Author Topic: My new tyres, and WRX v Golf R32 etc. (Read 570 times)

beet1e · « **on:** February 25, 2003, 02:58:59 PM »

My Golf V6 is 2 years old, and with 34,000 miles the treads on all four tyres were down to just below 3mm. (Legal limit in Britain 1.6mm, but not advisable to drive on less than 2mm owing to generally wet conditions) So I went down to my local tyre place to buy four new ones. They talked me into having the Michelins again. So French tyres on a German car - all I needed was some Belgian chocolate to nibble on while they did the job!

While I was waiting, I read a car magazine that they had out. There was a six car group that was tested. The six were the Ford Focus RS, Alfa 147a, Subaru WRX, Golf R32, the souped up version of the Mini ONE, and another one I can't remember. Hehe, I couldn't help noticing the caption under the Golf picture, which said: "After the WRX, the Golf R32 seemed so responsive..." - or something like that. I have no axe to grind, never having owned or driven either. But being a product loyalist, I would probably look at the R32 first, and not bother with the others. So I skipped to the verdict at the end - and the Golf R32 came top with 5 stars. The WRX was either 2nd or 3rd. The magazine was, I believe, called EVO.

But somehow, I can't imagine Funked in a Golf.

funkedup · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2003, 03:12:45 PM »

I read that test, and they tested a base WRX against an R32. Not very sporting of them. £20k base model WRX against £23k top of the line Golf. £24k STi is Subaru's top of the line, and would have been a better comparison. And would blow the doors off any VW ever built.

Golfs are fine with me. They are one of the few compact cars (along with the Scooby) that have enough headroom for me.
But the ones sold in the USA are not so quick.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2003, 03:17:43 PM »

Those cars Beet1e mentions, I hate 'em all. They're a squeak to get out of ones pick up truck grill when you run across them on the road...high powered pressure washer removes them fine though.

funkedup · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2003, 03:25:21 PM »

Beetle I should add that I think you would get a kick out of the R32. AWD is so much better than 2WD when you have a lot of power. I have had so much fun in the rain this winter, kicking the tail out around corners where my old Hondas would have just been plowing and wheelspinning.

funkedup · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2003, 03:28:00 PM »

PS I always run Michelins too. I'm wearing out the stock Potenzas as quickly as possible so I can get some +1 Pilot Sports.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2003, 06:10:53 PM »

S-03's.... then better judgement got ahold of me since I use it for commuting 90%, Yokohama AVS Sports ($590 for four at Tirerack.com) Not till June though, I still have 1/16" til I hit the wear bars....did I tell you how much German tires suck? (Continentals)

crowMAW · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2003, 07:14:00 PM »

Personally, I'd try the new Kumho Ecsta MX if they come in a size you can use (they don't for me

). Tire Rack scored the MX better in both wet and dry performance over the Yok AVS Sport. The AVS Sports are great tires...I had them on my E36M3...but it looks like the MX's are a good bit better and cheaper.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/max_perf_charts.jsp

My favorite tire of all time is the S-02...Bridgestone screwed up with the S-03 IMHO trying to make it quieter and better in the rain. I've run back to back autox fun runs with Kumho Victoracer r-compound tires and the S-02s and the Bridgestones were only a second slower. Most street tires are a good 3 sec slower than r-compounds on a 60 sec course.

beet1e · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2003, 09:00:42 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by funkedup
Beetle I should add that I think you would get a kick out of the R32. AWD is so much better than 2WD when you have a lot of power.

Yep, sure is. My current one is AWD. The VR6 I had before this was FWD, and it was so easy to spin the wheels - even on a dry road, so AWD is much better. From the VR6 to the model I have, the wheels went from 15" to 16".

What's different about the VW engines produced in the USA?

medicboy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2003, 10:54:17 PM »

I suppose you measure those little skateboard tires in those funky metric measurements too, huh? I run big-o bigfoot xt's on both of my vehicles. 31x10.50 on the Suv and 33x12.50 on the truck.

Dowding · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2003, 02:52:26 AM »

The R-32 is quite a car. One of the guys at work has one on order. I think the UK allocation is something like 400, and they are already sold - he ordered his at a motor show.

Still, I'd probably prefer the Scooby. Although, if I had that much spare change, I'd save a few more pennies and buy a Jap-spec Evo VII or VIII straight from the the land of the rising sun.

lazs2 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2003, 08:35:12 AM »

funked... give them tires to me for a day or two and I will wear em out for ya. (they need to be mounted on 5 lug chevy wheels@4 3/4 or ford 9" lug pattern).
lazs

beet1e · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2003, 08:41:59 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by funkedup
PS I always run Michelins too. I'm wearing out the stock Potenzas as quickly as possible so I can get some +1 Pilot Sports.

Pilot! That's the one... I've just been out to check my pressures, as I don't trust the garage to do it properly. Actually, they had! But one of the valve caps was loose.

The writing on the side wall is "Pilot Primacy". But flippin 'eck - £68 each, plus new valves, plus balancing, plus alignment, plus VAT - £363.

But the ride on the Michelins is wonderfully sure footed.

funkedup · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2003, 03:07:36 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by crowMAW
Personally, I'd try the new Kumho Ecsta MX if they come in a size you can use (they don't for me ). Tire Rack scored the MX better in both wet and dry performance over the Yok AVS Sport. The AVS Sports are great tires...I had them on my E36M3...but it looks like the MX's are a good bit better and cheaper.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/max_perf_charts.jsp

My favorite tire of all time is the S-02...Bridgestone screwed up with the S-03 IMHO trying to make it quieter and better in the rain. I've run back to back autox fun runs with Kumho Victoracer r-compound tires and the S-02s and the Bridgestones were only a second slower. Most street tires are a good 3 sec slower than r-compounds on a 60 sec course.

Crow what the hell is a Kumho? It sounds like some kind of porn starlet. Where do they make those tires?

crowMAW · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2003, 04:37:57 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by funkedup
Crow what the hell is a Kumho? It sounds like some kind of porn starlet. Where do they make those tires?

LOL...only if you mispronounce it (say Koo Moe instead of...well nevermind

).

They are Korean. Kuhmo has been trying to crack into the US performance tire market for a while. Most racers that need DOT legal tires run Kumho Victoracers...they are cheap, wear well and are more sticky than anything else other than Hoosiers (which are ungoddly expensive). And even Hoosiers are not as good on hot asphalt (they get greasey)...concrete is another matter though...Hoosiers rule on concrete. Victoracers also make excellent rain tires for those who would run slicks in the dry.

Anyway, from everything I hear, the Ecsta MX tires are fantastic.

funkedup · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2003, 04:40:17 PM »

Thanks for the info!