Winter tyres vol 2

[vikingaero]

Ordered 4x Nokian WR D3 for £66 each from Oponeo.

Plus £10 per corner to fit and balance at the weekend at my friendly local tyre dealer who is happy to fit 3rd party sourced tyres.

From next weekend I will be prepared.... for the mildest winter in history!

[rsv gone!]

Just bought a set of OEM BMW MV3 alloys complete with Sottozeros.

I guess we'll have the hottest winter on record now.....

[Squishey]

rsv gone! said:

Just bought a set of OEM BMW MV3 alloys complete with Sottozeros.

I guess we'll have the hottest winter on record now.....

Happened to me last year, fitted winters and we didn't see a bit of snow! But the wet weather performance was remarkably better than the summer tyres so still worth putting on with the amount of rain we had.

Hoping for some snow this winter to see how good they are. I've got Vredestein Wintrax Extreme M&S so I'm pretty confident that I will get good traction.

Edit: Poor grammar

[TEKNOPUG]

Andehh said:

So what is the best one to go for the A3 or D3? Asymmetrical of directional? No interest in feel/etc just whatever gives best winter performance for grip. Will be on a 5 series for what it's worth.

You may struggle to find D3s in larger sixes. Depends what your 5 runs. A3 are supposedly the performance ones, hence they come in bigger sizes. Both the same price though and even Nokian's website provides little clarity.

[Fox-]

Squishey said:

But the wet weather performance was remarkably better than the summer tyres so still worth putting on with the amount of rain we had.

Did you have crap summer tyres then?

[blueST]

TEKNOPUG said:

Andehh said:

So what is the best one to go for the A3 or D3? Asymmetrical of directional? No interest in feel/etc just whatever gives best winter performance for grip. Will be on a 5 series for what it's worth.

You may struggle to find D3s in larger sixes. Depends what your 5 runs. A3 are supposedly the performance ones, hence they come in bigger sizes. Both the same price though and even Nokian's website provides little clarity.

I've been trying to work this out myself, as I fancy giving Nokian a try. As far as I can work out, the D3 is aimed at the smaller less sporty sizes, the A3 aimed at the sporty stuff, however there seems to be quite a bit of crossover in the middle. One obvious difference, the A3 is available in V speed rating, whereas the D3 only goes to H. Might be useful for those who don't want to compromise in that regard. However, there are no side by side test, but I suspect the A3 is slightly less winters than the D3.

[jon-]

blueST said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Andehh said:

So what is the best one to go for the A3 or D3? Asymmetrical of directional? No interest in feel/etc just whatever gives best winter performance for grip. Will be on a 5 series for what it's worth.

You may struggle to find D3s in larger sixes. Depends what your 5 runs. A3 are supposedly the performance ones, hence they come in bigger sizes. Both the same price though and even Nokian's website provides little clarity.

I've been trying to work this out myself, as I fancy giving Nokian a try. As far as I can work out, the D3 is aimed at the smaller less sporty sizes, the A3 aimed at the sporty stuff, however there seems to be quite a bit of crossover in the middle. One obvious difference, the A3 is available in V speed rating, whereas the D3 only goes to H. Might be useful for those who don't want to compromise in that regard. However, there are no side by side test, but I suspect the A3 is slightly less winters than the D3.

Pretty much spot on.

If I had a size where both patterns were made, I'd take the A3s if I was sticking in the UK. They're probably a little more suited to the mix of weather we've had over the past few winters.

[Charlie Boy]

What would people go for on a Golf R, Pirreli Slottozero 3 or Michelin Alpin 4? The Michelin's are still £40 more after taking into acount the £70 fuel voucher offer, are they worth the extra?

C

[tenohfive]

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Michelin/Alpin-A...
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Pirelli/Winter-S...

The Sottozero's seem to have come first on more tests than the Alpin's, but there's only so much you can read into that. I've got the Pirelli's though and I really rate them, I don't think you'll go wrong with them.

[Charlie Boy]

In the larger sizes AutoBild do put the Pirelli top then Michelin. I've heard from a Friend who has Pirelli's that his are wearing quite fast..

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-AutoBild...

Humm

[jon-]

Up until this year I'd have taken the Michelins, but with the Pirelli scoring so well and the Michelins being that much more expensive, I'd probably take the Pirelli.

Just make sure the stock is fresh. Pirelli are one of the worst for updating tyre patterns just in time for tests, but having the old version in the resale channels for a long while after.

[g3org3y]

Winters on today.

Ride MUCH better on 16s, very smooth. I must be getting old.

[Charlie Boy]

Just ordered the Michelin’s as Event tyres have a promo code so they were only £30 more the the Pirelli's in the end

[Silverbullet767]

Just booked my car in to swap for my winter wheels and tyres. Cue an epic heatwave after 11am on Friday morning. I'm getting the sun lotion looked out in preparation.

[MoelyCrio]

Went to put mine on the wifes car this weekend and promptly sheared the crappy locking wheel nut socket. How its supposed to get any purchase with about 4mm of socket to grip to I'll never know.

Will replace them all when I get a new socket (assuming the same thing doesn't happen!)

[Davie]

The little Mazda 2 is now wearing it's Nankang SV2's...

Zero grip for the first few miles as they appeared to be coated in some greasy, oil stuff but some enthusiasm seemed to clean that off within a couple of miles. Aside for that... absolutely no noticeable change aside for being slightly noisier at motorway speeds but given the way it ploughs through standing water, the marginal increase in noise isn't a concern.

Also suffered a blow out on the M9 in the Volvo on Saturday. Underpants have since been deemed a write off. Now on the tyre hunt for it and can't decide if it'd be better to drop to 15's with cold weather tyres or just stick with the 17's. Given the 17's all need changed too, I'm thinking a set of 17" All Seasons and hope for the best. Given FWD and decent power, it'll absolutely destroy most things that are fitted. Comes with the territory I suppose.

That said, £300+ for tyres... I'd sooner buy a winter shed and generally not care for the next few months.

[R1gtr]

Hoping you guys can help out a thicko here, I am planning a set of Steel wheels with winter tyres, the problem is whilst looking at MyTyres they don't appear to have a match for my car.

The car is a Focus ST and standard tyre size is 225/40/18's.

I am reliably informed that 16" steelies will fit on but I have no idea what size to get? And what size of tyre? as obviously 16" is a lot smaller than 18".
What tyre size will keep same rolling radius.
If anyone can help that would be great.

[blueST]

R1gtr said:

Hoping you guys can help out a thicko here, I am planning a set of Steel wheels with winter tyres, the problem is whilst looking at MyTyres they don't appear to have a match for my car.

The car is a Focus ST and standard tyre size is 225/40/18's.

I am reliably informed that 16" steelies will fit on but I have no idea what size to get? And what size of tyre? as obviously 16" is a lot smaller than 18".
What tyre size will keep same rolling radius.
If anyone can help that would be great.

There are guys on Focusstoc who will know for sure but I think if you just enter a regular 2.0 focus into my tyres, the steels for that are the ones. For me that was too much a downsize for a car with that much torque, so I put on Vred Wintracs in the standard size. Worked a treat and I got most of my money back when I sold them on.

[JB!]

Running part worn dunlop wintermaxx in 195/55 flavour, were amazing compared to nearly dead Pilot Sport 3's in the recent rain, but they aren't enjoying this warmer weather.

[Andehh]

Bit the bullet and ordered 4 x Nokians WR A3 245/45/18s XL Runflats. Went for the runflats in the end as I can't be dealing with punctures on wet dark motorway hard shoulders, or A roads with my daughter in the car.

Now to find time to get the car into the garage and wheels swapped over. Bloody BMWs and their lack of split folding seats will have me making two runs to fit 4 kitted wheels & 4 tyres in the car!