Winter tyres vol 2

[FiF]

St John Smythe said:

FiF said:

Monkeylegend said:

St John Smythe said:

FiF said:

St John Smythe said:

And here is the other one!!

Other one what? Go on speak your mind. As opposed to deliberate baiting one liners that is. Put something of value into a thread for once.

I'll post what crap I like and you can't do a thing about it

Agreed

Agreed, not that I want to do anything about it, just confirms previous thoughts.

You can't do anything about it

See previous answer.

[f1nn]

Dog Star said:

Irrespective of whether you think they are of any use or not - I would love tyre manufacturers to make tyres that rode as well as winters.

I like my AMG alloys, they look lovely, but I would willingly sacrifice a bit of handling for summers that were just so quiet and comfy. I don't drive so fast anymore. Driving my SLK today after having the tyres changed on Saturday is just so pleasant - much better around town with drain covers, bumps and so on. It's just "syrupy".

Hmm, have you swapped to the same size?

The winters must be of a softer sidewall construction I assume. I'm not familiar with SLK's do they come with run flats?

[gizlaroc]

Dog Star said:

Irrespective of whether you think they are of any use or not - I would love tyre manufacturers to make tyres that rode as well as winters.

I like my AMG alloys, they look lovely, but I would willingly sacrifice a bit of handling for summers that were just so quiet and comfy. I don't drive so fast anymore. Driving my SLK today after having the tyres changed on Saturday is just so pleasant - much better around town with drain covers, bumps and so on. It's just "syrupy".

Merc still use Continental alot, very hard and noisy tyre.

Try something like the Goodyear EfficientGrip, near silent and so comfortable, and still a good tyre for everyday.

[tomjol]

St John Smythe said:

FiF said:

Monkeylegend said:

St John Smythe said:

FiF said:

St John Smythe said:

And here is the other one!!

Other one what? Go on speak your mind. As opposed to deliberate baiting one liners that is. Put something of value into a thread for once.

I'll post what crap I like and you can't do a thing about it

Agreed

Agreed, not that I want to do anything about it, just confirms previous thoughts.

You can't do anything about it

Troll much?

f1nn said:

tomjol said:

What value exactly was there in that story? Do you think anyone in this thread hasn't successfully completed wintry journeys on summer tyres in the past?

It doesn't seem unreasonable that a thread about winter tyres is actually about winter tyres, and not for people who dismiss the whole concept to go "hey I don't have them and I'm fine" as though it's some kind of little victory, does it?

No, I agree completely, I am almost certain that every poster in this thread has completed countless "wintry" journeys on summer or all season tyres over countless years.

We've all got our own opinion, and I'm as entitled as anyone here to post in this thread.

Sorry, I didn't mean to have a go at you, it came out that way due to my irritation with a certain other poster. I don't (despite appearances) actually have a problem with your post at all, in fact it prompted a question, which Nick then asked...

f1nn said:

nickfrog said:

When you say the car was perfect, did it have the same amount of traction and lateral grip as a winter tyre equipped identical car ? Or more ? Or less ?

It had grip far in excess of that required for my driving in those conditions.

...and which you answered entirely reasonably. I would ask though, if you had equipment more suited to the conditions, would you have driven in the same manner?

[f1nn]

tomjol said:

...and which you answered entirely reasonably. I would ask though, if you had equipment more suited to the conditions, would you have driven in the same manner?

Interesting question. I suspect not, as other being mindful of potentially increased stopping distances And maybe a little more consideration to the application of power on slip roads, I drove pretty much as normal.

Even if winter rubber may have afforded me extra grip, and I feel that is debatable, I wouldn't have used it as I didn't need to go, stop or corner faster.

All things considered, I believe driving style has more of an impact than tyres as conditions detioriate assuming decent quality, well treaded rubber to begin with.

[ohtari]

Michelin CrossClimates ordered for fitting on Saturday morning, for the daily impreza this time. Can't be bothered with swapping wheels and tyres around for this one (3 sets for the other!), so hopefully it's a happy medium.

The mismatched dunlop/low tread firestone are, shall we say hilarious in cold greasy conditions. Drifting a 14s 0-60 4wd car shouldn't be possible!

I thought it best to get it sorted before I kill myself.

[RammyMP]

Anyone tried Kumho winter tyres?

[andyps]

RammyMP said:

Anyone tried Kumho winter tyres?

I've had a pair for about 5 years now - a bit low on tread ideally for a winter tyre but the car is unlikely to get much use this year and they will be better than summer ones. They were excellent when new, coped with snow really well and good in all other conditions.

[Mr Tidy]

I have read this thread for some time, then on Friday I spontaneously bought a set of winters for my E46 Compact which I collected Saturday and fitted yesterday!

I'm looking forward to seeing how different they are - the summers I removed were staggered 225/45 X 17 front and 245/40 x 17 rear Pirellis so probably pretty hopeless on anything RWD! The winters are Michelins on square rims and are 205/55 x 16.

But now the temperature is going up FFS...........

But it would be interesting to see how people rate the new Michelin Cross Climates.

[HocusPocus]

For the extra grip in cold weather, improved stopping and handling, winters are no brainer.

Not as expensive as people might think for second set of wheels and tyres. About £400 for set of continental winter tyres on steel rims for a VW golf.... buttons relative to the value of the car or the price of a new bumper. I prefer to pay for that one moment when I might need the car to perform an emergency manoeuvre rather than suffer the consequences.

Personal choice on how you want to manage your motoring risks.

[nickfrog]

HocusPocus said:

For the extra grip in cold weather, improved stopping and handling, winters are no brainer.

Not as expensive as people might think for second set of wheels and tyres. About £400 for set of continental winter tyres on steel rims for a VW golf.... .

Even less than that if you play your cards right. 2nd hand OE wheels bought separately and then fitted with winters will normally sell at very little depreciation after 2/3 years when you sell the car, either to the new owner or a ready made solution on forums or ebay.
I have also bought winter wheel set in summer and sold them for more 18 months later. Not to mention saving summer tyre wear, it can easily be a no-cost item, so what's not to like ?

[andyps]

I have bought sets of OE alloys for my XK8 and my wife's Freelander via eBay for £100 for all four so not a large expense. Main issue is the amount of space they take up for storage.

[jon-]

andyps said:

RammyMP said:

Anyone tried Kumho winter tyres?

I've had a pair for about 5 years now - a bit low on tread ideally for a winter tyre but the car is unlikely to get much use this year and they will be better than summer ones. They were excellent when new, coped with snow really well and good in all other conditions.

Depends on the pattern. Their older stuff isn't great anymore, and even their newest pattern, the WP51, has scored near, or at the bottom of the tests it's been included in:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Kumho/Winter-Cra...

Ok for the price point is probably the kindest summary.

[alistair1234]

I've got a 123d. Never bought winter tyres before, never fitted different rims on to any car I've had.

looking at buying some winter tyres and rims this year.

Currently on 18" rims, the smallest I believe i can go to is 17" to clear the front callipers although I may be wrong.

Can anyone point me in the direction of what to get, either buying winter tyres on steelies new, or what I should be searching for in eBay?

Edited by alistair1234 on Tuesday 24th November 14:50

[GOG440]

alistair1234 said:

I've got a 123d. Never bought winter tyres before, never fitted different rims on to any car I've had.

looking at buying some winter tyres and rims this year.

Currently on 18" rims, the smallest I believe i can go to is 17" to clear the front discs.

Can anyone point me in the direction of what to get, either buying winter tyres on steelies new, or what I should be searching for in eBay?

Search for BMW 17inch rims.
I robbed someone of 4 17inch alloys with barely used Pirelli sottozero runflat winters, he had them up for £275 BIN. He spent over £1500 on them from bmw.

You need to check these will fit but something like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/17-BMW-3-Series-2004-12-...

[andyps]

Don't know enough about varieties of BMWs but something like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-1-series-wheels-/161...

[RicksAlfas]

alistair1234 said:

I've got a 123d. Never bought winter tyres before, never fitted different rims on to any car I've had.

looking at buying some winter tyres and rims this year.

Currently on 18" rims, the smallest I believe i can go to is 17" to clear the front callipers although I may be wrong.

Can anyone point me in the direction of what to get, either buying winter tyres on steelies new, or what I should be searching for in eBay?

The door jamb sticker should tell you the correct size winter tyre for your car.
If not the handbook will.

[alistair1234]

RicksAlfas said:

The door jamb sticker should tell you the correct size winter tyre for your car.
If not the handbook will.

Strangely I've checked both and neither tell me.

I know how tyre sizes work, I just don't know how small I can go to 16"/17", and then what corresponding tyre sizes I need.

Also at the moment the rears are wider than the front. Do I still keep this or go the same size all round.

[PorkInsider]

alistair1234 said:

RicksAlfas said:

The door jamb sticker should tell you the correct size winter tyre for your car.
If not the handbook will.

Strangely I've checked both and neither tell me.

I know how tyre sizes work, I just don't know how small I can go to 16"/17", and then what corresponding tyre sizes I need.

Also at the moment the rears are wider than the front. Do I still keep this or go the same size all round.

Try here: http://www.mrwinterwheels.co.uk for an idea of sizing for your particular model.

You don't need to run a staggered setup for your winters.

I've got a 330d which is usually on staggered 18s but is now on its winters which are 225/50 17 all round as factory spec.

ETA: looks like you need 225/45 17s all round.

Edited by PorkInsider on Tuesday 24th November 15:42

[marshalla]

alistair1234 said:

I've got a 123d. Never bought winter tyres before, never fitted different rims on to any car I've had.

looking at buying some winter tyres and rims this year.

Currently on 18" rims, the smallest I believe i can go to is 17" to clear the front callipers although I may be wrong.

Can anyone point me in the direction of what to get, either buying winter tyres on steelies new, or what I should be searching for in eBay?

Edited by alistair1234 on Tuesday 24th November 14:50

BMW winter brochure has some hints : http://www.halliwelljones.co.uk/images/uploads/fli...