Winter tyres vol 2

[blueST]

For those looking for a winter alloy option for BMW. I can reccomend Dezent TB. A German brand. They are specifically for BMW, correct offset, centre bore etc. with a little bit of dish which suits BMWs. Personally I think they look about as factory as you'll get with a non. OE design. They were good value from My Tyres with a set of Dunlop Wintersports fitted.

I've had them on mine for two winters. The finish is still perfect, better than my original wheels.

[blearyeyedboy]

poing said:

I used to be happy driving a FWD in the winter on any tyres but sadly things have changed because car companies like to stick massive wheels on little cars and that never works well in snow. An example here would be an old Ford KA and Nissan Micra I owned, I could go anywhere in the winter with those things on any tyres and get through some serious snow. My current FWD has typically modern over sized rubber band tyres, I tried not using winters for a while last year and it was ok until the snow hit at which point it was less than happy.

With RWD the difference is far greater. In the cold and dry, it's not much different but cold and wet is noticeably better. In the snow it's night and day, in fact I compare the winters in the snow to the summers in the rain in terms of driving, the ability to get up steep hills and pass stranded 4x4's on summers was hysterical. I was genuinely shocked the first time I tried them on snow. Another example here is when I took the winters off a bit early and then we had a week of snow, I actually couldn't get to work in the RWD car although it's worth adding I could get there in the FWD car once I stole the OH's little Twingo with it's skinny tyres.

My experience- small FWD Fiestas, Corollas and Micras vs larger "sporty" FWD cars- would echo yours. It's more common to find unexpected loss of grip in the latter on summer tyres in cold (not necessarily snowy) conditions.

Four lessons I learned:
1) Slow down. No tyre breaks the laws of physics.
2) Winter tyres make a difference in cold weather. Eco tyres on "sporty" cars just results in embarrassing wheelspin at the bottom of big hills.
3) How much of a difference winter tyres make depends on your context. Having moved to the South East in the last 3 years, I don't think I'd bother and I'll swap to all-seasons when the current Michelin Alpin A4's wear out.
4) Summer or winter, don't skimp on footwear... for humans or cars. It's worth spending enough to get good ones.

[DJdro]

cptsideways said:

shoestring7 said:

SS7

I have to say the best looking BMW I have seen for some time, love that.

I had to have a look where you are based, I've seen the same BMW with steelies on the M6 Toll recently, well same colour, not sure about the model (they all look the same to me - sorry), but your'e in the south, so there is another one in the Midlands.

[Waveuk]

Not sure what he says but video is very good. About CrossClimate on snow:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VNXAiOQ_Tec

[poing]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I don't think this person is a car person! Maybe they are just mentioning 1 pair and forgot about the other two.

[Jim the Sunderer]

poing said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I don't think this person is a car person! Maybe they are just mentioning 1 pair and forgot about the other two.

What the hell good are they on the front? People these days.

[andyps]

Jim the Sunderer said:

poing said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I don't think this person is a car person! Maybe they are just mentioning 1 pair and forgot about the other two.

What the hell good are they on the front? People these days.

It at least means if they get it moving it will stop and steer better than it would with summers! Limited use on an RWD car though.

[alistair1234]

I've got some genuine BMW 17" with Dunlop Winter run flats going spare now I'm selling the car. Bought for a 123d as they need the 17's rather than the normal 16's. Think the guy I bought them off had them on a 135i but I'm sure they fit various models.

Think 8mm on one (virtually new), 5mm on one and 3mm on other 2. All matching tyres. Come with bags/covers for storing through summer.

Rather sell to a PH'r than on the dreaded bay if anyone is interested?

Can move this if not allowed.

[Slow]

Bought 4 winters back in nov/dec, they have been great, till my mum bent the wheel and drove it flat so it was fked.

Wheel has been straightened, but now I was 1 tyre short. Put one of my summers on just for now.

Rang the local friendly tyre garage, 4x pirelli winter tyres in my exact size, 275/40/r20 had just been taken off a Range Rover with 5mm left.

Got the set for £20 including fitting 2 to the rear 2 wheels. Bit of a bargain I reckon.

[andyps]

Slow said:

Bought 4 winters back in nov/dec, they have been great, till my mum bent the wheel and drove it flat so it was fked.

Wheel has been straightened, but now I was 1 tyre short. Put one of my summers on just for now.

Rang the local friendly tyre garage, 4x pirelli winter tyres in my exact size, 275/40/r20 had just been taken off a Range Rover with 5mm left.

Got the set for £20 including fitting 2 to the rear 2 wheels. Bit of a bargain I reckon.

Just a bit of a bargain!

[jetskiadam]

I just spent half an hour composing my thoughts on the set of Michelin CrossClimates I had fitted to my Civic yesterday when my sausage fingers deleted the lot so I'll summarise by saying they are staggeringly good.

I've driven many cars over the last 20 years (reformed taxi driver) and I have never experienced anything like them in the cold & wet weather we're having here in Fife. They really are a game changer, A rated for both grip and noise, and my economy has gone up noticeably too. Wet grip is phenomenally confidence inspiring.

I didn't see the point before, but after 2 days I'm converted, I will never go back.

[rich888]

jetskiadam said:

I just spent half an hour composing my thoughts on the set of Michelin CrossClimates I had fitted to my Civic yesterday when my sausage fingers deleted the lot so I'll summarise by saying they are staggeringly good.

I've driven many cars over the last 20 years (reformed taxi driver) and I have never experienced anything like them in the cold & wet weather we're having here in Fife. They really are a game changer, A rated for both grip and noise, and my economy has gone up noticeably too. Wet grip is phenomenally confidence inspiring.

I didn't see the point before, but after 2 days I'm converted, I will never go back.

Having fitted Bridgestone A001 to the wife's Toyota Yaris, which were the alternative tyres offered to the Michelin CrossClimates I was hoping to fit but were unavailable, I have been thoroughly impressed with the increased levels of grip and lower noise levels compared to the cheap ditch-finders previously fitted.

I've yet to drive the Yaris with these Bridgestone A001 tyres in snow, but in heavy rain they have been outstanding, and judging by the wide tread pattern, I don't doubt for a minute they will be pretty good in snow.

Bridgestone A001, balanced and fitted for less than £50 per tyre what is there not to like?

[anonymous-user]

jetskiadam said:

I just spent half an hour composing my thoughts on the set of Michelin CrossClimates I had fitted to my Civic yesterday when my sausage fingers deleted the lot so I'll summarise by saying they are staggeringly good.

They really are a game changer, .

The word game changer is over used.

I've had CCs on for 4 months, live near Stafford in the Midlands so not as cold as where you live.

They are good tyres in wet and cold. +2 to -4 degrees is as cold as it has got here, and as I work nights driving late and early they perform very well, in the wet/cold/damp/frosty conditions.
I wish they had been tested against Uniroyal RS3 as I think they perform as well from what I have read. I have a taxi type car, Skoda Octavia and they inspire great confidence in all dodgy conditions.

The only faults over 4 months is they don't 'bite' well into corners, ie. feels like they aren't going to grip but do, but only slightly.

They seem to not like windy conditions as they feel a bit wavy in intense cross winds, which have been quite frequent. My mpg has decreased slightly maybe 3 mpg. and that is it over nearly 5k miles.

[johnwilliams77]

It's a shame we haven't had more snow. Not seen many first hand reviews of the cross climates in snow.

[0836whimper]

johnwilliams77 said:

It's a shame we haven't had more snow. Not seen many first hand reviews of the cross climates in snow.

Just arrived in La Tania (French Alps) in pretty heavy snow, on Cross Climates on a 4WD Yeti.

Really heavy rain along auto-route for hours, then heavy snow above La Perriere to La Tania.

The Gendarmes were stopping traffic and forcing people to put chains on unless you had winter tyres, I said they were (they had a lingering look) and then continued past. They were faultless, even up the last steep ramp to the chalet. Tonnes of traction, just like in any vehicle need to be steady on descents.

[anonymous-user]

johnwilliams77 said:

It's a shame we haven't had more snow. Not seen many first hand reviews of the cross climates in snow.

Now the weather has changed and the organ doners are about on the rosds it seems like winter is over.

[f1nn]

Although there is still time of course, this is looking like yet another year that does nothing to convince me that winter tyres are worthwhile for ME (and let me just add before people jump down my throat, yes others have different requirements and that's all well and good) although of course it has been exceptionally mild this year, to date at least.

[SlimJim16v]

0836whimper said:

The Gendarmes were stopping traffic and forcing people to put chains on unless you had winter tyres, I said they were (they had a lingering look) and then continued past. They were faultless, even up the last steep ramp to the chalet. Tonnes of traction, just like in any vehicle need to be steady on descents.

OK, but they aren't winter tyres.

[shoestring7]

SlimJim16v said:

0836whimper said:

The Gendarmes were stopping traffic and forcing people to put chains on unless you had winter tyres, I said they were (they had a lingering look) and then continued past. They were faultless, even up the last steep ramp to the chalet. Tonnes of traction, just like in any vehicle need to be steady on descents.

OK, but they aren't winter tyres.

Snowflake = Winter



SS7

[SlimJim16v]

Nope. Mountain/Snowflake = reach minimum requirement for use in snow.