The Winter Tyres 2012-2013 Thread

[g3org3y]

Well, might as well get it started (prompted by the screen scraping thread)!

Anyone else thinking of getting a set for this year?

I'm considering some but wonder about the sizing. I could get a set for the current wheels (17s) but more likely I'd get a second set of smaller alloys (16s) to fit instead. Obviously in 16 inch form, the tyres will be cheaper, but am I right in thinking that smaller/narrower tyres would be better in the snow?

[HustleRussell]

This will be my first winter as a BMW owner, so I'm considering replacing my current dead tyres with all-seasons or cheap German re-mould winters. I've always managed fine with summer tyres on my previous FWD cars, probably because I'm in the south east.
ETA: my car runs on 15x7J wheels so I have plenty of options.

[Codswallop]

g3org3y said:

am I right in thinking that smaller/narrower tyres would be better in the snow?

Yes. Check that smaller wheels would clear your brakes though. Your manufacturer handbook most probably has a recommended winter wheel/ tyre size.

[thinfourth2]

I'm not buying winter tyres this year I don't see any reason why I should buy any

[Perd Hapley]

I just bought four summer tyres last week, suddenly it's winter out of nowhere.

[iva cosworth]

I am considering a set of Sierra Cosworth 15s with some taller tyres to replace

my normal 16s for winter.

I already have 2 .

[vxmatt]

I'll not be using them this year. I crashed while using them last year, it wasn't even fking snowing at the time!

I'll make do with the mismatched budget ditchfinders that were on the car when I bought it

Edited by vxmatt on Friday 14th September 19:34

[FreeLitres]

So, do we think this winter will be fairly light on snow like last year, or mental like the year before?

[dhariwab]

Bought mine in the "great winter" of 2010. Got enough tread to keep me going for another decade at least.

[blank]

Picking up a set of wheels tomorrow, will be getting some winter tyres on them and then hoping for snow.

4wd and winter tyres should make it fun!

[McSam]

Well, I had a set for the Audi last year and they were great.

Now I have a 328i which is worth a lot more, and I like a lot more, and yet I'm kinda feeling I'll be alright without. Odd? It's on relatively narrow summer tyres, but even so, I do wonder why I'm so confident all of a sudden!

[sjabrown]

Ordering mine next week. Very useful in this part of the world (western Scotland). My current fronts are last years and have done 20000 miles, the rears have done the same + a winter.

[MG CHRIS]

Well my new car eunos mx5 come with winter tyres on the back haven't checked the front yet but it think it normal tyres though be intresting to see how it goes in the ice and snow we get for a max of 1 week if that.

I wouldn't go out and buy them though waste of money in my eyes.

[matthias73]

My old car was running all year tyres.

New car came with M sport alloys, I'm not terribly looking forward to purchasing winters for it. The damned thing is I wont be around, my mum will be looking after it whilst I do my ski season, but I don't want her crashing.

Might buy some steelies.

[LeoSayer]

Well I recently replaced sporty road tyres on my X5 with Conti 4x4 Contact.

They're not true winter tyres but they are M&S labeled so hopefully will keep some traction on the white stuff.

[ILoveMondeo]

Will be fitting some winter bad boys to the a8 in November this year, will most likely use the Kwik st tyre hotel service.

Planning a couple of trips up the alps so I'm sure they will come in handy, having had them on my mondeo for the last couple of years and they are made of pure magic! Utter brilliance in the snow!

[TheHeretic]

Still have my Winter tyres, but will see how my MT's cope before swapping them over.

[Dover Nige]

Interesting. I've been running Goodyear Ultragrip 8's on my Citroen daily since last November or so.

They've been fine all through the summer, maybe a little understeery and wear doesn't appear to be any more than regular tyres. Bloody noisy though.

Not been any issues running these compared to regular tyres for me.

[andyp79]

I ordered winters 2 weeks ago but they're still on the way.

This will be my first experience of winter tyres and also my first full winter owning a rwd car. I opted for 16" steels with 205/55 Goodyear Ultragrips. I decided not to go for run flat winters and think this will spur me to junk the summer run flats when they wear out... but that's a thread topic in its own right!

[YorkshirePudding]

Have mine on a spare set of wheels, I'll probably swop them over at the end of Nov.