vredestein winter tyres - going to be a shortage?
Discussion
having spent ages ringing around for a set of Wintrac 4 Xtreme for my FFRR only found one UK supplier with them in stock - bought and delivered!
apparently Vredestein will not start manufacturing these tyres until mid/late Sept and UK demand is already very high with pre orders - nobody would even take a deposit
if it turns out to be another snowy winter many folks will be far too late to get tyres?
apparently Vredestein will not start manufacturing these tyres until mid/late Sept and UK demand is already very high with pre orders - nobody would even take a deposit
if it turns out to be another snowy winter many folks will be far too late to get tyres?
Edited by grand cherokee on Thursday 1st September 09:43
Targarama said:
No problem if you buy around October time, and you'll get this year's tyres.
BUT no dealer i spoke to had any idea of projected stock supply levels and already had so many pre orders they would take no more until they know what is available?i offered them money and they would not take it - LOL!
as i said i was lucky to find four tyres that have now arrived
grand cherokee said:
BUT no dealer i spoke to had any idea of projected stock supply levels and already had so many pre orders they would take no more until they know what is available?
i offered them money and they would not take it - LOL!
as i said i was lucky to find four tyres that have now arrived
Did you try www.mytyres.co.uk? I get all my tyres from there. They are German/ship from Germany.i offered them money and they would not take it - LOL!
as i said i was lucky to find four tyres that have now arrived
Targarama said:
Did you try www.mytyres.co.uk? I get all my tyres from there. They are German/ship from Germany.
+1Just had a set of Maloya Davos (Swiss winter tyres) delivered by them last week. Noticed that they're creeping up in price by the day. They've gained over £5 each already
Targarama said:
Did you try www.mytyres.co.uk? I get all my tyres from there. They are German/ship from Germany.
no i did not contact them but thanks for the contact info - but just had a look at their site and they were £36/tyre more expensive than i paid (inc delivery)Edited by grand cherokee on Thursday 1st September 10:08
McSam said:
Oh s
t, you're right.. I had my Snowtrac 3s earmarked at Camskill a couple of weeks ago, but now they're all out of stock! Thanks for bringing this to my attention 
one of the latest weather 'projections' for this coming winter suggests its going to be worse than the previous two?t, you're right.. I had my Snowtrac 3s earmarked at Camskill a couple of weeks ago, but now they're all out of stock! Thanks for bringing this to my attention who knows - but after two pretty nasty winters people are now seeing 'winter tyres' as not a fancy option but an essential
i've looked into the lot inc studs/chains etc - the problem in the uk is that the main roads may be fine once you leave them you encounter severe ice/snow - so 'winter' tyres are imo the only realistic uk option because they can handle 'clear' roads but then be suitable when the 'going gets tough'
chains/studs etc are useless on 'clear' roads and its a pain in the ass to remove/add chains
Edited by grand cherokee on Thursday 1st September 10:25
Balmoral Green said:
McSam said:
Snowtrac 3s
We had those on our Panda last winter. Hilariously good. They're in the shed at the moment on the cars old set of steels. We're ready for this winter 
Didn't know this winter was forecast to be worse than last - justifies the decision nicely, that
McSam said:
ice! Glad to hear they're a good set of rubber. I think I'll have to get my order in as soon as the student loan hits. Annoying though, because Camskill were £6 a corner cheaper than this mytyres business, though I must admit the latter look to be a very handy supplier.
Didn't know this winter was forecast to be worse than last - justifies the decision nicely, that
I'm not sure how much stock I put in forecasts 4 months away, given they can;t get tomorrow right half the time Didn't know this winter was forecast to be worse than last - justifies the decision nicely, that
I don't bother with UK suppliers of winter tyres. In the past they have proved unreliable with delivery dates and with a very poor range of winter tyres "available".
Like others said, pneus-online, reifen.com or mytyres will get you your chosen winter tyres from Europe, hell they'll even send you them already mounted on wheels for you (for a price, obviusly).
Having said that, I have noticed some of the premium car manufacturers sending out bumpf re winter tyres- seen it from Lexus and Mercedes, but already being sorted for winters I've just ignored said bumbf.
Like others said, pneus-online, reifen.com or mytyres will get you your chosen winter tyres from Europe, hell they'll even send you them already mounted on wheels for you (for a price, obviusly).
Having said that, I have noticed some of the premium car manufacturers sending out bumpf re winter tyres- seen it from Lexus and Mercedes, but already being sorted for winters I've just ignored said bumbf.
McSam said:
Glad to hear they're a good set of rubber.
We tested them out on an empty cinema car park in the very worst of the snow & ice. Emergency stops by stamping on the pedal, and the little car just anchored up and stopped. It was unbelievable. Ditto boy racer starts in 1st, it just gripped and went. I'm a real convert to winter tyres.
£300 for a set of wheels & tyres I could stomach, but to fit over my brakes I need 18" wheels & tyres, for which I'm looking at over £1000 for the set (wheel & tyre).
Over the last 3 winters with the Z4MC, and the last 12 winters with an M of some sort, I've never been stuck in snow. But I've been worried about being stuck on many occasions, and have a couple of sets of snow-socks in the car for emergencies.
Over the last 3 winters with the Z4MC, and the last 12 winters with an M of some sort, I've never been stuck in snow. But I've been worried about being stuck on many occasions, and have a couple of sets of snow-socks in the car for emergencies.
McSam said:
hush, I'm justifying £300 on a set of boots that spend two-thirds of the year in the garage here!
your lucky the FFRR tyres cost £656 - but they are quite large - LOL!however, the Vredestain Wintrac 4 Xtreme can be used as a 'normal' tyre - apparently good in wet conditions - so all is not lost?
mmm-five said:
£300 for a set of wheels & tyres I could stomach, but to fit over my brakes I need 18" wheels & tyres, for which I'm looking at over £1000 for the set (wheel & tyre).
Ditto. Much higher cost that £300 for me Our rav4 is on summer tyres (checked last night) and it managed last year in a good 12-15" of snow 
Well, I say 'managed', it was unstoppable. I always assumed they were all season since nothing stopped it, indeed only rarely had to lock the diff.Did a proper double take on seeing they were 'summer' boots. I only checked the type the other day as I was checking the tread as I was simply going to do a like-for-like replacement! (if it ain't broke...)
Not sure I can justify the kind of money a set of new wheels will need since it did so well last time around.
Bridgestone dueler H/T for reference
roachcoach said:
mmm-five said:
£300 for a set of wheels & tyres I could stomach, but to fit over my brakes I need 18" wheels & tyres, for which I'm looking at over £1000 for the set (wheel & tyre).
Ditto. Much higher cost that £300 for me Our rav4 is on summer tyres (checked last night) and it managed last year in a good 12-15" of snow Well, I say 'managed', it was unstoppable. I always assumed they were all season since nothing stopped it, indeed only rarely had to lock the diff.Did a proper double take on seeing they were 'summer' boots. I only checked the type the other day as I was checking the tread as I was simply going to do a like-for-like replacement! (if it ain't broke...)
Not sure I can justify the kind of money a set of new wheels will need since it did so well last time around.
There was a bit of ploughing, yes. It was soft enough though, by the time it hardened up a bit it had been mashed down a bit.
Edit. Digging out a photo, only took a few. I fear time may be adding some inches. Let the pics decide
Will add here
Below is image from a main road, the estates were basically like the pavement off to the right which really shows the depth, they're not high kerbs, these shots were quite early on, it got worse as time went on.
It was, thankfully relatively soft so could be pushed a fair bit to flatten it out.
Original exact depth perhaps (even probably) clouded by time, but it is not insignificant depth and unimpeded progress on allegedly 'summer' tyres will do me.
Edit. Digging out a photo, only took a few. I fear time may be adding some inches. Let the pics decide
Will add here
Below is image from a main road, the estates were basically like the pavement off to the right which really shows the depth, they're not high kerbs, these shots were quite early on, it got worse as time went on.
It was, thankfully relatively soft so could be pushed a fair bit to flatten it out.
Original exact depth perhaps (even probably) clouded by time, but it is not insignificant depth and unimpeded progress on allegedly 'summer' tyres will do me.
Edited by roachcoach on Thursday 1st September 11:16
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