Winter tyres vol 2

[RicksAlfas]

Fox- said:

So I was almost set on a set of the Mini 16 inch winter wheels until I find out they use a narrower rim than the regular 16s and thus 175/60/16 tyres.

In theory that's great because snow performance is better with narrow rubber.

In practice it's ridiculous as it's probably the most obscure tyre size ever and there appears to be only a single make and model of tyre available - Dunlop Winter Sport 3d. They are only available as RFT and the uniqueness of them means they are very expensive too.

Plus it seems fairly risky to have a tyre size served by only a single tyre. What if Dunlop stop making them?

Back to the drawing board.

Having a look on here:
http://shop.mini.co.uk/mini-uk/en_GB/genuine-mini-...

It seems the 16" alloys use 195/55/16. Is that a more convenient tyre to get hold of?
There must be plenty of 16" MINI alloys available used.

[Ranger 6]

Fox- said:

I'm really keen to avoid the look of aftermarket wheels so I'd like to keep it to genuine ones only.

If it helps, I've got 4 of these from the old Cooper S. Stored as they won't fit our new Countryman. In good condition and decent tread left. I'll get details if you're interested.
http://shop.mini.co.uk/mini-uk/en_GB/p/genuine-min...

[jon-]

Opinion please all.

I've shot a video of the basic options of tyre types you have for this winter season.

As part of illustrating the fact I've tried to make a slide giving a very high level overview of the performance differences.

Does this upset anyone?



Edited to add - I've since dropped summer snow to 1/2 and summer ice to nothing.

[RicksAlfas]

I didn't know there was a class of tyre called "summer all season".

[jon-]

RicksAlfas said:

I didn't know there was a class of tyre called "summer all season".

That should read summer-bias all season, it's basically the Michelin CrossClimate. The video explains that part before this slide so should be less confusing.

[RicksAlfas]

Ok.

[jon-]

After taking some industry feedback, here's the updated version.

[Bill]

jon- said:

That should read summer-bias all season, it's basically the Michelin CrossClimate.

I did wonder about that. It looks like the perfect southern UK tyre.

[RicksAlfas]

I know winter tyres often get marked down for wet performance in the tests, but in actual use they seem to give a lot of confidence and clear the water very well. Your table reflects the tests, but I always find it surprising. When it's absolutely bouncing it down and the road is covered in water I think I would rather be using winter tyres than EcoEnergy summers.



In other news I was looking at vans and spotted that you can now specify a Fiat Ducato to come your choice of tyre:
- normal tyres £0
- energy saving + £230
- winter + £260
- multi season M+S + £280

I think that's a good idea and would be good to see that choice on cars too.

[df76]

jon- said:

After taking some industry feedback, here's the updated version.

That's a really useful summary, thanks for sharing.

[Zod]

jon- said:

After taking some industry feedback, here's the updated version.

I think that is probably good advice for most, but I will be switching at the end of the month from these:



to these:



The upper tyre is not your friend in the cold and damp.

[RicksAlfas]

Interesting to see the SottoZero comes with lumps of gravel already in the tread.

[Zod]

RicksAlfas said:

Interesting to see the SottoZero comes with lumps of gravel already in the tread.

I think they put them there for realism's sake. Drive a few metres on a new set and they'll be there.

[8bit]

Zod said:

I think that is probably good advice for most, but I will be switching at the end of the month from these:



to these:



The upper tyre is not your friend in the cold and damp.

I've got a set of the Sotto Zeros on my other wheels for the XKR. They are equally not your friend in the cold and damp either. Or any conditions for that matter. I can only imagine they're designed for Italian winters, not British ones. I'd strongly recommend you get something else.

[Zod]

8bit said:

I've got a set of the Sotto Zeros on my other wheels for the XKR. They are equally not your friend in the cold and damp either. Or any conditions for that matter. I can only imagine they're designed for Italian winters, not British ones. I'd strongly recommend you get something else.

I've driven in the snow with them. I could actually move, which would not be the case with the Corsas.

[8bit]

Zod said:

8bit said:

I've got a set of the Sotto Zeros on my other wheels for the XKR. They are equally not your friend in the cold and damp either. Or any conditions for that matter. I can only imagine they're designed for Italian winters, not British ones. I'd strongly recommend you get something else.

I've driven in the snow with them. I could actually move, which would not be the case with the Corsas.

I've driven in the snow with Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas and moved. Granted though, the one time I thought the Sotto Zeros did relatively well was in the snow. Do you get a lot of snow where you live? We (in Scotland) generally do not, mostly just gritty/muddy/mushy leaves/wet through winter and I've always found whatever summer tyres I have to be far better than the Sotto Zeros. For the rare occasion we do have some snow I just don't take the Jag. I appreciate the climate and your circumstances may be different though.

[Zod]

8bit said:

Zod said:

8bit said:

I've got a set of the Sotto Zeros on my other wheels for the XKR. They are equally not your friend in the cold and damp either. Or any conditions for that matter. I can only imagine they're designed for Italian winters, not British ones. I'd strongly recommend you get something else.

I've driven in the snow with them. I could actually move, which would not be the case with the Corsas.

I've driven in the snow with Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas and moved. Granted though, the one time I thought the Sotto Zeros did relatively well was in the snow. Do you get a lot of snow where you live? We (in Scotland) generally do not, mostly just gritty/muddy/mushy leaves/wet through winter and I've always found whatever summer tyres I have to be far better than the Sotto Zeros. For the rare occasion we do have some snow I just don't take the Jag. I appreciate the climate and your circumstances may be different though.

I live in London, but spend quite few weekends in North Yorkshire (one snowy weekend per year?) and occasionally drive to the Alps. We also have an X5, so I'm unlikely ever to be stranded.

My worst experience on the Sottozeros was last winter the day after they were fitted. I was alarmed at how little grip the car had, even in the dry, so I took a look at the rears:





My dealer (where the wheels not in use are kept) had exchanged the wheels and not said a word.

[8bit]

Zod said:

I live in London...

I see, so it's the wrong kind of snow you're worried about, rather than too much of it

If you're happy with them then fair enough, I guess we've had different experiences with them but I won't buy another set personally. I guess in London you maybe don't get the same level of mushy leaves, farm-related gunk, road grit/salt and daily frost we get here for most of the winter.

[SAS Tom]

I’ve just had my Falken Eurowinter HS449’s put back on for their second winter. The same as last year the only difference I have noticed so far is that they are loads quieter than the Dunlop Sportmaxx summer tyres. Does anybody else find this? All reports I find always say winters will be louder.

[Mr Tidy]

SAS Tom said:

I’ve just had my Falken Eurowinter HS449’s put back on for their second winter. The same as last year the only difference I have noticed so far is that they are loads quieter than the Dunlop Sportmaxx summer tyres. Does anybody else find this? All reports I find always say winters will be louder.

Just a thought, but are they the same size as I imagine that may have a bearing?

My E46 runs Pirelli P Zeros for summer - staggered with 245/50X17 rears and 225/45x17 fronts.

Winters are 205/55x16 Michelin Alpins all round.

If anything the winters seem a bit quieter, but I suspect that is as likely to be due to having more sidewall as due to the tyre type.