Tires for Jetta

[bajacalal]

Where's Kumho made? Sounds Asian. Made in China? I thought public opinion is that anything made in China is garbage.

Kumho is a South Korean company... they actually the tire division of a large company which also owns Asiana Airlines you know from the airplane that crashed last year in San Francisco... yes, really, even the logo is the same. As far as where they are made that's another story all together... Tires are made all over the world, I had Pirelli tires made in Venezuela and Kumho tires made in Indonesia for example, that I remember. Tires are also sometimes made by different companies under contract so they can vary a lot even between the same brand. Kumho makes OK tires... My preference for tires is Michelin (French), Pirelli (Italian), Yokohama (Japanese), Bridgestone (Japanese), Toyo/Nitto (Japanese). I haven't had very good luck with American brands (which are often made a long way from America anyways).

[theman53]

Michelin is the best tire I have ran hands down, IF you never travel a dirt road. The cords separate on dirt roads very easily for me anyway.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

I have been happy with Firestone Winterforce tires. I run them year round. They are great in the wet and in snow. Yes it is 90 today but they hold up fine in the dry. Got them from tire rack for a couple hundred.

Do they lower your mpg being a winter tire? Noisy? How about thread life?

[scrounger]

My car averages 45-54 mpg US on all fills. I have had them for 2.5 years and hope to go another year at least. I will put them on again. They are still smooth and shake free. The nearest city is 13 miles away by interstate. I usually go 70-75 mph.

If there is a hit on MPG, I feel it is offset by the increase in wet weather traction and better control. From home we have about 3 miles of dirt and gravel roads before we get to pavement. I wouldn't consider running a dry performance tire. If I lived in some city I might not need them as often but that is your choice.

Are they noisier than smooth tread tires, perhaps, but what about driving a Mk2 vw Diesel is quiet.

[scrounger]

I would have to agree with 'the man'. I have never met a Michelin that was worth a darn on the roads I drive. They usually would go out of round and many would weather check before 2 years.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

No dirt roads around here so not a concern. I have a slight vibration at hwy speeds and the front tires are slightly wearing more on the inner edge over the last 20k miles. I did change one of the struts maybe 15k miles ago and had to replace the camber bolts (they snapped). I tried to follow the marks and put the camber bolts in the same spots but never got an alignment. They are probably close but I am sure they are not spot on perfect.

What do you think of the Firestone lifetime alignment for $179? Pay once and alignments is free forever at any Firestone location thereafter. With new tires I would want it aligned and not wear prematurely.

[scrounger]

If you have found that the firestone store does decent alignments then it might be a good deal unless the guy doing the work is about to retire.

Around here the alignment place that a number of people like uses very limited technology. The shop is in a flood plain. The water comes to the shop and he goes fishing. The guy doing the work is what counts. Not digital computerized machinery.

My take on tires, is that any of them will work in the dry. Almost no drivers have difficulty with traction in the dry. If my tires save me from going in a ditch once in the snow, they have paid for their worth.

After I sent out my last post I walked by my vw. The tires are worn to about like street tires. I may run them this winter and take my chances, I may change them.

[vanbcguy]

I've had a set of Kelly Navigator Golds on Jezebel for about the last 40,000 km. They have been fantastic overall. Extremely comfortable ride, decently quiet and good cornering. They do decent in snow and mud too. Made in USA.

Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk

[theman53]

I don't like running snows year round. Seems like the good snows will separate cords when you run them over 65mph at a nice 80f day. I am picky on my tires. I like the pattern of the first tire rack tire you sent but not hearing of it I would like to know someone that ran them. I really like the Cooper CS4 touring that I linked. I cannot tell about wear as I have them on now and it has only been 3,000 miles, but the grip and ride is awesome. They are rated fairly hard so I hope they will last. I also got to run them in snow coming back from SD this year and they did well and this mk2 does NOT fair well in snow. If you can find a cheap tire like the one you listed and don't mind if you miss and have to change it out in 20,000 miles I say go for it.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

.................. I like the pattern of the first tire rack tire you sent but not hearing of it I would like to know someone that ran them.............................

This one?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Altimax+HP&partnum=86HR4AMAXHP&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Volkswagen&autoYear=1992&autoModel=Jetta&autoModClar=

[theman53]

.................. I like the pattern of the first tire rack tire you sent but not hearing of it I would like to know someone that ran them.............................

This one?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Altimax+HP&partnum=86HR4AMAXHP&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Volkswagen&autoYear=1992&autoModel=Jetta&autoModClar=

Yeah it looks nice and aggressive but I would be upset to have it 20,000 miles and have to do it again. See if anyone runs it and how it does. Sometimes you get lucky. I am running avid ascend on the TDI and they are doing great at 30,000miles....ran the avid a4s before and they didn't last 20,000.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

.................. I like the pattern of the first tire rack tire you sent but not hearing of it I would like to know someone that ran them.............................

This one?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Altimax+HP&partnum=86HR4AMAXHP&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Volkswagen&autoYear=1992&autoModel=Jetta&autoModClar=

Yeah it looks nice and aggressive but I would be upset to have it 20,000 miles and have to do it again. See if anyone runs it and how it does. Sometimes you get lucky. I am running avid ascend on the TDI and they are doing great at 30,000miles....ran the avid a4s before and they didn't last 20,000.

That tirerack tire looks like it is the same tire that Walmart sells that I originally asked about. It is made in Mexico.

[wolf_walker]

FWIW I put a pair of General Altimax on the Caddy up front last year, been an average tire.
They were about $20 a piece more than I used to pay for the same tire from Bridgestone ten
years ago, which isn't made anymore.

I've had a slew of Kuhmo's on E39's, E30's, 2 and 7 series Volvo's, a Saab, few other odds
and ends.  Haven't been disappointed for the money.

[mystery3]

I ran the Sumitomo htr's you posted on my caddy for a while, IMHO a great tire for the price range. Grippy, no change in mileage over the worn mismatched set that was on the truck when I bought it. I only put about 15k on them before I sold the truck so I can't speak to treadwear but it seemed like they had another 25-30k on 'em so if I were to hazard a guess I'd say pretty good treadwear.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

Drove up to the tirerack warehouse in Windsor CT and picked up 8 tires. 4 Sumitomos for the Jetta and 4  Kumho ecsta pa31 for the Caddy. I'll have spent a total of $422 tax included, after the $50 rebate for the Kumho's.

Went to Firestone and got the tires mounted/ balanced plus 4 wheel lifetime alignment. No more vibrations and car goes straight no pulling. Very happy with the Firestone I dealt with. I'll be going back for another alignment after doing some needed suspension work.