New Tyres needed

[rehmondo]

So I've done 19k miles and the front 2 tyres need replacing very soon, I can't really afford the Dunlop SP01's that are on it, so I was looking at Avon ZZ3 which I can get £87 inc Vat and get a local garage to fit them hopefully for free.

So looking to order the 235/40 R18's, can anyone tell me what the diff is between 225 and 235 width, is lower the number wider the tyre? And if I went for 225/40 R18's will they fit my car as they are £25 cheaper per tyre if I go for Falken FK452's - as at the price for the Falkens I could replace all 4.

So just looking for some advice and help regarding this.

Thanks in advance

[Spiney]

Lower numbers mean smaller tyres. This is the width in mm.

I had Avon ZZ3's on the back of a Passat a while back and did not rate them. Seemed grippy enough but had a very strange initial oversteer when entering a bend before everthing stabalised. Very odd feeling. I also thought the rolling resistance was high as fuel consumption increased quite significantly.

[rehmondo]

Lower numbers mean smaller tyres. This is the width in mm.

Thanks man someone was telling me porkies then lol

Found this site....

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s322p0

What would you recommend, I only want to spend around £120 per tyre tbh

*I'm probably leaning towards the Falken's at £82 a tyre but I had heard good things about the Avon ZZ3's

[Spiney]

I'm no expert I'm afraid but when mine need changing I'll either stay with the P Zero's that mine has or might opt for a good directional although there's not much choice in that market. Given the amout of water we drive through I'm a huge fan of directional tyres.

I'd certainly not skimp though. No point in having a 20K+ car and skimping on what holds it to the road!

[Richard A]

I'd certainly not skimp though. No point in have a 20K+ car and skimping on what holds it to the road!

I totally agree, tyres are mega-important. It's not just a safety thing, if you've spent so much on one of the best handling FWD chassis around, it's best not to lose out on driving pleasure by running sub-optimal rubber.

[stevieboy]

A word of warning! Tyres should be kept to at least the minimum spec that the vehicle was supplied with. If you had a bad accident and the car was an insurance loss or worse still someone got killed, the insurance or accident investigator would check for this. If you had a lesser spec tyre, either size or rating, your arse would be hanging right out of the window.

As said, don't skimp, it just ain't worth it!

[ZephyR]

Some good advice there from the last 3 posts. Completely agree

[ashley1407]

A word of warning! Tyres should be kept to at least the minimum spec that the vehicle was supplied with. If you had a bad accident and the car was an insurance loss or worse still someone got killed, the insurance or accident investigator would check for this. If you had a lesser spec tyre, either size or rating, your arse would be hanging right out of the window.

As said, don't skimp, it just ain't worth it!

I never knew this, although I can't say I'm surprised. Good advice

[robmx]

Yep, it's a very good idea to mention any changes like tyre and wheel size to your insurance company for that very reason. Any changes they don't know about will lead to large amounts sphyncter damage if you have an accident where you could be at fault.

[rehmondo]

Any changes they don't know about will lead to large amounts sphyncter damage if you have an accident where you could be at fault.

With that said I'll just stick to the Dunlop SP 01's that came with the car

[Andy-GTI]

Any changes they don't know about will lead to large amounts sphyncter damage if you have an accident where you could be at fault.

With that said I'll just stick to the Dunlop SP 01's that came with the car

You can fit any tyre you like to the car.

You DO NOT have to stick with what was fitted at factory.

I certainly would ditch the factory stuff and fit better tyres as soon as they needed changing.

[Spiney]

Andy, I think what robmx was referring to was changing the size of the tyres, not the make of them.

[maisbitt]

You might get into trouble with your insurance if you don't go for a "93" load rating or higher on 18" wheels for the Scirocco (91 for 19" - shorter tyre wall not needed to be as rigid) - this is the VW spec for the car and you should equal or exceed it. Avons are 91 rated - not in spec for the 18", The Dunlop SP01's are 95 rated - they are classed as "reinforced". The Dunlops also have a generous lip on them - handy for avoiding rim scuff on your alloys. If you shop about, you can get the Dunlops for about £120 supplied, or £137 fully fitted, per tyre, maybe more than you wanted to pay, but as the only bit of your car in contact with the road, a pretty important component that I wouldn't skimp on.

You might save money going for a lesser speed rated tyre though - the Dunlop SP01's are "Y" rated, making them tested to use at 186mph - way more than any Scirocco is capable of. "V" speed rating (~156mph) is more than adequate for all except maybe the "R". As a minimum then, you need 18" 235/40, 93 V spec for the tyres to not give your insurance a "get out of jail free" card when it comes to settling a claim.

A cheap tyre might wear down a lot quicker too - false economy.

Rehmondo - why would a local garage fit tyres you bought elsewhere, for free?

so I was looking at Avon ZZ3 which I can get £87 inc Vat and get a local garage to fit them hopefully for free

Would you say "yes" to a stranger who knocked on your door and asked to use your washing machine, just because you have the facilities? They've got to balance them and put a new valve on, expect to pay £12 - £17 for each tyre.

[stevieboy]

You might save money going for a lesser speed rated tyre though - the Dunlop SP01's are "Y" rated, making them tested to use at 186mph - way more than any Scirocco is capable of. "V" speed rating (~156mph) is more than adequate for all except maybe the "R". As a minimum then, you need 18" 235/40, 93 V spec for the tyres to not give your insurance a "get out of jail free" card when it comes to settling a claim.

On soap box.

This is nonsense. This is the first thing an investigator will look at. Sure the car won't do 186mph but the point remains you are fitting a lesser spec tyre than the car was supplied with. An insurance company will not give a 'get out of jail card' for anything, in fact exactly the opposite will apply. They will use ANY excuse NOT to pay out. So the question is, do you wish to lose £20+K of car after a total loss but remain happy in the knowledge that you saved £80 on four tyres?

The monetary issue is, of course, the lesser one. If you left the road and killed a couple of kiddies on the footpath (or indeed your own in the car) following a blowout to a 'cheap' tyre, could you live with the consequences? the criminal charges? the civil actions? ...........?

Yes I know we all put ourselves at risk as soon as we sit behind the wheel and most of us increase that risk by driving over the legal speed limit. Surely any sensible owner would wish to reduce the risk as much as possible?

By the way, I work for one of the worlds largest insurance companies and, no I don't sit behind a desk and answer a phone........

Off soap box.

[rehmondo]

Rehmondo - why would a local garage fit tyres you bought elsewhere, for free?

We have family businesses of our own in the area, one in particular is an Indian takeaway we've had for 26 years, and a lot of our customers work in garages or own garages, they just can't meet internet prices sometimes that's all.

Would you say "yes" to a stranger who knocked on your door and asked to use your washing machine, just because you have the facilities? They've got to balance them and put a new valve on, expect to pay £12 - £17 for each tyre.

They do us favours all the time, likewise we do the same for them when they come order food from us

I got the front windows tinted (to match the rears), wing mirrors painted black in a similar cost effective fashion, treat people the way to would like to be treated is what I say.

I just don't know anyone that works for Dunlop, Pirelli or Michelin

[Nobby]

There is a tyre selector on the Michelin web site which will tell you what sizes & ratings are homologated for your car including snow tyres (these specs doesn't just apply to Michelin tyres obviously)

As the others have said, make sure you keep within these specs for insurance reasons

http://www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/Af ... &Langue=EN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Once again, as others have said, your tyres are your contact with the road, so not somewhere I would be skimping !

It's amazing how a set of tyres can transform a car, for better or for worse !

Out of interest, a work coleague of mine ordered some tyres from Camskill for delivery to France & they arrived just fine

Hope this helps

[rehmondo]

Out of interest, a work coleague of mine ordered some tyres from Camskill for delivery to France & they arrived just fine

Hope this helps

Thanks

[wigit]

you can get cheap michelins from costco if you are a member, the dunlops and pirellis wouldnt be my tyre of choice

[rehmondo]

I've been trying to call them all week, but no one seems to answer the phone lol

[Nobby]

You're welcome

treat people the way to would like to be treated is what I say.

I just don't know anyone that works for Dunlop, Pirelli or Michelin

I work 50 yards from a Michelin factory but I'm afraid they make the giant tyres for earth moving machines