What Tyres?

[Astonm]

So I think (hope) I have identified my "Droning" noise and I believe its the rear tyres which have worn on inner edges (Thanks to Quatrelle for his help)

Now the question is what is the best tyre to change to? I currently have Continental Sport Contact 2 on and as I have only had the car 2 weeks I'm not in a position to rate them although they seem to be performing OK to me.

Has anyone got any views? the fronts are the same but they are brand new

[BenR]

Find a GOOD independent local tyre specialist - not "yer can't get thicker than a Quickfit fitter" or others of that ilk.

[Quatrelle]

Astonm - BenR is spot on - I read recently that a lot of these national outlets are linked to tyre makers, so you won't necessarily get unbiased advice.

I think there are as many opinions as there are tyres. For the past 20 years I've only ever used Michelins (on Renaults, and for mileage), but I always found that they needed running at slightly higher pressures on the front to even out the wear across the tyre. The Passat was supplied with Bridgestones, but when I eventually change I will probably get the quietest - so that will be a future question on here.

Wear on the inner edges suggests camber and/or alignment problems (someone will now say I'm suggesting the blindingly obvious!) as opposed to overloading the rear. I've never noticed a Passat with full rear load to see how the suspension compresses. Many moons ago, cars with independent rear suspension would squat at the back on full load, tops of the wheels tilted inwards, but, if my memory serves, the Passat has a trailing arm with a total of four locating links so should stay fairly upright under load. (If I am wrong on this will somebody please shoot me down.) Rears should last between 30 and 40,000 miles.

Is your Passat fitted with tyre pressure sensors? Mine's not, and I personally wouldn't rely on them until I'd tested them over time against a good quality pressure gauge. I try to remember to check mine at least every week.