Guess this is probably more of a question for people who have bought their VRSs in the last few months and have the Dunlop Sport Maxx blah blah blahs on them.

I have done about 4.5k in three months and am approaching the wear markers on the fronts. I know I drive the car pretty spiritiedly but in my humble opinion this isn't all that good.

What's everyone else finding on these tyres, is it just that the roads here in Worcestershire are more abrasive than elsewhere?

4.5k

Hope I get more than that!!! Else that will be £900 a year for front tyres!

Guess this is probably more of a question for people who have bought their VRSs in the last few months and have the Dunlop Sport Maxx blah blah blahs on them.

I have done about 4.5k in three months and am approaching the wear markers on the fronts. I know I drive the car pretty spiritiedly but in my humble opinion this isn't all that good.

What's everyone else finding on these tyres, is it just that the roads here in Worcestershire are more abrasive than elsewhere?

I'll check mine again when it comes back from the bodyshop tomorrow, but I do remember after 6500 miles they looked suspiciously close to the marker too. Not that I'm truly bothered as I think they're crap tyres anyway and that'll give me the excuse to get something decent on the car. I will admit, in the slightly warmer weather we've had they do grip pretty well in the dry, but still (in my opinion) crap in the wet... I don't remember the Michelins I've been using on other cars for the past few years having such a marked drop off in performance in the cold...

Can see me going back to Michelin even though everyone rates the Vreds. I had Michelins on my Saabs and my X-Type and always got 20-25K out of the fronts and they had decent all round grip, maybe not as grippy as other tyres but still pretty good. At the end of the day, I'm after an all rounder when it comes to the car and tyres as I can't afford a cruiser and a fun car...

I'll check mine again when it comes back from the bodyshop tomorrow,

Cool, shiny new bumper on the way

Very similar to my experience - I'm up to about 5500 and only a couple of mm from the wear indicators - I'll be lucky to see 7500 at this rate. Most of my driving is motorway, with an occasional burst of enthusiasm, so I'm not sure if consistent 70 mph (ish) driving results in more wear, but this is really poor. I used to have Pirellis on my previous car (A3 2.0 TDI sport), which you would think as a similar spec VAG group car would ride like the Vrs, and I routinely got 20k from them, so I won't be putting the Dunlops on come change time.

I have heard good things about Michelin life, so I might give them a try.

Has anyone got poor wear issues with other brands? Just wondering if it may be an issue with tracking or setup.

Madness!

I got 22,000 out of my fronts, and squezzed another 2,000 by putting them on the back. Also Dunlops as from factory!

I've covered nearly 8000 miles now from new and I've not noticed any premature wear (most of my driving is motorway), but it's the noise from these darn Dunlops which is bugging me. I'm getting really bad tyre roar and particularly a rhythmic whining from the back end at lower speeds - to the point where I considered taking it into the dealership and complaining of faulty wheel bearings before searching this forum and learning that it I am not alone and it was most likely the tyres. I plan on whipping the rear ones off this weekend to see if they are wearing and "feathering" on the inside, which I gather causes the noise. I'll then swap front and back and see if things improve.

Bob

--

There are quite a few threads on the subject of tyre wear and preferences so do a quick search for them however, a few comments;

Dunlops; there seems to be a pretty consistent thread of 'don't like them', 'wore out far too quickly' etc.; they seem to be ill suited to the vRS. Certainly 4,500 miles is well below expectation.

Considering alternatives, I have used both (OE fit) Michelin Pilot Exalto 2s and Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas. The Michelin's lasted longer, c. 18-20,000 miles on the front, than the Ultrac Sessantas but are more expensive. On a ££ per mile basis they came out about equal. However, the Ultracs have far superior grip in the wet and cold/damp with nowt much between them in the dry.

There are many variables with tyres, not least grip and price and far too many people IMHO choose on price before anything else. A useful reference point is EVO's Tyre Test 2007 (mentioned in previous threads) where 225/45 17 tyres were tested on a Golf GTI. Very comparable to the vRS. If anyone wants to read a copy please send me a PM.

I plan on whipping the rear ones off this weekend to see if they are wearing and "feathering" on the inside, which I gather causes the noise. I'll then swap front and back and see if things improve.

Bob

--

No need to take the wheels off; just run the palm of your hand forwards and backwards over the tread. If the tread feels smooth in both directions you're OK; if its smooth one way but rough the other, sorry you have a problem.

Rather than swapping the tyres front to back, if you want to even out the wear, you could alternatively just swap the rear tyres left & right. This will have the effect of getting them to rotate in the 'opposite direction'.

Good luck.

Just as a thought is there anyone with a Petrol car with the same problem? noticed that all so far are oil burner. mine has only done 2500 miles at the moment and cant say i have noticed any excessive wear to the tyres but i am just wondering if its the way the diesel puts the power down in comparison to the petrol? with the extra torque etc etc.

No this is not trying to turn it into a petrol vs diesel thread, both have their benefits

Just as a thought is there anyone with a Petrol car with the same problem? noticed that all so far are oil burner. mine has only done 2500 miles at the moment and cant say i have noticed any excessive wear to the tyres but i am just wondering if its the way the diesel puts the power down in comparison to the petrol? with the extra torque etc etc.

No this is not trying to turn it into a petrol vs diesel thread, both have their benefits

Mine is a petrol!

yes i saw that but you say you have about 22k out of yours and the others are saying that its about 4k miles before they are getting wear signs. Thats why i was asking if its a petrol / diesel thing

Just as a thought is there anyone with a Petrol car with the same problem? noticed that all so far are oil burner. mine has only done 2500 miles at the moment and cant say i have noticed any excessive wear to the tyres but i am just wondering if its the way the diesel puts the power down in comparison to the petrol? with the extra torque etc etc.

No this is not trying to turn it into a petrol vs diesel thread, both have their benefits

Now you have done it, wait for the Babs anti-diesel rant!

Rather than swapping the tyres front to back, if you want to even out the wear, you could alternatively just swap the rear tyres left & right. This will have the effect of getting them to rotate in the 'opposite direction'.

Good luck.

Just make sure they're not unidirectional tyres first (are we still talking Dunlops?). If they are, left-to-right swapping will reverse the direction of the tread and could make a mess of your handling.

Edited 8 April, 201016 yr by thinkblueskies

12K on mine and are fine........ Going by the wear should reach 20K no problem

I got 9000 miles out of my Dunlops and can honestly say they are the worst tyre i have ever had fitted .

My car has done 3000 miles and tyres are fine. They have good grip and inspire confidence in the wet

The tyres are the later Dunlop Sport Maxx GT

My car has done 3000 miles and tyres are fine. They have good grip and inspire confidence in the wet

The tyres are the later Dunlop Sport Maxx GT

They're the ones i have on mine and I found them absolutely shocking in the cold weather with a much worse drop off in performance than other tyres I've had in the past. I will admit, that in the warmer weather we've recently had, they've been very good in the dry, but in my opinion, no better than average in the wet. I will not be replacing them with the same tyre

The dunlops were **** couldn't wait to get off anyway, it isn't like we live in the Dry Valley in Antarctica<least rainfall on Earth> it is always raining, Get some Sessantas

No need to take the wheels off; just run the palm of your hand forwards and backwards over the tread. If the tread feels smooth in both directions you're OK; if its smooth one way but rough the other, sorry you have a problem.

Rather than swapping the tyres front to back, if you want to even out the wear, you could alternatively just swap the rear tyres left & right. This will have the effect of getting them to rotate in the 'opposite direction'.

Good luck.

Just checked the tyres as you suggested and they are badly "sawtoothed" - all four! They don't look to be unevenly worn but the leading edge of each tread section on the inside is raised to the point it almost cuts your hand when you run it anticlockwise across the tread. Problem diagnosed I guess.

There's nothing on the tyres to suggest they're directional so unless someone pipes up to the contrary before Sunday I'll do a front/back/nearside/offside swap and hopefully things will quieten down.

Thanks,

Bob

--

Just checked the tyres as you suggested and they are badly "sawtoothed" - all four! They don't look to be unevenly worn but the leading edge of each tread section on the inside is raised to the point it almost cuts your hand when you run it anticlockwise across the tread. Problem diagnosed I guess.

There's nothing on the tyres to suggest they're directional so unless someone pipes up to the contrary before Sunday I'll do a front/back/nearside/offside swap and hopefully things will quieten down.

Thanks,

Bob

--

I've just googled Dunlop SP Maxx - they are directional but SP Maxx GT are not; good luck.

I've just googled Dunlop SP Maxx - they are directional but SP Maxx GT are not; good luck.

The GTs are directional, I checked my car and also this is quoted on the dunlop site as being so.

http://www.dunlop-tires.com/dunlop_uk/I_want_new_tyres/tyre_range/passenger/summer/sp_sport_maxx_gt.jsp?OpenMode=SameWindow&car_type=passenger

Edited 9 April, 201016 yr by Harlequin

Cool, shiny new bumper on the way

Shiny new bumper paid for :( and car back on the drive where it belongs

Have checked the fronts and I'm about 1.5-2 mm from the wear marker, the backs have about 4 mm to the wear marker so on that basis, seeing as I have done 6500 miles in the beast since picking it up I'll be changing the fronts somewhere between 9-10K so probably in 6-8 weeks time I can put some decent tyres on them

I suppose I could look at swapping front to rear to get some more life out of them, but they are directional (tyres have "Outside" marked on the tyre...) so won't be swapping diagonally...

Just have to decide now, Michelins because I trust them having had them in the past or Sessantas because of the rave reviews on here...

Shiny new bumper paid for and car back on the drive where it belongs

Have checked the fronts and I'm about 1.5-2 mm from the wear marker, the backs have about 4 mm to the wear marker so on that basis, seeing as I have done 6500 miles in the beast since picking it up I'll be changing the fronts somewhere between 9-10K so probably in 6-8 weeks time I can put some decent tyres on them

I suppose I could look at swapping front to rear to get some more life out of them, but they are directional (tyres have "Outside" marked on the tyre...) so won't be swapping diagonally...

Just have to decide now, Michelins because I trust them having had them in the past or Sessantas because of the rave reviews on here...

Get the Sessantas so you can tell me if I want em when my poxy ones fall over!

I have done about 300 miles on mine so far and they are still ok !