Michelin Alpin tyres - anyone use them?

[finmac]

Wondered whether anyone uses these for winter and if so what’s your experience of them like please? Just for general winter hooning around In colder temps more so than specifically for snow etc. (Would Potentially be going onto my GT4 for the colder months)

[cslwannabe]

Yes on my Golf R - Pilot Alpin PA4. Despite being the sportiest winter tyre I’ve had, it’s the biggest change in vehicle dynamics (in a bad way) I’ve experienced Have also ran winter tyres on a 640d, Jag XF, 330Ci, 330d and a Skoda Octavia so plenty of other tyres by way of comparison (Vredestein, Continental, Fulda and Pilot Alpin PA2) I know Porsche recommend them, maybe it’s a feeling unique to the golf. Several times I’ve nealry lost control in the dry when not even pushing on - never really driven in much snow to comment but in the dry I’m not a fan. In fact last winter I didn’t bother fitting them.

[finmac]

cslwannabe said:

Yes on my Golf R - Pilot Alpin PA4. Despite being the sportiest winter tyre I’ve had, it’s the biggest change in vehicle dynamics (in a bad way) I’ve experienced Have also ran winter tyres on a 640d, Jag XF, 330Ci, 330d and a Skoda Octavia so plenty of other tyres by way of comparison (Vredestein, Continental, Fulda and Pilot Alpin PA2) I know Porsche recommend them, maybe it’s a feeling unique to the golf. Several times I’ve nealry lost control in the dry when not even pushing on - never really driven in much snow to comment but in the dry I’m not a fan. In fact last winter I didn’t bother fitting them.

Doesn’t sound great! Wonder is anyone running the Alpins on a GT4 or Spyder?

[Magnum 475]

I've used them on less sporting cars (BMW 3 Series) - their level of grip in cold weather is excellent compared to a normal summer-focused tyre.

Sidewalls are softer than a summer tyre, and you'll find the car less surefooted at times, but the ultimate level of grip in cold / wet / icy weather is way higher than a standard summer tyre - I was running PS4 for comparison. The Summer Tyre is nervous on cold roads, where the winter isn't.

[cslwannabe]

Don’t get me wrong I’m a massive fan of winter tyres and also a big fan of Michelin in general. I first bought a set in 2007 when I owned my first rwd car and was sick of going to bed worrying about whether it was going to snow and how treacherous the A19 would be. Several times I made it to work with ease when neighbours with front wheel drive cars couldn’t even get off their drive. Plus it’s not just snowy conditions, they’re good in the cold and some such as the Vredestein Wintacs were fantastic in torrential rain.

Don’t let me put you off - maybe they just don’t particularly suit the golf. Also you’d be looking at Pilot Alpin 5 I imagine so a completely different tyre to what I have.