UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Has anyone else had issues with easily damaged sidewalls with the Bridgestone Turanza 005 fitted to the Polo GTI on the 18 inch rims?

I've had a small (max. 2 cm diameter) sidewall bulge appear on the passenger rear last year after approx. 12,000 miles. (Only noticed by VW at last service but didn't get any worse and passed MOT with it last month luckily).

Took the car in today for it's 3rd service to receive a message saying there was a large bulge now on the front left (stupidly only had a cursory check over of the car before I dropped the car off as I was late) and didn't notice it this morning but definitely wasn't there 2 weeks ago when last checked Car has hardly been on the road since then.

Been back to confirm it with my own eyes and there's a good 8cm bulge in the sidewall. Never had one before, had two in the space of a year. Disappointing when the tyre had less than 6,000 miles on it as well and wouldn't say I drive it hard and neither was it kerbed. Mind you, state of the roads around Staffordshire maybe it's inevitable on lower profile tyres.

Don't want to accuse VW service staff of anything if it's just my bad luck or if it's a common thing with this tyre.

Can’t recall any other forum member experiencing tyre sidewall bulges on 215/40 R18 Bridgestone Turanza tyres although quite a few AW (pre-facelift) model Polo GTI / GTI+ owners on the forum swapped their Bridgestone Turanzas early for Michelin PS4 (myself included), as the PS4 IMHO is a much better tyre in virtually all respects than the Turanzas that VW fitted from the factory.

I’ve not seen sidewall bulges with Bridgestones mentioned on other VW forums either, so maybe it is the general state of the roads and perhaps you unknowingly caught the edge a raised drain cover or a pothole.

Hi. I think you've just been unlucky. As SRGTD says "so maybe it is the general state of the road".

If you think that you've been unlucky...
When I picked my previous car up (Hyundai I30N), on the way home from the garage in Kilmarnock (Scotland). I clipped the edge of what was really only a small pothole and on inspection the next morning, there was a nice side wall bulge! So only a 100mile or so on the tyre

Had another puncture as well when accidently running over some metal debris last year so guess I'm just cursed with 3 replacements in 18,000 miles. Never had to replace a single tyre before now.

Should maybe count myself lucky to have managed more than 100 miles though MikeDO!

The VW dealership not stocking any replacements (they are an uncommon size I know) and having had the car over 5 hours to do the service probably made me question just how bad my luck could be today.

2x Michelin PS4's going on first thing tomorrow morning thanks to the recommendations from users on here.