225/40 R18 to 235/40 R18 on Golf R - bad idea?

[DibblyDobbler]

Hi All.

As above really - I'm changing the (brick hard and generally not very great) OEM Bridgestones probably for MPS4 to try and improve the ride on my Golf R which I am finding a bit firm. It occurs to me that going up to a 235 would put a bit more rubber between me and the road so might not be a bad idea? Not a huge difference see here but maybe enough to help the ride a bit and also fill the arches slightly better. Any downsides or anything else to consider?

Oh and ps ... any 'MTFU Grandad' type replies... please don't bother - it's a free world and I want more comfort!

[DibblyDobbler]

Thanks for the reply but I don't think you are right there - the profile on these is 40% of the width so the 235/40 is wider and has more profile then the 225/40 as I understand it. Have a look at the link I posted if you don't believe me!

[DibblyDobbler]

cuprabob said:

The sidewall on the 235 will be 4mm larger than the 225 so I doubt you will notice any difference.

235/40 tyres are a bit more expensive than 225/40 too as it's not as much of a common size.

Thanks for the reply Bob. Yes I reckon you are right - not a bad idea maybe but probably pointless. 4mm more sidewall is negligible and the Golf R doesn't really lack for traction 95% of the time so the extra width is not really worth it either.

I'm probably going to go for the Michelin PS4 but am slightly tempted by the Goodyear Asymmetric 3 - will report back in due course just in case anybody is interested ...

[DibblyDobbler]

cuprabob said:

You could go for the non-reinforced (not XL) version of the tyre which might have a more compliant sidewall. Also the Goodyear tyre has the reputation of a softer sidewall.

Good shout - am pricing up some Goodyear As 3 on the non XL. Cheers Bob.

[DibblyDobbler]

DibblyDobbler said:

cuprabob said:

You could go for the non-reinforced (not XL) version of the tyre which might have a more compliant sidewall. Also the Goodyear tyre has the reputation of a softer sidewall.

Good shout - am pricing up some Goodyear As 3 on the non XL. Cheers Bob.

Hmm - ok so they don't seem to come in a non-XL in the 225/40... probably still go with them anyway.

[DibblyDobbler]

Hi Alex. Not a bad shout at all and quite a few folk use 17s as a winter wheel so I reckon it would work ok.

I believe a 225/45 R18 would also fit - albeit with a small impact on the speedo reading.

However on balance I will first try a decent 225/40 R18 and see how I go - according to others this should make quite a big difference and no faffing with extra sets of wheels.

Cheers

[DibblyDobbler]

otolith said:

I don't think you're going to get a significant improvement fiddling about with sections and profiles while keeping the diameter near enough to standard not to upset the speedo too much. I think you probably need to drop the rim size an inch to have any real effect, though a different brand with softer sidewalls will help matters, albeit at the expense of a bit of squidge in the steering.

Cheers - you may be right about needing to go for 17s but I don't have anywhere to store the 18s so I'd have to sell them then buy others back when I sell the car and it just seems like too much faff...

[DibblyDobbler]

timberman said:

I went from a 245 tyre to a 255 on a 17" wheel before and it barely made any difference.

I'd say your options are either going with some 17" wheels as suggested or to start changing the suspension components which could prove expensive and may mess up the handling altogether.

Tbh I'm suprised you find the ride hard, most of the reviews I've read seem to suggest its quite compliant,
if you want to experience a really hard ride try a Fiesta st out, it makes my wifes Tiguan r line feel like a magic carpet.

do you have DCC on yours

Cheers for the input

Agree that most people seem to find the ride fine on the R but I'm not completely alone from what I read on other sites. I came from an M135i which really is compliant and it has been a bit of a change for the worse.

Changing wheels and/or suspension components is out - too much of a faff - and I'm not expecting a transformation from the new tyres, just need 10-20% and I can hopefully stop being annoyed by it.

Only viable options really are:

225/40 R18 - OEM size, need to hope the new tyres make a noticable difference
235/40 R18 - as above tyres are more expensive and only slight increase in profile
225/45 R18 - probably would make a decent difference but speedo would under read + would prefer to stick to OEM size if possible

- or else bin the Golf, buy an old Jag and use the spare £15k on repairs and fuel

[DibblyDobbler]

ManOpener said:

I'd potentially just try some 225/40 R18s with a softer sidewall, like Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrics.

Thanks - I am awaiting a price on these as we speak (trying to get local guys to match black circles)

[DibblyDobbler]

Andy OH said:

Like a few have already said you will need to drop a rim size to have any noticeable difference. Why buy a Glof R if you want comfort.

Why reply to a thread when you have nothing useful to contribute?

[DibblyDobbler]

Guy at the local tyre place tried to recommend me the Conti SC5 over the Goodyear AS3 (for ride comfort) - this is contrary to the reviews I've read... any thoughts Gents?

[DibblyDobbler]

Andy OH said:

If you want a constructive answer from me and also from someone who has had both the tyres you've mentioned above, albeit in 19" guise and on an Audi S3 so a similar platformed car, I'd also agree that the Conti's have the better ride comfort. I currently have 19" Goodyear AS2's on my MK6 Golf GTi and the ride is quite harsh. The harshness is due however to the 19" wheels.

Hope that helps somewhat with your decision for what tyre to use next.

Thanks Andy. The reason I hesitate is that according to tyre reviews the Goodyear AS3 is ahead of the Conti SC5 by a fair chunk for comfort. Not many reviews on the AS3 but even the AS2 rates higher - which is the opposite of what the tyre guy said (which is now backed up by you).

[DibblyDobbler]

Hmm - well I twitted to Dan Prosser and he recommended the Conti SC5 also but on the Tyre Review site most folk are seeming to prefer the Goodyear AS3 (which seems to be more comfortable then the AS2). Many have found the Contis to have a high wear rate.

Ok I think paralysis by analysis has well and truly set in now so I will sleep on it and buy something tomorrow as I am boring even myself now

Thanks All.

[DibblyDobbler]

HJMS123 said:

I had GY ASY2's on my old Megane and loved them, grat all weather grip and the sideall wasn't too firm even in XL spec.

Never tried conti's but from what i've read they wear extremely quick to based on those two points I'd go for the Asym 3's in OEM spec.

Cheers - I am literally just off the phone to my local tyre guys and have done just that

Will report back once they are on ... hopefully it will make a noticeable difference!

[DibblyDobbler]

Captain Caveman said:

Best option is to simply lower your tyre pressures a little, which will give extra compliance. The recommended tyre pressures tend to vary quite a lot between years, but are generally on the hard side. You'll notice an improvement if you lose a few PSIs.

Thanks Captain. Yes agreed. I have already reduced from 36 - 34psi and it made a modest improvement (34 is the minimum recommended). I'll see how I go with the new tyres at 34 - would prefer not to go below the recommended minimum if possible.

[DibblyDobbler]

AGK said:

Couldn't stand the Bridgestones on my Golf R so changes them to Pilot Super Sport a few weeks after getting the car and the difference was night and day.

Anything you get is going to be an improvement over the Bridgestones.

That's what I need to hear!

Getting the Goodyear AS3 on either tonight or tomorrow so we shall see...

Incidentally a work colleague picked up his R a couple of weeks ago - he is finding the ride (on 19s) fine but then I found out his came with Pirellis - bah Seems just to be luck what you end up with.

[DibblyDobbler]

Hi All.

Will wrap this up with a few observations now I have the new tyres on - all IMHO of course but may be of use to others...

To begin at the beginning...

- Started out with 19s and Bridgestones (no DCC). Found the ride very harsh - doubly annoying as I now find that some Golfs are coming with OEM Pirellis

- switched to 18s (still with Bridgestones). Modest improvement but not a transformation

- adjusted tyre pressure down to minimum recommended (from about 37 - 34 iirc). Small improvement - worth the effort

- switched from Bridgestones to Goodyear AS3. Decent improvement - probably a bit more than going 19s to 18s. Need a few more miles to be sure but I think I have done enough so that it's not going to bug me.

Thanks to all that commented - appreciate the input

ps - Just need to get the rattles sorted now and it could be a decent car....