Winter Tyre Choice - Continental WinterContact TS 850

[ModernAndy]

I'm looking at turning my Octavia Estate into a winter hack that I can leave in a shed in the hotter months while driving something a bit more exotic. The colder and wetter weather coming in correlates nicely with the current Continental summer tyres running down to the bars.

I've never used winter tyres before but have researched the options and it seems like the Conti TS 850's offer excellent performance in cold, rain and snow (while some other tyres seem good at the rain and snow but struggle when it's cold and dry). I was wondering if anybody could confirm if these are good one's to go for?

I'll mostly be doing a round trip of around 15 miles on a daily basis around Dunfermline but occasionally travel to Dumfries (down the country roads), Glasgow and Aberdeen so good grip in all conditions is essential.

[ModernAndy]

I'll have a look at the Vredstein's (a brand I have used before - I think they're Dutch and famous for making tractor tyres). It will come down to price and I'm looking at 75 a corner if I can get decent tyres for that. Black Circles are doing a fair few around that price (including Goodyear and a couple of other decent makes) but don't offer the Conti TS 850's. If they do end up being something daft like 50 a corner more than other decent tyres then I'll probably go with the lower priced selection.

[ModernAndy]

I'd rather have winter than all-season as I will be either getting rid of it come spring or using it for winter weather until it dies

[ModernAndy]

Macd355 said:

I used the 850s last year and they were superb. I'm convinced they prevented an accident when someone pulled out in front of me. Very good grip in all cold conditions.

How much did you get them for?

[ModernAndy]

Macd355 said:

250 or there abouts 185/65/15

Thanks, I think I'm on 205/55/16 and seem to have found some for 75 a corner so that seems to be a sensible enough price

[ModernAndy]

Cool. Next question is, seeing as black circles don't do them, where do I go about ordering them from? My guys at the garage down the road will fit them and are going to get me a price but chances are I can order online cheaper than they can get from Viking,etc.

[ModernAndy]

I spoke to Keiran the apprentice and he reckons he can get them for under £80 which is fine by me so should have these babies on the Skoda soon. It's done 220k miles so far so hopefully it lasts long enough to wear it's new tyres out.

[ModernAndy]

8bit said:

Excuse the hijack but I need to put some new rubber on the wife's ML320. Trouble is, it has 20" wheels, 265/45/R20. I tend to stick with Vredestein tyres on my own cars as I've used them for a few years now and been very happy with them but I can't find any winter or all season Vredesteins in that size.

Any other suggestions for either a winter tyre that will still work fine in summer/wet conditions, or an all-season tyre that similarly works all year round? Would prefer not to have two sets of tyres if possible.

have a look using the reg number on black circles then look for reviews on what pops up. The reviews will almost certainly compare the tyres BC offer with other types and you can pick a winner after half an hour of research. You'll likely want all-seasons for running all year round but that's probably a subjective thing with the recent rise of winter tyres.