Calling all winter tyre users

[Stedman]

...what ones have you used and what were your experiences with the different brands etc? I'm thinking about getting some put on some steal rims and using them this winter as my Goodyear GSD3s will be lethal in any sort of frost/slippery conditions.

If we get enough feedback, maybe a Wiki could be made?

Thanks

[Cheburator mk2]

Stedman said:

... I'm thinking about getting some put on some steal rims and using them this winter as my Goodyear GSD3s will be lethal in any sort of frost/slippery conditions.

If we get enough feedback, maybe a Wiki could be made?

Thanks

You might get nicked if you use stolen property...

[Stedman]

DOH!!

[mad4amanda]

I use Toyo snowproxes on my E34 540 touring have done for 2 years and they transform the car in snow and are better in cold and wet too so they on at the end oct off end of march , saves my bbs alloys from salt damage as I got some modern E60 alloys off ebay for £60 set . 225/55x16 cost me £400 delivered from mytyres.com

[HellDiver]

Last year I ran Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme in 225-45-18 on my Lancer. Fantastic tyres, got up some quite steep ice covered hills and excellent in slush and wet. Handled and gripped better than the Toyo T1R summer tyres in the dry too.

This year I have a different car, so different winter tyres - they're Dunlop Graspic DS3 in 205-55-16 on steels for the Mondeo. Not putting them on for a few months yet, will report back. They do look very sticky, and there's a LOT of tread so I'm expecting them to be mushy compared to my summer Bridgestone ER300.

[V8mate]

When you say 'winter', do you mean 'wet UK roads' or proper alpine-like stuff?

If the former, ContactSport 3 and RE050A tyres would get my recommendation.

[RenesisEvo]

HellDiver said:

Last year I ran Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme in 225-45-18 on my Lancer. Fantastic tyres, got up some quite steep ice covered hills and excellent in slush and wet. Handled and gripped better than the Toyo T1R summer tyres in the dry too.

This year I have a different car, so different winter tyres - they're Dunlop Graspic DS3 in 205-55-16 on steels for the Mondeo. Not putting them on for a few months yet, will report back. They do look very sticky, and there's a LOT of tread so I'm expecting them to be mushy compared to my summer Bridgestone ER300.

Will be interested to hear your thoughts, I have a Focus on ER300s, and looking to acquire some more winter-orientated rubber.

[HellDiver]

V8mate said:

When you say 'winter', do you mean 'wet UK roads' or proper alpine-like stuff?

I assume you're one of the southern "winters aren't bad in the UK" people?

Here we had sheet ice, frozen slush, snow between December and March - heck we had people trapped in their cars and having to be helicoptered out on 31st March off one of the major roads. I managed to drive up that same road a few hours before it was shut on my Vredesteins, passing the hundreds of stuck vehicles including Range Rovers and the like.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-natio...

[Jez64]

Always run Vredestein Snowtrack, I've even left them on all summer and still got 2 winters out
of them. Though the set I have now are on a spare set of wheels.

Great tyres, they are the only thing, apart from chains or walking, that will get me to within
half a mile of my house when it snows.

[KB_S1]

V8mate said:

When you say 'winter', do you mean 'wet UK roads' or proper alpine-like stuff?

If the former, ContactSport 3 and RE050A tyres would get my recommendation.

Depends where in the UK you are.

From late November to late February I didn't see a reading above 4 celsius in my car.
Through December to mid Feb it was almost always sub zero and often thick snow.
10 to 30cm deep snow was pretty much the normal for my 27 mile drive to and from work.

[E55 Max]

+1 for the vredestein Wintrac Extremes, I have an Merc E55k Estate, which should be the worst of all worlds in the snow, I had no trouble this year and not once got stuck or felt uneasy, they are going back on for this winter.
I drove straight out of this on New years day.

[Stedman]

Uk wet roads stuff, not intending on taking a torquey FWD car anywhere near snow this year

Edit-

E55 Max said:

+1 for the vredestein Wintrac Extremes, I have an Merc E55k Estate, which should be the worst of all worlds in the snow, I had no trouble this year and not once got stuck or felt uneasy, they are going back on for this winter.
I drove straight out of this on New years day.

Blimey! That good eh?

Edited by Stedman on Thursday 9th September 14:28

[HellDiver]

Stedman said:

Uk wet roads stuff, not intending on taking a torquey FWD car anywhere near snow this year

Well my Lancer was FWD, 170hp VW TDI engine. 300lb-ft. It coped fine on the Vredesteins. On sheet ice/frozen slush it'd only lose traction if you purposely booted it. Even then the ESP/TC would lift the power and you'd be away.

It really is comical how much better winters are compared to summers.

[ehasler]

Another vote for Vredestein Wintrac Extremes - had them on my Range Rover all year since I fitted them in Feb, and they've been great. No increase in road noise or wear through the summer, and they were great driving down the Alps in a snow storm when most other drivers kept having to stop to fit/remove/fit snow chains.

[Ranger 6]

V8mate said:

When you say 'winter', do you mean 'wet UK roads' or proper alpine-like stuff?

For both I've used Michelin Alpin with good results. They went on in December and came off in April and even in deepest urban Berkshire made a good difference to the 'feel' and confidence on cold wet roads.

I also used them on a skiing holiday in the Alps, where this year I didn't need to use chains so that's a good thing

[E55 Max]

Stedman said:

Uk wet roads stuff, not intending on taking a torquey FWD car anywhere near snow this year

Edit-

E55 Max said:

+1 for the vredestein Wintrac Extremes, I have an Merc E55k Estate, which should be the worst of all worlds in the snow, I had no trouble this year and not once got stuck or felt uneasy, they are going back on for this winter.
I drove straight out of this on New years day.

Blimey! That good eh?

Edited by Stedman on Thursday 9th September 14:28

If you haven't tried them you won't understand, but yes that good!
There is a reason why most in european countries (except us) It is law to use Winter tyres between certain dates. Ski resorts won't let you in unless you have snow chains....or winter tyres so it shows that they rate them as good in the white stuff as chains.

[Kevin VRs]

I use Avon Ice Tourer myself. Good blend of grip with reasonably long life.

[Fume troll]

I've used Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes on three Subaru Foresters and my wifes RWD Merc in all kinds of deep snow, they really are excellent in anything from cold, wet or greasy roads to full snow. They are also good in the dry, far better than the Geolanders that the Foresters and Legacies seem to come with as standard. A wee bit noisier but that's it.

Check the [url]reviews|http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Vredestein/Wintrac-4-Extreme.htm[/url[ online.

Cheers,

FT.

[david_h]

First year I will run winter tyres.

Bought some 17" BMW OEM wheels that need a refurb for £60 off ebay.

Will be fitted with Continental TS810. I hope winter tyres live up to the Pistonheads hype.

[GTIR]

I've had some Michelin Alpin, very good with little road noise.

I would like to buy some Nokians WR which are used all over northern Europe but I had a puncture and could only get a Wredestien to replace it so instead if mixing winters (which isn't advised) I'll get sone more wredestien.