Rubber

**fat controller** · 16-05-2010,08:14 PM

Just wondering what others opinions are regarding tyres? Its probably fair to say that we all love our cars on here, and generally take a bit more care of them than less car minded folks would. So, with that in mind, is there a preference to fit 'branded' rubber to our cars?

Or is paying for a premium brand a false economy, and do the budget brands stack up?

**phil miller** · 16-05-2010,09:47 PM

tbh its down to your own preference, so called budget tyres are as good as so called big brand tyres, imho i think kumho's are good tyres and bear in mind 6 yrs ago toyo's were a budget tyre

**fat controller** · 17-05-2010,04:04 PM

I thought Toyo were still classed as budget, to be honest

I am considering a pair of Falkens for the rear end of the Passat, as well as a four wheel alignment check, to try and cure the noise that I have around 50mph.

**Tony_Essex** · 17-05-2010,05:05 PM

I must admit to having strayed from the premium brand recently, which is most unlike me. Trying the Hankook ventus Prime K105s on my Passat, cost £96 a tyre opposed to the £150 for the michelins. They are very quiet and have low rolling resistance. Apparently they aren't supposed to corner quite as well in the wet compared to the major brands, but do stop well in the wet...so should be safe. Appear ok so far, after about 3000 miles. I do plan to change them at 3mm... so whilst they may not be quite as great as Bridgestone etc, they will be a lot safer if I change them at 3mm instead of the usual 2mm, and would still be cheaper.

Following last winter I also plan to switch to winter tyres for Nov thru March. Already have adquired some spare alloys off ebay and plan to put Dunlop Wintersport 3D tyres on them.. very highly regarded. My only concern is that using winter tyres in the UK, you are more likely to be rear ended by someone else on their slippery summer tyres...

Oh dear I am thinking about tyres too much now.....

**phil miller** · 17-05-2010,07:34 PM

Originally Posted by fat controller

I thought Toyo were still classed as budget, to be honest

I am considering a pair of Falkens for the rear end of the Passat, as well as a four wheel alignment check, to try and cure the noise that I have around 50mph.

falkens are good mate not stupid money, i take it the inner edge of the rear tyres are slightly out of shape?

**fat controller** · 17-05-2010,10:12 PM

To be honest, I am not too sure - I have what I can only describe as a 'harmonic' noise around the 45 to 55mph mark, but not all the time. The current tyres have plenty of life left in them in terms of tread (virtually new in fact), and there is no real visible wear - the only thing I can say is that if I run my hand over the tread on the outer edge anti-clockwise, it feels normal - if I then run my hand clockwise, the tread feels almost 'stepped' - as if the leading edge of the tread blocks are sitting proud.

I've read, and discussed on the Passat section about this, and see that the Passat's are a bit guilty for rear alignment issues resulting in 'sawtooth' wear; I also checked the spare the other day, and it is clearly a tyre that has been well worn on the car - and the inner shoulder is considerable more worn than the rest of the tyre, so I reckon that this confirms the alignment issue. I have the feeling that the noise I am hearing is only going to get worse as the tyres wear more - what I can't decide is my next move, do I

a) carry on regardless for now, until the tyres reach the end of their useable life (likely to be three years with the mileages I do), and then change them and have the alignment done.

b) have the alignment done now, but keep the current tyres, and hope that the uneven wear somehow balances out

c) admit defeat early, get the tyres and the alignment done as soon as I have the cash to do so.

To throw one final spanner in the works, I have noticed a couple of times when pulling out of my parking space at work (crawling speed), a noise not dissimilar to the noise I am blaming the tyres for when the steering is on full lock (so far, only noticed it on full right lock) - not sure if that is something significant, or if it could be a tyre rubbing on something (strut maybe?)

**phil miller** · 17-05-2010,10:38 PM

Originally Posted by fat controller

To be honest, I am not too sure - I have what I can only describe as a 'harmonic' noise around the 45 to 55mph mark, but not all the time. The current tyres have plenty of life left in them in terms of tread (virtually new in fact), and there is no real visible wear - the only thing I can say is that if I run my hand over the tread on the outer edge anti-clockwise, it feels normal - if I then run my hand clockwise, the tread feels almost 'stepped' - as if the leading edge of the tread blocks are sitting proud.

could be a tyre rubbing on something (strut maybe?)

we had a 55 plate passat est on the forecourt that sounded similar to have a wheel bearing gone, BOTH rear tyres had as you have a stepped edge effect on the inside edge, the tracking of all 4 wheels was spot on, we replaced both rear tyres and the noise had gone, on most newer cars with wider wheels this is a cammon problem, mainly due to the rear tyres lasting so long, if you replace both tyres the noise you hear now will be gone, all i can suggest is every 4/5000 miles swap the wheels front to rear to even up the wear of them, hope this helps mate

one other thing if you have the tracking adjusted and dont replace the tyres, the tyres will continue to wear in the same pattern as they do now

**fat controller** · 18-05-2010,07:45 PM

Originally Posted by phil miller

we had a 55 plate passat est on the forecourt that sounded similar to have a wheel bearing gone, BOTH rear tyres had as you have a stepped edge effect on the inside edge, the tracking of all 4 wheels was spot on, we replaced both rear tyres and the noise had gone, on most newer cars with wider wheels this is a cammon problem, mainly due to the rear tyres lasting so long, if you replace both tyres the noise you hear now will be gone, all i can suggest is every 4/5000 miles swap the wheels front to rear to even up the wear of them, hope this helps mate

one other thing if you have the tracking adjusted and dont replace the tyres, the tyres will continue to wear in the same pattern as they do now

Helps a lot - thank you

I'll switch the wheels over at the weekend, and take it from there.

You have also taught me something, in that the tyre wear would continue as is even if the tracking was done - thanks