quiet tyres

[skyeman]

[quote=VWTDIMAN;10173]Hi TT and many thanks for all your excellent comments which I will take on board. It does seem that poor Kwik Fit do get a raw deal. I am wondering where one would do better to get tyres fitted - or is this obvious to eveyone but me? Presumably a VW specialist i.e. not a main dealer.

Have you tried using the world wide interweb search engines to find tyre suppliers???

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Think Mr Farmer bought them back, he sold it to Fors for a very substantial fortune, they managed it into the ground then he bought it back for pennies!

Stands corrected - permission to sit down again Sir.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Hi TT and many thanks for all your excellent comments which I will take on board. It does seem that poor Kwik Fit do get a raw deal.

Your earlier comments about "Kwik-Fit" and "tracking" in the same sentance will be a-ringing alarm bells a-plenty. If I recall correctly, Kwik-Fit were prosecuted by Trading Standards some years back for carrying out un-necessary work - leopards and spots ker-ching in my head (makes a change from the voices I suppose).

I would love to see a Kwik-Fit training manual - probably goes somthing like this: step1, do they have any mechanical qualifications or experience? - No - tick. Step2, can they read the three latest issues of MaxPower? - Yes - tick.

Two above ticks and they are hired - if they can read the above, as well as FastFord/FastVauxhall/Banzai (delete as appropriate), then they can become branch manager!!!!

I am wondering where one would do better to get tyres fitted - or is this obvious to eveyone but me? Presumably a VW specialist i.e. not a main dealer.

For absolute peace of mind - humph, I suppose the main dealer would be the easy answer, but still not the best. I don't think a VW independent would be a good choice for tyres, because of the specialist kit, such as wheel balancers.

It's really quite difficult to categorically state who to use - it's much easier with who to avoid - those who repeatedly get bad press / appear on Watchdog / get slated on internet fourms. Unless you are a regular visitor to tyre places, the best advice is to ask for recommendations in your local area, then actually go along to the place and speak to someone (but say you are looking for tyres in about a months time or so). If they are pushy, or seem lazy, then walk away.

Also, don't be fooled by the back street garage look vs the spick and span shiny outfit with fifteen different herbal teas at the coffee machine. One of my local preferred tyre suppliers certainly comes into the first category!

By the way TT - Do you know of any oil issues with the latest TDi engines as I have checked levels and they are low. Oil prices are sky high for these cars i.e. 13.99-a-litre. Give me some feedback on this.

What year / spec / mileage? All VAG TDIs are known to use oil, particularly if they were "nannied" whilst being run-in. Don't forget also, if yours is a PD (Pumpe Duse, or unit injector), they are absolutely stringent about the oil they use - either 505.01 for fixed interval servicing, or 506.01 for variable interval LongLife servicing - nothing else will do. Do a search on my username, and look for a very detailed comment on oil labelling.

Best regards

VWTDIMAN (still 48). Incidentally, you don't mention your age?

Eight less than you - LOL

[Teutonic_Tamer]

My 2 peneth worth so here goes...

I’m having continental sport fitted on the front of my 1.8T sport estate in the morning this was based on price and the fact that they seem a good all rounder, so will have to see how it goes.

If they are the SportContact2, then I'm sure you will be happy with them.

As for Michelin tyres, ive had them on cars before and cant wait to get rid of them, I find that the tend to pull your car about EG when there’s a crack in the road or your on the white line or overtaking crossing the white line, I think they call this "tram lining" either way I would never choose to have any Michelin tyres.

You do surprise me with you Michelin comments. Can you remember what type they were?

Regarding tramlining; a number of issues can cause it, including poor tyres. A major cause of tramlineing though is caused by underinflation - even if your tyres are at the recommended pressure, they may still cause it. The key word regarding tyre pressures is "recommended" - exactly as it says on the tin - experiment with the pressures, usually by pumping up by 4-6psi (but not downwards - not a good idea), and seeing if it makes any difference.

All too often I see people with premature wear on the tyres (mainly fronts), and they tell me the pressures are correct - I have to advise them that driving styles can be different from one person to another, an so can tyre pressures. Two examples; first my father, he wears both outer shoulders on both front tyres - he did this on his last two MB A classes, and also on his C-Max. Same spiel about proper pressures and being a gentle OAP driver - I then watch him twirl the steering wheel from lock to lock whilst stationary when he parks. Up the PSI in the front by 6 - much less wear on the outer edges. Second example, my B6 S4, the sticker quotes 39psi for fronts, I too was getting both outer edges worn on the fronts, along with tramlineing under heavy braking - upped the pressure to 46psi - no tramlineing & no edge wear. This happened with the original ContiSportContact2s and also with the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s which I fitted (which are way better than the Contis).

I’ve had loads of Firestones and find there a good tyre for the way I drive which is quite harsh and I do expect a lot from tyres! lol

Historically, Firestones were quite good with their performance tyres. I used to run them (very hard) on a Fiat SuperMirafiori, and they did me proud. Since they were taken over by Bridgestone a few years back, Firestones are generally seen as their budget, low performance range, whereas Bridgestone are marketed as their high performance premium brand.

Yokohama

tyres, great grip when warm and in the dry but don’t last 5 mins!

I can sort of half agree with you - Yokohama are OK, but not great when it is very dry and warm. When it is wet, they are downright dangerous - I know from sphincter relaxing experiences with two different types of Yokos - never again!!!1

[con8280]

I agree... stay well clear of pirelli p6000's!!!!
Ive found the eagle f1s are great...for grip esp in wet...but they r soft and wear quickly.
We run eagle nct-5's on our work cars..and they get thrashed 24/7.
They a good all round tyre...if not a little hard..but give good grip and last longer than the f1's.
I run dunlop sp-01s now on my quattro- again great tyre...just a little on the soft side....must be my driving style huh?

[VWTDIMAN]

Hi again TT

Car is MKV 2004 2.0 Tdi Sport. The oil seems horrendously expensive at 13.99 for a litre for the spec that you mention; you know your stuff eh? Did you work at the VW factory then? Anyhow, topped up with half-a-litre and, according to the nice chaps at Halfords, most high performance Audis (2003-on) and VWs (2003-on) do like to burn the oil.

Thanks so much for your assistance. Oh, just one other thingy.....thinking og upgrading to a 170 BHP GT diesel. What are your thoughts on this car.....it appears to be around the 20k mark.

I wasn't born in Truro by the way.....born in Richmond, Surrey. Only 40 eh? Then life begins for you! LOL -))

[passat1.8T]

This is quite a tale so here goes...

After seeing my bald front tyres i had to get new ones, the day before i went for them the Brake Pad wear light came on too,

I went to a local tyre place in Telford "Chase Tyres" as i had ordered some continental Conti Premium sport Contact, They told me the tracking was out and this had caused the uneven tyre wear (inner shoulders) they then said that the front pads where fine but the back were shot, and there rear tyres were on the limit too!
So they ordered another set of tyres and some rear pads for the next day.
That eve i find out that theres not wear sensor on the rear pads!

So Friday i go back for Rear Tyres, Tracking and pads!
but they were messing me about and sat drinking tea etc while i was skiving off work to get the car done, and when spending over £400 quid you dont expect to sit waiting for them to mess about so after 20 mins i drove off!
Went to another tyre centre who checked the tracking FREE of charge and it was spot on so did not need tracking, also they said there wear on the rear tyres was down to the fact that i never check the tyre pressure and infact ive had the car since may and only put air in once lol
Unfortunatley they could not supply rear tyres at a decent price so i left and wwent back to work.
I then just for a laugh rang kwik Fit, i told them the story and they said they would match the tyre price and have 2 in stock, They ask if i needed tracking done but i said it was checked and fine.
So this morn i went to the local Kwik Fit and turns out they did not have the same tyres but gave me Continental Premium Sport Contact 2 And at the they still kept to the price quoted.
As for the pads there all fine all round so must be a broken wire on the front pads, happened the day i was driving on flooded roads in the corner of shropshire.
For the First time ever i had great service from Kwik Fit at the best price locally !