Shadowman Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 Just wanted to comment on how clever the tyre pressure warning system is on the GTI. I was driving into work last week and the warning light came on on my dash. Unfortunately I didn't have the means to accurately measure my tyre pressures so I put some air in each and reset the system to get me home. The next day, I reset all the tyres to 2.4 and reset the system again. A week later I'm thinking maybe it had been a system fault but, no, this morning the warning came up again. Now armed with a pressure gauge, I was able to detect that the right rear had fallen from 2.4 to 2.0 during the week. Clearly I have a very slow puncture or a dodgy valve or something. I guess I'll need to get it checked out as I assume it will only get worse. I was wondering what people's opinions are on getting tyres repaired - I've only done 8,000 miles and given it is a rear tyre it still looks almost new. If it does turn out to be a small puncture, is it a good idea / safe to have a repair done? I have 18" Continental Sport Contact 2 tyres. All feedback welcome! Thanks in advance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 For my own peace of mind, i would always replace a faulty tyre, especially on a performance car. I had a rear tyre blow out on me once, on the M11 doing over a ton.. was certainly an eye opener.. now i would rather just know that i had a healthy set of shoes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowman Posted January 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 Thanks Dave, yes I have heard a few people say they would not advise on a repair however small. I don't tend to drive excessively fast but even at legal speeds I'm sure a blowout would not be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melchior Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 I'd just like to add how stable the GTI is after an immediate tyre deflation. We hit a pothole at 70mph on the M25 in the MKV GTI. The impact was severe enough to deform the 17" Monza and cause the front left tyre to deflate instantly. SWMBO was driving and didn't realise the tyre (Bridgestone Potenza) had gone down. To be fair the only reason I knew for sure is because I heard it go. I guess if you lost a tyre completely it would be a different matter, nevertheless the car was extremely stable with a completely deflated front tyre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldiablorubino Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 I had a screw in the centre section of my rear tyre last month, first I knew was tyre pressure warning light. stopped at a garage and pumped up all four tyres, reset and continued journey, next day the warning came on again and the offending tyre had dropped down almost 10psi. mobile tyre fitter came out and repaired the tyre rather than replace it (only had 3000 miles on it - at least half motorway miles) haven't had any issues with it since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 I had the same a few days ago. Turned out to be a screw on the edge of the tyre so didn't hesistate to have it replaced. So yes, the tyre pressure warning system works well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowman Posted January 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2007 Cheers guys - yes it is a great warning system. I think I'll get it looked at and consider a repair if it's small and in the centre part of the tyre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble68 Posted January 17, 2007 Report Share Posted January 17, 2007 As long as a Tyre Fitter believes its possible to do a safe repair, I would go with their Professional opinion. So far no tyre fitter I've been to has ever suggested doing a repair where it wasn't possible, or was even a risk. So far luckily its only been the once that it hasn't been possible - £20 max vs £100+ for a tyre, always a good thing when its a cost you aren't expecting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemod Posted January 17, 2007 Report Share Posted January 17, 2007 I had a slow puncture on my rear left which was triggering the tyre sensor so when I headed for work one day and it came on I just assumed it was the same problem. I managed to get to work, 25 miles, then noticed that it was actually the front left that was the problem and it was completely flat In fact it was steaming. The only time i noticed the lack of grip was heading onto a roundabout and I was getting a bit of understeer. Says alot for the Conti's and the car that is was still driving so well. Needless to say the tyre was fecked and the next time the orange light comes on I will stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritesh Posted January 17, 2007 Report Share Posted January 17, 2007 I've had a blow out before and your right about one thing it really is an eye opener to say the least. I have had slow punctures too and most tyre centres would repair these if it were deemed safe to do so, they would not repair one that was close to the side/tyre wall etc. and if grip/grooves were ow. But I do agree with other posts, its better to know that you have a solid set of shoes under you as the tyre is the only thing that seperates you from the tarmac and a good set of boots could make the biggest difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble68 Posted January 17, 2007 Report Share Posted January 17, 2007 Oh well!!! Someone upstairs seems to have been listening to my posts, and decided to inflict me with a puncture :S, A nail toward the inside edge of tyre - essentially from what I can tell looks like it'll need a replacement. Seeing as the set are the original set and have managed 20K miles, I think I'm looking at a new set. ...at the same time as my insurance... lol Luckily Chester where I live and work has seen fit to set up an 8 week set of roadworks near where I work, which is causing all manner of fun, so I've been cycling in, plus next week I'm on Hols, so hopefully I can put it off till I return (just as long as it looks like the tyre will hold its pressure until then - not keen on wasting the spare on this instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Give etyres.co.uk a try. I just had my other 3 tyres replaced today by them so I now have a full set of Goodyear GSD3s. Kwik Fit charged me £172 for the privilege of letting them scratch my alloy while fitting one last week after a puncture. The etyres guy came to my office today and did the other 3 without putting a mark on them, all for £116.90 per tyre! Highly recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoSheds Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Andy, Do these mobile van firms come equipped with proper wheel balancing gear just as a matter of interest ? (having never used them in the past) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Yep, his van was fully kitted out. I had my reservations about it all being done in the back of a van but you'll be surprised what they can get in there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stooH Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Don't know if they have any mobile fitters but a really good place i've found to buy tyres is blackcircles.com but if anyone's going to buy from there pm me first and i'll send you a link then I get £5 put into my account from them!! Yeh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldiablorubino Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 i've used mobile tyre fitters for about 4 years with no problems at all. not a mark on my 18" Monzas either. for the record the total cost of the repair on my tyre was £23.50 inc VAT, which isn't bad, and if the tyre had not been repairable they would have come back and fitted a new tyre without charging for the first visit. all very reasonable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowman Posted January 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 I took mine into Denmead Tyre Services on Saturday. I had a nail in my rear driver's side tyre causing a slow puncture. I enquired as to whether they were confident they could work on my Monza II's without damage. They assured me I had come to the right place. Anyhow, they repaired the tyre for £13.95 without putting even a hint of a mark on my wheel. They said it was safe to repair and would not have done so had there been the slightest doubt. So a big thumbs up ( ) for Denmead Tyre Services. I would definitely recommend them to anyone in the Portsmouth / Waterlooville area. I have been impressed with them in the past and their prices seem pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowman Posted January 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 4 days after getting 1 puncture repaired, my warning light went off again yesterday. I had a nail in the other rear tyre this time! Thankfully, I was able to get that repaired as well. I reckon the Tyre Pressure Warning Sensor could have saved me having to buy 1, maybe 2, new tyres. Without the warning, it would be quite easy I reckon to damage a rear tyre by driving it while too flat... given they are so low profile I'm not sure you would notice until it was too late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robp Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Warning went off this morning on the way to work. Stopped at garage and after topping up 3 tyres, 2 of which were actually OK but the 3rd was down to 25psi, then found that the drivers side front was very low, and wouldn't take any air. Presumably there is something wrong with the valve; either way I didn't fancy putting space saver on as I travel home on M1/M25, so called etyres and someone coming out to fit them this afternoon. £129/tyre all in for Potenza RE040, 18s Very impressed with the service over the phone, so hopefully will be the same when they come out. Will let you know... They are bringing 4 tyres as I've now done 27.5k on the first set and had been putting off replacing them (27.5k - is that a record!? Right foot is fairly light, if not in general then I try not to spin the wheels from standing start). May as well bite the bullet and do all 4 even though the rears look OK. Guy on the phone said it's probably best to do all 4, which I assume makes sense from performance perspective Went for Potenzas if only because that's what I've got now, although I have heard good reports on other tyres from this forum As per other posts the tyre seemed pretty stable despite being way down: I think the Potenzas have a stiff sidewall so maybe that's why Very impressed with the tyre pressure warning, which could quite literally be a lifesaver. Am driving London-Leeds and back at the weekend so good that it's happened now and not at high speed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxfordlad Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I have done 7k on mine and have already had to put the fronts on the rear to get more life out of them (dunlops). However after doing it my sensor has come on. I am a bit worried about this, not checked out the PSI yet, but does anyone know that the rear or front tyres would have more PSI on factory delivery as I have not checked them since purchasing the car! Help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 after you switched tyres did you reset the monitor by keeping the TPMS button depressed till you hear the bong? that's not to say you shouldn't also check your tyre pressures as well as you've obviously left it a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stooH Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I would suggest checking the tyre pressure then... 7k miles and never checked it. Isn't that supposed to be one of the weekly checks on any car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxfordlad Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I switched the wheels themselves not the tyres, so should I still keep it pressed? I will go and check the PSIs, if they are ok, I will press it? - that the best course of action? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 robp - I had the RE070's on my Impreza WRX and they were superb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I switched the wheels themselves not the tyres, so should I still keep it pressed? I will go and check the PSIs, if they are ok, I will press it? - that the best course of action? [/ QUOTE ] First check the tyres, and adjust if necessary to the correct pressure. Then press the button until you hear the "bong". You've now "told" the sensors what the correct pressure is for each tyre. The warning light will only come on if a particular tyre gains or loses pressure after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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