RE: Winter tires and rotors/pads

[Tim Irwin <timi@Interlinq.com>]

Unfortunately you're somewhat restricted in the winter tire department with
the GLX. You can go with either a 195/55 15 or 205/50 15. The three that I
considered were the Toyo Observe, Pirelli P210, Pirelli Ice Asymetrico (Ice
version of the 210), and Pilot Alpin. All are fairly pricey ($90-125
depending on where you get them). I went with the Pirelli 210 on steel
wheels from The Tire Rack, as the others didn't seem to have as good of
non-snow capability (this winter I haven't even been in snow yet). This will
allow me to get some sticky summer only rubber on in the spring instead of
the stock Eagle GA's. Depending on your driving habits and winter driving
conditions, you might also consider an all season (Dunlop D60 A2, Toyo
Proxes FZ4, etc.), but remember that they are a compromise in either snow or
high performance conditions.

You cannot go with a 14" winter wheel due to the size of the brakes on the
GLX (unless the 11" rotors on the 94/95's make that much of a difference).
Check the clearance between the rotor and your stock wheels. On mine its
pretty tight.

Tim Irwin
'98 GLX

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Boyer [mailto:email@domain.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 1:04 PM
To: JettaGLX list
Subject: Winter tires and rotors/pads


My Dunlops are almost bald, and now we have snow ... need winter tires.

The local place suggested Pirelli Winter 210s (IIRC), which would run 
about $120 per tire. Sure, they might be nice tires, but that's 
definitely NOT the plan for some tires I'll be using for three or four 
months and that's it! They also suggested picking up a set of four 
cheapie 14" snow rims, which leaves me with more options as far as snow 
tires go. Not cheap, either, though.

So, what're you all running this winter? And how much did you pay for the 
tires? Spending three hundred to five hundred bucks isn't the plan, here, 
especially since I'm going to need new summer tires in a couple months 
anyhow!

On another topic, do any of you have recommendations for brake rotors and 
pads? Obviously, Mintex Redbox are the pads of choice. I have a '95 (July 
'94) GLX ... not positive what size my rotors are stock, but I know that 
they upgraded the size at some point between '95 and '96. Should I go 
with slotted? Drilled? Any idea what the maximum feasible diameter would 
be? Plus, what brands to stay away from?

Any advice would be welcome! TIA.

-Tom Boyer
'95 GLX (black/black, fast, fun, but slippery in the snow!)

Zip-zap ... zip-zap ... it's Tom ... Tom Boyer ... cyng@lamere.net!
         ... who cares?