Winter tyres

[GainfulShrimp]

You won't regret it! The difference between wide, low-profile summer tyres and narrower winter tyres is amazing when conditions get grim. Look forward to hearing both yours and rllmuk's views on the Dunlops.
When my Michelins need replacing I think I might go for Continental WinterContact TS830 for a change as I can't find anything bad written about them. Only £89 a corner on mytyres for 205/55 R16 91H size which seems like a decent enough price.

 

[RobT]

winter tyres rock big time - they are SO much better in the cold and slime

 

[Husbandofstinky]

I will not go back to summer tyres all year round either and that's coming from somewhere around the south east.

God knows what people put up with in more northern/remote areas - summer tyres WTF?

Everyone I know that's used them have become converts.

I just mention the 7oC temperature thing when they start warbling about snow tyres.

 

[Donnyboy]

Thread from the dead!!!


Whats people winter tyre plans this year and how did they get on last year.

I've never used winter tyres but have been considering them this year after the winter last year.

Been considering these - http://www.nokiantyres.com/tyre?id=10360796&group=1.01&name=Nokian+WR+G2

 

[Husbandofstinky]

Just have a scout around and read a few of the recent threads.

That should be enough for anyone.

As you're north of the border would've thought they would be a bit more common place.

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Do it! You won't regret it (the only thing you'll regret is not starting to use them years ago).

Haven't used those Nokians and they get mixed reviews, but they'll be way better than any summer tyre when it gets cold and wet, and especially in the snow.

I used Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3s last year on my FR and will be using them again this winter on my Ecomotive. I bought them pre-fitted to 16" steel rims in 205/55 R16 size (replacing the 17" OE alloys with 225/45 R17 Pirellis). The Ecomotive uses 205/55 R16 as stock, so that works out quite nicely.

Alternatives to the Nokians that you mentioned are Dunlop Wintersport 3D, Vredestein Snowtrac (for 16" and below), Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme (available in sportier, lower profile sizes if required) and of course I'm a fan of the Michelins. The newest winter tyre from Continental is getting rave reviews at the moment: WinterContact TS 830 (or TS 830 P for the more performance oriented version).

By the way, mytyres.co.uk have a special offer on until the end of today: 5% discount on winter tyres, I believe.

 

[Donnyboy]

The Nokians are not to expensive, but some of the tyres mentioned are over £150 for a 225/40/18.

I think even a cheaper winter tyre would be better than the summer tyres I have just now though.

 

[Leigh15]

I ran Good Year Ultragrip 7+'s on one of the A3's last year and they were great. I plan to put Dunlop Wintersport 3D's on the other this year and compare the two

 

[GainfulShrimp]

The Nokians are not to expensive, but some of the tyres mentioned are over £150 for a 225/40/18.

I think even a cheaper winter tyre would be better than the summer tyres I have just now though.

Is it not possible to drop down to 17" alloys or even 16" steel wheels and a narrower fitment? The reason I ask is that not only will you get a wider choice of tyres, that cost less, but you'll get better grip in cold wet/slush/snow with narrower tyres because the car's weight is on a smaller area (= digging into the snow etc more).

If you have a Cupra with giant brakes it might be impossible I guess, but I successfully ran 16" steel wheels on my FR TFSI last year. There wasn't much clearance over the brakes, but there was enough...
I believe rllmuk uses 225/40 R18 winter tyres with great success though.

You're right about even a cheap winter tyre beating any summer tyre when it gets really cold!

The WRG2s were highly recommended by an article online recently, btw:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2010-Winter-Tyres-Buying-Guide.htm

 

[Donnyboy]

I think some 17's fit over the brakes but that's an extra cost.

I had planned on getting new 18's so thought about just keeping the standard 18's and fitting winter tyres. Still looking about £1k to do that though by the time I buy new summer alloys and fit winter tyres to the existing rims.

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Remember it's really just the cost of the second set of rims that is extra to the long term running costs, because you're saving wear on your summers if they're in the garage. By buying the winter tyres you're effectively just buying four new tyres earlier than you otherwise would do anyway... it's more of a cashflow issue than a £1k extra cost, in the long term. Hence I plumped for cheap and cheerful wheels for winter use.

Saying that, the difference winter tyres make to the grip and stability on cold wet and dry roads let alone snow and slush makes them a bargain anyway in my eyes. Even if you're not ferrying your family around, accident repairs, excesses and premium hikes are all very expensive against the cost of some new rims and tyres IMHO...

 

[Donnyboy]

Remember it's really just the cost of the second set of rims that is extra to the long term running costs, because you're saving wear on your summers if they're in the garage. By buying the winter tyres you're effectively just buying four new tyres earlier than you otherwise would do anyway

And that what I'll be telling the fiance when I get home!!

I'll need 2 fronts by the spring time anyway so I might as well get 4 winter tyres and save my summers like you say.

I even found this to keep the summer wheels/tyres on - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Free-Standing..._Tools_Tool_Boxes_Storage&hash=item5193a0e1e8

 

[JoeF]

I had to shell out for 2 new front tyres today, i originally went to get a nail taken out and wheel repaired. Turned out that when he left the air out, the whole side wall around the wheel had cracks and tears in it, he checked my other wheel but said it was ok.

I went back and got another, he did same again and turned out that wheel was the same but on the front side this time rather then the inner of the front left. Told me that it could of blown out at anytime, tut tut.

But he did make a point of telling me that Durun are piss poor, although Seat supplied me with them when i first got the car !!!

 

[Fishy]

Anyone know what the winter tyres are like on snow? I'm thinking about driving out to the alps a couple of times this winter.

Fish

 

[TheDean]

My front two are shockingly bad in the wet, and not much better in the dry to be fair. It seems the ESP doesn't like them, as it's always coming on if I push it too hard
I could probably do with buying 4 x new winters and putting them on now. I have 17" rims at the moment. Would it be worth buying 4 x 18"s with summer tyres in April/May time and buy 4 x winters for the 17"s now?

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Anyone know what the winter tyres are like on snow? I'm thinking about driving out to the alps a couple of times this winter.

Fish

I was skiing in Alpe D'Huez in March and noticed that loads of local cars there were using winter tyres: mostly either Michelin Alpins, Michelin Primacy Alpins or Vredestein Snowtracs.
We were slithering around all over the place in my missus' Accord with its Dunlop summer tyres on... but not enough room in the Leon for four passengers and all the kit, and I don't have roof-bars for it either, so it was sitting at home in the warm with its winter tyres on!
They are, of course, much more organised about plowing and clearing even the minor roads in the resort though, usually several times a day...
We had snow chains in the boot (required under French law if driving in the Alps) but never needed to resort to them in the end.
If I was going to drive to the Alps a couple of times per year or if the missus normally had to pay for her tyres herself, I'd definitely buy winter wheels and tyres for her car. She was loathed to get them this year though as it'd seem doubly expensive as its a company car so she doesn't normally have to pay for whatever Kwik-Fit bung on it. Ah well!

I got the opportunity to play with the Leon in snow a few times last winter and it performed great with the Michelin Primacy Alpins on. One night driving home, I passed several cars - including 4x4s - abandoned on the start of the hilly country twisties to our village. One guy actually flagged me down to say I shouldn't even bother trying to get up the hill as it was fresh snow on top of compacted snow and ice and loads of people had given up by then, but I just drove up it - only a couple of flashes from the ESP light and no fuss whatsoever. Winter tyres give you a very smug feeling in that respect.

The downside is that if you have to stop quickly in moving traffic in the snow, you're always fearful that the car behind will slither into the back of you as winter tyres still aren't used much in this country.

 

[Husbandofstinky]

Remember it's really just the cost of the second set of rims that is extra to the long term running costs

That's looking at it a bit optimistically as the price of an equivalent winter tyre (ball park) is I reckon a third more expensive than a summer tyre. I know you can cut costs by reducing to smaller rims/narrower tyres/greater profile, but to put it into context I paid £150 per Dunlop last year for 225/45/17's and this spring I paid £75 each for Toyo T1R's same size for summers.

There are several factors in play here and not just the cost of the tyre. Firstly Mein Kampf tyres (best range for winters) you have the Euro variance. Fortunatley sterling has strengthened against both the Euro and the Dollar in recent months. Yay. Secondly the Toyo tyres are good value anyway as Conti's/Goodyears were about £90+ each at the time.

Winter tyres do cost more due to the additional rubber content in them - say 20-30% However despite the additional cost, they are most definitely worth it imo.

Basic rule of thumb, salt out winters on then off again when they stop (perhaps a bit before then and after). It does mean that you can have a really nice set of corrosion free summers?

 

[rllmuk]

I find the price discrepancy isn't so great at 225/40/18. I pay around £115 a corner fitted for Eagle F1s and bought my Vred Wintrac Xtreme for £120 delivered, add fitting and you're talking an extra £10. Now this is last years prices so there may be an extra £10 on top both sides of that now, but still only around a 10% difference.

In my case I already had the original factory 18s in the garage and the set of winters will last me for around 18-24 months on the car - to put it in perspective my Eagle F1s barely last 4 months a set, but that's just the difference in driving style in winter conditions I suppose.

Unrelated to the above but just so people realise: Reducing to a narrower size tyre really isn't necessary, 224/40/18 works fine in winter IF you have the correct rubber on.

 

[Donnyboy]

I take it people are buying online? Mytyres seems to be best for the 225/40/18.

 

[rllmuk]

I've bought from Camskill (UK), MyTyres (German) and PNeus - (German, comedy name that) online, all without probs. I actually had to buy two from PNeus when everyone else was out of stock in January this year due to punctures and they turned up quickly.