GOLF GTI mk7 tyres - real experiences please

[Mitch16]

I am keen to hear from anyone who has actual experience of swapping from the OEM Bridgestone's to something else please. What did you go for? My car is on 18" wheels.

I appreciate this is a powerful front drive car so there will always be some traction issues, but have you noticed any real improvements, traction, ride, etc?

Thanks

[AJB88]

Cupra 280 with 19", car is running stage2.

Swapped from Bridgestone to Michelin Super Sport's and difference is night and day.

[beancaker]

I would be interested to know if the type of tyre makes any noticeable difference to the steering 'feel'. Not sure if it is my imagination, but mine feels somewhat vague and lifeless on the motorway. Admittedly front tyres are down to below 4mm, standard 18" Bridgestones.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Bridgestone traditionally have very stiff side walls, so I'm surprised by the vagueness. If VW still specify a rather ridiculous 38psi tyre pressure for the MK7, check the middles haven't worn out as that will kill the feel.

Can't go wrong with Pilot Sport 4, or the new Pilot Sport 4S (Super Sport replacement).

[beancaker]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Bridgestone traditionally have very stiff side walls, so I'm surprised by the vagueness. If VW still specify a rather ridiculous 38psi tyre pressure for the MK7, check the middles haven't worn out as that will kill the feel.

Can't go wrong with Pilot Sport 4, or the new Pilot Sport 4S (Super Sport replacement).

Interesting, thanks. Recommended pressures are 36psi all round, or 39/44 fully loaded.

[macajc88]

I swapped for Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (not 4S) and the difference has been night and day.

The Bridgestones were nearing the end of their life but I don't recall ever having the levels of grip I now have with the Michelins, even now with the cold temperatures. Hard acceleration in 1st in the wet will still create loss of traction but it's the extra grip on the move (especially negotiating roundabouts) that has transformed the car for me.

[va1o]

I swapped to Avons up front on mine (Mk7 GTD). Did initially think they were better but that's probably because the Bridgestones had worn to the limit. 6 months later these are just as bad!

[SuperchargedVR6]

beancaker said:

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Bridgestone traditionally have very stiff side walls, so I'm surprised by the vagueness. If VW still specify a rather ridiculous 38psi tyre pressure for the MK7, check the middles haven't worn out as that will kill the feel.

Can't go wrong with Pilot Sport 4, or the new Pilot Sport 4S (Super Sport replacement).

Interesting, thanks. Recommended pressures are 36psi all round, or 39/44 fully loaded.

I run mine at 33psi all round which feels a lot better to me, but it's only something you can determine with experimentation. My old F1s wore out in the middle pretty quickly running the factory pressure.

[Patch1875]

I've got Goodyear Eagles.

Big improvement in grip and lower noise also they're pretty cheap compared to others.

[DibblyDobbler]

Those that went from Bridgestone to Michelin PS - did you notice any change in the ride quality?

[beancaker]

Bump - any tyre updates? I'm due to replace the original Bridgestones soon...

[chasingracecars]

Not on a Golf, but I run Goodyear Eagle F1's on my Audi as does another mate on his S4. They are good and have nice rim protectors. Not overly expensive either.

[Michaelhunt]

Supersports or Cup 2's seem to be the tyre of choice at present.

[Bungleaio]

I've gone to Pilot Sport 4 on my GTI PP and I'm very happy. Loads more grip, quieter and better all round. The PS4 feel softer than the bridgestones so I don't think they will last as long but I would thing the Super Sports will be even softer.

My car is in daily use and covers 300 miles a week minimum so I tyre life is important over ultimate grip. I managed 23.5k out of my original bridgestones but I rotate the tyres every 5k.

[Adrian E]

Super sports on my S5 and S8 outlast anything else I've used including Conti SportContacts and Pilot 2/3. Seems the construction makes them last longer. Dont thing the super sport replacement goes down to 18" size though?

[gerrith]

Currently running Michelin Cross Climates, the Bridgestones I had on have only done 4000 miles. I'll probably put those back on over summer and upgrade to PS4's next year.

[Adrian E]

I've been doing some research on this too, since the factory Bridgestones are down around 4mm all round after 12k miles.

Michelin Super Sports are not noticeably cheaper in 18" than the 20" of my previous car! They're also about double the price of almost anything else, although shopping around makes it less horrific.

Found Super Sports for £119 each, but cheapest I can find the Goodyear F1s is £80ish (supply only). PS4 is somewhere in between at £93.

Cheapest premium tyres I've found are PZero Nero GT at under £70. Dunlop SportMaxx RT (the only one with a VW code) are about the same as Goodyear....

[si_xsi]

I've had 3 Golf's in a row, 1 Gti and 2 R32s. I found Bridgestone to be noisey and poor in the wet. I changed to Michelin pilot sport 3s in Gti and they were brilliant, lasted ages, great grip, quiet, good in wet. Also been very impressed with Dunlop Sport maxx rt on the r32. You get what you pay for, if you can afford Michelin pilot supersports then they seem to be the drivers tyre of choice!

[liner33]

Patch1875 said:

I've got Goodyear Eagles.

Big improvement in grip and lower noise also they're pretty cheap compared to others.

Done the same on my mk3 Octavia VRS, very happy with them so much so I'm thinking of changing the rears which still have almost 5mm left as the fronts are such and improvement.

[DibblyDobbler]

I've gone from Bridgestone S001 to Goodyear AS3 - a big improvement imho