Best Tires For VW Golf R: Complete Guide

8 Best Tires For VW Golf R

The Volkswagen Golf R is a compact sports car with performance driving features. With high horsepower and a turbocharged engine, VW has put a focus on improving features for drivers. The high-level driving capability requires the proper tires to handle accurately. We have found tires to help improve cornering, road stability, and high-speed driving.

 This complete guide is an in-depth review of the 8 best tires for the VW Golf R. Included is a deep dive into the factory tires too. We compare all tires to highlight specific features in each. Tires are graded on manufacturer features, tire specifications, durability, warranties, and more.

The recommended tires are divided into specific groups such as best all-season, best winter, best highway, etc. Tires perform best in specific scenarios and it is important to highlight that. A driver in a winter climate will need to shop for different styled tires than a driver in a warm climate year-round.  

Here is a list of the 8 best tires for the VW Golf R:

BFGoodrich G-force Comp-2 A/S Plus - Best All-Season

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An all-season tire can provide above-average performance in all four seasons but optimal support in moderate to warm weather. It is best to look for an all-season tire with a directional tread pattern and sipes to handle slippery surfaces while maintaining flexibility in cold temperatures.

The BFGoodrich G-Force Comp-2 A/S Plus is our top pick for all-season tires on the VW Golf R.

This tire uses a newly updated tread pattern from prior BFGoodrich models that help increase overall traction levels on dry surfaces and in the snow. The tread is also made with high silica to create a better all-season compound. Tires tend to constrict in cold weather but with a silica tread, it can maintain pliability without sacrificing performance.

The new tread also features a directional pattern. This means the tire can cut through difficult weather like ice, snow, and slush easier. It connects to a set of squared shoulders to create a larger contact area on the tire when driving. Overall, this improves tire traction.

Other features include a set of v-shaped directional sipes, lateral grooves, and longitudinal grooves. Each feature allows the tire to perform better on slippery surfaces while adding hydroplane resistance for drivers.        

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 45,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,389 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 PSI
• Tread Depth: 9/32’’
• Tire Weight: 24 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 400
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

BFGoodrich is a popular tire with many sizes to offer. Interested buyers can find this tire available in sizes ranging between 16” and 20” in rim diameter.

What is the warranty on this tire?

BFGoodrich offers a 6 year / 45,000-mile tread warranty to cover any wear. It is best to keep the same four tires on your vehicle or your warranty drops to half mileage if your front and back tires differ.  

How is the road noise on this tire?

While BFGoodrich is typically known for the best traction and road performance, this tire provides extremely low road noise. Other BFGoodrich tires are known for noisy riding, but not this tire. Every ride is comfortable and quiet.

Michelin Primacy A/S - Best Touring

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A touring tire is considered a premium tire option with better durability, more comfortable riding, and providing all-around better road performance. Touring can be a general term when describing tires with other options available like “grand touring”. When looking for improved ride comfort and long-lasting treads, a touring tire is what you need.

The best touring tire for the VW Golf R is the Michelin Primacy A/S tire. This is an all-season, grand touring tire launched as the new successor to the older Primacy MXM4.

Michelin states that this tire is known for precision handling and quiet, comfortable driving. The tread design uses Michelin Enhanced ComfortControl with PIANO Noise Reduction Tuning in the tire to eliminate road noises and maintain smooth surface contact. This allows the tire to drive more directly onto the road while absorbing road noise.  

The design also uses a five-rib pattern that creates a direct channel towards outboard shoulders. These shoulders are wider than traditional all-season tires to provide more precise handling and cornering.

All-season capabilities on this tire include zigzag sipes and circumferential grooves to evacuate water from the tire with biting edges. This creates more traction on snow and ice while providing hydroplane support.    

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: Up to 55,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,521 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 PSI
• Tread Depth: 9/32’’
• Tire Weight: 25 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 540
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This is a widely available tire sold by one of the most popular manufacturers. It is available in sizes ranging between 17” and 22”.

What is the warranty on this tire?

Michelin provides a 6 year / 55,000-mile warranty for H and V speed-rated tires. Coverage on tire treads drops to 6 years / 45,000 miles on a W-rated tire. Michelin also provides a reliable special warranty with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee and a 3 year flat changing policy.  

Can this tire drive in the snow?

Absolutely! This is a grand touring all-season tire made with specific features to improve winter performance like zigzag sipes, center ribs, inboard ribs, and sweeping grooves. You can feel safe using this tire in any condition.  

Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde - Best Summer

Summer tires have specific performance features that create a more dynamic vehicle driving experience. The VW Golf R comes equipped with summer tires because of the performance driving capabilities and sporty feel of the car. Some key summer tire features include shallower grooves and a solid rib for better dry and wet traction.

The best summer tire pick for the VW Golf R is the Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde. This premium tire comes equipped as an OEM tire on BMW model vehicles.

The tread is made with hybrid materials to create a better overall tread for dry performance and wet road traction. The hybrid tread also makes it possible for this model tire to use run-flat technology. This means that if you experience a punctured tire, you can continue driving on it for up to 50 miles before replacing it. It serves as an alternative to a temporary spare.

The internal area of the tire uses a multi-pitch tread variation for noise reduction while driving. There are also grooves that expel water from these areas for hydroplaning resistance.

Pirelli included tension control in the design for more driving comfort. These features are all made with new, updated materials to allow for lower fuel consumption while reducing CO2 emissions.      

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,389 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 PSI
• Tread Depth: 9/32’’
• Tire Weight: 25 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 420
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire can be found in sizes between 13” and 19” in rim diameter.

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is no limited wear warranty coverage on this tire. Pirelli does not offer a great warranty policy here, but this is an industry-standard for summer tires.

What happens if I use this tire in the winter?

One of the reasons this tire has a poor warranty is because of the winter performance. When this tire is exposed to cold weather, it loses all flexibility and begins to slide on the road and struggle to brake as smoothly. The treads will crack in the cold too. It should avoid winter conditions.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 - Best Winter

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Winter tires are also referred to as snow tires. They are made specifically for snow and ice driving to maintain performance. Winter tires have a more open, deep tread and a set of shoulder blocks. Both features create more ways for a tire to get dry traction in snow. The narrower aspect ratio helps to minimize the plowing effect through snow too.

The best winter tire for the VW Golf R is the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90. Bridgestone has created a reliable snow tire with so many additional features that separate it from competitors.

The Blizzak WS90 is a studless tire with a directional tread pattern to allow for more accurate handling despite the difficult conditions. This tire also increases block stiffness to create more responsive steering and longer tread life.

Bridgestone uses different technologies in its tire designs. The Blizzak WS90 is made from an EdgePerformance Technology package that incorporates extra sipes, biting edges, and interlocking features to create a better-performing winter tire.

This upgraded tire has a larger surface area for road contact and 15% more block edges than previous models. The Multi-Cell compound is an advanced winter feature to add bite particles into the treads to make the silica compound perform even better.    

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,389 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 PSI
• Tread Depth: 12/32’’
• Tire Weight: 23 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: N/A
• UTQG Traction: N/A
• UTQG Temperature: N/A
• Winter tires are not UTQG Rated

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

Bridgestone makes this winter beast in sizes between 15” and 19” with dozens of choices in each size category.  

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is no limited tread life warranty on this winter tire. The uniformity warranty covers the first 2/32” of tire wear.

What happens to this tire in the summer?

Winter tires should not be driven during the summer. Because the rubber is softer, a winter tire cannot provide the same crisp road traction as it does during the winter due to the heat. The rubber is too soft to withstand higher temperatures and it will break down and wear quickly.

Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 - Best Performance Street

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Performance street tires are ultra-high-performance tires that enhance the ability of your vehicle with better cornering, road grip, and speed capability. They can gain better traction on dry tarmac and perform at max speeds. While these tires can handle the rain, they do best on dry roads.

The perfect choice for a performance street tire for the VW Golf R is the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tire. This is a performance summer tire with special features to give the best driving experience.

Firestone uses a special high-performance tread made from silica and Long Link Carbon. This mixed compound provides an aggressive feel to the rubber while maintaining an asymmetric design pattern.

In the design is a set of independent shoulder blocks to create a wider base on the tire for better handling and cornering. Firestone loves to incorporate new technology into their tire designs.

The Pulse Groove Technology allows the rubber to create outward flowing channels for water for better hydroplaning resistance. The circumferential grooves help create a bigger contact patch on the tire for a more direct grip too.  

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,389 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 PSI
• Tread Depth: 10/32’’
• Tire Weight: 23 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 340
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire is available in many sizes between 16” and 20” in rim diameter.

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is no limited tread life warranty on this performance summer tire. Firestone does provide a uniformity warranty to cover the first 2/32” of wear.

Nitto NT05 - Best Performance Track

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The Nitto NT05 is a max performance tire known for street and track performance. Nitto developed this tire with racing in mind and it is the perfect choice for our favorite performance track tire for the VW Golf R.

The tire design is made to maintain high-level handling and performance without sacrificing tire durability. Nitto uses a tread compound with a reinforced construction on the tire sidewalls for more accurate precision cornering. The tread’s construction allows for better dry traction, direct road response, and high-speed driving.

Performance track tires typically have a unique design with unfamiliar grooves compared to an all-season or summer tire. They are much shallower with fewer grooves for wet traction. This tire does have a continuous center rib for better block rigidity and road stability.

This tire is not intended for winter usage and is a strict summer performance tire.  

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,389 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 PSI
• Tread Depth: 7/32’’
• Tire Weight: 24 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 200
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This performance track tire is available in sizes between 15” and 20” in rim diameter.

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is no tread life warranty on this tire. This is a performance summer tire with track and competition-style features. The treads tend to not last as long as other tires but provide multiple summer seasons of usage.

Does this tire have any winter driving features?

No, definitely not! Please avoid using this tire in the winter. The cold weather will damage the treads and it will be very slick on the roads. The treads are too shallow to handle wintry conditions.

Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 - Best All-Purpose

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The perfect all-purpose tire can do a little bit of everything. On a VW Golf R, the ideal all-purpose tire can handle performance driving without giving up durability and traction features that the best all-season options can offer.

Our top pick for the best all-purpose tire is the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2. This is an ultra-high-performance all-season tire with unique treads that give it an advantage.

Hankook designs this tire with Kontrol Technology. This is an innovative program Hankook uses to find better research and develop better tires. They also improve key features such as performance, safety, and road comfort.

The tread is a hybrid compound made from silica and carbon to form a more versatile tread. It has a longer tread life and more accurate wet road traction features than a silica-only tread compound tire.

This tread design is a semi-rib asymmetric pattern. This pattern also contains wider outboard shoulder blocks to create better handling and cornering features. On the interior of the tire is a set of intermediate and center ribs to improve the responsiveness of the tire for steering.

Wet performance relies on a set of circumferential grooves and 3D sipes. Both work to get rid of water from the grooves of the tire and create larger dry traction surfaces. The 3D sipes also release extra biting edges in winter weather to cut through ice and snow.    

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 50,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,389 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 PSI
• Tread Depth: 10/32’’
• Tire Weight: 22 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 500
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This is a popular tire option and even comes as the factory tire option on some popular vehicles. It can be found in sizes ranging between 16” and 20” in rim diameter.

What is the warranty on this tire?

The limited warranty on this tire is a 6 year / 50,000-mile warranty with a 30-day free trial to give new customers the chance to test the tire.

Do these tires last long?

Yes absolutely! This tire is well-known as one of the most reliable treads on the market. It provides long-lasting durability and lasts up to 70,000 miles.

Dunlop Space Miser - Best Temporary Spare

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A temporary spare is often referred to as a “donut”. It is a reliable safety tool to store in your vehicle in the event of a flat tire emergency. They are very compact, lightweight options to regain temporary road mobility. Our favorite temporary spare for the VW Golf R is the Dunlop Space Miser spare.

This temporary tire solution can replace a flat or damaged tire and give you time to get your vehicle to the nearest repair shop to be fixed.

Temporary spares should not be driven in harsh winter conditions like snow or ice. They do not provide the same support as a traditional tire.

Remember that a temporary spare is meant for limited use only. Driving too much on a temporary spare could result in damage to your vehicle.    

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 2,094 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 60 PSI
• Tread Depth: 5/32’’
• Tire Weight: 10 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: N/A
• UTQG Traction: N/A
• UTQG Temperature: N/A

FAQ

How many miles can this last?

The Dunlop Space Miser can last up to 70 miles of driving before it is time to replace it. We do not recommend reaching this number on your spare because of the risks it poses to your vehicle.

What is the top speed I can drive?

The top speed to drive the Dunlop Space Miser is 50 MPH. Any faster than this can result in tire blowouts or vehicle damages. It is recommended to avoid highways when riding with a spare.

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) - Factory Tire

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The exact tire you will see on your VW Golf R when purchasing from the dealership may vary. But it will be a summer tire. Volkswagen puts a summer tire on this vehicle to emphasize performance driving capabilities. One of the tires you will see is the Pirelli P Zero (PZ4).

This is a max performance summer tire made with special silica, carbon-based treads. This unique design creates a reliable dual-grip tire for wet and dry roads. The handling features overall are improved from previous models and this tire provides great comfort features for a summer tire choice.

The tread pattern is asymmetric with outer shoulders for precise cornering stability.

Key features that highlight the wet traction ability are the lateral grooves and four circumferential grooves. Both work together to provide hydroplaning resistance.  

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,389 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 PSI
• Tread Depth: 9/32’’
• Tire Weight: 21 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 300
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire is available in sizes between 18” and 23” in rim diameter.

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is no limited tread life warranty on this tire. Pirelli does not give a warranty offering on summer tires.

Can this tire drive in the winter?

No, it cannot drive in the winter. This is a summer tire and if driven in the winter it will struggle to provide the necessary support. The treads will also wear faster.

Continental ContiSportContact 5P  - Factory Tire

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The second factory tire that can be found on the VW Golf R factory models is the Continental ContiSportContact 5P. This is another max performance summer tire with key features to provide a great driving experience.

It compares nicely to competitor summer tires because of extended durability and great wet traction support.

The tread is made from Continental’s Black Chilli Technology with a special racing-grade carbon compound and resin. The combination creates added traction and support in higher temperatures and at faster driving speeds.

Drivers have incredible flexibility while riding with this tire because of tread rigidity and rubber flexibility. This is an above-average summer tire and a highly recommended option for drivers looking specifically for added performance to their vehicle.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,356 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 PSI
• Tread Depth: 10/32’’
• Tire Weight: 21 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 240
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire is available in sizes between 18” and 22” in rim diameter.

What is the warranty on this tire?

Continental does not provide a tread life warranty on this tire. They do offer a special warranty with a 60-day trial and a 3-year flat changing policy.

How to Read A VW Golf R Tire

Once you decide on a tire you like, it is time to shop. When tire shopping, it is important to understand how to read the sidewall of a tire. The tire sidewall contains important information about the tire like tire type, sizing, and other specifications. If this is not familiar to you, don’t worry.

We have created a brief chart that explains how to reach the tire step-by-step.

VW Golf R Tire Sizes & Models Available

The VW Golf has two primary tire sizes that fit all recent models.

• ‍225/40R18
• 235/35R19

The VW Golf R is a bit unique in its release approach. They do not release many different models and stick with one or two different types per year and a consistent sizing option. Below is a chart containing the VW Golf R releases since 2015 to help you match your model to the correct tire size.