We have a MK5 Golf GT 2.0 TDI 150BHP [2006]; which has 17" Grand Prix wheels fitted as an optional extra...
Spec from VW website
Alloy wheels - Four 7J x 17 'Grand Prix' with 225/45 R17 tyres and anti-theft wheel bolts - includes sports suspension
After 15K miles we discovered that something had been rubbing against both front tyres [on the very inside tread] to the point where the fabric was clearly visible! The rest of the tyre was fine.
As luck would have it this was discovered when, on one of the tyres, a neat strip of rubber cut away and started to flap against the wheel arch, making an almighty noise.
Obviously this could have had fatal consequences!
The questions are:
1. Has anyone else experienced this?
2. How does one position this to VW as this would appear to be a serious manufacturing/optional extra issue?
3. How many miles would a standard tyre with sensible driving last? [I thought around about 27-30K miles]
4. In general, what are peoples thoughts regarding the quality of VW's these days?
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>>>what are peoples thoughts regarding the quality of VW's these days?
I think VW's are a great car, but most folk on this forum think they are a heap of rubbish.
If you did a search on VW you will read enough negative stuff to put you off VW's for ever.
I hate these low profile tyres, they look horrid and ride horrid, IMO of course.
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Just to let you know the MK5 2.0 GT TDI is 140PS (=138bhp), not 150bhp.
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>>>>>>>>>I hate these low profile tyres, they look horrid and ride horrid, IMO of course.
I agree about the low profile tyres! My brother had a Saab 93 and the ride on the factory fitted low profiles was absolutely dreadful.
Call me old fashioned but I'd rather have 'proper' tyres and wheels that look so much better on a car than aftermarket extras. In the past I have looked at cars on ebay with alloys and the first thing I ask before bidding is do they have the CORRECT wheels and tyres for the car. If not then I dont even consider bidding on the car.
No doubt the boy racers will shoot me down in flames ; o )
Stuart
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Are they proper VW wheels, or have the dealer sourced their own (they do this) and sometimes stick VW badges in the middle.
VW's cars IMHO are OK in principle, but are like rushed-out beta versions, it is as though they are selling development models, and don't seem bothered about doing production changes to rectify issues which arise.
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Have a tyre specialist check the wheel alignment for the front tyres to make sure there is enough room for the suspension travel. If there isn't then it's worth taking it up with the dealer you purchased the car & wheels from as in effect the wheels were not fit for purpose.
Have you considered changing the ultra low profile wheels to a more sensible size and doing away with the 17" ones ? The ride comfort will then improve, there will be less tyre noise and fuel economy will improve as a result of less rolling resistant.
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Are you sure something is actually catching the tyre, or have they just worn unevenly? Friend of mine had a 1.6 FSI on 17" wheels and sports suspension and never mentioned any problems, and he did lots of miles in it.
Diesel Golf's are pretty nose heavy and have a lot of torque going through the front wheels, and so they will wear front tyres relatively quickly. I would say 15k is about right, 20k would be very good and 30k unrealistic. Minor wheel alignment issues will show more pronouced uneven wear on low profile tyres on a nose heavy front wheel drive car, much like you describe. The other problem is underinflation - often manufacturers will state higher inflation pressures for vehicles with sports suspension because the geometery is more agressive, but most people never read the manual.
My Mondeo ST TDCi ate its first set of Continental Sport Contact 2 front tyres on the inside edges in 12k (although not to the cords). I had a 4 wheel laser alignment done and religiously top the pressures up every week and the tyres now wear perfectly evenly. The Michelin's I have on at the moment have done 7k on the rear and 13k on the front and there is still plenty left on them.
Ultimately its down to the owner/driver to check the condition of the tyres properly across the full width of the tread, but I bet most people don't bother. At 15k your Golf may well not have seen the inside of a dealer if its on Longlife servicing but when you come across issues like this you have to wonder if it's a good idea.
I don't think you'll get anywhere with VW. 15k is an acceptable life for a tyre, and it's your fault for not checking them. Buy some new tyres, get a 4 wheel alignment done (www.alignmycar.co.uk) and keep the pressures at the correct level.
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Diesel Golf's are pretty nose heavy and have a lot of torque going through the front wheels and so they will wear front tyres relatively quickly. I would say 15k is about right 20k would be very good and 30k unrealistic.
This really does depend on the journeys.
I do approx 85% motorway driving so in those circumstances 20k is certainly not 'very good', really it's just the bare minimum I would expect.
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Car Magazine had a long term Golf GTi where suspension "spacers" hadn't been taken on PDI. May be worth checking that. Apparently it wasn't an isolated case.
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If there is severe wear on the tread area of the tyre (i.e. the part that contacts the road) then severe mis-alignment is the likely problem. The wheel alignment it set at PDI and not all dealers bother (since tyre wear/misalignment is not a warranty matter). Have a full 3D laser alignment done (Bear, Sun, Jim Beam etc) - cost is £50 - 75 but will be worth it in the long run.
If the sidewall of the tyre is damaged then this is likely due to the tyre contacting the suspension during turns. It could be that a wheel with the wrong offset ('ET') has been fitted - but I would have though this unlikely if they were a dealer-fit item.
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