Winter tyres vol 2

[Loudy McFatass]

Found some Goodyear Vector 4 seasons which get even better reviews than the Quadraxxers and Quatrac 3's, is Tyreleader a safe website to order from?

Also does it matter those are 'XL' which is apparently reinforced sidewalls for higher loads?


http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/goodyear/vec...

Edited by Loudy McFatass on Saturday 13th September 16:21

[vrsmxtb]

Elroy Blue said:

I've taken the plunge and ordered 4 x Hankook W310s from Camskill. 225/60/18s FOR £450. 'Er indoors raised an eyebrow or two, but I reasoned that my tyres will be due for replacement in six months or so and winters will likely be 50% dearer in January. If they've got any significant life left in them, they can go back on in April next year.

Always been a 'premium' tyre type person, so I'll be interested in how these perform. I did note on a recent BMW review that it came with Hankooks fitted from new, so they can't be that 'budget'.

I have these on a second set of steels, a good all rounder for a UK winter - other premium brands are better in the snow but realistically how many days a year are they? They were perfectly fine, not amazingly grippy but a definite improvement on summer tyres. Lasted well too, going into my 3rd 6month winter cycle on them this year and still masses of tread.

[Sleepers]

Scuffers said:

dtmpower said:

Has anyone gone for a narrower tyre on their winter set and if so, by how much ?

Yes

from 255/35R19 to 225/50R17

My VW Fox - Kumho summers 195/55/15 to Avon Ice Touring 185/60/14. Not on car yet but fitted on their own steel wheels.

Wife's Golf Blue motion Mk6 is going from 205/55/16 to 195/65/15. Not on car yet but fitted on their own steel wheel.

Rural Scotland with no public transport so essential.

Cheers

PS used to run the overhead of a 4x4 jeep but winter tyres on the car has never failed yet and far cheaper to run...

PPS In years gone by I did the winter tyres on the front/summers on the rear with no unforeseen issues but never needed to swerve or was involved in an accident so probably not to clever from an insurance POV.

PPPS Tried leaving Avon Ice Tourings on the old Passat TDI 130 after the 2010 winter, completely worn out within a year say less than 9000 miles.

[Hugo a Gogo]

Sleepers said:

PPS In years gone by I did the winter tyres on the front/summers on the rear with no unforeseen issues but never needed to swerve or was involved in an accident so probably not to clever from an insurance POV.

that's an absolutely terrible idea

[jon-]

Auto Bild just published their 50 tyre winter tyre braking overview.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-50-Winte...

[RicksAlfas]

jon- said:

Auto Bild just published their 50 tyre winter tyre braking overview.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-50-Winte...

I would imagine Vredestein, Yokohama and Kleber will be a bit miffed with that list.

[jon-]

RicksAlfas said:

jon- said:

Auto Bild just published their 50 tyre winter tyre braking overview.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-50-Winte...

I would imagine Vredestein, Yokohama and Kleber will be a bit miffed with that list.

Agreed.

The real surprise was the Goodride and Westlake making it through to the top 15, though unsurprisingly in the full test they didn't do too well.

[Sleepers]

Hugo a Gogo said:

Sleepers said:

PPS In years gone by I did the winter tyres on the front/summers on the rear with no unforeseen issues but never needed to swerve or was involved in an accident so probably not to clever from an insurance POV.

that's an absolutely terrible idea

Ignorance was bliss

As the wife said "you only want the car to grip at one end...?"

Cheers

[Hugo a Gogo]

jon- said:

Auto Bild just published their 50 tyre winter tyre braking overview.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-50-Winte...

lovely, I have number 5, Bridgestone Blizzak, significantly cheaper than the rest (€57 in 185/65 15 from reifen.com)
hopefully I'll get some snow to test them in this year

[Trustmeimadoctor]

im fitting nokian wr d3 in 185/60/15 to the polo next week as the summers are almost gone yes its early but im not buying 2 sets not bad at £53 each

[Sleepers]

It's Nokian WR D3s that are going on the wife's Golf. Never had Nokian before but have only ever read good things

[funkyrobot]

For the first time ever I'm seriously considering winters.

Have had two quotes so far for my Mazda (205/50/R17 v rated) - 1. Firestones @ £124.95 a corner and 2. Something like a Nexen @ £84.00 a corner.

Is there a lot of difference between the quality of a Nexen and a Firestone?

Actually, I guess I should read this thread and see what people are getting quotes on.

[ImpossiblyDaft]

RicksAlfas said:

I would imagine Vredestein, Yokohama and Kleber will be a bit miffed with that list.

It's a bit weird to not bother testing over half of the winter tyres on snow, especially when the 19th placed one in the wet was the 2nd best in the snow.

[jon-]

ImpossiblyDaft said:

RicksAlfas said:

I would imagine Vredestein, Yokohama and Kleber will be a bit miffed with that list.

It's a bit weird to not bother testing over half of the winter tyres on snow, especially when the 19th placed one in the wet was the 2nd best in the snow.

It's comparatively easy to make a winter tyre work in snow, and a lot of the budget winter tyres are good in the snow.

It's making them work in snow, and not kill you in the wet that's the trick. That's where the budgets fall apart (sometimes, literallY)

[Scuffers]

Sleepers said:

Scuffers said:

dtmpower said:

Has anyone gone for a narrower tyre on their winter set and if so, by how much ?

Yes

from 255/35R19 to 225/50R17

My VW Fox - Kumho summers 195/55/15 to Avon Ice Touring 185/60/14. Not on car yet but fitted on their own steel wheels.

Wife's Golf Blue motion Mk6 is going from 205/55/16 to 195/65/15. Not on car yet but fitted on their own steel wheel.

Rural Scotland with no public transport so essential.

Cheers

PS used to run the overhead of a 4x4 jeep but winter tyres on the car has never failed yet and far cheaper to run...

PPS In years gone by I did the winter tyres on the front/summers on the rear with no unforeseen issues but never needed to swerve or was involved in an accident so probably not to clever from an insurance POV.

PPPS Tried leaving Avon Ice Tourings on the old Passat TDI 130 after the 2010 winter, completely worn out within a year say less than 9000 miles.

well, the Dunlops I have have done more than 10K miles now and should be good for a couple more winters..

[Sleepers]

Scuffers said:

Sleepers said:

Scuffers said:

dtmpower said:

Has anyone gone for a narrower tyre on their winter set and if so, by how much ?

Yes

from 255/35R19 to 225/50R17

My VW Fox - Kumho summers 195/55/15 to Avon Ice Touring 185/60/14. Not on car yet but fitted on their own steel wheels.

Wife's Golf Blue motion Mk6 is going from 205/55/16 to 195/65/15. Not on car yet but fitted on their own steel wheel.

Rural Scotland with no public transport so essential.

Cheers

PS used to run the overhead of a 4x4 jeep but winter tyres on the car has never failed yet and far cheaper to run...

PPS In years gone by I did the winter tyres on the front/summers on the rear with no unforeseen issues but never needed to swerve or was involved in an accident so probably not to clever from an insurance POV.

PPPS Tried leaving Avon Ice Tourings on the old Passat TDI 130 after the 2010 winter, completely worn out within a year say less than 9000 miles.

well, the Dunlops I have have done more than 10K miles now and should be good for a couple more winters..

I'm putting it down to the Passat being very nose heavy. No uneven wear either

With other cars I have aged more than the tyres

[Scuffers]

Sleepers said:

I'm putting it down to the Passat being very nose heavy. No uneven wear either

With other cars I have aged more than the tyres

this is on an S4, hardly nose light!

[tenohfive]

jon- said:

Auto Bild just published their 50 tyre winter tyre braking overview.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-50-Winte...

The UK weather didn't oblige with any snow for testing, but running the Sottozero 3's for the last year (all year) I can see why they've done well in tests. There wasn't any point during the year that I had cause to remember I was running on winters, except when it dropped to below zero and they seemed to get grippier. Very impressed with the performance of them.
Until I checked the wear - the rears are near the markers after a years driving and less than 10K miles. Fronts are fine mind (heavy RWD estate.)

I certainly won't be running them year round in future and will bite the bullet and buy a second set of wheels to run summers with - it's not economical otherwise - but they're my winter tyre of choice now.

[SEAN 46]

+1 For the Nokian WR D3'S. I have 4 nice news ones ready to roll. Never used them before as had the Nankang sv's on which although a budget brand worked very well indeed.
The Nokians were £67 each so not too expensive.

[tjlees]

Sleepers said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

Sleepers said:

PPS In years gone by I did the winter tyres on the front/summers on the rear with no unforeseen issues but never needed to swerve or was involved in an accident so probably not to clever from an insurance POV.

that's an absolutely terrible idea

Ignorance was bliss

As the wife said "you only want the car to grip at one end...?"

Cheers

It will swap ends. Bad idea ( like you my friend does this regardless of the below vid I keep sending him!! )

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zBsPrK54yO4


edit: added vid under heavy braking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCyiBoTxCao&fe...

Edited by tjlees on Monday 29th September 19:12