The Official Polo Tyre Thread

[Eddy]

Has anyone in Bris/G.C/Tweed tried to source/know of anywhere to get Marangoni Zeta Linea? Prices?

Thanks!

Hoyhoy.

Nope, not me.

[Bflat]

I just got a quote from TTF in Melbourne - $220 a corner, anyone know of somewhere cheaper at the moment?

[mr_walker]

I finally got around to putting my GTI wheels on my Polo TDI a few months back, so I thought I'd feed back about my tyre selection:

Car - MY07 Polo TDI
Rim Size - 16x6.5 (just upgraded from stock 14x6's)
New Tyre - BF Goodrich G-Force Sport ($160/corner at Jax in Fyshwick)
Tyre Size - 205/45/16
Tyre Replaced - Pirelli P6000
Km's On new Tyre - 5000km
Thoughts on New Tyre - It's not a fair comparison to the fairly ordinary Pirelli P6000's I had on 14" rims, but I'm very happy with the Gforce Sport. I was mainly out to get my wheels on the car with decent tyres, but not to break the bank. Much firmer ride (mostly due to lower profile I suspect), and I have a lot more confidence in the Polo's handling abilities now. Have noticed a 10% drop in fuel economy though.

I've had the BF Goodrich G-Force Sport 205/45/16's on for about 30,000km's now. First impression was good, decent grip in wet and dry. Seemed to wear pretty well, and I rotated them every 7,500km's. Was pretty impressed ... until at about 15-20,000kms I started noticing the tyre noise kicking in at 80km/h (just a faint hum). Now at 30,000km's I can't hear the engine above the racket so badly that I can't tell when to shift. I can't believe how noisy these tyres are - sounds like I have a big set of 4WD muddies on. I was hoping to get more life out of them, but the noise is unbearable. Not especially happy.

[noone]

I want to get 2 new Tyres for the front end. Can get KU31's for 130 ea fitted / balanced.

Anything else I should look at for under $200 ea?

[Buller_Scott]

I want to get 2 new Tyres for the front end. Can get KU31's for 130 ea fitted / balanced.

Anything else I should look at for under $200 ea?

hey ben,

i know they dont get talked about a lot, but BFG g-force sport, perhaps?

dave ran them on his gti, i run them on my tdi... they are so. fricking. predictable. at the limit.

on 45km/hr suggested corners in the twisties, you can slide the car around, in the wet, and STILL know exactly where you stand, they're really progressive.

[noone]

Thanks. I want it on rails (in this case cheap rails).

How much were yours?

[Buller_Scott]

well, mine are only 15's, but they were $115 / corner fitted & balanced. i think dave paid somewhere around the $160 mark for his 17's.

we both got ours from different jax quick fits - seemed to be the best prices, down here in melb.

to be honest, im timid to go to other tyres after the BFG's... i know there are better tyres out there, but im addicted to the fact that when they break, they break VERY slowly, at a linear rate, and they're DAMN predictable (even going for an aggressive fang in the hills, when it's pissing down).

[noone]

Cheers.

The current tyres hold well through corners but dont seem to like the torque and feel greazy or waxy or... something. I don't know tyres well enough to be able to make an educated guess, what I read and remember about the Kumho's was better than how I feel about my tyres.

Back to the reviews for the time being...

[mr_walker]

I've had the BF Goodrich G-Force Sport 205/45/16's on for about 30,000km's now. First impression was good, decent grip in wet and dry. Seemed to wear pretty well, and I rotated them every 7,500km's. Was pretty impressed ... until at about 15-20,000kms I started noticing the tyre noise kicking in at 80km/h (just a faint hum). Now at 30,000km's I can't hear the engine above the racket so badly that I can't tell when to shift. I can't believe how noisy these tyres are - sounds like I have a big set of 4WD muddies on. I was hoping to get more life out of them, but the noise is unbearable. Not especially happy.

I have to fess up - I actually think I have a wheel bearing on the way out. I'm pretty sure the BFG's are contributing to the racket, but they aren't causing the horrible vibes in the back of my Pogo right now. The wheel bearing ... now that's another story for another thread, but it isn't going to be cheap.

[seangti]

I want to get 2 new Tyres for the front end. Can get KU31's for 130 ea fitted / balanced.

Anything else I should look at for under $200 ea?

They're a fine street tyre, but rails they are not. Fine for an enthusiastic drive, but finding the limit in lower speed corners isn't hard (or high speed with some committment), feedback/feel is through the chassis, not steering or tyres. They are predictable and quite progressive. Fine in wet too. Good value for money IMO. Track days will rip chunks of tread off em, time will tell as to how that's affected the integrity of the tyre.

[noone]

Thanks mate, good mini review.

I don't suggest tracking these tyres, they seem to go off / hard from my limited experience and reading. I might try to find some space for my current tyres and a cheap set of rims for future tracking.

[PeterHBne]

I'm prob swinging towards getting a set of Kumho ku31s this week. anyone else got 205/50/16s? (i think Eddy?). I know it makes a difference but what does it feel like in terms of take off, gearing etc..? Anything undesireable/ Anything nice? Dont care how it looks.

[noone]

First proper drive in the wet with KU31's on the front.
Huge difference in performace and handling
Comparing to used, 2nd hand, worn on the edge tyres, but I do like the Kumho's.
Its awesome to improve an aspect of the car and feel like you need to re-learn how it works.

[kaanage]

You would get that feeling with new vs used, 2nd hand, worn on the edge tyres of the same brand/pattern

[vwthunder]

Just ordered some Bridgetone RE55's I dont think many tyres can match them, then again, they are not really a street tyre