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Best Tyres for the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp

Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp drivers have left 13 tyre reviews on Tyre Reviews, covering 226,271 miles of real world driving. Every tyre they rated is ranked below, so you can see what actually works on this car.

This page covers the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp specifically. For the full picture, the Volkswagen Golf mk5 page combines 87 reviews from every variant. All Volkswagen Golf mk5 reviews →

  • 13owner reviews
  • 226,271 milescovered on them
  • 13different tyres rated
  • 74%average tyre score
Most fitted size - 8 reviews 225/45 R17 To scale, mm
Ø 634 225 101 17" 101 All 225/45 R17 data →

The best rated tyres that fit the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp

The rankings above can only speak for tyres a Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp driver has already reviewed. These are the highest rated tyres we hold that are actually manufactured in the sizes these drivers run - 225/45 R17 and 205/55 R16 - whether or not anyone here has fitted them yet. They are ranked on the TR Score, which is built from independent test results and every owner review of that tyre.

Summer tyres

No Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp driver has reviewed a tyre in the Summer category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 is our highest rated, at 9.7 out of 10.

Highest rated Summer tyres made in Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp sizes
# Tyre TR Score Made in Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp reviews
1 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 9.7 225/45 R17 Be the first →
2 Continental PremiumContact 7 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
3 Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
4 Pirelli Cinturato C3 9.4 All your sizes Be the first →
5 Falken ZIEX ZE320 9.4 All your sizes Be the first →
6 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 9.4 225/45 R17 Be the first →

Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Summer Tyres →

All Season tyres

No Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp driver has reviewed a tyre in the All Season category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is our highest rated, at 9.6 out of 10.

Highest rated All Season tyres made in Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp sizes
# Tyre TR Score Made in Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp reviews
1 Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 9.6 All your sizes Be the first →
2 Continental AllSeasonContact 2 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
3 Vredestein Quatrac 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
4 Michelin CrossClimate 3 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
5 BFGoodrich Advantage All Season 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
6 Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 9.4 All your sizes Be the first →

Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best All Season Tyres → Test winner: Goodyear Vector All Season 4

Winter tyres

No Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp driver has reviewed a tyre in the Winter category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is our highest rated, at 9.5 out of 10.

Highest rated Winter tyres made in Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp sizes
# Tyre TR Score Made in Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp reviews
1 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
2 Michelin Alpin 7 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
3 Bridgestone Blizzak 6 9.4 All your sizes Be the first →
4 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 9.4 All your sizes Be the first →
5 Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ 9.4 205/55 R16 Be the first →
6 Nokian Snowproof 3P 9.4 225/45 R17 Be the first →

Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Winter Tyres → Test winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

Fitment comes from each tyre's manufactured size list, and the sizes are the ones drivers reported when they reviewed. Check the size, load index and speed rating on your own doorplate before buying - a size a previous owner ran is not always the size your car left the factory on.

Tyre sizes Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp drivers run

The sizes fitted in the reviews on this page. Each one links to the top rated tyres in that size, across every car.

What Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp drivers say

The most recent owner reviews from this car, in their own words.

86%
Laufenn I Fit Ice 205-55-16- Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp 4,000 miles August 17, 2024
This tyres is on snow/ice road the best for price.
If you have mudy, ice road, they good. When start heat days you should take it off.
49%
Michelin Primacy HP 205-55-16- Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp 20,000 miles December 10, 2014
I had 4 new tyres fitted to my wife's car which tied in with a fuel voucher offer.... If she was a high mileage driver they might have been good value for money as they did wear reasonably well. However, after 25,000 miles and only 4 years on the car the tyres failed the MOT due to the tyres perishing. Not impressed when they were £116 each!
33%
Nankang NS2 225-45-17- Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp 1,250 miles August 28, 2013
Absolute rubbish.

These tyres were on a set of wheels I bought. I had ordered some Vredestein Sessantas for them however I was awaiting them to come back in stock.

I've never ever ever put budget tyres on a car for good reason - they're dangerous.
In the dry, they are about 70% as good as a premium tyre. In the wet, they are bad to the point of being dangerous. Grip fades in and out seemingly randomly and they provide virtually no steering feedback whatsoever. It's like driving on wood wrapped in wool.

Wet braking is an absolute no-no with maximum grip being reached with ease which would not bode well for a pedestrian if they wandered out infront of you while driving.

Anyone who says these tyres are good, or better than premium brands, clearly struggle to understand the dynamics of driving.

They create terrible road noise and are so hard they noticeably reduced the ride quality of the car.

Please please please if you value your life or the lifes of the people you'd crash into then
100%
Uniroyal RainSport 2 225-45-18-W Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp October 2, 2012
Just got these fitted on to golf mkvi gttdi. The previous tyres Goodyear egale f1's had been on for two years. They were good for grip etc espcially as I live in a area in the north west that has very fluctuating weather and a mixture of road types. Anyway the rain sport 2's are on and I'm very impressed. The grip is very good and actually improved all round performance. The weather is as per but behind the wheel is one reassured driver.
80%
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 225-45-17-W Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp April 26, 2012
My initial feelings are that these tyres offer very good levels of grip in the dry, the initial turn in is not that sharp (I went for the 91Y the 94Y may be slightly better) but once turning there is better feel and more communicative adjustability. In the wet, again there are high levels of grip and a relatively better feel, they have slightly higher tendancy to aquaplane than I was expecting but overall a very safe and grippy tyre. One big bonus is that they are very comfortable although this is usually low on my priorities. They are soft so I am not expecting a long life from them.
90%
Kumho Ecsta KU39 225-45-17-W Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp 4,000 miles October 6, 2011
great in wet or dry conditions - haven't experienced winter conditions with them so can't comment on that i'm afraid. good feedback, comfortable and reassuring. they perform just as good as tyres that are twice the price. highly recommended. i've done a smidge under 4000 miles and they haven't lost even a millimetre of tread depth yet so if that's anything to go by, then they should last a fair while...
86%
Toyo T1R 225-45-17- Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp 45,000 miles May 26, 2011
Having used michelin ps2's and conti sport 3's for many years the recent economic downturn has forced me to look at some mid priced tyres.
I was so impressed I have just fitted a new set to my MK5 Golf TDI 170.
I agree that they are great in the dry, progressiveness is not as good as the PS2's or conti sports but what do you expect for the money.
Wet grip is good and have only ever had aquaplaning when they were down to 2-3mm of tread like most tyres to be fair.
Road noise is a litte more than other tyres I have used.
Wear rate is as good as the michelins and conti's with a mix of motorway and spitited A/B roads at the weekends roughly 25,000 fronts, I've not replaced the rears yet but I would say between 45-50,000 on a front wheel drive.
A few of my friends also now use them and swear by them on his 370Z.
I would, and have bought these tyres again.
A good alternative would be the cooper zeon at this price.
96%
Goodyear Excellence 225-45-17- Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp 100,000 miles December 6, 2010
Just replaced my Goodyear tyres with the new excellence ones. Last Goodyears excellent - did 99000 miles on my rear set before needed changing, and get approx 40000 out of front tyres- v v impressed with them!
70%
Vredestein Snowtrac 2 205-55-16- Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp 18,000 miles September 8, 2010
I live in Braemar, so I see plenty or real winter weather. On my Mk5 Golf these tyres were great. The golf itself is a fantastic car in the snow and the vredestein tyre didn't let that down. It ploughs in deep snow even up to bonnet depth, and I found myself getting more places than expected too, and have never once been stuck, even when drift bashing. They even give me confidence when overtaking the summer tyre brigade in snow / slush.

Downsides, they are a harder tyre and you feel the bad bits of the road more. When you start to slip in the snow, you really lose it, but those are both characteristics of winter tyres and snow driving in general, so wouldnt fault the tyre I dont think.

All in all you are if you buy these they will be about as good as you can get, but i've opted not to go back to them. Not because of anything wrong with the tyre, just fancy a change and thought the Avon Ice Tourer ST looked pretty good and about ?20 cheaper a tyre - I run summer Avons with much enjoyment.

The Snowtrac 3 is out now and looks slightly better.

I got 18,000 miles from these tyres - winter only use on 60% country / 30 % Motorway / 10% Dirt track.

80%
Avon ZZ3 205-55-16- Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp 20,000 miles September 7, 2010
It's hard to tell what your getting with a review but as a, fast bust sensible driver (60-80 mph)in rural Scotland I really like these tyres.

I drive a Golf Mk5 and they really suit this car, the ride is quite and smooth and the steering is great. There is a big difference in noise with these tyres compared with my winter tyres - no surprises - they are way better.

In the wet I find them very good, but I do ease off a little, i've never had them let go on me. They will aquaplane in deep water at high speed, but only slightly - no tyre can disperse the deep stuff quick enough.

Looks shouldn't count but inevitably they do. Tyre looks great on an alloy and has rim protectors which is amazing for one of the cheapest mid range tyres - even the vredesteins cant do this, nor do they look good.

Only downside, I've had them on for 3 summer seasons switching front to back and they are finally done now after about 20,000 miles. Maybe I would have liked more.

I use Vredestien snow tracs in the winter, but I have just bought a new set of ZZ3 - ?54 each - What a buy when you know what you are getting.

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Every rating on this page was submitted by a driver through the review form on this site, naming the car, the tyre, the size and the distance covered. Reviews are checked by hand before publication, and the page rebuilds automatically as new ones arrive.

About the TR Score

The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, so you can check a car-specific ranking against the wider evidence.

Who does the testing

Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.

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