So the time came to change the front tyres on my TSI VRS. It's now done 14k although I'd guess the tyres have done 9k due to me running winters as well.

Ordered some Goodyear eagle F1s from etyres as I've used both the tyres and the fitters before.

So the guy came and changed them two Saturdays ago and all looked good other than the rim protection on them isn't as good as the contisport 2s. I pop out to drop the wife off get back ans crack on with detailing a friend's Porsche and notice a few hours later that one has gone completely flat!

Balls think it's just my luck I've probably picked up a nail straight away so pump it back up then notice the damage to the wheel! Gouged right through to the alloy on the very edge of the lip and so sharp you could cut yourself on it! The other wheel had paint scuffs on the lip as well.

To cut a long story short they were actually very good about it when called and the local manager came round, saw the damage, agreed it could only be done by a fitting machine then took the wheels away and got them refurbished for me at their expense. Brought them back on Saturday and as they were ever so slightly different in colour swapped the tyres so I've got the two refurbished on one side and the two original on the other and they look factory fresh again.

So just a word of warning to carefully inspect your wheels after having your tyres changed. It's pretty obvious the fitter that damaged the wheels either didn't know how to use his machine properly or just didn't care as I've used a friends fitting machine plenty of times in the past and they are designed specifically for banging tyres on and off without damaging the alloys.

Ok I'll stop rambling now!

On a side note the eagles seem to be nice and grippy compared to the old contisport 2s however they seem to be quite a bit noisier at motorway speeds... Hopefully this will reduce as they wear in

Sounds like a pain in the backside, glad you got it sorted.

I always read posts on here about tyres and interesting you seem to be the first (from memory) to think the F1's are noisier. Most people complain about the noise from the SC2's and find the switch to F1's much better [emoji2]

Also wondering, were you right down to the minimum on the thread on your old ones? I've 23k on mine and they're still good...

Yeah was livid at first but i wont tar all etyres fitters with the same brush. I can recommend pristine wheels in woburn sands for diamond cut wheel refurbs.

I've always rated eagle f1s as pretty excellent at everything although these are asymmetric 3 which are new I think. I've only used the mk3 ones on my wife's e46 (had them fitted a few months back) and that is a far quieter car to start with so hard to compare.

The sc2 were down to 2mm so well worn but I spend a lot of time driving around Milton Keynes and I do like to stretch the TSI's legs ;-)

maybe it will settle down a bit with use and I could also try putting the new tyres on the back to see how the noise compares but it should get worse on the rear I'd have thought what with the huge open cavern that is the estate boot... Or maybe it's just I've been driving the wife's car too much and I'm not used to the noisy Octavia anymore