[Alan Slater]

I need to replace the tyres on my 2.5 Treg (235 65R 17 108V). I had narrowed it down to two (General Grabbers or Toyo Open Country H/T). My local tyre dealer states that I should have tyres that are additionally 'N' rated. He states this also applies to similar vehicles such as Porsches. The tyres that I wish to purchase are not N rated. My current tyres which are Michelin Diamaris do have a rating of N0. He states that if he sells me non N rated tyres he would have to issue a disclaimer stating that he has made me aware that the tyres are not N rated. Apparently this could affect my insurance cover.

If this is the case then it would appear that many Treg owners insurance cover may be affected. I also telephoned VW Technical Support who had not heard of this additional tyre spec requirement and just told me to replace like for like which I don't want to do.

I would be grateful if anyone could clarify the situation regarding the N ratings and Tregs.

Alan

 

[Nimrod]

Call me an old cynic,but perhaps your dealer is trying to make a quick buck.
Grabber UHP's and AT's are used by VW unlimited on and off the road .
If they're good enough for them...they're good enough for me.

 

[Guest]

Alan, I have been advised as you were about the use of N0 and N1 tyres only. My guess is that this is a Porsche requirement, for all their cars, and some tyre companies (manufacturers and dealers) are giving the advice in good faith. It's the penalty for sharing the platform with the Cayenne.

Buy the tyres you want and sign the disclaimer if you need to make the dealer happy.

cheers, Andy

 

[Alan Slater]

Thanks for the replies. I agree that the tyre dealer is probably over cautious. When I telephoned other tyre dealers they all stated that they weren't aware of this requirement for Tregs but they were aware of 'N' requirements for the likes of Porsches. Their advise was then to fit tyres with the same ratings as my OE.

I have now got a good deal on Continental Conti Cross Contacts UHP which do have the NO & XL ratings. I know that I should have gone with my heart rather than my head. I just hope no ones states that these tyres are rubbish as I will really be gutted - but feel free to state honest views and experiences.

Thanks

Alan

 

[Nimrod]

Thanks for the replies. I agree that the tyre dealer is probably over cautious. When I telephoned other tyre dealers they all stated that they weren't aware of this requirement for Tregs but they were aware of 'N' requirements for the likes of Porsches. Their advise was then to fit tyres with the same ratings as my OE.

I have now got a good deal on Continental Conti Cross Contacts UHP which do have the NO & XL ratings. I know that I should have gone with my heart rather than my head. I just hope no ones states that these tyres are rubbish as I will really be gutted - but feel free to state honest views and experiences.

Thanks

Alan

Treadwear rating of 420(same as Hankook) and grip AA so it's amongst the best

 

[NoobyT]

IMHO your tyre dealer is talking out of his arris.

Think about it for one moment - he is saying that a 2.5 Veedub diesel has to have the same tyres as a petrol Porker?

Whaaaat??

I'd go and find a dealer to sell me the tyres I want with no nonsense.

As long as you are fitting the right size, speed rating and weight loading, there is no requirement to tell the insurance company about anything.

And as for fitting Contis, from what I've read on here that's fine but don't expect anything of them off road or in a bit of snow.

 

[Nimrod]

And as for fitting Contis, from what I've read on here that's fine but don't expect anything of them off road or in a bit of snow.

That's why I think Grabber UHP are the best solution...if they're good enough for VW Unlimited to use (and I've seen one wheel shod with UHP's pull a Treg out of a muddy bomb crater) then they're good enough for me.
And they don't break the bank.

 

[Alan Slater]

Have now got the conti's fitted, although too early to say how they will perform they do seem slightly quieter than my mitchelins.

Alan

 

[NoobyT]

After much research and finding out from this site that VW themselves fit these tyres for their Touareg Experience days, yesterday I fitted 4 new tyres to my 3.2 Auto, 53 plate, using 255/60/17/106V Goodyear Grabber UHPs supplied at home and fully fitted by event-tyres.co.uk for ?388 all in.

Set at 36 psi all round, I can already report that the tyres [9mm tread depth], which replaced Continental Contact 4x4 235/65/17, with 3-4 mm left, are incredibly quiet - far quieter than the Contis to the point of no road/tyre noise at all and this is on lanes/A roads and the M4 tonight.

These Grabber UHPs have improved the ride quality too. I have two vicious speed bumps to negotiate in my drive and, to my complete surprise as I was not expecting this at all, the car is noticably smoother over them, especially the back end with none of the thump that used ot occur with the old tyres as the wheels mounted or dropped off the speed bumps and it is the same on the open road with a much, much smoother ride on familiar roads.

And a run across hilly fields confirms that there is good grip on steep wet grass including hill starts without using any of the gizmos to lock things up!

I am still running the tyres in so cannot report on turn-in, braking, etc., as yet, but I will come back after a few hundred miles.

I can definitely recommend event-tyres.co.uk. I ordered at 1 a.m. in the early hours of Wednedsay morning and the tyres were fitted within 40 hours - and it could have been sooner if I had not put them off until the afternoon. The fitter turned up on time after calling to confirm the location. He used a wire brush to clear surface rust from the hubs and the rear of the wheels before putting on some copper grease to prevent the wheels sticking to the hubs as they had done when he tried to remove them. And the wheel balancing is spot on after a run out at speed tonight.

I am very surprised at the noticeable reduction in noise and the equally noticeable increase in comfort so I am glad I followed VW's example and can wholly recommend General Grabber UHPs.

 

[Nimrod]

Great report nooby.
Nice to have confirmation that UHP's are an excellent choice.
i shall definitely fit these in about 5k miles.
Cheers!

 

[NoobyT]

Just to confirm I still can't believe how much quieter and more comfortable my Treg is with these new Grabber UHPs.

Also, on severe sleeping plods and ruts, there were knocks in the suspension on the old Continentals and I was going to get the garage to check the bushes, but now there is silence!

I can see that fitting the wider 255 as opposed to the 235 makes the tyre wall "balloon" more so there is clearly more compliance in the tyre wall now and 40 mph over my cattle grids is just a mere brief rumble!

Braking and turn-in on dry and wet roads seems much the same for my style of driving - brisk in town and quick on the open road - but not ragging it!

Anyway, let me see if Kaine's directions on "How to load pretty pix" works! Er, no not yet - off to do my homework!!

Added later after a swift uploading lesson:

Treg 013.jpg[/attachment:c4xj276t]

 

[NoobyT]

And here's more stuff to waste your time looking at black round rubbery thingummies!

Here are some good sites:

Although a US site, it is very comprehensive so to read all about every tyre, see pix, wear ratings, user ratings, and all sorts of other info, spend a couple of hours here:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire-brand.jsp

If you want bigger tyres [tell your insurers if over standard size] go here:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

For UK supply at home, office or while you are sh*gging your mistress go here:

http://www.event-tyres.co.uk

If you want to make grown men cry at the size of your . . . er . . . rubber, go here:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2427967

[Still wish I'd had the nuts to go for these!]

And if you don't have a tyre pressure warning system, here's a retro-fit:

http://www.novablue.co.uk/shop/shop.php ... full&id=34

[Not used it so can't comment on efficiency or otherwise.]

And here are some other sites to while away your time "just doing something very important" while SHMBO irons, hoovers, gets the meal ready:

http://www.4x4tires.co.uk/

http://www.4x4tyres.com/

http://www.ctyres.co.uk/

http://www.etyres.co.uk/

http://www.hankooktire-map.com/index.php?lang=en

http://www.jettyres.co.uk/

http://tyremen.myshopify.com/products/2 ... c-4-xtreme [Does what is says - Winter tyres!]

A couple of mytreg posts:

tyre-update-t5528s50.html

tyres-&-servicing-t4051s650.html

VWvortex posts on max tyre sizes:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1357586&page=2

And wheel alignment:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1357586&page=2

Have fun!

 

[darrenasmith]

hello all.

although i have had my treg since 04 i have naff luck with tyres. currently have michelin diamaris 275/45/19 108y

but they have barely done 8k and 1, osf tyre is almost bald but the others have life in them but not much.

i dont know if i have the transfer box issue again as this was sorte under warranty feb 05, but why are the tyres wearing so much? i dont drive hard or break hard.

i do a lot of miles on country roads so need decent tyres and have seen the comments on vreds, hankook, general grabber etc

it seems that 275/45/19 is a pricey combo.

is it "safe" to go to 285/45/19 ? then i could get 285/45R19 111W XL TL HANKOOK RH06 for ?116 from camskill or
285/45R19 111W XL TL GENERAL GRABBER UHP for ?110

i just dont get the science behind all the rating info.

my other concern is that camskill dont fit, and i dont know anyone in basingstoke that will fit if i supply (never done it that way before)

also, should we always change all 4, or is a matching pair ok (assumin my rear set is good) i was also told by vw that i would need geometry redoing at about ?250 - is this true?

i'd warmly welcome any advice, and if i can offer help in return (i am an ifa) i'd be happy to assist

know its a bad time of year for this plea, but hopefully someone out there can help!

thanks

 

[NoobyT]

Ref the geometry: if your current tyres have worn relatively evenly within a couple of mm, then I wouldn't bother.

In any case, I'd go to a tyre company rather than a VW dealer as it will be a lot cheaper.