Tires BRIDGESTONE or Firestone

The Firehawk Indy 500 tires aren't perfect but they hold up well on a track known for eating tires. Additionally they are predictable in wet/dry conditions which is perhaps more important for learning.

If you don't need run flats, get Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s. Rebadged Bridgestone tires that are stickier than most Michelin tires, and cheaper too

I also really like Winterforce tires. again far less expensive but great tread and can be studded if you want.

I was always a Michelin buyer because they were consistently quiet and long lasting offering excellent all around performance. 20,000 mikes ago I replaced the OEM tires on my Mk7 Jetta R-Line with the Turanza Quiettrack and am pleased without any regrets.

Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's seem to be the best budget performance tires.

Costco put on a set this (2021) spring but it is too soon to know much. They ride quiet and straight (we also did an alignment). Note: to keep the Costco warranty, you must go back within a week or so to have them re-torque the nuts.

I have a 2017 and have used Ecopia tires from day one. Original tires lasted me two years and over 60,000 miles. The current set has 40,000 and still going very strong. I average 50 mpg so they seem to be working well in all facets of their job.

After looking into it a bit I went with a set of Firestone Indy500s that mounted and balanced came out to less than $800. Had them for 6 months now, and no complaints so far.

I got some cheap $100 tires and even those are better than the stock Bridgestones

I was unfortunate to receive my GTI with a set of the RE97AS's. Rough surfaces are the worst - makes everything in the car rattle or vibrate. Dry grip is quite poor (as others have mentioned), bad breakaway even at low throttle inputs. At cruising speeds on newer highways (rubberized asphalt) everything seems fine.