I think i will be putting a 195/45 profile tyre on my new 14x6 wheels, but i get quite a few good quality options for roughly the same price in this size!

The options are a Yoko A539, Continental SportContact, Dunlop SP9000, Uniroyal Rainsport or a Falken Ziex ZE512 which is marked as an 'Ultra High Performance Tyre'.

I know that the A539 is a very popular choice, and I've only ever heard good things about it. My friend has the Dunlops, albeit the same tyre stretched across and 8j rim and i know firsthand that it just grips and grips and grips! Another friend has the continental tyres and can't speak highly enough of them.

Which leaves the other two. The Uniroyals i have also heard good things of, though i seem to remember a few complaints about them. FInally, the falkens, which i am considering mainly because they are marked as an Ultra High performance tyre, which sounds exciting!

Wet weather performance will be an issue here, as we are now approaching winter and i would liek to have confidence in my tyres ability to grip in the wet as well as the dry.

So my question is really, does anyone have any experience of the above tyres, in the wet or the dry, and what would be the best choice?

Thanks!

I had some experience of 195/45-14 Uniroyal Rainsports on a Mk1 Golf, and found them to be pretty useless in the wet as it happens. There isn't enough weight in the car to push down on a tyre that size for it to be any good in the wet.

Seemed pretty good in the dry though, but there wasn't much dry before we got rained on.

I was considering Falkens at one point but got told they aren't that great, although my bosses Impreza seems great on them according to him. Different cars etc.

I've got 14x6 rims too, and I'm swaying towards Continental SportContacts, albeit in 165/55-14...

I had A539s in 175/50/13 and they were good tyres in the dry, but in the wet they were pretty terrible. They weren't bad if you were driving normally but if you did anything that vaguely resembled pushing the car they would start to slide.

I've had conti sport contacts 195/45/14's on my borbet A's and although i found them to be excellent tyres, they are rather on the wide side and look a bit balloon like on a 6J. They also started rubbing on the inside when on my mk3 lowered 60/40.

I've also had Toyo T1-R's in 15's and iirc they came up slightly narrower in the 195 variety so could be another good choice.

Just my 2penith.

Edited 9 October, 200718 yr by StueyB

Iv had the Toyo T1-R's in 195,45,15, but on a 106.

I drove the car hard most times i drove it (Lowered with bucket seats...harnesses etc..u get the idea)

^ Lets put it this way..in the dry i could go on 3 wheels on a corner/roundabout and on in the wet i stayed on the road

If your after a slight stretch on your 6j rim id recomend looking at a 155,55,14 tyre.

I have just had the conti's fitted to my mk3 and i am not overly impressed to be honest. I did get a slightly different size in 185/50 R14's and my car is lowered 60/40 but it just doesn't feel quite right. I have had the tracking checked so its not that either.

If i was to choose again i don't think i will be going for them.

I have 14 x 6J wheels. Either going with the Yokos or Toyos...haven't decided yet.

so would 195/45's be the best for a 6j wheels?

Not really, they are a wee bit wide really. But you'll still get away with it and they can look OK.

Would you boys reccomend a different size? Can i get a lower profile? I almost dont see the point in stretching across a 6j rim, id rather have a normal tyre and gain the extra grip from the larger contact patch.

And thanks VW Technik, but as wet weather performance is an issue i think id rather avoid a nankang!

Would a 165/55 Potenza be a better choice? Basically my wheels are 14x6 and i want something with a relatively low profile, perhaps a tiny bit of stretch BUT only if it doesnt compromise performance.

Fair play skatty, 6j is hardly the best size to acheive a "stretch" on anyway but meh...my car is slow so il be after looks arather than performance.

I'm sure a mk3 owner will point u in the right direction

I went for 185/50 on mine after my deliberating for months, looking around and getting advise. They still fit under the arches with a nice drop and look low profile enough.

Just a shame i didn't choose the right tyres, although saying that they are getting better

I nearly bought the ultra soft compound 185x50 track wets in this months PPC,but i went for road aquas instead.. 185x55 are a bit 'buggy' really,but purposeful and feel good - only 2.6% over standard 165x13 gearing,and they sit in the arches nicely with the rim protection giving a nice flat wall. And with catch on the front outer,only if you're silly. They're Goodyear Hydragrip,got a full set fitted 'all in' for £180. Advised

so would 195/45's be the best for a 6j wheels?

195/45s are good in the dry but in the wet you end up tramlinning and aquaplanning everywere ..

165/50s are really good give a small streach and are loads better in the wet and cant tell the diffrence in the dry . I know enjoy driving in the wet ..

Edited 11 October, 200718 yr by StevieDavison

I still stand by 195/45 on 14x6 rim!

On my 14x6j's I'm going 195/45 on the rear and 185/50 on the fronts.

Mark...

Edited 11 October, 200718 yr by max_crox