My friend has an '07 Passat 2.0 Tdi and her original Dunlop SP Sports on the front now need replacing, having covered 42k miles. It would take me several years to rack up this kind of mileage, and in my opinion they have lasted exceptionally well.
Should she replace with the same again?...her main criteria is grip (especially given our inclement weather) and she spends most days trawling up and down our motorway system.
Cost is not so important...the lease company will be paying and she has to use ATS.
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I had the (B5?) Passat 1.8T on a W plate. Front tyres on that lasted around 20k miles. Mondeo TDCi replacement around the same. So this sounds a brilliant mileage before replacing?
What tread depth is on them? I make sure mine are replaced (being a lease/company car) as early as possible because the tread depth makes so much difference. The 1.6mm limit is stupid.
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That sounds like excellent mileage for the fronts.
If she was happy enough with the ride and grip of the SPs she may as well get them again although a softer compound tyre will give more grip but less miles.
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If she replaces them with the same then she'll still have a matching set, which I think is important. In any case, if VW consider that they suit the car then I for one wouldn't query that judgement.
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If they lasted that long, I'd replace like with like.
The factory-fit Conti SportContacts on my B5.5 Passat 130 sport lasted 33K on the front and 50K on the rear, which is brilliant as I drive briskly and with the traction control off.
I replaced them with Vredesteins which while cheaper and quieter, struggled to do 20K on the front.
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Just a final update.
Her lease company stipulate using ATS, so Friday morning I wrote down her tyre size etc and she rang ATS who told her they had two remaining Dunlop SP Sports in stock. She took her Passat 2.0Tdi along this morning, and when I checked this afternoon they have fitted Michelin Primacy's. Probably as broad as it's long, but I am still impressed with the Dunlop's which had managed over 43k miles on the front set by this morning...and still legal!
Given the rain we are experiencing, and the time she will spend on the motorway this weekend, I am glad she has new rubber fitted.
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I have always used Michelin Pilot (Pilot Primacy now)
On a 1,8T20v golf GTI fronts did 45k, backs 65k. Now I drive an audi A6 2.7TDI and have got 35k from the Fronts and the backs are 3/4 worn at 45k.
Have no fear michelin primacy is a good as they come (i.e. expense is justified).
If you only get 20k out of your tyres it maybe says something about driving style......
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On my own car ('98 2.0 petrol Mazda 626 with 100k on the clock) I recently had fitted an all round set of Michelin Energy tyres, which, incidentally, cost almost 30% of what I paid for the car last October! In SE spec I think the power output is 134bhp, although it feels more.
On the last 4 tankfuls, brim to brim, using Shell only, I have returned an average 42mpg, which consists of mainly fast A road, motorway, and very little stop/start (if less than 2 miles I walk/jog if its raining). I am very impressed with my Mazda's consumption...and that is with the climate control switched on most of the time, although only myself as occupant.
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Erm. Back to the topic.
I have a Passat clone (Skoda Superb) with the 130 PS AWX diesel engine.
I bought it with 20k miles on the clock with the original front Dunlop SP Sport tyres at 3 mm (evenly worn - thanks, Skoda for setting it correctly) which the dealer changed prior to sale after a bit of "leaning".
I have no criticism of these tyres and would estimate 25k miles to be a reasonable life for them on the front axle. The replacements for the Dunlops were Continental Sport Contacts which I have put on the rear axle (the dealer put the new tyres on the front) which again are totally satisfactory.
These cars are hardly the last word in handling (too much weight ahead of the front axle) but are a safe work horse. I would suggest that any reputable make of tyre (certainly a Michelin) would be entirely satisfactory for sensible use.
659.
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40K + from the fronts?
I suggest you Passat owners don't by a Focus because you will be very disappointed with the tyre wear.
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I suggest you Passat owners don't by a Focus because you will be very disappointed
with the tyre wear.>>
That's sounds a bit harsh on Foci - it depends more on the tyres and the driver. My wife got 31,000 on the fronts with P6000s and 23,000 with Firestone Firehawks. That's on a 1.6 Focus - same car, same driver!
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>>>> I suggest you Passat owners don't by a Focus because you will be very disappointedwith the tyre wear.
I got 26,000 out of the fronts of my first 2 litre petrol Focus, and 56,000 out of the rears. The fronts of my second (same model) did 30,000. All of them were changed at a conservative 2.5 mm (approx) tread depth.
I'm happy with that.
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We have a December '01 Passat V6 - supposedly 150 BHP but with a Superchip to about 185 BHP. With Continentals around 14,500 miles from the fronts, and Michelins around 15,500 miles, and the Michelins are quieter. I suppose this ain't too bad considering the torque available. Do love the Superchip though - makes the car soooo much more driveable, with much less "rowing" through the gears, and no loss in fuel consumption.
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I get around 25K from the fronts on my Audi A4 and 35K on the rears. I run Bridgestone Potenza's which seem good for grip, longlivity and noise levels. I would be very impressed with 40K plus on the fronts with a torquey diesel engine putting its power down.
In contrast though on my Rover 214 the rears have been on for just over 50K now, they are Dunlop SP Sport's and around 3/4 worn. I cant remember how long the front ones lasted that were fitted at the same time but the Firestones that are on there now are about worn out so that will be two sets to the front to less than one at the back!
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My 56 plate Passat 2.0TDi needed new front tyres at 18k miles and I'm a fairly gentle driver. They were replaced at the VW garage during a service because they were illegal! Unfortunately, they used the same Dunlops but when these need replacing (prob about same time as rears) I'll switch to Michelins. I think the Dunlops are noisy.
I just wish my engine would last as long! (I've had two replacements , one at 9k and another at 23k!!!)
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oof, that's not nice .... what was the problem with the two engines?
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They were 2.0 and not 1.9s.
659.
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craig - the first engine suffered from an oil pump failure and the second one went west when a bolt in the cam belt tensioner broke. Apparently I'm just very unlucky!
Incidentally, back to tyres, the VW dealer muttered something about 'reinforced' tyres when I had mine changed last December, implying that the reinforced Dunlops were the ones for the Passat. Not really sure what that means, but I think the Dunlops are noisy. I've got Michelins on my A4 and they seem much quieter (OE on this car was also Dunlop, which I changed to Pirellis for a few years, but I'm now convinced that Michelins are the best).
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Some years ago, Dunlop and Rover were quality brands. Now they are both at the bottom end of the market.
My Passat came on Dunlop SP200Es. They only lasted 18000 miles and were very bad in the wet. Next I had Pirelli P7s, they lasted for 22000 miles and were good in the wet. Now I've got Continental Premium Contacts, they seem to be very good as well, quiet and good grip.
But let's face it, Michelin are the best tyres. I would have got some, but they do not do 15" sizes in the HPs.
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Pat L
I find it amazing that your Dunlops only lasted 18k, yet on my friends '07 Passat 2.0 TDi her Dunlop SP Sports lasted 43K. The rears still have plenty of tread left so should easily manage 50k. It must be because the majority of her driving is up and down motorways.
It will be interesting to see how long her replacement Michelin Primacy's last.
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legacylad - yes, I was a bit surprised. The car was in for a service and the service manager phoned to say that the front tyres were worn and needed replacing. I said thanks but I'll get new ones at my usual tyre place, and he replied that he could not let the vehicle out of the workshop because the tyres were illegal, with the cord (?) showing!
Ok, I'm not he world's most conscientious checker of tyres but every time I walk past the car or get in it I subconsciously give the tyres a once over, and if the front tyres were that bad I'm sure I would have noticed. I suppose I should have asked to see the old tyres when I picked the car up.
The Passat is a big car and the 2 litre diesel engine and transmission sitting over the front wheels (and the torque) must create fairly rapid wear. But, like I say, I don't drive like a maniac and do a lot of dual carriageway and motorway driving. I thought I'd get at least 20k miles from the fronts.
My 2000X Audi A4 1.9TDi has consistently covered 22k on fronts and about double on rears.
But then it's a smaller, lighter and less torquey car.
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