Tyres

[PeterHBne]

Alright - a tired subject - but worth revisiting.

I have the standard 4 x Cont's with a Dunlop Sport Maxx spare (go figure - thats how it came from the dealer and i dont really care).

After god knows how many punctures, finally one of the Conts is rooted and needs to be replaced.

The Conts have around 5 - 7,000kms still in them so I'm not going to turf them all and get 4 newbies of something else (would you drink 3/4 quarters of carton and bin the last six pack???)

I know all about mismatched tyres and thats great if you are on the track or driving at 10/10 tenths all the time but I fail to see how with normal driving diff brands front and rear will cause grief as long as long as all is quality.

So I'm buying new rears and keeping the Conts on the front for a while longer

Options are for the rears:

1) Sport Maxxs - use the current spare as one of the rears and only buy one tyre (use the non buggered rear Cont as a spare) - save $200 odd

2) Go with 2 x Michelins (highly recommended through the board) for both rears and soon enough fronts and keep the Sport Maxx as the spare.

Hope that makes sense.

$$$$$$ makes me think the Sportmaxx option but my heart says Michelin.

So my question is has anyone gone from Conts to Dunlops?? Feedback?

[Timbo]

Put the new tyres on the front, not the rear

[Blitzen]

I'm with Timbo on this one...Put the better tyres on the steer.

With the tyres themselves, go with what offers you better bang for your buck in your own opinion. I would go for neither, but thats just me, and I'm not spending your money

They are both good brands...Its a tough one.

[VW GTI]

I'd get 1 Sport Maxx tyre and use it on the front with the spare. Use the best 2 contis on the back and the other as spare.

Once this set goes down then get a full set of michelins.

The difference in brand of tyres should make sure a big deal as the rear wheels are really just getting pulled along as front ones are for driving and steering. Just make sure they are aligned properly.

[PeterHBne]

I'm thinking put the newbies on the rear as they will wear slower.

When the Conts on the front wear out (5-7000kms) put the 'new' newbies on the rear and rotate the 'old' newbies to the front to balance it out.

[JustCruisn]

See if the tyre shop will give you a trade-in on the good tyres. Worth a shot.
I recently got $40 for a 7month old Dunlop Sport when I bought 4 new Michelins. The Dunlop originally cost $90 Michelins were $115. (not on the Dub but on the Mazda 121)

[PeterHBne]

But also - does anyone have first hand experience of SportMaxx V Michelin?

[VW GTI]

I know michelin = good.

[PeterHBne]

Can't someone say Sportmaxx rub Michelins nose in the dirt - that's what i want hear - it's cheaper for me!!!!

[Blitzen]

Can't someone say Sportmaxx rub Michelins nose in the dirt - that's what i want hear - it's cheaper for me!!!!

That should make the decision easier...

[Timbo]

I'm thinking put the newbies on the rear as they will wear slower.

I can see your logic, but it is flawed, giving priority to cost rather than effective function. You should ensure the best gripping tyres are on the steering, and also in the Pog's case, the driving axle. Now, while the pedants may argue that 'worn' tyres might offer more dry weather grip, that's not really the point for a road car, because when it gets a bit wet...

Power to weight, the Polo -- even in stock form -- is a potent little car, but it's FWD and a designed-in understeerer. It's an unnatural act to want to increase that tendancy.

Oh, and BTW, I have Bridgestone Adrenalins, which I'm very happy with -- just to add to the confusion. I'd certainly mark them above the Contis, and also better than the Falken Azenis RT615s

[Sharkie]

Had a nice drive in the rain this morning and the CS2 Conti's actually surprised me. Normally I don't rate them as they suffer serious grip issues.

Come time to replace 1st choice for me would be the Goodyear F1 GS-D3's. Currently they are rated as the best in category by a number of independent reviews around the world. (Including Wheels tyre test last year)

A number of Pogo owners have them and have all raved about them. They cost a bit more, but like everything you get what you pay for.

Pay peanuts, get monkeys applies to tyres as well. Considering that all you have connecting your car to the ground is 4 small patches of rubber, you should put the best possible rubber to work.....

2nd choice would have to be the Potenza Adrenalins and the rest would just be alsorans and not worth a look.... IMO.

Don't make a decision on cost, make a decision on performance. When you have an accident due to poor gripping tyres its too late to say I should have .....

[insanekiwi]

I have punctured my front left tyre recently in a mall carpark, did not see a divider (low) when turning left, and pretty much hit it at 45 degree angle at around 10km/h. Tyre teared straight away.

Just got the spare out (which is the most worn) and put on rear, and brought the best rear to the front to fill.

For the spare I settled with Good year GSD3 (i think... the one sharkie mentioned). Got it for $200 fitted (NZ) with balancing and fitting. Happy with the price, and next time I get one more puncture, I will get 3 extra, and fit them on four. Use the contact2 as my spare as they are uni directional as well.

My dad's Good year on his Beemer 330 M is very good. Happy with it.