CMARNOLD78
Ready to race!
- Location
- DC
Although this topic has been done to death here is my review of the Pilot Sport A/S 3 + (Am sure other top end A/S tires great but these are worth it)
Short Version - If you are still sitting on your stock tires buy these. Just do it. Don’t drive round for a year missing out on your GTI. Don’t think you don’t really need them and shouldn’t spend the $700. Just order them and get them installed. They will put a big smile on your face (Actually, to understand/remind yourself the value of good tires drive round for a year and then switch…..)
OK – Longer version, as above I have had my GTI for a year, was riding on the stock Bridgestone Potenza All Seasons. I live in the Mid Atlantic so get the annoying tiny amount of snow & cold weather to make you contemplate summer/winter v all seasons.
I thought I understood the value of good tires, but had been a long time since I had had a car and made a tire switch, also didn’t think I could justify switching from brand new tires. What a mistake.
Of course most of you would have experienced the wheel spin of the stock all seasons. You may not have thought much about it, just “my GTI is powerful, wheel spin is fun and puts a smile on my face and gets me a shoulder slap from my wife”. All true. However if you plan leave the stock all seasons on, you probably should have just got yourself the lowest power base diesel model Golf….
I finally made the purchase and got them installed. Got them for $715 installed at Costco.
The first drive home, going through the bends you could feel how much stiffer the side walls were (old tires were at correct pressures, but in comparison I now realize were like jelly in corners). There is however a little bit more tire noise but nothing to worry about. You soon forget. The stock tires do come under the grand tourer category. Have not had long enough to do fuel efficiency, but from red previously may take a very slight hit on that.
On the weekend, finally got to go for a good drive to some favorite local roads to go mountain biking. Pulling hard from the lights on open road where as previously I would have got significant wheel spin I got none. I only got the traction control light blink twice, but I felt nothing. Instead I felt properly for the first time feeling some torque and actually getting physically pushed back in the seat.
Standing starts around corners where as previously the tires would squeal, tc on and spin the GTI was glued to the road. Round the windy country roads going from 2nd to 3rd to 2nd round corners , and bends up over rises and negative cambers again it was stuck to the road. No loss of traction or anything.
When I got to the car park I felt the tires and they actually felt sticky. With the dirt and dust in them they are like true summer performance tires. These are All Seasons with the M&S designation….
In short it make the GTI feel like a true performance car. I had the biggest smile on my face all day.
For those of you who are just in it for the looks, they look amazing in comparison. Aggressive & chunkier tread. Even though they are the same size tire they look wider as they have a lip over the tire and they have squarer side walls, not rounded like the stocks. The lip also is about 1cm or 1/3 inch over the wheel so will provide protection from minor curbing. That is an excuse enough to spend the money on buying. In terms of 235 v 225 I think there is no need for the 235s. The 225 look so much bigger anyway in comparison to stock.
Have not driven in rain or snow yet but am looking forward to it.
Anyway, are still on stocks you are missing out. No exaggeration I was trying to put a number on how much they have increased enjoyment of the GTI I have to say it feels 30 – 50% better when driving spirited.
Hope this helps anyone still thinking about upgrading the stock tires.
Short Version - If you are still sitting on your stock tires buy these. Just do it. Don’t drive round for a year missing out on your GTI. Don’t think you don’t really need them and shouldn’t spend the $700. Just order them and get them installed. They will put a big smile on your face (Actually, to understand/remind yourself the value of good tires drive round for a year and then switch…..)
OK – Longer version, as above I have had my GTI for a year, was riding on the stock Bridgestone Potenza All Seasons. I live in the Mid Atlantic so get the annoying tiny amount of snow & cold weather to make you contemplate summer/winter v all seasons.
I thought I understood the value of good tires, but had been a long time since I had had a car and made a tire switch, also didn’t think I could justify switching from brand new tires. What a mistake.
Of course most of you would have experienced the wheel spin of the stock all seasons. You may not have thought much about it, just “my GTI is powerful, wheel spin is fun and puts a smile on my face and gets me a shoulder slap from my wife”. All true. However if you plan leave the stock all seasons on, you probably should have just got yourself the lowest power base diesel model Golf….
I finally made the purchase and got them installed. Got them for $715 installed at Costco.
The first drive home, going through the bends you could feel how much stiffer the side walls were (old tires were at correct pressures, but in comparison I now realize were like jelly in corners). There is however a little bit more tire noise but nothing to worry about. You soon forget. The stock tires do come under the grand tourer category. Have not had long enough to do fuel efficiency, but from red previously may take a very slight hit on that.
On the weekend, finally got to go for a good drive to some favorite local roads to go mountain biking. Pulling hard from the lights on open road where as previously I would have got significant wheel spin I got none. I only got the traction control light blink twice, but I felt nothing. Instead I felt properly for the first time feeling some torque and actually getting physically pushed back in the seat.
Standing starts around corners where as previously the tires would squeal, tc on and spin the GTI was glued to the road. Round the windy country roads going from 2nd to 3rd to 2nd round corners , and bends up over rises and negative cambers again it was stuck to the road. No loss of traction or anything.
When I got to the car park I felt the tires and they actually felt sticky. With the dirt and dust in them they are like true summer performance tires. These are All Seasons with the M&S designation….
In short it make the GTI feel like a true performance car. I had the biggest smile on my face all day.
For those of you who are just in it for the looks, they look amazing in comparison. Aggressive & chunkier tread. Even though they are the same size tire they look wider as they have a lip over the tire and they have squarer side walls, not rounded like the stocks. The lip also is about 1cm or 1/3 inch over the wheel so will provide protection from minor curbing. That is an excuse enough to spend the money on buying. In terms of 235 v 225 I think there is no need for the 235s. The 225 look so much bigger anyway in comparison to stock.
Have not driven in rain or snow yet but am looking forward to it.
Anyway, are still on stocks you are missing out. No exaggeration I was trying to put a number on how much they have increased enjoyment of the GTI I have to say it feels 30 – 50% better when driving spirited.
Hope this helps anyone still thinking about upgrading the stock tires.
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However it does make it feel like you have a newer faster car, so a nice little upgrade to save to treat yourself to further down the line when the excitement of a new GTI begins to wear off. 
