MK5 Tire Selection. 18" Halibrands

[Dantman]

What tire brand and model are you running???

[Jeff Kleiner]

It totally depends on how the car will be used. Tell us what your plans are and I’ll offer some suggestions.

Jeff

[hennessyVV]

following this thread as I am also in the market for some 18inch tires.

I've been eying Michelin PS2's in the following sizes:

315 /30 R18 98Y SL BSW
235 /40 R18 95Y XL BSW

[CraigS]

235 is very narrow. I'd go 255 as a minimum.

[rich grsc]

Exactly, no way a 235

[Jeff Kleiner]

I agree with Craig and Rich. Instead of the 235/40 go to a 265/35.

Jeff

[TrackDay17]

I agree with Craig and Rich. Instead of the 235/40 go to a 265/35.

Jeff

Jeff, what are your recommendations for a street driven car with 18 inch FF wheels on my MK5 ?
I doubt I'll be doing any track driving but I'd update tires if I do.

Just looking at Tire Rack I see the new Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ.
I have no experience in this class of performance oriented street tires.
I'd prefer not to replace them every 1,000 miles but I really don't want to end up sideways and in a ditch on junk tire either.
I'm waiting until I really need tires so they don't sit around forever but I think I'll need them this summer or spring.

[hennessyVV]

I appreciate the feedback. I'll go with the 265/35 Michelin PS2's.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Jeff, what are your recommendations for a street driven car with 18 inch FF wheels on my MK5 ?
I doubt I'll be doing any track driving but I'd update tires if I do.

Just looking at Tire Rack I see the new Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ.
I have no experience in this class of performance oriented street tires.
I'd prefer not to replace them every 1,000 miles but I really don't want to end up sideways and in a ditch on junk tire either.
I'm waiting until I really need tires so they don't sit around forever but I think I'll need them this summer or spring.

The RE-71RZ is an updated version of the RE-71RS which has been one of the top contenders in the "Super 200" field for the last few years. The tires in that field are what I call "streetable track tires" and includes the Vitour Tempesta P1-P01R and P1-X01R, Yokohama A052, Nangkang CR-S V2, Falken RT660+ and others. If you aren't planning on doing a lot of autocross or track days they're a bit of overkill for a street only car. Although there is nothing wrong with running tires with this level of performance on the street no responsible or sane person should be doing things on the street to NEED that level of performance! If you are more of a street only driver with maybe an autocross or track day on occasion just for $hits and giggles you might be well suited to look at what I refer to as "trackable street tires" where some of the tires at the pointy end of that stick are the Vitour Tempesta Enzo V0-1, Continental Contact Extreme Contact Force and Sport, BFG Rival S 1.5 among others. These will offer longer wear and better cool &/or wet tolerance and generally a bit lower price point. These are still really, really high performing tires that give up very little to the Super 200s!

Long story short, that RE-71RZ is a super high performance tire that isn't going to let you "end up sideways and in a ditch on junk tire"! :D Since I do a lot of track and autocross I decided on the X01 compound for my Mk5 but it was pretty much an even race between those and the RE-71RZ.

Jeff

[TrackDay17]

The RE-71RZ is an updated version of the RE-71RS which has been one of the top contenders in the "Super 200" field for the last few years. The tires in that field are what I call "streetable track tires" and includes the Vitour Tempesta P1-P01R and P1-X01R, Yokohama A052, Nangkang CR-S V2, Falken RT660+ and others. If you aren't planning on doing a lot of autocross or track days they're a bit of overkill for a street only car. Although there is nothing wrong with running tires with this level of performance on the street no responsible or sane person should be doing things on the street to NEED that level of performance! If you are more of a street only driver with maybe an autocross or track day on occasion just for $hits and giggles you might be well suited to look at what I refer to as "trackable street tires" where some of the tires at the pointy end of that stick are the Vitour Tempesta Enzo V0-1, Continental Contact Extreme Contact Force and Sport, BFG Rival S 1.5 among others. These will offer longer wear and better cool &/or wet tolerance and generally a bit lower price point. These are still really, really high performing tires that give up very little to the Super 200s!

Long story short, that RE-71RZ is a super high performance tire that isn't going to let you "end up sideways and in a ditch on junk tire"! :D Since I do a lot of track and autocross I decided on the X01 compound for my Mk5 but it was pretty much an even race between those and the RE-71RZ.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff, I'll take a look at those you mentioned, sound like more what I need for my planned use.

[CraigS]

I see you are in KS but I am not familiar w/ your weather. Just be aware that 200TW (and even 300TW) tires have a dramatic falloff in traction once ambient temps are below about 45F. I was using 300TW tires on my car as a cross between street and autocross. But the weather problem caused me to go to another set of wheels w/ 200TW for autocross. Just this week I got rid of the last of the 300s and installed all season Continental DWS. These are wonderful tires and my wife is just about to go for her 3rd set on her 2015 Mustang GT.

[Dantman]

95% street driving to cars shows. I live in Chicagoland so you never know with the weather.

[Railroad]

G-Force 315/30-18, rear
245/40-18, front
on MkIV anniversary edition.
VERY good traction.
They do put out white smoke during a slide. I was checking the brake bias on a clear road.

[CraigS]

Nitto 555G2 have a good rep here.

[Ejzajac]

The Nitto 555G2 has great size availability in 17 inch FFR wheels to properly "fill" these rims AND equalize front and rear tire diameters without rake.
The 18 inch FFR wheels are difficult to fulfill these criteria with currently available Nitto sizes and achieve a reasonable ride height.
Perhaps Nitto will expand their offerings in the 18 inch tire as a high performance summer predominantly street tire.

Ed Z

[Jeff Kleiner]

95% street driving to cars shows. I live in Chicagoland so you never know with the weather.

The Nitto 555G2 isn't available in the proper 18" sizes. The majority of the available tires in these sizes are the "Super 200s" that lean more to the track and autocross use so for your stated purposes which may include some cool or damp I'd look hard at the Michelin PS2.

Jeff