GoodYear UltraGrip 7 Erfahrung | Posts 16+

@ Mr. Antje

Quote:

In the summer, I use 17" wheels with 225 tires (Michelin PS2). In the winter, I use 16" wheels with 205 tires (Conti T810). It's not flashy tuning, but rather how the previous owner bought/ordered them from VW. With both tires, I don't have your problem.

You wouldn't be driving around with 195/65/15 "record" tires and a standard suspension, would you?

I'm interested in the differences in handling and responsiveness between 195/65 R15 and 205/55 R16 tires, as I might consider upgrading to 16-inch wheels if it's worthwhile.

That's exactly the combination that Mahk uses in his A4, which is essentially the same model as the Passat.

I don't think it's entirely appropriate to compare the standard Passat with the V6 model, because the V6 already has a different setup on the front axle, including a different steering rack (with steering dampers and possibly a more direct ratio).

Oh, I see you're from near Düsseldorf, so that tire exchange offer isn't really relevant to you either.

I didn't know that my suspension was so different. I thought the V6 only had reinforced front springs due to the weight, which would actually make it less sporty. However, mine isn't lowered (like the G3 with the "Plus" suspension). Also, the steering doesn't necessarily have to do with oversteer or understeer, but rather what the driver perceives. That's why I wanted to share my experience with a Passat and 205-size 16" tires with you...

@ BM
Currently, I'm using 195/65R15 UG7 tires, and in the summer, I use 205/55R16 Bridgestone Turanza tires. The 195s feel much softer and more unstable, which could also be due to the winter tires (softer compound, deeper tread, plus a higher sidewall). I'm considering selling the 205 Road America set.
If you are interested, please send me a private message. - haithamina

Turanza ER 30 or ER 300 (just to be completely clear ).

m;

@martin
Both the front tires are ER 30 and are new, having been replaced before the switch to winter tires. The rear tires are ER 300 and still have at least one season of use left. There is no noticeable difference in performance between the ER 30 and ER 300 tires while driving.
haithamina

@haithamina

Quote:

The 195s are noticeably softer and more flexible, which may also be due to the winter tires (softer compound, deeper tread, plus a higher sidewall).

Thanks for the information. I think the 15-inch wheels are the cause. With my vehicle, the Ug7 performs almost as well as the standard summer tires of the same size in terms of handling.

I'll probably switch to 16-inch wheels.


@Mr. Antje

Quote:

The steering itself doesn't necessarily have to do with oversteer or understeer, but rather what the driver is being told. That's why I wanted to share my experience with a Passat and 205 tires on 16" rims....

Of course not. But a vehicle with quite indirect steering feels sluggish in its response. Perhaps this can be slightly improved by increasing the toe-in a bit (within the specified tolerances).

BM wrote:

@mahk Quote: However, what I've noticed is: it's quite wobbly. Perhaps the somewhat worn suspension is also contributing, but compared to the Continental PremiumContact 2 (205/55VR16) in the summer, it's somehow softer... Well, it's always good to compare apples with apples, and not with pears . Unfortunately, I only have the Hankook tire in the same size as a summer tire (they were new when I took possession of the vehicle). My UG7 tires perform better than my summer tires in every aspect. However, the car feels like a motorboat to drive. The car tends to oversteer quite a bit and is far from agile. I'm used to better handling from my older Quattro models (85Q). Therefore, I would be interested in a direct comparison of the responsiveness of both parameters, because I am considering an upgrade soon.

Hello,

"This seems to be a general characteristic of winter tires. Since I started using them, and I always choose tires from top brands, I've experienced this spongy feeling in the winter. It's probably due to the soft rubber compounds combined with a large proportion of tread grooves and flexible sipes. This results in a completely different driving feel compared to summer tires, which have large, solid tread blocks, a smaller groove proportion, and harder, high-temperature-resistant compounds. In addition, a smaller tire size is often chosen for winter tires, which further affects the driving characteristics."

With the current G IV model, I consciously chose the 205/55/16 size, which I consider to be the maximum acceptable size for the winter conditions in the flatlands of Hesse. However, these tires are simply no match for the (even wider) 225/45/17 summer tires from Dunlop.

These tires are also from Goodyear (specifically the Eagle UG GW3 model) and they perform perfectly from the very beginning.

On my Polo 9N, I have Dunlop M3 tires in size 185/60R14. They are quite noisy in the city at speeds of 50-60 km/h, which is probably due to the poor insulation of the Polo's wheel wells. However, they run perfectly smoothly and quietly at highway speeds. Compared to other all-season tires (Kumho Powermax) of the same size, these tires feel surprisingly sporty. As mentioned, they are the same size as my summer tires.

Roger wrote:

"These are likely due to the soft compound combined with a large proportion of profile grooves and flexible lamellae. This results in a completely different driving feel compared to summer tires, which have large, solid tread blocks, a lower groove ratio, and harder, high-temperature-resistant compounds. In addition, a smaller wheel size is often chosen for winter tires, which further affects the driving characteristics." "With the current G IV model, I consciously chose the 205/55/16 size, which I consider to be the maximum acceptable size for the flatlands of Hesse during the winter. However, these tires are simply no match for the (even wider) 225/45/17 summer tires from Dunlop."

1) I actually explained it to myself like this:
Squishy feeling: tire sidewall height.
Reduced grip: Rubber, tread pattern, and width.
"That's funny. I don't find it as extreme as you describe. Summer tires are definitely better, but I'm actually quite satisfied with the driving experience in the winter. Besides, our tire brand (which has the same size) isn't that different either."

@Mr. Antje:

Based on your description, your driving style seems very similar to mine. I often like to drive a bit faster when traffic conditions allow. In places where I can easily maintain speed in a curve with the standard rear axle without any issues, I have to brake beforehand with the active rear axle, otherwise the ESP system has to work excessively. This is the case, for example, at the Frankfurter Kreuz, when driving on the A5 from Kassel towards the A3 in the direction of Würzburg. There's a kind of trough where the road sharply turns to the right and downwards, then to the left and upwards again; you might recognize the spot. With the active rear axle, you might get a bit nervous there, whereas with the standard rear axle, you can happily continue on your way.

The guardrails there could tell you a story about what happens every day, especially when it's wet. How many cars have already scraped against the guardrails there... .

Perhaps the Goodyear GW3 tires are also no longer state-of-the-art when compared to current designs.

Where is the trough?

@Martin:

Coming from the north (already parallel to the main road on the exit ramp), it's located approximately above the inscription "Habip Aydin," under the two bridges . The subsequent hairpin turns in the cloverleaf are also challenging; in fact, the road surface was recently replaced because so many vehicles had driven off the road...

UI, yes, it even looks menacing from above (press reload, and you'll get a new image with a pink arrow).

That's exactly how it is - I couldn't even create that in the office because we didn't have the right software.

The critical point is the very first right-hand curve, which throws you off balance because it slopes downwards. Before that, there's a straight stretch of road with 4 lanes going straight ahead, which is often without the (speed) limit outside of rush hour, and a roughly 1 km long exit ramp that can handle the maximum speed (officially 100 km/h) even without traffic. This encourages speeding. However, even in the fast left-hand turn that follows, less attentive drivers already start to lose control . This happened almost every day for a while. I even had the experience where there were a total of 4 (!) accidents on that short stretch of road, all independently of each other and without any ice or snow ...

Oh yeah....

Sometimes I also drive my motorboat through that area.

Matthias uses Campiro tires in the winter, which are actually very good, and Continental Eco Contact tires in the summer, which offer almost no grip on the road.

....I don't shave like you guys do...

PS and OT: There's a plane on the highway, hahaha...

Roger wrote:

Based on your description, your riding style seems very similar to mine. I often like to go a bit faster when traffic conditions allow. In places where I can easily continue at full speed into a curve with the standard rear tire without any issues, I have to brake beforehand with the wider rear tire, otherwise the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) has to work excessively. 2) If that corner appeals to you. 3) With the WR (wide receiver), you end up with sweaty palms, whereas with the SR (slot receiver), you can still happily whistle a tune while running your route.

"Yes, it's probably something like that. My last set of four Michelin PS2 tires were all worn out after one season (approximately 25,000 km), although I had a different type of commute back then than I do now."
The cornering speeds are naturally lower, and the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) intervenes much more aggressively. I once had Michelin Pilot HX (or something like that). They were worse than my winter tires in a smaller size. So, I'm still satisfied with the size and the brand. Unfortunately, there aren't really any proper performance tires for winter use. I don't find them spongy, though. They just have less grip than better summer tires. The only thing I have a little trouble with after switching them is the "worse" straight-line stability. You have to be much more careful with the steering. Probably because of the width and the lower weight compared to my alloy wheels . Yes, really.
"Well, I used to live in Bergen-Enkheim, but I had my old Dutch Mazda back then (the suspension wasn't great), and I once had a near miss at the Stuttgart Kreuz with it. Now I avoid that area. I come from Stuttgart and always take the A67 towards Cologne near Darmstadt, and I usually have the car fully loaded with my wife and child, so I take it slow."
3) Yes, I once had summer tires, as described above, that were even worse.

Ah, that section of the A5 highway connecting to the A67 towards Mainz and Cologne. That's where I had a key experience with my old Audi 80: "NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS." They have those typical South Hessian concrete slabs in the curve, but with a significant "bump." And every time you hit one of those bumps, being a few centimeters further to the right wasn't very pleasant...