Volkswagen up! Tyres

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Tyre Reviewed Dry Grip Wet Grip Feedback Handling Wear Comfort
Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02 (7) 89% 87% 87% 92% 94% 84%
Nokian iLine (16) 94% 90% 86% 77% 86% 94%
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 (301) 90% 88% 84% 84% 74% 82%
Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde (45) 83% 75% 79% 74% 84% 80%
Toyo NanoEnergy 3 (38) 82% 67% 74% 76% 82% 84%
Continental Premium Contact 5 (116) 87% 82% 76% 77% 58% 78%
Landsail LS588 UHP (90) 81% 75% 70% 68% 75% 80%
Hankook Kinergy 4S (11) 78% 72% 69% 62% 71% 75%
Avon ZV7 (127) 83% 79% 73% 73% 60% 79%
Continental Premium Contact 2 (198) 84% 77% 75% 73% 62% 73%
Toyo T1R (288) 83% 69% 75% 75% 63% 70%
Avon ZT7 (11) 79% 73% 69% 64% 60% 72%
Bridgestone Ecopia EP100 (8) 69% 60% 63% 53% 64% 63%

Volkswagen up! Tyre Review Highlights

Writing about the Firestone MultiSeason Gen 02 given 74% (185-55-15-)
Driving on a combination of roads for 7000 average miles
Please avoid these tyres if you live anywhere where summer temperatures usually go above 30 degrees Celsius. They simply cannot cope with the heat and they are literally dangerous when breaking in hot conditions. Braking is so poor when hot and dry, it is simply hard to believe how bad it is. However, when it is cold, it is another story, definitely they feel lot more secure. Also in rain no troubles, whatsoever. They also feel secure in directional stability when driving at higher speeds. This winter there was no snow (or ice) at all here in Serbia, so I cannot comment on snow properties.
tyre reviewed on 2023-05-05 05:40:36
Writing about the Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde given 67% (175-65-14-)
Driving on mostly motorways for 15000 spirited miles
No comments left
tyre reviewed on 2023-04-06 11:13:03
Writing about the Avon ZT7 given 57% (165-70-14-)
Driving on mostly country roads for 0 spirited miles
I'm quite a smooth driver, but on backroads I tend to enjoy carrying good speed through tight hairpins and bends. If that is you, then avoid these tyres as I found when leant on you will quickly find they are easily provoked into understeer. In fairness it is a very progressive behavior and also it's easily recovered from but it's definitely not suited to what makes a small and lightweight car fun to drive.
tyre reviewed on 2023-02-11 21:17:55
Writing about the Landsail LS588 UHP given 83% (205-40-17-)
Driving on mostly country roads for 4000 spirited miles
Running on a tuned 120hp VW Up.. Previously had a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4's which I wore through in under 10k - I drive my car hard - so wanted to go for something a little cheaper this time. Apart from a little less feedback through the wheel, these tyres are awesome - more than enough grip in dry and wet even when throwing the car into corners way quicker than I should be. No tramlining or anything negative to say - not sure about wear yet however, but if they can do better than the Michelins I'll be happy
tyre reviewed on 2021-01-09 08:22:44
Writing about the Bridgestone Ecopia EP100 given 64% (175-65-14-)
Driving on a combination of roads for 22000 spirited miles
Dry grip and wet grip are both OK. These tyres feel safe and comfortable when driving around the city or on motorways, but the handling is so-so (but manageable) on twisty B-roads and there is a lot of tyre squeal when cornering, even at very low speeds in multi-storey car parks.. So far they've lasted 35,000km and I expect to get another 10,000-15,000km. Overall, these are a fine general purpose tyre ... unless you enjoy driving with gusto when the opportunity arise. But if you're a sedate driver, the EP100s are more than fit for purpose.
tyre reviewed on 2019-07-31 23:40:22
Writing about the Nokian iLine given 74% (165-70-14-)
Driving on mostly country roads for 12000 easy going miles
Fitted to my VW Up and having experienced several Nokian tyres before, I still feel it is a good buy.

Although I have seen some tyres in this size which have lower rolling resistance and thus better fuel economy, the Nokians seem unbeaten on wear. Currently lost only 2,5 mm after approx. 20.000 km (12.000 m).

My previous Fiesta had 195 section Vredesteins, and stepping back to a narrower tyre the difference in turn-in and grip shows. This can not be held against the Nokians though! You notice you run out of tyre faster, although grip and control is always maintained.

It's a safe tyre, not a sporty one. Noise is very subdued although that can be down to the sound insulation too.
tyre reviewed on 2019-04-16 02:24:27
Writing about the Continental Premium Contact 5 given 80% (185-55-15-H)
Driving on a combination of roads for 10000 average miles
I replaced the front Bridgestone Ecopia tyres with the Conti premiumcontact5 tyres. I was drawn to these tyres as they promised more grip and I can confirm that they perform much higher than a premium eco tyre. I have noticed greater wear (although that could be because I am enjoying them more!) and a reduction in fuel economy on motorway drives but in an urban environment I have noticed an increase in fuel economy due to being able to carry greater momentum around corners. The tyres even performed much better than expected in the deep snow in the New Forest in February, being able to wade through 8 inches of fresh snow with ease!
tyre reviewed on 2018-10-06 13:29:38
Writing about the Toyo T1R given 23% (225-45-17-)
Driving on mostly town for 3000 average miles
An update to my earlier review from July where I replaced four Continentals with Toyos. In 3000 miles the sidewall developed a small hole in the side. Showed it in two tyre centers and they both said the same thing that Toyos have very rigid sidewalls and being made in Malaysia not suited to British climate. So I wasted my money on buying another to keep the matching four but if another one fails I’ll have to go with one odd tyre. In over 250,000 miles of motoring I’m a lifetime never had a sidewall develop a hole like that.
tyre reviewed on 2018-08-18 01:24:46
Writing about the Toyo T1R given 30% (185-50-16-)
Driving on mostly town for 3000 average miles
Bought 4 to replace Continental Premium Contact 2s and been disappointed from the start. Car slides when taking corners wet or dry to the point that worry about lose control. Regret selecting these and if could get money back I would but tyres don’t come with that. Have had to modify driving style because of these. Already showing signs of wear after 3000 miles.
tyre reviewed on 2018-07-19 21:32:58
Writing about the Hankook Kinergy 4S given 44% (165-70-14-Q)
Driving on a combination of roads for 10000 spirited miles
Dangerous in wet breaking. ABS always on, wet seems snow. Bad even in dry roads. Never again
tyre reviewed on 2018-06-23 19:27:38
Writing about the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 given 92% (185-55-15-V)
Driving on mostly country roads for 1000 spirited miles
These tyres replaced Toyo NanoEnergy 3s which I ran for about 30,000km. They were replaced not due to wear, but because the wet grip reduced dramatically and tyre noise and impact harshness increased.
PS3s were the best performance tyres available in this size, so I bought a set!

Ride comfort over sharp imperfections in the road (such as reflectors) has improved markedly, and surprisingly road noise seems lower (even though the Toyos had a 69dB rating, where the Michelins are 70 or 71dB).

Steering feel and immediacy has taken a dramatic leap forward with these tyres. Steering feel on initial turn-in is light but quick, and weight builds progressively as steering angle is increased. Now the Bilstein B12 kit fitted to my car really shines! My up! is now an overgrown go-kart.
tyre reviewed on 2017-10-07 20:09:37
Writing about the Avon ZV7 given 83% (185-55-15-)
Driving on for 0 miles
Driven around a thousand miles on these ZV7s and absolutely love 'em. I know it's only a VW High Up! but grip is great in both wet and dry and equal or better than the Contis it came with. The big difference is how quiet they are, can't really comment about wear as it's such a light car and not a huge mileage. Recommend.
tyre reviewed on 2017-01-06 16:40:31
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