Winter tyres

[RobT]

goodyear ultragrip 7:

dunlop wintersport 3d:

very similar tyres, I think the UG7's were replaced by he UG GW3's, I bought the dunlops as they were top of the big US shop tire rack tests last year (although it looks like some new ones top the list now)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=W&VT=C

very happy with my dunlops, any of these tyres are night and day better than normal tyres in the winter

 

[wild willy]

How do these tyres compare to normal high performance tyres out of winter.

 

[air121005]

i have a similar question, as good as these tyres arein ice and snow conditions, how well do they perform on dry roads?

i'm also assuming that they wear alot quicker

 

[RobT]

they are not as stable at high speed / cornering as pukka summer performance tyres (eg Eagle F1s) but in the winter, on wet leafy / slimy roads you dont drive like in the summer anyhow.

they feel a bit wobbly but thats because of the tread blocks - you would not want to use them in warmer /dryer conditions

When the temperature is low (below 7C) and its wet and greasy, they just have more grip, the rubber compound is designed to work at lower temperatures and the many tread grooves let the rubber heat up a little

the tcs does not come on anywhere near as much as it does with summer tyres fitted - exiting roundabouts for eg

braking on cold mornings is like on a dry road - if its cold and wet, you will outbrake anything......

the many tread grooves also clear water very well

in the snow they are outstanding - I had to try hard to get the abs to fire

the wear rate is the same as a normal tyre as far as I can determine

I have noticed no change in fuel consumption but a bit more road noise

so I run eagle F1's in the summer and these from Nov to april.

I used to live in Seattle and everyone uses them over there - the government dont salt the roads but subsidise winter tyres I seem to remember

 

[muddyboots]

Thought I'd add another update to this thread...

Around April time (I think) I bought myself a set of 17" rims for summer use, and took the 16" rims with Winter tyres off.
Had a good look at the tread wear of the Winter Sport 3D's - the fronts were around half worn and the rears hardly worn at all, that's after around 6-7000 miles, including a fair distance of reasonably spirited driving in warmer dryer weather due to me taking ages to find a set of summer rims/tyres (circumstances that have worn winter tyres very quickly in the past).
So the half worn set will probably do another winter, and then can switch round so the rears should do at least another winter after that.
Compared to the Toyo SnowProxes I have used before, the winter grip is much better, much more stable, and much better wear rates.

 

[Willie]

Thought I'd add another update to this thread...

Around April time (I think) I bought myself a set of 17" rims for summer use, and took the 16" rims with Winter tyres off.
Had a good look at the tread wear of the Winter Sport 3D's - the fronts were around half worn and the rears hardly worn at all, that's after around 6-7000 miles, including a fair distance of reasonably spirited driving in warmer dryer weather due to me taking ages to find a set of summer rims/tyres (circumstances that have worn winter tyres very quickly in the past).
So the half worn set will probably do another winter, and then can switch round so the rears should do at least another winter after that.
Compared to the Toyo SnowProxes I have used before, the winter grip is much better, much more stable, and much better wear rates.

Interesting to ear the wear rate of these tyres.
I have the Michi Pilot Alpin 2's, after the first year had 6mm front and 7mm rear. This year have 5mm both so will get at least 3 years out of these.
I have been very hard on these tyres lighting them up quite alot in wet and dry and trying to bed in 2 piece race discs and pads.
Very impressed with these and would definitely buy these again and recommend these. Not cheap but at least tree years use at about 8,000 miles per year can't be bad

 

[RobT]

I have run my Dunlop Wintersport 3D's for 2 winters now and I have to say they are outstanding - run mine about Nov-April - I dont do many miles and mine have hardly worn at all, fronts on 7mm and rears on 8mm - easily another 3 or 4 years in em - worth every penny IMO and dead funny when the weather is really bad

 

[rllmuk]

Bit early bearing in mind the recent weather but I'll be investing in a set of winter tyres this November to Feb/March for my standard alloys (the CKs will get garaged) and was just wondering what other peoples experiences are?

We all know that summer tyres don't work as well below 7°c, so I'm looking at the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D @ £145 a corner. Not cheap, but should last a couple of years and the cost pales in comparison to that of repairing any damage (as I found out last winter).

In my experience, the Eagle F1s are spectacularly useless in the cold/ice and (although rare) snow. I commute on B roads for 22 miles, often not gritted, so for peace of mind it's worth it to me. Anyone else do the same? Tyre recommendations (225/40/18s)?

 

[mrcoyote]

I was thinking about doing the same, but dropping down a size to 17" wheels instead of the 18's I've got on the car now.

Not sure what tyres yet though.

 

[Haddock]

I drop down to 16" for winter, wrapped with Vredestein Snowtrac's..

This will be my third year with them, generally on from Nov (or first sign of snow) through to March.

Have a google, they generally come out on top and are well priced.

Plus they are pretty good on a dry road too.

Chris

 

[rllmuk]

Was looking at the Vredestein Wintrac Extreme as they're a bit cheaper than the Dunlops and the Snowtrac aren't available in 18s - don't know if they're comparable?

 

[Haddock]

Was looking at the Vredestein Wintrac Extreme as they're a bit cheaper than the Dunlops and the Snowtrac aren't available in 18s - don't know if they're comparable?

Definately comparable, probably better actually as the extremes go to larger sizes and speed ratings.

http://www.vredestein.co.uk/Banden_...&BandtypeID=7&PageID=1&UserSessionID=14646113

 

[dazjb69]

In my experience, the Eagle F1s are spectacularly useless in the cold/ice and (although rare) snow. I commute on B roads for 22 miles, often not gritted, so for peace of mind it's worth it to me. Anyone else do the same? Tyre recommendations (225/40/18s)?[/QUOTE]

I have recently bought a cupra with Eagle f1's fitted to the front and p-zero's on the back, previously had a saab 9-3 aero with michelin primacy hp's fitted and they were spot on all year round, will these eagle f1's be really that bad?

 

[rllmuk]

Depends on the roads you travel on more than anything. If you've never had a problem in the past then save yourself the cash.

 

[Haddock]

Depends on the roads you travel on more than anything. If you've never had a problem in the past then save yourself the cash.

Agreed, I only bother because of my commute over the moors every day - often before the gritter.

What I would say though, is that these are not just for snow - and they offer significantly more grip than summer tyres when the roads are frosty, icy or even just cold.

Once youve had them, I doubt anyone would go back to running summer tyres in winter.

Chris

 

[Neel-Cupra]

Ive recently had Uniroyal Rainsport 2s fitted on my mk2 cupra and in the wet they are amazing grip is very good both in the dry and wet and costed me £102 per corner supplied balanced and fitted for 225 40 18s they are rated a very good all season tyre.

 

[dazjb69]

Just out of interest what are cupra drivers gonna be using over the winter when the rain and cold is biting hard? I'm thinking of fitting the eagle F1 assymetrics or conti contact 3's and obviously taking things steady

 

[Neel-Cupra]

Just out of interest what are cupra drivers gonna be using over the winter when the rain and cold is biting hard? I'm thinking of fitting the eagle F1 assymetrics or conti contact 3's and obviously taking things steady

get the uniroyals, you won't be disappointed

 

[dazjb69]

get the uniroyals, you won't be disappointed

Those uniroyals do get an excellent write up and reviews from drivers, hard to get hold of tho!

 

[rllmuk]

Don't see the point of them in the context of this topic. The rainsports are the sort of thing you'd have on all year round.