The Official Polo Tyre Thread

[kaanage]

The Neova is actually the hyper sports tyre like a Michelin PS2 or Nitto NT-05.

The Yokohama proper semi-slicks are the Advan A050R and A048R (which is truly awful when not cornering as fast as possible)

[jamesatfish]

I run the Neovas on one of my other cars and I agree it's a fantastic street tyre that works reasonably well on the track also. It has great dry grip - on the road at least as sticky as the Pirelli P-Zero Corsas that I ran previously - but they handle wet conditions far better than the Pirellis or the Michelin Cup Sports (which are rubbish in the wet). They're not true R-Specs so they don't handle the heat of long (10+ lap) track sessions as well as a proper track tyre but as a compromise I've been really happy with them.

I've also put around 15,000kms on them including some track work and there is still plenty of tread left - a very different story again to the Pirellis which would be due for replacement after that distance.

Can't comment on the pricing in Polo sizes but I do agree that they're not the cheapest tyres you can buy.

[jps18t]

Hi y'all. Just been reading through the thread, and I think I may have been ripped off with my last purchase of tyres. It was a year ago, but I'm just interested in some clarification & advice.
I own an '07 Gti on stock rims. I purchased four new Khumo Ecsta SPT's (which, from looking on the Khumo website, are KU31's), and paid $189 each. Expensive , I know(. However, on my receipt, it states that I have received four Khumo KU39's. A completely different tyre, according to the website. The tyres on my car are Khumo Ecsta SPT; the tyres on the Khumo website (KU39) are designated Ecsta LE Sport. The tread pattern on my tyres matches that of the KU31's on the website.

Any ideas..? Advice..

[kaanage]

Sounds like the tyre store mucked up the invoice but you got the right tyres.

[ssman]

Are you happy with the tyres that your running? Thats all that matters in the end

Hi y'all. Just been reading through the thread, and I think I may have been ripped off with my last purchase of tyres. It was a year ago, but I'm just interested in some clarification & advice.
I own an '07 Gti on stock rims. I purchased four new Khumo Ecsta SPT's (which, from looking on the Khumo website, are KU31's), and paid $189 each. Expensive , I know(. However, on my receipt, it states that I have received four Khumo KU39's. A completely different tyre, according to the website. The tyres on my car are Khumo Ecsta SPT; the tyres on the Khumo website (KU39) are designated Ecsta LE Sport. The tread pattern on my tyres matches that of the KU31's on the website.

Any ideas..? Advice..

[jps18t]

Sounds like the tyre store mucked up the invoice but you got the right tyres.

That would be the best best outcome. I'll check tomorrow, but do you know if KU39's are appreciably more expensive than KU31's.?

[kaanage]

Yes, the KU39 is about 50% more than the same sized KU31 (BTW it's Kumho)

[flashpixx]

Bob Jane strikes again. Booked Elke in for a set of KU31's. When I got back they had fitted KH17's!! Upside is KH17 are currently $129 down from $149. KU31 were $187 fitted.

Not real happy as I specifically asked about KU31 and had them order them in. Have arranged to keep the KH17 on for a week to see how they go. They have agreed to swap them next Saturday at no cost (apart from the difference in price of the tyres) if I want. They don't have any KU31's in stock otherwise the choice would have been made there and then.

Out of curiosity, and rather than listen to what a tyre dealer might say, I rang Kumho in Baulkham Hill. The very helpful chap explained the differences between the tyres and where each may be better. His personal preference was the KH17 due mainly to noise and wear. He suggested the KU31 are more susceptible to noise and wear if the wheel alignment is slightly out, with the KU31 being susceptible to howling. In terms of wear in normal circumstances both are similar, noise the KH31 are quieter is all circumstances.

First impressions are the KH17 are sure quiet but at the moment a bit "soft". Mr Kumho suggested running them at 38 psi to get the best from them, dunno what Bob Jane has put in them yet, waiting for them (and me) to cool down. I'm guessing 32 - 34, and I'm also expecting that they will all be different!!

Now... to the decision. 90% of driving will be the work commute either stop start freeway, 100 kmh freeway, or if I take the scenic route 50 - 70 kmh along the coast. The other 10% will be giving it a bit of stick

Also to be considered is in the next few months I will be fitting coilovers and lowering by around 30 - 40 mm. Not sure if this makes any difference to tyre choice.

The final point is that I wanted a performance tyre on the car, and the KH17 are not a performance tyre!! This is prolly just me being a poser...

Going to give them a decent workout over the weekend, with 38psi in them.

Update: tyre pressures were FR38, FL42, RR 40, RL40. Tyres feel soft at these pressures compared to original Conti's.

[flashpixx]

Update on the KH17

With a good few KM on them now I'm not all that enamored with them. They are soft, not sure if it is the sidewall construction or tread construction but they are not a performance tyre. Sure they are perfectly OK for tooling around at 60 KMH, and they do soak up alot of the road roughness and even over kerbs. However ask something of them in turns or take off and they start to complain. There is little feedback from them, with more understeer than the Conti's that were well worn.

Went back to BJTM and ordered a set of KU31 to be fitted next Saturday. I did organise a little "something" for my trouble so apart from the inconvenience of having to go back next Saturday I'm happy that I have been looked after. They may be a bit pissed at the amount of KM on them but ...

[GRP]

Mistake number 1 - purchased from Bob Jane Tyres. Made that mistake many years ago (I appreciate they are franchised) and will never go back. Want a bunch of . . . . . . . . . .

[flashpixx]

We have purchased tyres from the same BJTM for 10 years, through the same owner/manager. The problem they have is getting and keeping good fitters. My case was an example of them not talking to each other and ordering the wrong tyre. I can't fault their workmanship so I'm happy to go back. I guess my experience may be unique...

[Squeezy]

My KU31's (for a gti) were $100 each, fitted and balanced. You may not want a "performance' oriented tyre.

Have tyres gone up in price a LOT since 2009 or is it just Adelaide prices ?

Kuhmo KH17s are around $130 fitted
KU31s are $190

Offered all sorts of other alternatives
falken ze912 $190
Supercat (Bridgestone ) $155
Maxxis i-Pro $155

at this stage the KH17s despite a few people on this forum not liking them might be the only viable option for not spending big $$

[rgvlee]

I was quoted about that for KU31s this week.

Gone for a couple of R1Rs for the front, not cheap. Get them tomorrow morning.

Depends what you want?

[Squeezy]

Ended up getting the KH17s. Will report back when I've run them for a bit.

[rgvlee]

Car - 08 Polo GTI
Rim Size - Stock 16s
New Tyre - Toyo R1R
Tyre Size - 205/45/16
Tyre Replaced - GT Radial Champiro HPX
Km's On new Tyre - 200km
Thoughts on New Tyre -

Not a cheap tyre at 290 fitted but I was at the mercy of availablity - no nittos, RSRs, yokos available in stock sizes at the moment.

So far so good, they don't complain as early as the previous tyres and have improved the point and shoot steering that I liked so much when I bought the car. Suburban chicanes at the same speed require less effort and looks to be room for another 5-10km/h more with these tyres.

They did need to be run in but with a few kms in them they seem to be a good tyre.

Not expecting miracles on longevity.