Taken delivery of a 2024 VRS about 6 months ago now. 
 

Finding the grip on the front end to be pretty terrible, to the point that I feel I can’t really “drive it” properly. Anything other than dead straight, perfectly dry, and it breaks if I do anything other than really gently mouse the throttle. Not sure if was spoilt before coming from an A4 3.0TDI Quattro, which never broke free, or a Volvo V60, which had so much weight on the wheels, but it’s somewhat limiting my enjoyment at the moment. 
 

Has anyone had significant luck changing the stock Bridgestone Potenza tyres for something grippier?

At what temperature ?

 

The factory fits tyres that are not designed for cold weather, they are designed to give good WLTP emissions rating (at test temperature which is nearer +23c) and good performance when driving in warmer months.

 

These sort of tyres don't deal well with cold rain and cold damp days.  The solution is to fit winter tyres (or good all season tyres).   If you don't believe me I could spin the factory tyres pulling out of side turnings on cold damp days (and mine is only a 1 litre DSG).  I now use winter tyres from about end Oct to April and the factory wheels and tyres Apr-Oct.   Never been able to spin them since.

 

A TDI engine is lot heavier, than tsi, so not lot of deadweight to assist any poor grip.  

Edited 29 January, 20251 yr by SurreyJohn

My vRS came with Goodyear Eagle F1's as stock and while they were fine for warmer weather, they weren't good for the cold. Did less than 1500 miles on the F1's before I swapped them out for Bridgestone Turanza 6's a couple of months ago, which I aim to keep on all year round. No complaints so far.

9 hours ago, bdavbdav said:

Taken delivery of a 2024 VRS about 6 months ago now. 
 

Finding the grip on the front end to be pretty terrible, to the point that I feel I can’t really “drive it” properly. Anything other than dead straight, perfectly dry, and it breaks if I do anything other than really gently mouse the throttle. Not sure if was spoilt before coming from an A4 3.0TDI Quattro, which never broke free, or a Volvo V60, which had so much weight on the wheels, but it’s somewhat limiting my enjoyment at the moment. 
 

Has anyone had significant luck changing the stock Bridgestone Potenza tyres for something grippier?

How's the grip during braking?

Fine during braking. It’s largely (as another poster mentioned) turning while pulling away. 
 

What are the best sensible AS tyres I can put on it for grip?

All season tyre suggestions (any of the following, and in practice price and availability in required size might help you choose)

 

Bridgestone Turanza all season 6

Continental all season contact 2

Michelin cross climate 2

Pirelli Cinturato all season SF3

 

there is also (been around for a while now)

Goodyear vector 4 season gen 3

 

Other

Hankook kinergy 4S2.  (there is a new one Ion flex climate, but don't know anything about it)

Falken Euro all season AS220

Vredestein Quatrac   (Or older Quatrac pro plus)

 

Many thanks for the list @SurreyJohn- will check these out, and stick the Bridgestones on the shelf for now!

 

Is it a 4 corner job or are the Bridgestones ok on the rears?

For summer tires my prefference is Michelin Pilot Sport. Good grip and precision relentless if 4/4s or 5/5s. S versions ofcource are with max track capabilities but 4/5 work just great as allarounder for my needs.

Always found that Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5's tyres very good for grip, in the wet & cold, pretty good for road noise too.

 

Not cheap but good and if you use some of the online retailers you can get some good deals and if you use a cashback site (TopCashBack or Quidco) you get a nice chunk of change back.

I've found that once the stock Goodyear are worn a bit, the grip is terrible. Without even trying, I was getting wheelspin on wet/damp roads.

These cars really have terrible traction control on 1st and 2nd gears, imo. No matter the tires, one should be very gentle with gas pedal when start moving. Also I had problem with shocks and that made car more wobbly and unstable, which felt at times like there's no grip. Apart of that, I find stability and handling to be very well.

 

7 hours ago, Longship said:

My vRS came with Goodyear Eagle F1's as stock and while they were fine for warmer weather, they weren't good for the cold. Did less than 1500 miles on the F1's before I swapped them out for Bridgestone Turanza 6's a couple of months ago, which I aim to keep on all year round. No complaints so far.

I have exactly the same experience. Terrible on stock Eagle F1, great on Turanza 6. Turanza is quieter as well. But this is very divisive topic here, many would claim exactly the opposite.

18 hours ago, bdavbdav said:

Taken delivery of a 2024 VRS about 6 months ago now. 
 

Finding the grip on the front end to be pretty terrible, to the point that I feel I can’t really “drive it” properly. Anything other than dead straight, perfectly dry, and it breaks if I do anything other than really gently mouse the throttle. Not sure if was spoilt before coming from an A4 3.0TDI Quattro, which never broke free, or a Volvo V60, which had so much weight on the wheels, but it’s somewhat limiting my enjoyment at the moment. 
 

Has anyone had significant luck changing the stock Bridgestone Potenza tyres for something grippier?

Go back to AWD.  Octavias just can't put the power down effectively from a standing start even with bone dry roads. My MkIII stage 1 with Goodyear Eagle F1 was best when feeding in the power to get it rolling then into 2nd where the extra bhp/torque allowed it to catch most cars. conversely my staid-looking Superb 272 L&K zipped away from the lights cleanly  with no tramping or wheelspin. 

48 minutes ago, Redboy said:

Go back to AWD.  Octavias just can't put the power down effectively from a standing start even with bone dry roads. My MkIII stage 1 with Goodyear Eagle F1 was best when feeding in the power to get it rolling then into 2nd where the extra bhp/torque allowed it to catch most cars. conversely my staid-looking Superb 272 L&K zipped away from the lights cleanly  with no tramping or wheelspin. 

Even with AWD and sufficient power/torque you need to feed the power in as you describe - this was the only way to drive my RS4 without spinning all 4 wheels from an over enthusiastic standing start (true with Michelin Pilot Super Sport sticky tyres)!

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

Even with AWD and sufficient power/torque you need to feed the power in as you describe - this was the only way to drive my RS4 without spinning all 4 wheels from an over enthusiastic standing start (true with Michelin Pilot Super Sport sticky tyres)!

Maybe with a RS4 but the Superb just seemed to go even in launch mode. It had a comparatively modest amount of torque and decent grip or maybe I just didn't try hard enough. My 245 PP Golf was also dreadful and was one of the reasons why I bought the Superb. 

3 hours ago, PetrolDave said:

Even with AWD and sufficient power/torque you need to feed the power in as you describe - this was the only way to drive my RS4 without spinning all 4 wheels from an over enthusiastic standing start (true with Michelin Pilot Super Sport sticky tyres)!

I’d expect that from an RS4 - it’s got 2x the HP at similar weight! My 3.0 TDI Quattro (at slightly more HP than the Octy would never break free, even on a launch. 

Agree with all the comments, accepting everyone drives differently and has differing expectation etc.

 

Personally i can recommend Goodyear vector 4 season gen 3 or Cross Climate 2 having used both.

 

Currently swap out for the vectors and was most impressed in a motorway emergency in heavy rain, managing to control car and avoid couple of other cars who collided and spun.

 

i have considering having the all seasons on all year but I have the luxury of a spare set of wheels and don't mind changing them.

 

You can't really compare to 4wd plus temps are in single figures now.