Recommend Tyres: VW Passat

LilMrsDahamsta

Could I please have some recommendations for tyres for my Passat?

I like my driving and I do about 20,000 miles a year so I don't want something so soft that won't last a while. But on the other hand, my current set have had me skidding around when I put my foot down, particularly in the wet, since I got them. I'm prepared to pay a little bit extra to avoid a repeat performance. Suggestions?

Thanks!

bazz26

Have a look on here: www.camskill.co.uk

They have very prompt delivery but remember to factor in the extra cost of having them fitted. You will still save money though.

I recently bought these and they have a very good rating on most of the sites I read about them:
http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s304p6202

They are good value for money as mid range tyres go.

sundodger5

what model/year passat and what make did you fit before?

LilMrsDahamsta

It's the Mk5.5 version, 1.9L TDI (110bhp), registered in 2000.

I'm afraid it's bucketing down outside right now so I'll have to wait till the morning to check what I have at the minute.

Thanks again!

MarkR

I've a similar size car, and do a bit more mileage. My avensis has 17" alloys, and I got 4 Goodyear Eagle F1's asymetric tyres for less then 400. As above, check for local tyre fitters as well. You may as well compare prices too!

VeVeX

bazz26 wrote: »

Have a look on here: www.camskill.co.uk

They have very prompt delivery but remember to factor in the extra cost of having them fitted. You will still save money though.

I recently bought these and they have a very good rating on most of the sites I read about them:
http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s304p6202

They are good value for money as mid range tyres go.

Falken are not a tyre to buy for mileage.

If you want a tyre for a Passat that will last 20K the best options are Bridgestone ER300 or Michelin Energy Saver IMHO. The Energy Savers would be my choice if I needed a mileage tyre where outright performance wasnt needed. You should expect 25K-30K easy from these tyres provided that are maintained correctly i.e weekly pressure adjustment and rotations. Michelin also claim proven fuel savings due to this particular tyres low rolling resistance.

You will spend a little more initially but the Bridgestone or Michelin will last considerably longer.

I wouldn't base all your tyre pricing on camskill for Michelin. There are tyre company's here that will beat them on price btw when you include fitting. Also bear in mind if your looking at prices on there their euro conversion rate is never right and always make the tyres look cheaper then they actually are.

LilMrsDahamsta

VeVeX wrote: »

If you want a tyre for a Passat that will last 20K the best options are Bridgestone ER300 or Michelin Energy Saver IMHO. The Energy Savers would be my choice if I needed a mileage tyre where outright performance wasnt needed. You should expect 25K-30K easy from these tyres provided that are maintained correctly i.e weekly pressure adjustment and rotations. Michelin also claim proven fuel savings due to this particular tyres low rolling resistance.

Thanks for the recommendation. Does the lower roll resistance impact on the road holding ability of the tyre at all?

VeVeX

LilMrsDahamsta wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendation. Does the lower roll resistance impact on the road holding ability of the tyre at all?

The Bridgestone ER300 I mentioned would probably be a better road holding tyre but the Michelin's would definitely be suitable for higher mileage. When comparing this information to the tyres you have currently fitted its worth noting that either of these tyres will hold the road much better then a budget -> midrange tyre.

What tyres do you have on your car at the moment?

Heres a link to some user reviews on tyretest http://www.tyretest.com/pkw_sommerreifen/michelin/energy_saver/index.html

LilMrsDahamsta

Currently I have: Pace PC66 195/65/R15.

They're what the garage recommended at the time, and not having had any problems with previous sets I assumed they knew what they were talking about!

VeVeX

Depending on what price you got the tyres for they may have been good value at the time. As a cheap budget tyre they are one of the better options but they should still to be considered to be at the very bottom of the tyre spectrum.

A tyre like Pace would have only one pro - Price. The cons would be - road noise, poor mileage and bad road holding especially in wet conditions.

As ive mentioned either tyres above would be a massive improvement compared to tyres you have on your car at the moment. The difference between a cheap budget tyre and a premium tyre is vast.

sundodger5

When i had a the same model i used euther dunlop sp01 of firestone 700 all V speed rated (proper spec)
i drive around 85,000kms a year and they were the best all round tyres i used.
just make sure the tyres are not grey imports from the likes of brazil or indonesia.
we have a surprising number of "odd" tyres being imported and they totally different from the "genuine" article.

peltor

Use Lassa,I sell them by the truck load made by bridgestone,brillant wearing and fantastic grip price is about €85 a piece.

LilMrsDahamsta

Thanks so much for all the info folks. I think I know what I should be looking for now at least.

I'm tired of getting the run around from guys in garages who assume I drive like a girl :rolleyes: and won't notice what's between me and the road!

jawnuolis

check http://eiretyres.com all prices are included delivery few month ago buy for Laguna 4 x 205/55 R16 91V with rim protection, CN (So), Nankang, NS-2 and just 240euro maybe it’s not best tires but anyway much better then was old one skidding tyres. much more grip then was in old ones

VeVeX

sundodger5 wrote: »

When i had a the same model i used euther dunlop sp01 of firestone 700 all V speed rated (proper spec)
i drive around 85,000kms a year and they were the best all round tyres i used.
just make sure the tyres are not grey imports from the likes of brazil or indonesia.
we have a surprising number of "odd" tyres being imported and they totally different from the "genuine" article.

Firestone and Dunlop are middle of the road brands imho. Firestone is Bridgestones second tier brand. Neither of these tyres are comparable to the Bridgestones and Michelins Ive mentioned. The fact you got V rated does not mean its a good tyre it simply means its rated to 149 miles in one hour. There are cheap budget tyres the are V rated in that size too.

The originating region of a tyre is irrelevant. The only standard you should be looking for is the "E" mark. This means the tyres are for the European market. If you get a tyre from Dunlop for example that doesnt have the E mark and its made in Brazil the compounds would not be suitable for our roads and weather conditions.

Note to all - If your buying tyres and Firestone or Dunlop and just within your budget they are a good proposition over budget tyres.

peltor wrote: »

Use Lassa,I sell them by the truck load made by bridgestone,brillant wearing and fantastic grip price is about €85 a piece.

Thats a bit of a joke tbh and a typical sales pitch from someone who sells them. Lassa are an independent budget tyre made in Turkey that Bridgestone just happens to have a share in. They dont use current technology and and should be positioned just above a Chinese budget tyre. If you think they are Bridgestones and your buying them by the truck load the wools being pulled over your eyes. But im sure you know this already and obviously from your post your trying to pull the wool over others eyes.

jawnuolis wrote: »

check http://eiretyres.com all prices are included delivery few month ago buy for Laguna 4 x 205/55 R16 91V with rim protection, CN (So), Nankang, NS-2 and just 240euro maybe it’s not best tires but anyway much better then was old one skidding tyres. much more grip then was in old ones

Thats not a particularly good deal tbh. Nankang are a budget tyre and fairly crap when it comes to longevity or performance. For about another €25 euro a corner you could have a premium branded tyre like Pirelli, Goodyear or Bridgestone fitted and balanced on your car in a Dublin tyre center.

Do not discount bricks and mortar tyre dealers over internet offers immediately without pricing around first especially in Dublin. Dont be affraid to mention the genuine price you've got on the net. Sometimes the web prices on the likes of Eiretyres can be matched or beaten when you include fitting. Owners of tyre shops are more willing then ever to adjust prices to get cars in the door. Just make sure its as close as possible to like for like. You dont want a situation like above where you've got a good price on the net fror Bridgestone and your having Lassa passed off as the same. ITS NOT!




.

sundodger5

i agree with some of what vevex says particularly as he says it is his opinion.
my opinion is based on personal experience and 15 years as a manager in a tyre centre.
Michelins are good however i found (personally) that when they reach the limits of grip they just let go without warning. the other tyres mentioned give you a little "warning".
the origin of the tyre is relevant as i have loaned tyres to other tyre dealers and when they replace them i have had small variations in tread pattern even. not to mention the relative tyre wear no.s were different. so different compound.
The e mark is a fair comment but it just means they are approved in the eu.
does not mean they are any good.
vevex you seem to know what you are talking about so you understand the relevance of getting the correct speed rating

peltor

VeVeX wrote: »

Thats a bit of a joke tbh and a typical sales pitch from someone who sells them. Lassa are an independent budget tyre made in Turkey that Bridgestone just happens to have a share in. They dont use current technology and and should be positioned just above a Chinese budget tyre. If you think they are Bridgestones and your buying them by the truck load the wools being pulled over your eyes. But im sure you know this already and obviously from your post your trying to pull the wool over others eyes.



like for like. You dont want a situation like above where you've got a good price on the net fror Bridgestone and your having Lassa passed off as the same. ITS NOT!




.

Your a bad comedian Lassa are an independant company owned by the same company that have bridgestone,i am not a saleman just a country garage trying to run an honest business and giving my honest opnion based on experience and not reading something out of a sales book and not trying to pull the wool over anyones eyes !!!!!:mad: Funny how you rate the Lassa just above a chinese budget cos i have lads coming to me who had michelins under their mercs,passats running semperits etc who are astute learned people who find they get better mileage and excellent grip wet and dry,very happy with stability from Lassa Tyres for better value then similiar competiors,todays lassa are using lasts years Er300 design with their own compounds.the impetus 11,I do not try to pass them off as anything else but a first cousin that share help from bridgestone that are a better choice then premium brands if pocket are not as deep as others.
I am not afilated to any tyre brand and keep a varied brand stock but i do get a lot of good feedback on Lassa for Op looking for a good quality tyre i would recommend them which is what Op was asking.you know a lot about tyres
In future read posts completely i was not offering bridgestones and people getting lassa.:(

VeVeX

sundodger5 wrote: »

i agree with some of what vevex says particularly as he says it is his opinion.
my opinion is based on personal experience and 15 years as a manager in a tyre centre.
Michelins are good however i found (personally) that when they reach the limits of grip they just let go without warning. the other tyres mentioned give you a little "warning".
the origin of the tyre is relevant as i have loaned tyres to other tyre dealers and when they replace them i have had small variations in tread pattern even. not to mention the relative tyre wear no.s were different. so different compound.
The e mark is a fair comment but it just means they are approved in the eu.
does not mean they are any good.
vevex you seem to know what you are talking about so you understand the relevance of getting the correct speed rating

As I mentioned the Michelin Energy range wouldn't be high on the list if you wanted performance. What they are good for is high mileage due to their design. As you know normally there is a trade off - either mileage or performance. If you want a good in betweener the Bridgestone ER300 as ive mentioned is a great option in a 195/65R15.

The point I was making in regards to the irrelevance of which country a tyre has come from is - I have seen tyres that have been manufactured in China by Goodyear/Dunlop for the European market bearing the "E" mark. I have also seen the same tyre manufactured in the same country without the European certification. Both tyres look the same other then the "E" mark. Obviously there will be differences in compounds and maybe even the casing itself.

As you've said the "E" mark is an approval for use in Europe nothing more.

peltor wrote: »

Your a bad comedian Lassa are an independant company owned by the same company that have bridgestone,i am not a saleman just a country garage trying to run an honest business and giving my honest opnion based on experience and not reading something out of a sales book and not trying to pull the wool over anyones eyes !!!!!:mad: Funny how you rate the Lassa just above a chinese budget cos i have lads coming to me who had michelins under their mercs,passats running semperits etc who are astute learned people who find they get better mileage and excellent grip wet and dry,very happy with stability from Lassa Tyres for better value then similiar competiors,todays lassa are using lasts years Er300 design with their own compounds.the impetus 11,I do not try to pass them off as anything else but a first cousin that share help from bridgestone that are a better choice then premium brands if pocket are not as deep as others.
I am not afilated to any tyre brand and keep a varied brand stock but i do get a lot of good feedback on Lassa for Op looking for a good quality tyre i would recommend them which is what Op was asking.you know a lot about tyres
In future read posts completely i was not offering bridgestones and people getting lassa.:(

I wasn't trying to be funny

The point I was making here was - You posted a price and discription that implied the tyre was made by Bridgestone. The reason I suggested you were selling a Lassa as a Bridgestone is the price you quoted on the tyre size given by the OP is Bridgestone money anyway.

On Lassa - The Impetus 2 (Im presuming its 2 rather then 11) is not last years ER300 its actually the same thread pattern as Bridgestones discontinued RE720. The precursor to the ER300 was the ER30. Bridgestone is a share holder in Lassa they dont make the tyres. They have probably sold or rented the mold for that tyre to Lassa.

Bridgestone (Premium) -> Firestone (Mid range) -> Lassa (Budget)

I dont know if you ever heard of a Chinese tyre called Zeetex? They manufactured a tyre that was an exact copy, to the letter of the Dunlop Sportmaxx. They used their own compounds and casing however, that tyre handled like any other budget tyre - BAD. The thread pattern without the compounds and casing structures is not the same tyre at all.

_Kaiser_

Just a positive bit of feedback here...

I got 2 Vredestein Sportrac 3's (215 55 R16) for my 06 Passat today from MJ Tyres just outside Ashbourne (about a mile past the Statoil garage on the right heading for Slane, at the new set of lights/Ratoath turnoff) for €85 each fitted and balanced.

Tyres are a BIG improvement on the set I had before as even with the weather today, the car stuck like glue to the road, and I'll definitely be going back again for the other 2 - very nice guys to deal with

VeVeX

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Just a positive bit of feedback here...

I got 2 Vredestein Sportrac 3's (215 55 R16) for my 06 Passat today from MJ Tyres just outside Ashbourne (about a mile past the Statoil garage on the right heading for Slane, at the new set of lights/Ratoath turnoff) for €85 each fitted and balanced.

Tyres are a BIG improvement on the set I had before as even with the weather today, the car stuck like glue to the road, and I'll definitely be going back again for the other 2 - very nice guys to deal with

Excellent deal if the tyres have the correct load index for that car i.e 97 extra load.

_Kaiser_

VeVeX wrote: »

Excellent deal if the tyres have the correct load index for that car i.e 97 extra load.

Which they do 97V XL

NiSmO

This post has been deleted.

techie

Mine and my wifes car had Michelin Energy tyres, I would agree with the long lasting but the downsides are noisy and also don't expect grip in the wet , I nearly crashed twice on a roundabout with my car.

Her car now has 4 x Goodyear Optigrips , much quieter and also good grip.
Mine has 4 x Vredestein Hi-Trac's and they also are quiet and good grip.

Goodyear's bought from Camskill, Vredestein's were bought from Southern Tyres in Cork who matched online prices including fitting.

So you get what you pay for.

peltor

Sorry it just bugs me putting Lassa in with with the cheap budget black and round mostly chinese rubbish out there !:mad:

VeVeX wrote: »

The point I was making here was - You posted a price and discription that implied the tyre was made by Bridgestone. The reason I suggested you were selling a Lassa as a Bridgestone is the price you quoted on the tyre size given by the OP is Bridgestone money anyway.

This company was established in 1974 and initiated mass production in 1978 under the name of Lassa. The Company changed its name to Brisa after the establishment of a 50/50 joint venture between the Sabancı Group and the Bridgestone Corporation in 1988.

VeVeX wrote: »

Bridgestone is a share holder in Lassa they dont make the tyres. They have probably sold or rented the mold for that tyre to Lassa.

Brisa produces more than 500 different types of tires under the Lassa AND Bridgestone brand names with a range of designs, types and sizes to accommodate many different vehicles

VeVeX wrote: »

Bridgestone (Premium) -> Firestone (Mid range) -> Lassa (Budget)

Brisa expanded its presence in international markets with the Lassa brand entering new markets and building brand equity. Brisa products are marketed and sold in 55 countries, mainly in Europe.

VeVeX wrote: »

tyre handled like any other budget tyre - BAD. The thread pattern without the compounds and casing structures is not the same tyre at all.

Brisa’s state-of-the-art R&D Center works in coordination with Bridgestone’s Technical Centers in Tokyo and Rome, integrating Bridgestone technology and playing a vital role in reinforcing its competitive edge in world markets.

Brisa’s net sales revenue exceeded US$ 597 million in 2008.



They seem to have a lot more in common then you give them credit for:rolleyes:

channelsurfer

any opinions on infinity tyres? got 2 for my 05 focus a couple of months ago and they seem ok. I am debating whether to get 2 more in october or go with hankook or bridgestone????

patzer

No Expert but I have a 2001 Passat TDI (130) and have Uniroyal 550 fitted. I have to say that they are a right good tyre in the wet (when is it not wet in this country:rolleyes:) and wear very well. I do about 30k miles a year and whiel a fair amount of it is up and down the N11, I have to say that these are a decent tyre. Not too much road noise and they haven't had much of an impact on MPG either.

Got a pair replaced last year in Gorey for €85 each fitted and balanced (205/55/15)

Something else to think about then??????

Third_Echelon

Hi all,

Sorry for hijacking the thread...

I have a 2006 Ford Focus, 3 door, 1.6 Zetec, (~100 BHP i think).

Looks like I need to replace my tyres. They are the same tyres that were on it when I bought it 18 months ago. It was 18 months old when I got it.

On the front It has:

GT Radial Champiro 205/55 R16 91V (Seem like a cheap indonesian brand??). Manufactured 2007 (end of year). Tread looks ok on them.

On the back I have:

Michelin Pilot Primacy 205/55 R16 91V. Manufactured (2005 end of year. look like they were on it coming out of the garage brand new).

I definitely need to replace the back michelins. Is it a good idea to replace all 4? The front GT radials look ok.

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a good 4 season tyre. I was looking on fastfit.ie at pirelli p6, but i think this might be going overboard as they seem to be for performance cars.

eiretyres.com seems to have nicer price on them.

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=50383337.124.22800&typ=R-126952&ranzahl=4&Breite=205&Quer=55&Felge=16&Speed=V&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=15&Transport=P&dsco=124&sowigan=GAN

Basically I'm looking for tyres that have good grip in the wet, comfy ride and low noise..

Thanks..

bazz26

Have a look at www.camskill.co.uk. Just remember to factor in the extra cost of having them fitted and balanced once they are delivered. Then give your local tyre centres a ring and see what price they can do the same tyres for.

tom ford

i purchased 4 bridgestone tyres for a saab 9/5 from a dealer in galway. A few wks later i noticed they were lassa tyres and not bridgestone as requested and quoted. Is this deceipt,and have i any redress

Neilw

tom ford wrote: »

i purchased 4 bridgestone tyres for a saab 9/5 from a dealer in galway. A few wks later i noticed they were lassa tyres and not bridgestone as requested and quoted. Is this deceipt,and have i any redress

Did your invoice say Bridgestone tyres on it? How much did you pay?
I doubt you've any comeback after a few weeks, you should have checked what they fitted before you left.

The tyre fitter probably spun you a yarn saying they are made by Bridgestone, lassa would be budget ditch finders.

Oh yeah, ibtl.

The Real B-man

I Swear by Semperit Speed lifes using them the past 5/6 years on various cars, They are owned by Contenential and i have Done 25k & Rotation on my Current Car (Leon Tdi) and dont expect to change them until January Nearly 2yrs

creedp

MarkR wrote: »

I've a similar size car, and do a bit more mileage. My avensis has 17" alloys, and I got 4 Goodyear Eagle F1's asymetric tyres for less then 400. As above, check for local tyre fitters as well. You may as well compare prices too!

I would be someone who would like to fit premium tyre brands where possible but in my case 225/50/17 premium tyres cost upwards of €200 a corner even online so I normally end up with Kumhos or most recently Hankooks at €150 a corner approx. Given that the car eats through a front set at 15k miles I find it difficult to shell out for the premium brands at present.

I'm aware this tyre size is expensive so would I be better off going for a different tyre size which would be cheaper thereby allowing me to opt for a more premium brand? Would a narrower tyre make the allows more susceptible to damage .. they are already damaged enough!

Ronnie Beck

creedp wrote: »

I would be someone who would like to fit premium tyre brands where possible but in my case 225/50/17 premium tyres cost upwards of €200 a corner even online so I normally end up with Kumhos or most recently Hankooks at €150 a corner approx. Given that the car eats through a front set at 15k miles I find it difficult to shell out for the premium brands at present.

I'm aware this tyre size is expensive so would I be better off going for a different tyre size which would be cheaper thereby allowing me to opt for a more premium brand? Would a narrower tyre make the allows more susceptible to damage .. they are already damaged enough!

Hankook are more or less a premium tyre. Try a set of sunny's if you want to know what a bad tire feels like :P.
It depends on the size of your alloys on how small a tyre you can fit. Your alloy will have something like 17 x 8 on it, meaning it's 8 iches wide. To narrow a tyre and you'll end up with the stretched look exposing the rim of the alloy completely to the kerb.

GTE

I drive a Golf 90 hp TDI so a similar enough car to the OPs.

I have Hankook H730s (Optimo 4s). They are all season tyres and have done me very very well over all weather conditions, hot and cold. Without getting into the Summer vs Winter debate, if you want a good all round tyre that will cope in the weather conditions that Ireland throws at you, then I would consider these.

Over the years, I just don't think about them anymore as I know how well they cope in all conditions. Different story with my family members cars who have budget to midrange Summer tyres, scary when wet and very scary when cold and wet.

I first got them in the middle of the heavy snow of a few years ago and in my excitment I decided to drive into a big pile of snow, about wheel arch height. Realised my excitment made me do something stupid but low and behold, the tyres got me out of it. Previously, I couldnt get past 10 mph on my Cooper Zeon tyres. I guess it's nice to know that I am not badly equipped even in the rare weather occasions we get =D

That said, we dont get crazy snow often but there was a period where I was on "regular" tyres on the front while I was in between a new set of those Hankooks. On dry but cold roads, I did some informal testing and the regulars had the ABS on very quickly while the all seasons didnt get a peep of ABS. Dont worry, huge stretch of wide N road with no one about and stopping from 30mph, just incase I get questioned about it =P

Sadly, I drove over something that punctured a front tyre recently and I have a budget one on there which will soon be a spare but that tyre is spinning up like its on an icerink when it gets colder.

The Cooper Zeons I mentioned were great in the Summer, very grippy but high wear and rubbish in the cold. The Hankook H730 is also great in the wet.

Someday

Handkook are a very good mid range tyre

creedp

@Ronnie Beck

Will check my alloy's to see what size they are but I don't think I want to go for the look in your post:pac:. Given that a couple of people have expressed the view that Hankooks are a reasonable tyre maybe I should just stick with 225s rather than risking further alloy damage. As for winter tyres I already have winter Hankooks (215/55/16) on a set of steels in case of snow - house is inaccessible on summer tyres with snow - I got these on Eiretyres and the 215s plus steels were same price as 225s.

vectra

Hankook.

_Kaiser_

I had Hankook all-season 4s tyres on the Passat previously and found them great. Lasted through the winter and well into the spring/early summer last year

The A6 has 2 Vredestein and 2 Goodyear's on it at the moment which are grand but I'm still thinking about downsizing as the 18"/low-profile thing really doesn't work on crappy Irish roads.
Is there much of a difference in that regard between 18s and 17s, or would I need to go back to 16s?

vectra

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I had Hankook all-season 4s tyres on the Passat previously and found them great. Lasted through the winter and well into the spring/early summer last year

The A6 has 2 Vredestein and 2 Goodyear's on it at the moment which are grand but I'm still thinking about downsizing as the 18"/low-profile thing really doesn't work on crappy Irish roads.
Is there much of a difference in that regard between 18s and 17s, or would I need to go back to 16s?

I had 17's on my white vRS
18's on the red one and my current one.
I can see/feel/hear no difference to be honest.

ardmacha

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a good 4 season tyre.

I put the Bridgestone A001 on my Focus
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056892943

After I posted in March, I was in Belfast in the March snows and the tyres certainly performed better than the Turanzas used previously. Otherwise I haven't noticed much difference, although in warm dry conditions the Turanza should be better. But I figure I'll get stopped in such conditions anyway, wet and snow is more important.

GTE

ardmacha wrote: »

I put the Bridgestone A001 on my Focus
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056892943

After I posted in March, I was in Belfast in the March snows and the tyres certainly performed better than the Turanzas used previously. Otherwise I haven't noticed much difference, although in warm dry conditions the Turanza should be better. But I figure I'll get stopped in such conditions anyway, wet and snow is more important.

I might try those next. I was going to try out the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons but the A001 looks like they have better wet performance than the Vectors and Hankook Optimos. Though, that is with the loss of snow performance. I would probably prefer outright cold wet and dry performance over snow.