for a Wheel Alignment in Melbourne?

Thanks

[noone]

Any tyre shop should be able to do an alignment, let them know up front you want a printout

[szikou]

Thanks Noone, but I have heard to stay away from Tyre Shops and rather seek a suspension specialist.

Has anybody taken their R36 for a wheel alignment and been impressed with the service?

[brad]

Ralf at TrueTrack.

It has nothing to do with the shop & everything to do with the operator.

Noone - you are right. Any tyre shop can do an alignment to factory specs but a good wheel aligner will set the car up to compensate for driving style & how the tyres actually wear. I used to set up old 450 SEL Mercs & Taragos so far away from factory specs it scared me sometimes - customers were happy though.