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Anyone having TERRIBLE traction with Bridgestone tires?

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#22 ·
Re: (noka648)

Quote, originally posted by noka648 »
I said, there are exceptions. Your mother-in-law is one of them.
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Another post mentioned there are warnings all over the place. Just what is it that you would propose? Some new "regulation" perhaps?

Quite the opposite, I think we are the exceptions. We have the benefit of learning from threads just like this one because we are enthusiasts and we have vortex as a resource. We are also more likely to read the manual and all of the things that come with our car than most people in my opinion.
With more and more companies making smaller, fun to drive cars (like the GTI and Mini Cooper for example) the market has changed. Last years gas prices made a big difference in my opinion as well. So we have more people buying these cars without being aware unless they are told so at the time of purchase.
I think there should be more emphasis on points like this at the time you take delivery at the dealer. I feel like these days once the sale is closed, everything is just a rush to get you out the door. I haven't gotten a real delivery walk around in my last 3 new cars. For me it isn't that big of a deal, because I have had VW's forever but for a new buyer it is very important.
I think a lot of times people on vortex compare the knowledge we have about cars and the enthusiasm we carry for them translates to the general public. It doesn't.
 
#23 ·
Re: (AngryScientist)

I agree that more regulation is not what we want. In the perfect world, I guess all Sales people would warn people about it. In reality, the capability and knowledge of such a sales force is so diverse, I'm not sure we could count on it. Maybe VW should provide some leaflet that is required to be provided to each person at the close of the sale or at least upon vehicle delivery, so customers know what they are getting into.
 
#24 ·
Re: Anyone having TERRIBLE traction with Bridgestone tires? (noka648)

Quote, originally posted by noka648 »


Stock Pirelli P-Zero Nero A/S and they work well.
i]

Those are a relatively new OE tire for the cars.
As far as these things coming with summer tires, most German cars are this way, you usually have to spec the car to come with all seasons, and if it's a BMW with the sport package or something, you can't even get all seasons. All the higher end sporty cars (M's, AMG's, G37's etc) all come with a summer tire because it is what they need, an all season is a waste of time. An a/s tire only exists in North America and Australia, the rest of the world has summers, and winters.
I agree it's up to the owner to research.



Modified by RedRabidRabbit at 9:53 AM 1-7-2009
 
#25 ·
Re: (GTINC)

Quote, originally posted by GTINC »

And what else should the salesman check about the owner? Maybe an IQ test? Lecture on drinking/driving? Advise them that they should not swallow gasoline? These buyers are suppose to be adults.

cut the sarcasm please.
my point is that this is a relatively new thing - new cars being equipped with summer tires, and the majority of the population isnt hip to that and its dangerous to them and others on the road.
there is a difference between common knowledge and things that are lesser known. not drinking gasoline is an example of common knowledge.
again, i'm not advocating blindly doing anythinng, but i think its irresponsible of a salesman to let someone (my mil) drive off the lot, in november with summer tires on the car, take that for what its worth.
shes a smart woman otherwise, and i can categorically tell you, if she didnt realize that the car had summer tires on it, many others wont either.
i realize you live in nowhere OHIO, but here in the nyc metro area many many people own high end cars and dont know the first thing about half the features of them. sure - thats mostly their fault, but a little point in the right direction about safety issues wouldnt hurt.
 
#26 ·
Re: (AngryScientist)

Quote, originally posted by AngryScientist »

my point is that this is a relatively new thing - new cars being equipped with summer tires

No, it isn't. Not by a long shot. A personal example...My parents purchased a Chevy Lumina Euro (the "high performance" model with its 140HP V6) 15+ years ago. It came with summer tires on it. Somehow, without the magic of the internet to educate him, my dad knew the car needed snow tires for winter.
Stock tires actually vary quite a bit by model and region sold. A/S are far more prevalent in areas where winter actually brings snow. Its actually tough for me to find an Audi or VAG in Colorado without A/S tires. But the opposite is true in Phoenix or Socal. Also, as RedRabbit mentioned cars equipped with "sport packages" often come with summers regardless of region sold. Is your mom's most recent A4 a S-Line?
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
Re: (bcze1)

Good to see all these high horses handle pretty well in snow too. When the dealer tells you something..you may expect them to embellish certain aspects of the car or service or whatever, however, you don't expect them to out right lie. I mean when the dealer told you that you were getting a 200hp fwd gti..did you smack the papers off his desk and shout "PROVE IT!". While some of you highlight examples of your fathers and relatives extrasensory knowledge of their tires capabilities in snow, and hats off to them for being so knowledgeable about tires, this is certainly not the case with EVERYONE. When I purchased my GTI I knew it came with all season tires because the dealer said.."youll be getting all-season tires". And turns out I did in fact get all-season tires. This being the first winter my gf's driven her car in is the first opportunity for us to question her tires. My point is that not too many people question something the dealer tells them unless its a) completely outlandish or b) a situation presents itself in which they find themselves saying "WTF" like i did here.
 
#28 ·
Re: (Xandah1)

Quote, originally posted by Xandah1 »
When the dealer tells you something..you may expect them to embellish certain aspects of the car or service or whatever, however, you don't expect them to out right lie.

No disagreement, I was in no way defending the dip **** that told you you had A/S tires, just that its not a "new thing" to see summer tires from the factory. That said, the window sticker would have specified what kind of tires were on the car at the time of purchase. Not exactly a concealed document.
 
#29 ·
Re: (bcze1)

Quote, originally posted by bcze1 »

No disagreement, I was in no way defending the dip **** that told you you had A/S tires, just that its not a "new thing" to see summer tires from the factory. That said, the window sticker would have specified what kind of tires were on the car at the time of purchase. Not exactly a concealed document.

Unfortunately, VW managed to hose this at some point in the past. I'd like to hope they're back in line with it now, but the history doesn't make this a certain way of knowing.
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#32 ·
Re: (AngryScientist)

Quote, originally posted by AngryScientist »

you do know the 960 AS is an all season right?

They were ultra high performance summer's according to tirerack when I bought them last summer, but now since they came out with newer versions, they are an all season tire. Just found this out.
 
#34 ·
Re: (AngryScientist)

Quote, originally posted by AngryScientist »
yea, thats what the "AS" stands for.
we have them on my wife's mini, they are an outstanding tire

I have been quite pleased with them. They stick like no other. I recently got chipped so we will see the difference come spring!
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#35 ·
I have the RE050A's and hate them, noisy, no traction and wear fast...However, they were clearly labeled as summer tires on my original MSRP sticker that came with my car......(I bought it as a CPO)
Here in Hell, err Florida summer tires that work in torrential rain are fine...
I am replacing my RE050A's with Nitto 555's soon, my discount tire Mgr buddy laughs at Bridgestone & Pirelli as OEM "performance" tires...
The truth is OEM's are the cheapest tire the mfr can get for the speed/load rating they need as aminimum...
Otherwise we would all get Michelin PS, or an equivalent premium tire stock.
I have Michelin PS A/S on our mercedes and they rock in snow etc, (we have a house in Boston also), they were over $1000/set to replace the OEM Primacy's, the performance and grip improvement was huge.
The only 2 tires I would put on my car is the Nitto's or Michelins, I have not been happy with anything else.
 
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#36 ·
Re: (oldracer)

Quote, originally posted by oldracer »
I have the RE050A's and hate them, noisy, no traction and wear fast...However, they were clearly labeled as summer tires on my original MSRP sticker that came with my car......(I bought it as a CPO)
Here in Hell, err Florida summer tires that work in torrential rain are fine...
I am replacing my RE050A's with Nitto 555's soon, my discount tire Mgr buddy laughs at Bridgestone & Pirelli as OEM "performance" tires...
The truth is OEM's are the cheapest tire the mfr can get for the speed/load rating they need as aminimum...
Otherwise we would all get Michelin PS, or an equivalent premium tire stock.
I have Michelin PS A/S on our mercedes and they rock in snow etc, (we have a house in Boston also), they were over $1000/set to replace the OEM Primacy's, the performance and grip improvement was huge.
The only 2 tires I would put on my car is the Nitto's or Michelins, I have not been happy with anything else.

What your friend says is only somewhat true. Most OE tires are pretty average at best. Yes, most manufacturers use whatever is cheapest, they'll call four or five tire companies, tell them they need two million of the same tire and go with the lowest bidder. Something like the Potenza RE92 is a good example, which has been OE on hundreds of cars for about a dozen years now. In the case of these cars however, it's not really the same. The same tire that is equipped on the GTI was also used on the F430 for years, is used on AMG's, Aston Martins, I could go on. Continental, Pirelli and Bridgestone (all OE on these cars) are three of the largest and best tire companies on the planet. Just about every supercar sold will be equipped with Pirelli, Bridgestone, Continental or Michelin... Period. Nitto is simply a lower brand offered by Toyo, average product at best.
I doubt the salesman lied, he probably just was ignorant about the whole thing and didn't know.



Modified by RedRabidRabbit at 3:28 PM 1-7-2009
 
#37 ·
Re: (oldracer)

Quote, originally posted by oldracer »
I have the RE050A's and hate them, noisy, no traction and wear fast...However, they were clearly labeled as summer tires on my original MSRP sticker that came with my car......(I bought it as a CPO)
Here in Hell, err Florida summer tires that work in torrential rain are fine...
I am replacing my RE050A's with Nitto 555's soon, my discount tire Mgr buddy laughs at Bridgestone & Pirelli as OEM "performance" tires...
The truth is OEM's are the cheapest tire the mfr can get for the speed/load rating they need as aminimum...
Otherwise we would all get Michelin PS, or an equivalent premium tire stock.
I have Michelin PS A/S on our mercedes and they rock in snow etc, (we have a house in Boston also), they were over $1000/set to replace the OEM Primacy's, the performance and grip improvement was huge.
The only 2 tires I would put on my car is the Nitto's or Michelins, I have not been happy with anything else.

wrongo, have you looked at the price of the bridgestones? they are definitely not the cheapest tire in the category. in fact, many folks give them great reviews.
oem tires are not selected to be the bare minimum, they are selected to match well to the car. when the cars are tested for safety ratings, handling tests, etc. they are done so with oem tires on. also, if any reviews are done on the car the oem tires are used
folks who designed the gti want it to put up impressive numbers in the skidpad, braking distance and acceleration - it would not be in their best interest to specify "junk" tires to save a buck or two and kill the cars performance.
http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif
 
#38 ·
Re: (RedRabidRabbit)

Quote, originally posted by RedRabidRabbit »

What your friend says is only somewhat true. Most OE tires are pretty average at best. Yes, most manufacturers use whatever is cheapest. Something like the Potenza RE92 is a good example, which has been OE on hundreds of cars for about a dozen years now. In the case of these cars however, it's not really the same. The same tire that is equipped on the GTI was also used on the F430 for years, is used on AMG's, Aston Martins, I could go on. Continental, Pirelli and Bridgestone (all OE on these cars) are three of the largest and best tire companies on the planet. Just about every supercar sold will be equipped with Pirelli, Bridgestone, Continental or Michelin... Period. Nitto is simply a lower brand offered by Toyo, average product at best.

Modified by RedRabidRabbit at 3:22 PM 1-7-2009

agreed.
 
#40 ·
My used 08 came with the Bridgestone RE-050 summer tires. Insanely LOUD. Replaced with tried, proved Potenza 960AS all season, max performance tires. Had them on Saab 9-3 in Florida and loved the wet weather traction and all around handling, along with treadwear warranty that most other tires in this size do not have. Loving them again here in DC, where it has been in the low 30s and pouring rain.
 
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