I've got myself a set of 16" A3 wheels ready to be fitted with new winters. Still not decided what tyres to go for yet though but i am sure they'll be better than previous winters running summer tyres.
I've just received two ContiWinterContact TS 830 in 205/55 R16 fitment, to keep spare until my Michelins are worn down to the snow markers (or I get a puncture). Decided to take advantage of the summer pricing on winters a couple of weeks ago. Cost £89 each which I think is pretty good given the amazing reviews they've been getting. 
I've been really happy with my Primacy Alpin PA3s though. Just fancied trying summat different next time
to see if I could tell any difference I suppose.
As you say, any winters will make a huge difference compared to summers when it gets cold (<7degC)...
I've been really happy with my Primacy Alpin PA3s though. Just fancied trying summat different next time
to see if I could tell any difference I suppose.
As you say, any winters will make a huge difference compared to summers when it gets cold (<7degC)...
I did look at getting a wintrac xtreme as backup for punctures etc. but prices are a bit rich on 225/40/18 at the moment. £135 a corner currently, which is more than Jan/Feb this year!
I nearly got the TS830P last year before settling for the vreds so it'll be interesting to hear if they are that much better...
I nearly got the TS830P last year before settling for the vreds so it'll be interesting to hear if they are that much better...
The ones I've gone for are the TS830 type, not the TS830P.
The version with the P on the end seems to be the ultra-high-performance flavour for sports cars, available in wider fitments etc. I don't know if the TS830 (without the P) that I've got is available in sizes above 16" or in wider widths..?
As an aside, it's a bit annoying that all the tyre makers seem to have different products with exceedingly similar names. For instance, the basic winter tyres in Michelin's range are called "Alpin A4" now, the premium one is "Primacy Alpin PA3" and the sporty-premium/wider one is called "Pilot Alpin PA3"... which means cross-referencing reviews/recommendations is tricky because they often refer to just "Alpins" or "PA3s"...
From what I can tell, all the manufacturers go for this 'confusopoly' approach rather than clearly differentiating their similarly targeted products.
Just looked again on mytyres.co.uk to confirm. Both TS830 and TS830P are available in 205/55 R16 (albeit TS830P is a bit more expensive at about £117). But only the TS830P is available in 225/40 R18 and it's a whopping £178.60 per tyre! 
The TS830 ones have gone up about £10 since I ordered mine, so feeling vindicated about getting them in early...![[B)]](/forums/styles/seatcupra/oldforumsmileys/shades.gif "Cool [B)]")
The TS830 ones have gone up about £10 since I ordered mine, so feeling vindicated about getting them in early...
The P version will no doubt have a more sporty, less aggressive tread pattern and siping, aiming to be less noisy and squirmy at high speeds and more stable/precise during cornering. Both flavours will have lots of siping and use a special winter compound, but the sportier 'P' version will have a bias towards cornering and wet/dry (cold) performance improvements, at the slight expense of some snow performance.
This is the same with Michelin's Primacy Alpin vs Pilot Alpin and Vredestein's Snowtrac vs Wintrac... the sportier flavours of all these 'high performance winter' brands have tread designs more in common with high performance summer/sport tyres, but usually with more channeling for improved aquaplaning/slush performance. They are available in wide/low-profile sizes and tend to be less compromised in terms of comfort and tyre noise - that's the theory/marketing anyway. The less-sporty flavours are available only in smaller fitments and have a more snow-oriented tread design (at the expense of being noisier and feeling more squirmy/floaty at high speeds or during fast cornering).
Both types of 'high performance winters' will have loads of siping for maximising biting edges on snow/ice. All of these modern/high-tech winter tyres use some sort of zig-zag design for the sipes (they use different names: "micro pumps", "3D sipes", "locking sipes") but it seems to basically mean that lateral stability and steering precision is kept within acceptable limits whilst simultaneously giving great snow and ice performance.
Obviously all tyres are a compromise in some respect and I'm betting the difference between the sportier/snowier flavours of each manufacturer's current range will be minimal in real life terms...
Whether or not you'd be able to tell the difference between TS830 vs TS830P, Snowtrac vs Wintrac or Primacy Alpin PA3 vs Pilot Alpin PA3 is debatable, I reckon (when used on the same vehicle in the same conditions with the same size/fitment - if available sizes overlapped to allow this)...
There's no doubt some clever marketing here too. Someone who has a high opinion of Michelin Pilot Sport summer tyres is naturally going to assume that Michelin Pilot Alpin are going to be trustworthy winter tyres, just through brand recognition/loyalty.
This is the same with Michelin's Primacy Alpin vs Pilot Alpin and Vredestein's Snowtrac vs Wintrac... the sportier flavours of all these 'high performance winter' brands have tread designs more in common with high performance summer/sport tyres, but usually with more channeling for improved aquaplaning/slush performance. They are available in wide/low-profile sizes and tend to be less compromised in terms of comfort and tyre noise - that's the theory/marketing anyway. The less-sporty flavours are available only in smaller fitments and have a more snow-oriented tread design (at the expense of being noisier and feeling more squirmy/floaty at high speeds or during fast cornering).
Both types of 'high performance winters' will have loads of siping for maximising biting edges on snow/ice. All of these modern/high-tech winter tyres use some sort of zig-zag design for the sipes (they use different names: "micro pumps", "3D sipes", "locking sipes") but it seems to basically mean that lateral stability and steering precision is kept within acceptable limits whilst simultaneously giving great snow and ice performance.
Obviously all tyres are a compromise in some respect and I'm betting the difference between the sportier/snowier flavours of each manufacturer's current range will be minimal in real life terms...
Whether or not you'd be able to tell the difference between TS830 vs TS830P, Snowtrac vs Wintrac or Primacy Alpin PA3 vs Pilot Alpin PA3 is debatable, I reckon (when used on the same vehicle in the same conditions with the same size/fitment - if available sizes overlapped to allow this)...
There's no doubt some clever marketing here too. Someone who has a high opinion of Michelin Pilot Sport summer tyres is naturally going to assume that Michelin Pilot Alpin are going to be trustworthy winter tyres, just through brand recognition/loyalty.
I found mine a handful, but I don't think DSG is the issue- it's wide summer tyres. I now have a set of winter tyres in the cellar ready for fitting. I never really reckoned on the whole 'pull away in 2nd' thing- if you take it easy and have *any* grip it should go.
SootyNicko
Guest
After doing many miles on cold wet mornings, which then turned to cold icy snowy mornings I'm seriously thinking of getting a second set of wheels and fitting some winter tyres.
Have I got this right? Winter tyres are for cold wet conditions and snow tyres are for snowy conditions? Is that right and are the winter tyres the ones to go for?
I've noticed that Vredestein have wintrac and snowtrac...
I'm going to be doing some research on this and any opinions etc welcomed.
Have I got this right? Winter tyres are for cold wet conditions and snow tyres are for snowy conditions? Is that right and are the winter tyres the ones to go for?
I've noticed that Vredestein have wintrac and snowtrac...
I'm going to be doing some research on this and any opinions etc welcomed.
alibali45
Guest
Winter tyres are superior in the wet, below 7C, on ice and in snow to the all season/summer tyres most Brits roll around with all year round. In regards to the wintrac/snowtrac thing the wintacs are like the sports for low profile ie 225/40 r18 and snowtracs like the standard model ie 205/55 r16. A bit like Michelin primacys and Michelin pilot sport. Hope that helps!
^^^^ +1 what he said.
Winter tyres are not just for snow. They grip much better on dry or wet but cold weather like we get almost all winter in the UK. If you get some you'll wonder why more people don't use them. They make a massive difference especially at or below freezing temps.
There are various types of winter tyres but I'd avoid the Nordic style ones which are designed for use in Scandinavia where there's less time driving on Tarmac in the winter as there's more snow and ice coverage. Studded tyres also aren't suitable for the same reason
Something in the "performance winter" category should fit the bill. Plenty of info in this thread if you read back a few pages.
Winter tyres are not just for snow. They grip much better on dry or wet but cold weather like we get almost all winter in the UK. If you get some you'll wonder why more people don't use them. They make a massive difference especially at or below freezing temps.
There are various types of winter tyres but I'd avoid the Nordic style ones which are designed for use in Scandinavia where there's less time driving on Tarmac in the winter as there's more snow and ice coverage. Studded tyres also aren't suitable for the same reason
Something in the "performance winter" category should fit the bill. Plenty of info in this thread if you read back a few pages.
According to AccuWeather, the proper cold will be arriving from next weekend (Sat 16/10). Think I'll be swapping my wheels over that weekend then.
Chuffin hell that's a bit early, wanted to go out on the bikes a few more times before they started chucking salt on the roads.
Dropped the spare set of wheels for the Smart off at the tyre place this afternoon for some winters fitting.
Both cars now prepared for whatever the weather can through at us.
Both cars now prepared for whatever the weather can through at us.
If anyone is considering winter tyres but hasn't got a spare set of wheels yet, I noticed that Tyremen (independent tyre supplier based in Hull) is offering genuine SEAT 16" alloys pre-fitted with Vredestein winter tyres as a package for £610. Doesn't look too bad value to get that OE look (rather than steelies) and without resorting to fleabay...
http://tyremen.myshopify.com/products/seat-altea-toledo-leon-16-o-e-wheel
I understand the wheels have been bought in en masse from SEAT dealers on the continent - they have lots of spare 16" alloys sitting around after customers order upgrades with their new cars (and presumably don't ask for their original wheels back!) hence the decent price.
Still more expensive that buying steelies (especially if you can find some cheap), but it's not a lot more. For comparison, I just priced up 4 x Vredestein Snowtrac 3 (205/55R16 91H) pre-fitted on steel wheels from mytyres.co.uk and it came to £548 in delivery.
http://tyremen.myshopify.com/products/seat-altea-toledo-leon-16-o-e-wheel
I understand the wheels have been bought in en masse from SEAT dealers on the continent - they have lots of spare 16" alloys sitting around after customers order upgrades with their new cars (and presumably don't ask for their original wheels back!) hence the decent price.
Still more expensive that buying steelies (especially if you can find some cheap), but it's not a lot more. For comparison, I just priced up 4 x Vredestein Snowtrac 3 (205/55R16 91H) pre-fitted on steel wheels from mytyres.co.uk and it came to £548 in delivery.
This Saturday its supposedly 20+oC in the south east, one last two wheel blast?
According to AccuWeather, the proper cold will be arriving from next weekend (Sat 16/10). Think I'll be swapping my wheels over that weekend then.
Sounds a bit soon to me
A vaguely related question - has anyone bought a 12v impact wrench to help with the task of swapping wheels over ?
Changing 2 car's worth of wheels over twice a year gets a bit tiresome, was wondering whether to invest in a 12v impact wrench - are they much good at removing wheel nuts and would it speed the job up as much as I hope ?
Changing 2 car's worth of wheels over twice a year gets a bit tiresome, was wondering whether to invest in a 12v impact wrench - are they much good at removing wheel nuts and would it speed the job up as much as I hope ?
Similar threads
