Winter tyres vol 2
Discussion
giblet said:
I asked as I didn't bother taking the avon ice touring winters off my car. Not had any issues with grip but I did just get a b
king from a copper 10 mins ago. She claimed I was speeding as she heard my tyres screeching. I was doing bang on 30 on a 30 limit road on an uphill section. She didn't buy my claim that my winter tyres are noisier in summer temps. Wound me right up.
I can't say I blame her, I don't think I would have bought that. Noisier yes, but road noise from normal driving - not hard cornering etc - isn't the same as tyres screeching. (Running Pirelli Winter Sottozero's for the last two summers here.) I can understand her scepticism. king from a copper 10 mins ago. She claimed I was speeding as she heard my tyres screeching. I was doing bang on 30 on a 30 limit road on an uphill section. She didn't buy my claim that my winter tyres are noisier in summer temps. Wound me right up. jon- said:
The new version of the Goodyear Vector 4Season is due next month, so if you can hold out, I would.
I still have a feeling the CrossClimate will be the one to be on in the UK. Remember it has the same snow traction and braking as the Alpin 5, but with none of the drawbacks (even the Vector 4Season is only about 90% of a summer tyre in the dry/wet.)
With any luck, I'll be doing a mini group test late September
The CrossClimate's do sound promising as an all round tyre and if their claims are true they'll be what I stick on the wifes car.I still have a feeling the CrossClimate will be the one to be on in the UK. Remember it has the same snow traction and braking as the Alpin 5, but with none of the drawbacks (even the Vector 4Season is only about 90% of a summer tyre in the dry/wet.)
With any luck, I'll be doing a mini group test late September
For my own car, if there is another all-season with better snow performance then that's what I want, if the CrossClimate outperforms it's competitors in snow then I'll go for that. Right now they're new and very hyped up and being marketed as the perfect compromise; I'm looking for a compromise that's slightly off centre for snow bias. If they manage that I'll go for them.
Curious to see how the new Vector4Seasons stack up though. And will be watching for the group test with interest, I reckon I've got a couple of months more use in the winters yet.
Yes, I've been stalking Jon's website. Auto Express 2015 All Season test is out:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2015-Auto-Exp...
As are two new contenders, the Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen 2 and the Nokian Weatherproof. Just a shame they couldn't test the Michelin CrossClimate in the same test.
The way I'm reading it there's next to nothing in it between the Nokian Weatherproof and Vector 4Season, and both outperform the Conti TS850 that's so well regarded on here in both snow and the wet, and also beating the Dunlop summer tyre used for comparison purposes in the wet. On that basis - and if the CrossClimate compares favourably - it's safe to say that all seasons really being developed towards the UK climate.
I'm going to pull the trigger shortly, tempted to give the Nokian's a go as they as a company have a great reputation and snow performance is more important to me that dry performance (don't start...), otherwise the Gen 2 Vectors might have tempted me.
Before I decide anything though, quick question around load ratings. Am I right in thinking that the load rating of a tyre needs to be at least half the axle weight for the car it's going to go on? So for something with 1390kg heaviest axle, a rating of 95 (690kg) would be fine? I've always gone with XL rated tyres before for convenience (virtually the same price, no hassle worrying about load ratings) but neither Nokian nor Goodyear appear to be available in XL just yet.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2015-Auto-Exp...
As are two new contenders, the Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen 2 and the Nokian Weatherproof. Just a shame they couldn't test the Michelin CrossClimate in the same test.
The way I'm reading it there's next to nothing in it between the Nokian Weatherproof and Vector 4Season, and both outperform the Conti TS850 that's so well regarded on here in both snow and the wet, and also beating the Dunlop summer tyre used for comparison purposes in the wet. On that basis - and if the CrossClimate compares favourably - it's safe to say that all seasons really being developed towards the UK climate.
I'm going to pull the trigger shortly, tempted to give the Nokian's a go as they as a company have a great reputation and snow performance is more important to me that dry performance (don't start...), otherwise the Gen 2 Vectors might have tempted me.
Before I decide anything though, quick question around load ratings. Am I right in thinking that the load rating of a tyre needs to be at least half the axle weight for the car it's going to go on? So for something with 1390kg heaviest axle, a rating of 95 (690kg) would be fine? I've always gone with XL rated tyres before for convenience (virtually the same price, no hassle worrying about load ratings) but neither Nokian nor Goodyear appear to be available in XL just yet.
tenohfive said:
Yes, I've been stalking Jon's website. Auto Express 2015 All Season test is out:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2015-Auto-Exp...
As are two new contenders, the Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen 2 and the Nokian Weatherproof. Just a shame they couldn't test the Michelin CrossClimate in the same test.
I may or may not be testing the CrossClimates in with the Vector 4Season Gen 2, Conti TS 850 and Primacy 3 at the end of this month. I'm as determined as everyone else to find out if the CrossClimates deserve all the hype!http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2015-Auto-Exp...
As are two new contenders, the Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen 2 and the Nokian Weatherproof. Just a shame they couldn't test the Michelin CrossClimate in the same test.
From the AE test I'd take the Goodyears. As long as I have ok snow performance in the UK, I'm happy, I'd rather wet and dry performance.
It's usually the Express. Well, they've done it too already.
Jon, any chance you could answer the XL rating question in my last post?
Oh, and on the snow performance front - for most people, what you say makes sense. But I've spent the last year running winters, rarely testing the limits of grip and have been quite happy with the grip I've had in the dry. All seasons will undoubtedly be an improvement on that. But in the snow I'm likely to run out of traction much more often, and a heavy, long RWD barge will need all the help it can get. But the tyre that suits my needs won't necessarily suit others.
Jon, any chance you could answer the XL rating question in my last post?
Oh, and on the snow performance front - for most people, what you say makes sense. But I've spent the last year running winters, rarely testing the limits of grip and have been quite happy with the grip I've had in the dry. All seasons will undoubtedly be an improvement on that. But in the snow I'm likely to run out of traction much more often, and a heavy, long RWD barge will need all the help it can get. But the tyre that suits my needs won't necessarily suit others.
Edited by tenohfive on Monday 14th September 22:39
4 season tyres do sound like a good idea, although the almost entirely mild, frequently wet weather of NW England means that they would have to be very good on the 99.5% of non-snow days to make me swap from Uniroyal Rainsport3 XL (which don't actually turn to plastic at 7DegC!).
The Rain Expert on my wife's Fabia are pretty good in the snow too, I've not tried the Rain Sport in anything more than dusting.
The Rain Expert on my wife's Fabia are pretty good in the snow too, I've not tried the Rain Sport in anything more than dusting.
Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 15th September 19:57
tenohfive said:
Oh, and on the snow performance front - for most people, what you say makes sense. But I've spent the last year running winters, rarely testing the limits of grip and have been quite happy with the grip I've had in the dry. All seasons will undoubtedly be an improvement on that. But in the snow I'm likely to run out of traction much more often, and a heavy, long RWD barge will need all the help it can get. But the tyre that suits my needs won't necessarily suit others.
I'm bemused by the review's focus on dry grip as I figure that in the dry you're least likely to come across something unexpected. I'd also like to see comparisons between and average summer tyre and all seasons/winters. I realise you can make a guess from the summer tyre test but it's not a direct comparison.jon- said:
tenohfive said:
Yes, I've been stalking Jon's website. Auto Express 2015 All Season test is out:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2015-Auto-Exp...
As are two new contenders, the Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen 2 and the Nokian Weatherproof. Just a shame they couldn't test the Michelin CrossClimate in the same test.
I may or may not be testing the CrossClimates in with the Vector 4Season Gen 2, Conti TS 850 and Primacy 3 at the end of this month. I'm as determined as everyone else to find out if the CrossClimates deserve all the hype!http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2015-Auto-Exp...
As are two new contenders, the Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen 2 and the Nokian Weatherproof. Just a shame they couldn't test the Michelin CrossClimate in the same test.
From the AE test I'd take the Goodyears. As long as I have ok snow performance in the UK, I'm happy, I'd rather wet and dry performance.
They did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cgtmmtsqFA
Picked up some Cross Climates last week for the Missus' Golf. £46 each from Costco in 195/15/60 flavour. Will see what the winter throws at us.
Still keeping my Nokian WRA3s for my Scoob. Tread pattern is probably no better than the C/C (short of serious snow) but it's the low temperature rating that I'm more interested in, given that I do a lot of early starts in the Winter. Plus, I don't mind running 2 sets of tyres on a performance car; my summer's being Pilot Super Sports.
Still keeping my Nokian WRA3s for my Scoob. Tread pattern is probably no better than the C/C (short of serious snow) but it's the low temperature rating that I'm more interested in, given that I do a lot of early starts in the Winter. Plus, I don't mind running 2 sets of tyres on a performance car; my summer's being Pilot Super Sports.
jon- said:
A small update to this, day one of testing was a binary test to see if the CrossClimates would keep you as mobile as a "proper" all season or winter tyre.
They did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cgtmmtsqFA
Looking at that the CCs didn't fare aw well as the full winters but did better than the all seasons.They did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cgtmmtsqFA
Its a pretty moot point for me as they don't do CCs in my sizes (205/40/16 or 235/35/19).
As for running same size wheels for my winters yes I do currently on the 16s but you can't get 19s so in snow that'll stay parked.
lostkiwi said:
Looking at that the CCs didn't fare aw well as the full winters but did better than the all seasons.
Its a pretty moot point for me as they don't do CCs in my sizes (205/40/16 or 235/35/19).
As for running same size wheels for my winters yes I do currently on the 16s but you can't get 19s so in snow that'll stay parked.
Plenty of choice of winter tyres in that 19inch size available.Its a pretty moot point for me as they don't do CCs in my sizes (205/40/16 or 235/35/19).
As for running same size wheels for my winters yes I do currently on the 16s but you can't get 19s so in snow that'll stay parked.
TroubledSoul said:
Do any of you guys run the same size wheels as winters? I did last year, and will again this year. Only downside is I need new ones this year and it will cost me about £400....
I run the same wheels. I swap the summers over to the winters and will be doing this again when the time is right.My car is nearly eight years old though so I'm not fussed about the state of the wheels anymore.
TroubledSoul said:
HustleRussell said:
That's not the only downside
Please elaborate?Worked very well last year.
lostkiwi said:
In general narrower winter tyres work better than wide ones so going down a few sizes and with a higher profile will give a better result. This is because the tyre is better able to cut through the snow instead of riding on the surface and with a higher profile will allow the tread to deform better over surface irregularities caused by compacted snow.
or you could say the contact patch is smaller, the car's weight remains the same, so the tyres are forced harder (higher friction) into whatever you're driving over...Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff