So after posting in various older tyre threads going back to 2017, I ended up sticking with the OEM Pirelli P Zeros until they were getting down to the wear indicators and starting to feel pretty dodgy (even more so than usual!) as well as only just scraping through the WOF.

 

I finally replaced the whole set a week or so ago after 37000kms (pretty good lifespan I guess) and boy do I wish I had done it sooner.

 

The Goodyears are (as many on the forums have said) much more supple, quiet and comfortable and the grip under acceleration is just light years ahead of the OEMs - in fact it has all but eliminated the irritating wheel hop/banging on a hard launch in the dry - I only hope they prove as good in the wet!

 

Lateral/cornering grip and feel seems on a par with the Pirellis (they always performed well here IMO) which I am happy with.

 

The only thing I am not overjoyed with is paying the usual mark-up here in New Zealand compared to UK, US and Australia. I actually got a "good" price and it still cost me NZ$1600 for the full set (inclusive of fit/alignment etc) which is around 800 quid. :(

 

Anyways - just thought I would add my voice to the other recommendations here on the forum for the Goodyears - they seem a great fit for the VRS Wagon IMHO. I guess time will tell how they wear, but to be honest I will take a faster wearing tyre in exchange for this kind of performance - those OEM Pirellis really were rubbish.

Edited 2 February, 20197 yr by Item

I completely agree. Except I take exception at the pirelli abuse, here in the uk we get concrete bridgestones as standard on the VRS. I have biught 2 VRS's 3 years apart and got the same god awful noisy slippery kids plastic toy tyres both times. Theres progress, a manufacturer selling their 'sport' model with tyres from the early 00's. So count yourself lucky.

 

Last time out I got rid of them on the front after they dissolved inless than 12k (I'd have thought no grip = long life) and then I got a nail in one of the rears and replaced them with the goodyears you mentioned. So Ive driven bridgestones to goodyears and then back to bridegestones back to back and I completely agree with you. Better grip, quieter and generally a happier life.

 

I just need to be able to justify throwing away 4 brand new tyres and replace them.

You reckon there is any truth to the theory that the OEM versions of the Pirelli & Bridgestone etc are "lesser" versions of the normal "on-shelf" models? They always seem to review and rate well, they are certainly priced in the premium bracket and yet no-one on here seems to like either of them on their VRS!

 

I had the same sort of issue with you - they always seemed so hard and almost waxy. They turned in, held corner traction and wore "Ok" I guess, but they were just dismal for any kind of an enthusiastic start even in perfect conditions - and even worse in the wet... 

Edited 3 February, 20197 yr by Item

I just find them to be incredibly noisy and unresponsive. I wouldnt recommend them to anyone and I can only think that bridgestone are pulling a fast one with their pricing. It would make sense to sell thousands of tyres to skoda at a cheap rate then put them on general sale at a marked up price hoping people will just go OEM fitment when they wear out.

 

My cars just over a month old and Im trying to justify swapping all 4 tyres out. Thats got to be a bad sign.

I'll have to wait a while to get my OEM Bridgestones' back, as I'm now on my winters for a couple of months or so, but I'll see what I make of them when I get them back.

 

If I don't like them when I get my spring/summer wheels back on, then I'll change them to either GYEF1AS3 or Mich PS4s.

We currently have a Polo GTI hire car while waiting for SWMBOs TT to go in to the bodyshop.

It has Bridgestones on too and they completely ruin the car. The engine is very quite on the move and all you can hear is tyre noise. It's so bad that you can't hear the stereo, mind you that isn't particularly good quality either.