Tire buying time, I know this is a beat like a dead horse topic.

[StevesTDI]

So my Tiger Paws are finally wearing down. Let me just say I thought the Tiger Paws were awesome. So since VW gave me 500 bones to spend in their store I was going to use that towards buying new tires. So I have several options, but kind of have it narrowed down to the General tire Altimax RT43 T rated, or pay more for the Continental Purecontact H or V rated. Going to stay away from the Cooper and Yoko's. If anybody has advice please let me know.

 

[South Coast Guy]

Why not buy the best; Michelin?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I have RT43s on my B4, my sons both have the Purecontacts on their Jettas. Short description is the RT43 is more of a touring tire, quiet, rides great, doesn't seem super grippy. The Contis are also quiet (both sets are pretty new), but feel more responsive in cornering. And my son reports they're hydroplaning resistant, one of his big fears. I don't drive the Passat that much in the rain so I can't comment on the RT43s in the wet.

I'd say you can't go wrong with either.

 

[deeslman]

Bought 06 Jetta, had generals with about 25,000 miles put 10,000 on.
Not very satisfied with rain and noise.
Put a set of el cheapo Doral??? tires 35,000 shot, horrible in snow so so in rain.
But for 49 bucks apiece who cares.
Next attempt Nexen cp672, 90 bucks each. So far, good in rain and snow. Smooth and
quiet on highway (frequently at 80mph) 35,000 miles still over half tread life.

Good luck.

 

[StevesTDI]

Ok so I got quiet and loud for the general tires so that is disconcerting. Anybody have more input on the conti's.

 

[hip001]

We love out Michelins! 2nd set on the Jetta and pretty good prices at SAMs. Long lasting, quiet, even wearing, great water grip(Florida proven). Now we live in North Georgia we may get some ice/snow to test them in this season.(I'll let you know when it happens)
I'm 100% sold on the Michelin LT for my work truck too.
Tires are personal preference like car makes and colors. Good luck in your hunt!

 

[GreenLantern_TDI]

Firestone Affinity Tourings.

 

[1998993C2S]

+1 Agreed. Michelin's ... 225/45/17" OEM size for stock GTI 17" alloys fitted to the Jetta.

We're over the noon for Michelin's newer "Pilot Sport A/S 3" in the above stock VW size; A tire size OE spec'd for the GLI, GTI model trim's of our shared MkV chassis.... These tires are super sticky, great short braking, sharp handling, tier one in the rain, quiet throughout useable life, 30,000 mile life out of a performance tire ain't bad. Michelin has a winner with this tire.
((The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's on the 911's rear axle are good only for 9,000mi to 10,000 miles at best. Rear tires on 911's (993) wear quickly. Expensively quick ...))

Not a fan of the North American tire market's All Season marketing creation. Dedicated Summer tires and specific M/S rated winter tires cannot be beat.... The TDI's "summer" tire is now the newer Pilot Sport A/S 3 . . . its a Hi Performance summer er "all season" tire . . which can handle the Fall and "mild" Winter conditions.

In the Fall of 2006 when the Jetta TDI was new, fitted was a set of the Michelin Primacy **MXV4 in the TDI's stock 16" alloy size - wasn't all that impressed; good tire, but not great. If targeting price w/Average to Okay tire performance - there are plenty of suitable purchase options available.

Our purchase target for tires is/was the very best rain, braking, quiet and did I mention rain performance..... Here in Northern Georgia the rain is uber fierce at times.

** The "MXV4" model/series tires are known to be quiet first an foremost - with solid, middle of the pack performance when compared to like kind competitors of the day. Its a straight up "double" down center field in baseball parlance...
Versions of the MXV4 tires series have been manufactured for decades.

We love out Michelins! 2nd set on the Jetta and pretty good prices at SAMs. Long lasting, quiet, even wearing, great water grip(Florida proven). Now we live in North Georgia we may get some ice/snow to test them in this season.(I'll let you know when it happens)
I'm 100% sold on the Michelin LT for my work truck too.
Tires are personal preference like car makes and colors. Good luck in your hunt!

 

[tdiatlast]

^^^finally, someone stating the exact size he's referring to.

W/o stating what SIZE tire being referenced, you're all shooting in the dark. Tires of the same make and model can vary dramatically from size to size.

 

[1998993C2S]

Size matters - Tire size that is .....

+1 Agreed. Without referencing a specific tire size - we're shooting in the dark. Vehicle chassis and specific tire size matters. 3 cheers ...

^^^finally, someone stating the exact size he's referring to.

W/o stating what SIZE tire being referenced, you're all shooting in the dark. Tires of the same make and model can vary dramatically from size to size.

 

[redbarron55]

I agree on post #9. Same size and type on 2013 JSW.
Great tire.

 

[Celco]

I have the RT43 on my 2002 Golf. I have enjoyed them greatly so far on the 22k miles. Great wear so far that I can see as well!

+1 for RT43's

 

[1998993C2S]

Consumer Reports - Performance All Season - top tier goes to the Conti

OP - a quick check with CR for their Performance All Season tires ratings ..

** Recommended by Consumer Reports

1. Continental Purecontact H speed rated **
2. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus H speed rated **
3. Michelin Premier A/S H speed rated **
4. Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max H speed rated
5. General Altimax RT43 H speed rated
6. Nokian enTYRE 2.0
7. Nexen N5000 plus
8. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring
9. Dunlop ....
10. Kumho ....
11. Toyo .....
12. Uniroyal ....
13. BFgoodrich ....
14. Sumitomo ...
15. Falken ...
16. GT Radial ...

PS., The German Auto, Motor und Sport publication conducts comprehensive real world tire tests - lemme see if I can find a suitable tire test. If so I'll post.

So my Tiger Paws are finally wearing down. Let me just say I thought the Tiger Paws were awesome. So since VW gave me 500 bones to spend in their store I was going to use that towards buying new tires. So I have several options, but kind of have it narrowed down to the General tire Altimax RT43 T rated, or pay more for the Continental Purecontact H or V rated. Going to stay away from the Cooper and Yoko's. If anybody has advice please let me know.

 

[bbexotics]

Goodyear assurance fuel max mpg went up 2 mpg and wearing well

 

[StevesTDI]

OP - a quick check with CR for their Performance All Season tires ratings ..

** Recommended by Consumer Reports

1. Continental Purecontact H speed rated **
2. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus H speed rated **
3. Michelin Premier A/S H speed rated **
4. Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max H speed rated
5. General Altimax RT43 H speed rated
6. Nokian enTYRE 2.0
7. Nexen N5000 plus
8. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring
9. Dunlop ....
10. Kumho ....
11. Toyo .....
12. Uniroyal ....
13. BFgoodrich ....
14. Sumitomo ...
15. Falken ...
16. GT Radial ...

PS., The German Auto, Motor und Sport publication conducts comprehensive real world tire tests - lemme see if I can find a suitable tire test. If so I'll post.

Thanks for that information.

 

[rix337]

Michelins or Michelins. 225/45/17, quiet ride and excellent wet and dry traction for almost the entire life of the tire. Really amazing wet traction. Every set I have ever had I have loved. Every time I go with something else for a sale or something, I regret it.

Michelins.

 

[Ski in NC]

I've got Michelin Harmony 195/15's on my 01 Jetta. 122k miles on them and they just passed inspection. Barely. Still run smooth and quiet, but I definitely slow down in the rain due to skinny tread.

These have lasted at least twice the miles than I have ever got on any vehicle. Original Michelins when I bought the car new made about 60-65k miles. Then a low cost set that I HATED.

 

[newlitemotorist]

I'm running the Michelin pilot sport a/s 3's 205/55/r16 I believe and they are by far the best tires I have ever run.
Dry grip is incredible, wet grip is also amazing and they are a fine snow tire if you aren't stupid. They will cost you but you get what you pay for.

My last set of tires were the old style continental extreme contact dws, they've since stiffened the side walls. Good grip for sure but spongy feeling and left something to be desired in confidence around a turn because of this. I will say, these take the trophy for snow traction in the all season ultra high performance catagory by a long shot.

 

[tdiatlast]

Michelins or Michelins. 225/45/17, quiet ride and excellent wet and dry traction for almost the entire life of the tire. Really amazing wet traction. Every set I have ever had I have loved. Every time I go with something else for a sale or something, I regret it.

Michelins.

WHICH Michelins?

 

[rix337]

WHICH Michelins?

Primacy's

 

[av8r]

I'm a Michelin man. All my other vehicles have them except my TDI.

My TDI however has ContinentalProContacts 225/45 R17s. Car has 79K. I had to replace two due to flats right in the low profile curve section sparidically the last few years. I rotate every 6K. These things are quiet, handle great in the rain, handle fine in the snow and are just phenominal in the desert heat. I've been impressed--plus I have two tires that are now at 79K and about a 1/16 away from replacing. Based on what I've experienced with these tires I'm gonna put the same ones back on come replacement time this year. Just food for thought. I know they are pricey but I have really like them on the TDI.

 

[BamaB4S]

Michelin Defenders.. for a smooth, grippy, quiet and long life ride.

 

[1998993C2S]

Tire model Pilot Sport A/S-3

+1 Agreed. Couldn't agree more, Class leading performance.
It was funny when my wife took notice and mentioned just how "quiet the new tires on the TDI are"...

I'm running the Michelin pilot sport a/s 3's 205/55/r16 I believe and they are by far the best tires I have ever run.
Dry grip is incredible, wet grip is also amazing and they are a fine snow tire if you aren't stupid. They will cost you but you get what you pay for.

My last set of tires were the old style continental extreme contact dws, they've since stiffened the side walls. Good grip for sure but spongy feeling and left something to be desired in confidence around a turn because of this. I will say, these take the trophy for snow traction in the all season ultra high performance catagory by a long shot.

 

[PC Passat]

With future ownership of these cars up in the air, why not wait if you can and save $$$$$$. Tillamook Tire probably has some used cheap for a few months if you can't wait. Let the "air clear" on the scandal first.

 

[StevesTDI]

Thanks all for your input on this, much appreciated.

 

[Pilhoney10]

I have the CS4 Cooper tires 87,000 miles and counting. I had the same tire on my Caddy 103,000 miles. Will I buy Cooper again? with out a doupt.

 

[where2]

Wasn't too impressed with the Pilot Sport 205-55-16 Michelins that came off my wife's car at 130k. She'd run the original Continental ProContacts for close to 50k. She ran the 225-45-17 ProContacts (Audi A3 wheels) for close to 45k. (The Audi wheels were take-offs at ~3k in 2006). My former company car (a 2006 MkV TDI+DSG) got more than 40k on the OEM 205-55-16 ProContacts.

The wife's options at the moment are Continental 205-55-16 PureContact DSW (the V-rated version) on her stock 16" Bioline wheels, or Continental 225-45-17 ProContacts on her Audi wheels. She says the 17's are slightly louder than the 16's, but that is to be expected in a 45 series sidewall.

Nothing compares to the noise the Michelin's were making when they were wearing funny. That sounded like a wheel bearing going bad. Don't get me wrong, I've previously had wonderful luck with Michelins on other VW's and vehicles we have owned. However, based on 200k+ my wife and I have collectively driven two MkV chassis vehicles. I won't be putting the Pilot Sport's back under the MkV.

(My daily driver MkIV wagon is running 225-45-17 ProContacts)

 

[Andrewh]

Goodyear assurance fuel max mpg went up 2 mpg and wearing well

probably would not buy these again.
they wore out after 20k miles with an 80k mile warranty.

I put a set on the wifes car and they had to replace those because they were balding in patches.

not a tire wear issue. it would have tread then bald tread then bald in area's along the edge. never seen that before. more than 1.

even with them footing the bill for the tread remaining, I could have bought 4 new tires of a cheaper brand for the amount I was charged to replace them after the prorating.

 

[2010 Jetta TDI]

I put on Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus and love them. 70k mile warranty. First trip with them on was to Northern Vermont and they handled great in the snow. Had them on now 14 months and the have hardly warn down. Very quiet.

 

[StevesTDI]

Ok so went with the General Tire Altimax RT43, got therm for 96.00 a tire and used my VW card as I bought them at the stealership. I was debating between them and the Purecontacts which were 115.00 a tire. I've had them on for a few weeks now and they are great in the rain. I live in Oregon so it rains just a little. They are quieter than my Tiger Paws, and feel nice and grippy. They have a 75,000 mile warranty so we will see how long they last. A appreciate everyone's input. My wife's rig is due for new tires prob this summer, will prob have her get the Purecontacts and see how they fair, oh and her 500 VW card will go for that purchase.