Winter tyres vol 2

Author
Discussion

WestyCarl

3,217 posts

124 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Taken the plunge for the 1st time.
Just got a set of wheel and tyres (Advan Ice ST) for my 5 series (F11), cost was just over £700 which seems reasonable

Dan Friel

3,615 posts

277 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Davie said:
Dan Friel said:
But the original poster never said that the Nankangs would be worse than summer tyres in winter conditions, he merely commented that there are much better and more suitable winter tyres for UK conditions. I don't think that's up for debate..

If you really can't get the ABS to kick in by standing on the brakes, I suggest that the braking system might need a quick look at..
The original poster has a BMW 5 series diesel... I'm not saying it would than an RS4 cabriolet for taking the kids to school, I'm merely commenting that there are better and more suitable cars for UK family needs.

My point, you buy the thing that satisfies your needs and at the budget you can afford, based upon you own personal situation and preferences. Ultimately, there's always something better.
Agreed, but just need to be sure that you're not relying on something that is dreadful.. The Nankang tyre finished in 29th place in the Autoblid test, and the tyre review website makes the following point:

"Auto Bild will be taking the top 15 tyres through to the shoot out due next month, conditionally recommend places 16 to 26, and do not recommend places 27 to 42, something we completely agree with.

The average budget winter tyres sacrifices too much wet performance to be considered a sensible option for the UK climate. Please note: Auto Bild considered places 27-42 so dangerous they did not test them in the snow."

jagnet

4,095 posts

201 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Another pair of Pirelli Sottozero 3 ordered for this winter from Pneus Online.

I've been very impressed with the tyres after using them last winter, especially in the wet. Despite a 3k mile trip to Slovakia and back in January I never did find any snow to test them in, but in all other conditions they've been outstanding.

The front pair have lasted 9k miles on the Saab 9-5 Aero, which I consider to be pretty good given that they tend to score less well in tests for wear, and it's a big heavy FWD estate which is often heavily loaded in the rear.

In a 225/45/17 94V they're not the cheapest winter tyre by any means, but it's a minimal price difference between them and the likes of Nokian / Fulda / Vredestein etc so I've no hesitation in buying them again.

I'm just hoping that I get to find some snow this year to try them out in.


Silverbullet767

10,680 posts

205 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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4 degrees this morning bounce just in time for my car to go in to the garage for a week to get it's wastegates sorted. Got a courtesy car with summers on. mad

sjj84

2,390 posts

218 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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FiF said:
Errr Pirelli Sottozero not cheap though.


But then they might be just a figment of my imagination. hehe


Or Nankang SV2 but then we'll both die in the hail of PH must win the Internet crossfire. hehe
Bloody auto correct at work again!
You're right those pirelli's aren't cheap!

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Silverbullet767 said:
4 degrees this morning bounce just in time for my car to go in to the garage for a week to get it's wastegates sorted. Got a courtesy car with summers on. mad
So?

S1600

27 posts

136 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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sjj84 said:
Anybody know of any all season or winter tyres in a 205/40r17 figment? Struggling to find anything made by a company I've even heard of.
I've gone with a set of Nexen Wingaurd Sports in that size this year, I used to go down to 15s on steels but have a second set of 17" alloys now, cost £42 each from tyreleader.

Pablo16v

2,072 posts

196 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Jimboka said:
Silverbullet767 said:
4 degrees this morning bounce just in time for my car to go in to the garage for a week to get it's wastegates sorted. Got a courtesy car with summers on. mad
So?
A needle pulling thread?

Dan-P

87 posts

184 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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defblade said:
Any recommendations for winters for my latest steed, a Grand Vitara?

I commute by motorbike in all weather except snow and ice, so with my last car (BMW 318 touring, Uniroyal M+S) I was happy to fit winters and use them all year, they don't see the road much in summer anyway. A bit of very mild off-roading may be in the future, but keeping mobile in winter, come what may, is my main priority.

OE size is 235/60/16 100H; I was also wondering about the pros and cons of maybe going a little narrower, say 215/65.


Thanks in advance, gurus smile
I run Bridgestone Blizzak LM-80 winters on a Subaru Forester in 215/65/16. They are also available in 235/60/16 if you prefer to stick to OE size.
This thread had reminded me I really need to get them swapped over in the next week or 2.

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
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Swapped the tyres on my SLK over to the Conti TS830P winters this morning. Still too warm but the ride is so nice and comfy cloud9

I also need to maximise the use of the car on the winters, as I get the cars and change them every 2 years/30K. By using the winters (these are the same tyres I used on my identical SLK that went back to MB in May) in a timely manner I get away with not needing to replace the tyres on the car (ie. it goes back to MB on the original tyres). Very cost effective.

TheArchitect

1,238 posts

178 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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Sonic said:
I was just coming to post about this as i've been caught with a 2014 Ford Fiesta Zetec.

I knew it had TPMS but assumed it was much like my BMW, where it uses the ABS sensor to work it out, so you just need to re-calibrate the system when you change tyre pressures or indeed wheels.

But unbeknown to me the Ford has embedded sensors in the tyre valves, which means now i've changed to a winter set of wheels without sensors the bloody computer alert goes off with a TPMS malfunction every time you drive it which is very annoying.

To the best of my knowledge there is no way to turn this off, so it's a simple case of put up with the annoyance, put the sensors from the OEM wheels into the winters which kind of defies the point of having 2 easy-to-change sets of wheels, or get a new set of sensors (£250) put into winters (£40) plus re-calibration tool (£50) to be able to update the computer whenever you change the wheels back.

What a complete fking ballache!


Edited by Sonic on Monday 17th November 13:37
I am in the same situation. I had a look on national tyres for new sensors and they're nearly £400 which I disagree with paying for something that a bit of common sense can keep on top of. Think I'll just put some black tape over the light. My MOT was done in sept so the summers will be back on by then.

Bonefish Blues

26,454 posts

222 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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TheArchitect said:
Sonic said:
I was just coming to post about this as i've been caught with a 2014 Ford Fiesta Zetec.

I knew it had TPMS but assumed it was much like my BMW, where it uses the ABS sensor to work it out, so you just need to re-calibrate the system when you change tyre pressures or indeed wheels.

But unbeknown to me the Ford has embedded sensors in the tyre valves, which means now i've changed to a winter set of wheels without sensors the bloody computer alert goes off with a TPMS malfunction every time you drive it which is very annoying.

To the best of my knowledge there is no way to turn this off, so it's a simple case of put up with the annoyance, put the sensors from the OEM wheels into the winters which kind of defies the point of having 2 easy-to-change sets of wheels, or get a new set of sensors (£250) put into winters (£40) plus re-calibration tool (£50) to be able to update the computer whenever you change the wheels back.

What a complete fking ballache!


Edited by Sonic on Monday 17th November 13:37
I am in the same situation. I had a look on national tyres for new sensors and they're nearly £400 which I disagree with paying for something that a bit of common sense can keep on top of. Think I'll just put some black tape over the light. My MOT was done in sept so the summers will be back on by then.
Big thread on a Volvo Forum about this - seems that the passive systems (i.e. ABS-based, non-sensor) took some time to catch up with the new EU regs so manufacturers were using "active" sensors for a while, with all the cost implications that involves.

SWH

1,261 posts

201 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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Winter boots on the Yeti today, second year for these Kumhos, were great on the frosty roads last winter and not thrown off line through deep surface water either.


Charlie Boy

165 posts

180 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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Had mine fitted yesterday, Michelin Alpin PA4 on BBS CK's smile




anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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SWH said:
Winter boots on the Yeti today, second year for these Kumhos, were great on the frosty roads last winter and not thrown off line through deep surface water either.

Love Yetis. I want Land Rover to do something similar to these cars.

sjj84

2,390 posts

218 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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S1600 said:
I've gone with a set of Nexen Wingaurd Sports in that size this year, I used to go down to 15s on steels but have a second set of 17" alloys now, cost £42 each from tyreleader.
Any good? That's a bargain if they are, reviews if nexen don't seem to be very favourable though.

S1600

27 posts

136 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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sjj84 said:
S1600 said:
I've gone with a set of Nexen Wingaurd Sports in that size this year, I used to go down to 15s on steels but have a second set of 17" alloys now, cost £42 each from tyreleader.
Any good? That's a bargain if they are, reviews if nexen don't seem to be very favourable though.
I can't comment on there performance yet as they are still sat in the garage, I'll be putting them on next weekend. Reviews are mixed, I based my decision to get them on reviews from US car forums from people who have used them.



If they are as good as, or better than the Dunlop Winter Sport m3s that they are replacing I'll be happy, also I couldn't live with the steels for another winter.








jon-

16,497 posts

215 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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Quick note, it's never a good idea to Base tyre choice of us reviews. It's a very different market from the UK, and tyre companies can actually take totally different tyres out there, even if they use the same name.

A uhp summer tyre with good reviews out there would likely be awful compared to our summer tyres, as they expect tyres to last 50k+ miles

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Monday 24th November 2014
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0 - 1 on the temp gauge coming into work this morning. Also very wet and muddy roads. Winter boots have been gripping really, really well.

Did about 80 miles yesterday in the rain and cold. Again, the tyres inspired lots of confidence.

I've also noticed a difference at a junction I use that takes me onto an A road. For some reason, the surface is quite slippery and I would always have a little bit of wheel spin when moving off in the wet. Since I've had the winters fitted, I don't seem to suffer much wheelspin.

belleair302

6,835 posts

206 months

Monday 24th November 2014
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Winter tyres onto the winter Lexus LS shed today. Frosts in Hertfordshire and the temperatures look cold enough this week onwards to make the change necessary. Oh happy days.