Back on topic - 4 off Vredestein Snowtrac 3's arrived today (for the Mondeo)!
Just need to find a pair of cheap steelies & then I'm ready for winter.
Great tyres, I have a set of Snowtrac 2's...
Great tyres, I have a set of Snowtrac 2's...
CupraNoobie
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Following the reviews in this week's Autoexpress, I had an internet trawl for the Continental WinterContact 830P in 225/40/18 for the Cupra. Mytyres are knocking them out for £262 each. For over £1000 plus fitting, I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed for a mild winter or get on my bike if it's not.
There's the problem: winter tyres in wide, low profile and high speed ratings are £££. Can you not get socme smaller wheels for winter?
alibali45
Guest
Deleted member 36158
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ok so i have read the majority of pages... (lunch finishes at 2pm!) and i need winter tyres. the weather last year just frightened me!
it seems the vredestein wintrac extremes are the best option? also can these be kept on all year round? i have standard alloys 17". Are these the best for cold, wet and snow? and slightly better on ice? also depending on price, can two be fitted to the front until i can afford 4? i dont wanna walk into kwik fit etc and ask these questions as i'd probably be sold the dearest tyre which wasnt worth it!
it seems the vredestein wintrac extremes are the best option? also can these be kept on all year round? i have standard alloys 17". Are these the best for cold, wet and snow? and slightly better on ice? also depending on price, can two be fitted to the front until i can afford 4? i dont wanna walk into kwik fit etc and ask these questions as i'd probably be sold the dearest tyre which wasnt worth it!
Of this thread or any other winter tyre thread?
7oC is the magic number. Less than that the winter tyres will perform better, more than that its summer tyres.
Personally I wouldn't want to run around on winter tyres on anything more than 15oC - the summers would be better and all the winters will do is chew up. They are a soft compound (which is one on the reasons why they work better in the cold - more rubber content and they don't go hard like the summers do.) Obviously tread pattern too for snow/slush etc.
Get yourself a second set of rims be it steelies or fleabay alloys (cheap OE ones) for the winter tyres as its not cheap to keep changing tyres over.
I wouldn't worry too much about being upsold at Kwik Fit - when I enquired they hadn't even heard of winter tyres and didn't seem to believe me that they existed as a category of tyre... 
You'll be better off ordering online or from an independent tyre place who have heard of winter tyres.
The Vredesteins are definitely a good tyre and the Snowtrac 3s aren't available in sizes above 16", so they're not an option.
Whether to use them all year round is up to you but they'll wear out much more quickly in summer, as Husband said. You're better off switching for summer/winter seasons and buying a second set of wheels also means you can get 16" rims (presuming your car model allows) and enjoy cheaper tyre prices. In fact, 16" tyres+wheels are often cheaper than 18" tyres on their own... haven't checked 17" prices but I'd guess you might still save by downsizing.
You'll be better off ordering online or from an independent tyre place who have heard of winter tyres.
The Vredesteins are definitely a good tyre and the Snowtrac 3s aren't available in sizes above 16", so they're not an option.
Whether to use them all year round is up to you but they'll wear out much more quickly in summer, as Husband said. You're better off switching for summer/winter seasons and buying a second set of wheels also means you can get 16" rims (presuming your car model allows) and enjoy cheaper tyre prices. In fact, 16" tyres+wheels are often cheaper than 18" tyres on their own... haven't checked 17" prices but I'd guess you might still save by downsizing.
You'll find it hard to a get decent range of winter tyres on walking into kwik fit - best option is to order from mytyres as fully fitted (or camskill/pneus online and take them down to your nearest fitting station).
The Wintrac Xtreme is hard to come by this year and is very expensive - I'd get one of Hankook Ice Bears/Dunlop Winter Sport 3D/Pirelli Sottozero/Nokian WR G2/Michelin PA3 or Conti TS830. Massive range in price there though!
The Wintrac Xtreme is hard to come by this year and is very expensive - I'd get one of Hankook Ice Bears/Dunlop Winter Sport 3D/Pirelli Sottozero/Nokian WR G2/Michelin PA3 or Conti TS830. Massive range in price there though!
alibali45
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Woop Woop! Just took delivery of my Michelin alpin PA3's today looking forward to fitting them to my winter wheels and seeing what they're like!
Congrats. Are they Pilot PA3s or Primacy PA3s? You'll find them squishier during cornering than summer tyres - especially if you've gone down a size... especially during this slightly warm weather but when it gets cold, they come into their own. Stopping power on cold greasy roads is fantastic.
alibali45
Guest
Congrats. Are they Pilot PA3s or Primacy PA3s? You'll find them squishier during cornering than summer tyres - especially if you've gone down a size... especially during this slightly warm weather but when it gets cold, they come into their own. Stopping power on cold greasy roads is fantastic.
They're pilots in 225/45 R17 fitment, never tried winter tyre before so looking forward to the results! What do you mean by squishier? Im on standard mk1 LCR alloys atm but am using some mk1 Audi TT competition alloys with the alpins on fit the winter. What's your advice on tyre pressures when dropping a size and using winter tyres?
I just meant don't chuck it round corners with the same confidence as summer tyres - the feedback with winters isn't as precise. Maybe there's a better word for it but squishier is how I'd describe the feeling.
That said, your Pilot PA3s are more of a 'performance oriented' tyre than my Primacy PA3s... so maybe the effect will be less pronounced?
I read somewhere (possibly into my new Leon's manual?) that you should use +2 or +3 psi on the usual recommended tyre pressures for winter equivalents. I only partially followed this advice this year as my Ecomotive's recommended pressures are so high anyway: I'm running 42psi all round with my Primacy Alpin PA3s.
That said, your Pilot PA3s are more of a 'performance oriented' tyre than my Primacy PA3s... so maybe the effect will be less pronounced?
I read somewhere (possibly into my new Leon's manual?) that you should use +2 or +3 psi on the usual recommended tyre pressures for winter equivalents. I only partially followed this advice this year as my Ecomotive's recommended pressures are so high anyway: I'm running 42psi all round with my Primacy Alpin PA3s.
I just meant don't chuck it round corners with the same confidence as summer tyres - the feedback with winters isn't as precise. Maybe there's a better word for it but squishier is how I'd describe the feeling.
Block movement, depending on the tyres it only really comes in with a bit of spirited driving. It will feel like running at very low tyre pressures when pushing the car a bit. A unique feel.
Spent some proper money on rubber then, they've got to be £200 a corner I reckon.
you can change the settings in the MDF for winter tyres, although i have no idea what it actually adjusts.
It just beeps at you when you go over the speed limit you set, might be good for some I suppose.
I had my Wintrac Xtremes put back on at the weekend and even in these balmy temperatures they're performing very well. On wet roads covered in leaves they're excellent and have not lost grip once, something the Eagle F1s I took off were doing every other bend. Only downside is that I get frustrated at other cars tiptoeing along country lanes, you soon forget what it's like on the incorrect tyres.
I had my Wintrac Xtremes put back on at the weekend and even in these balmy temperatures they're performing very well. On wet roads covered in leaves they're excellent and have not lost grip once, something the Eagle F1s I took off were doing every other bend. Only downside is that I get frustrated at other cars tiptoeing along country lanes, you soon forget what it's like on the incorrect tyres.
I believe the winter tyres setting in the MFD is probably due to some legal requirement somewhere (because winter tyres are generally H rated). Just like you get a sticker in a tyre repair kit that says "MAX 50MPH!" to stick on your dash, this is just the same thing for winter tyres, but slightly classier than the sticker method...
I mostly tiptoe along the country lanes with or without winter tyres but it's for economy purposes.
alibali45
Guest
I just meant don't chuck it round corners with the same confidence as summer tyres - the feedback with winters isn't as precise. Maybe there's a better word for it but squishier is how I'd describe the feeling.
That said, your Pilot PA3s are more of a 'performance oriented' tyre than my Primacy PA3s... so maybe the effect will be less pronounced?
I read somewhere (possibly into my new Leon's manual?) that you should use +2 or +3 psi on the usual recommended tyre pressures for winter equivalents. I only partially followed this advice this year as my Ecomotive's recommended pressures are so high anyway: I'm running 42psi all round with my Primacy Alpin PA3s.
Ok thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Cheers for the advice.
alibali45
Guest
Block movement, depending on the tyres it only really comes in with a bit of spirited driving. It will feel like running at very low tyre pressures when pushing the car a bit. A unique feel.
Spent some proper money on rubber then, they've got to be £200 a corner I reckon.
Yeah they were £620 for 4, so £150 each! But like others have said they're pretty much the most important part of the car!
That's a very good price for Michelin's
I paid £150 per corner for 225/45/17's last year (Dunlop WS 3D). The Michelins were an option although were another £25/30 on top.
A recent look at the Dunlop's were £180+ each on My Tyres so I would've expected the Michelin's to clear the £200 mark.
Do you mind me asking where you sourced them from?
And yes it amazes me how people skimp on tyres especially with the thought that they are the only things holding you to the road (bar gravity of course.)
£20k Audi S Line and your cheapest 18' Wanli's please......
I paid £150 per corner for 225/45/17's last year (Dunlop WS 3D). The Michelins were an option although were another £25/30 on top.
A recent look at the Dunlop's were £180+ each on My Tyres so I would've expected the Michelin's to clear the £200 mark.
Do you mind me asking where you sourced them from?
And yes it amazes me how people skimp on tyres especially with the thought that they are the only things holding you to the road (bar gravity of course.)
£20k Audi S Line and your cheapest 18' Wanli's please......
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