Winter tyres vol 2
Discussion
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Thesprucegoose said:
Theoldman said:
However the Cross Climates are not especially great in heavy rain surface water situations.
Anyone else found this??
Also, how are they in snow??
I found this in the end didn't replace them when worn. in snow ok, ice and slush no real difference to summers.Anyone else found this??
Also, how are they in snow??
Hope not.
I was Immingham and arguing with staying with General snow Grabbers on my allRoad, but partly due to this thread, I’ve bought some M Cross Climates that go on Tuesday.....
I had CC’S on a 4wd Yeti last year. Watched a 4wd Tiguan (same 4wd system) zig zag up quite a steep incline and really struggled. I’d previously noted it only had summers on. After it had cleared I did the same route and made it easily as if the snow wasn’t there.
Wife has them on her DSG SEAT and also performed well despite been 2wd.
Wife has them on her DSG SEAT and also performed well despite been 2wd.
I replaced the tyres on both cars earlier this year... changed from worn and frankly appalling Nokian WR4 to Rainsports on her car and from an eclectic mix of Barum and Autogrip on mine, to Dunlop SportMaxx.
Now that we've seen the first sub zero temperatures and it's mostly wet and indeed, muddy / wet leaves etc locally the Rainsports seem to be coping OK but the SportMaxx aren't inspiring at all, to the point I now regret the decision and I'm sat here debating hitting the button for four Vredestein Quatrac 5, which I ran year round on my last car and was very impressed... be it a wet, cold lap of the Ring or getting us out a Scottish glen in 6" of snow.
I'm also of the opinion that full winters don't suit the changeable conditions day to day and even if / when we get snow this year, a decent all season should be fine. Certainly much more fine then the SportMaxx whos tread pattern looks like it'd take one look at the white stuff and simply give up.
Now that we've seen the first sub zero temperatures and it's mostly wet and indeed, muddy / wet leaves etc locally the Rainsports seem to be coping OK but the SportMaxx aren't inspiring at all, to the point I now regret the decision and I'm sat here debating hitting the button for four Vredestein Quatrac 5, which I ran year round on my last car and was very impressed... be it a wet, cold lap of the Ring or getting us out a Scottish glen in 6" of snow.
I'm also of the opinion that full winters don't suit the changeable conditions day to day and even if / when we get snow this year, a decent all season should be fine. Certainly much more fine then the SportMaxx whos tread pattern looks like it'd take one look at the white stuff and simply give up.
jon- said:
The CrossClimate had the best snow braking in the Auto Express WINTER tyre test. No idea how, but it does perform well in snow.
in the 2017/18 auto express all season test it came last against the other all season tyres, in snow breaking, 6th in snow traction. 'while it is not the best on snow it still managed to beat two all season rivals..'
in tests with winter tyres performs mid table for snow. They will get you home which is what they are designed for.
Edited by Thesprucegoose on Monday 5th November 02:21
Davie said:
I replaced the tyres on both cars earlier this year... changed from worn and frankly appalling Nokian WR4 to Rainsports on her car and from an eclectic mix of Barum and Autogrip on mine, to Dunlop SportMaxx.
Now that we've seen the first sub zero temperatures and it's mostly wet and indeed, muddy / wet leaves etc locally the Rainsports seem to be coping OK but the SportMaxx aren't inspiring at all, to the point I now regret the decision and I'm sat here debating hitting the button for four Vredestein Quatrac 5, which I ran year round on my last car and was very impressed... be it a wet, cold lap of the Ring or getting us out a Scottish glen in 6" of snow.
I'm also of the opinion that full winters don't suit the changeable conditions day to day and even if / when we get snow this year, a decent all season should be fine. Certainly much more fine then the SportMaxx whos tread pattern looks like it'd take one look at the white stuff and simply give up.
The Dunlop SportMaxx, in temperatures from 5 degrees and above, cope very well with water. I've been very impressed with them. They also offer impressive dry grip in my 2016 Subaru STI.Now that we've seen the first sub zero temperatures and it's mostly wet and indeed, muddy / wet leaves etc locally the Rainsports seem to be coping OK but the SportMaxx aren't inspiring at all, to the point I now regret the decision and I'm sat here debating hitting the button for four Vredestein Quatrac 5, which I ran year round on my last car and was very impressed... be it a wet, cold lap of the Ring or getting us out a Scottish glen in 6" of snow.
I'm also of the opinion that full winters don't suit the changeable conditions day to day and even if / when we get snow this year, a decent all season should be fine. Certainly much more fine then the SportMaxx whos tread pattern looks like it'd take one look at the white stuff and simply give up.
In temperatures below 5 degrees, the Dunlop Winter Sport5 are the tyre I change to and aside from a less crisp turn-in, they are excellent in heavy rain, snow, slush, the works.
I run Winters from the clock change, I've been very happy with the performance and intend to keep running them as such.
C7 JFW said:
The Dunlop SportMaxx, in temperatures from 5 degrees and above, cope very well with water. I've been very impressed with them. They also offer impressive dry grip in my 2016 Subaru STI.
In temperatures below 5 degrees, the Dunlop Winter Sport5 are the tyre I change to and aside from a less crisp turn-in, they are excellent in heavy rain, snow, slush, the works.
I run Winters from the clock change, I've been very happy with the performance and intend to keep running them as such.
My hand has been forced... dropped off the edge of an unclassified road last night, snakebite puncture on the inner sidewall of a nigh on brand new SportMaxx. Now debating spending £70 on a new one or go with the gut and put all seasons on, which I probably should have done originally. I'd agree they're great in the dry and wet when warm but with temps below 10deg and lots of mud and water around, they've definitely lost their edge. I can't see them being good for traction in snow / slush / mud due to the tread profile... so perhaps this is devine intervention and I'll take the opportunity to do what I should have done.In temperatures below 5 degrees, the Dunlop Winter Sport5 are the tyre I change to and aside from a less crisp turn-in, they are excellent in heavy rain, snow, slush, the works.
I run Winters from the clock change, I've been very happy with the performance and intend to keep running them as such.
Anybody in the market for 3 x SportMaxx, 225/45/17 XL and all done under 1500 miles.
Bugger!
It might be a bit early yet as they’ve only been released this year but has anybody got/driven on Michelin Alpin 6’s?
I need to replace my current winters and am considering these as I do a high mileage and Michelin generally last well. I really liked the Nokian WR D4’s I’ve had previously but technology moves on and they only get ‘average’ reviews now.
I need to replace my current winters and am considering these as I do a high mileage and Michelin generally last well. I really liked the Nokian WR D4’s I’ve had previously but technology moves on and they only get ‘average’ reviews now.
Davie said:
My hand has been forced... dropped off the edge of an unclassified road last night, snakebite puncture on the inner sidewall of a nigh on brand new SportMaxx. Now debating spending £70 on a new one or go with the gut and put all seasons on, which I probably should have done originally. I'd agree they're great in the dry and wet when warm but with temps below 10deg and lots of mud and water around, they've definitely lost their edge. I can't see them being good for traction in snow / slush / mud due to the tread profile... so perhaps this is devine intervention and I'll take the opportunity to do what I should have done.
Anybody in the market for 3 x SportMaxx, 225/45/17 XL and all done under 1500 miles.
Bugger!
Buy cheap 2nd hand set of rims from eBay, put suitable Winter tyres on, put those wheels on for the Winter. Shop around for deal on single Sportmaxx and fit it to the main set at your leisure.Anybody in the market for 3 x SportMaxx, 225/45/17 XL and all done under 1500 miles.
Bugger!
We have mostly wet weather here in North Wales, with only three weeks where the average temperature was below 4 deg C. last winter, and that was colder than usual, and we did get a little bit of snow last March, which is quite rare at sea level.
Therefore, I have decided the following.
My 335d: keep the original 19” Pirelli P Zeros, I quite like them.
Wife’s Fabia 1.2TSi. Replace 195/55 x 15” with all season tyres as they wear (not necessarily Michelin CCs). At least one tyre is getting low (4mm). To enable this, and to replace the full size steel spare, I have ordered a new alloy wheel, identical to the other 4 (£110, bargain).
The above should keep us mobile in some shape or form, and avoids the expense and aggro of storage, and swapping seasonally. We are both retired, so there is no need to get to work in all conditions.
I am thinking of putting the all-seasons on the front of the Fabia (FWD) for this winter. I will then move the all seasons to the rear, and wear the fronts down and replace them with all-seasons next winter.
Therefore, I have decided the following.
My 335d: keep the original 19” Pirelli P Zeros, I quite like them.
Wife’s Fabia 1.2TSi. Replace 195/55 x 15” with all season tyres as they wear (not necessarily Michelin CCs). At least one tyre is getting low (4mm). To enable this, and to replace the full size steel spare, I have ordered a new alloy wheel, identical to the other 4 (£110, bargain).
The above should keep us mobile in some shape or form, and avoids the expense and aggro of storage, and swapping seasonally. We are both retired, so there is no need to get to work in all conditions.
I am thinking of putting the all-seasons on the front of the Fabia (FWD) for this winter. I will then move the all seasons to the rear, and wear the fronts down and replace them with all-seasons next winter.
Just taken the Cayenne's 19" Vredestein Vorti's off & put the winter wheels which are 18" on. Interesting the N0 Porsche approved Dunlop is only C rated for wet weather grip but the non-N is rated B! So I have gone with the non-N.
Poorer by £624 though. Early doors but certainly feel good. The Vorti's are fantastic as a summer tyre especially in rain & standing water but have a pattern that I guess would be dire in ice & snow.
Discussed with local Porsche Centre about storing tyres, they wanted £300 per year. So no have 4 x 19" 275/45 x 19 Cayenne wheels in the shed which are massive....
Poorer by £624 though. Early doors but certainly feel good. The Vorti's are fantastic as a summer tyre especially in rain & standing water but have a pattern that I guess would be dire in ice & snow.
Discussed with local Porsche Centre about storing tyres, they wanted £300 per year. So no have 4 x 19" 275/45 x 19 Cayenne wheels in the shed which are massive....
Always worth looking beyond the headlines on the tyre tests. I need performance in the snow; and I'm not fussed about wet weather / dry performance. Nokian come mid table on the face of it but looking at the details; the older design Nokian's still top the table in snow (well 2nd this year). I've put Nokian all around; on three cars, ready for a Winter in the Alps... but hearing that things move on so quickly; I'll always look at the tests.
Just picking up on my post from December last year...
They’ve been absolutely fine all summer, with no noticeable wear, and no ‘scary’ moments in dry or wet conditions – admittedly the old Volvo didn’t get driven hard, but it pulled up well if required. I wouldn’t put them on a performance car, but on a lollopy old car like the Volvo they’ve been spot on. I know a few PHers have winter sheds/station runarounds and the like, and for that kind of use I’d recommend them as a budget proposition.
seiben said:
I ended up picking up a Volvo V70 shed a few weeks ago as a spare/tip/loadlugging/winter hack. Buying the car and a set of Zeta Antarctica 15” winter tyres cost a significant chunk less than a spare set of wheels and winter tyres for the M5 (even after I’ve taxed and insured it) and the old bus has been unstoppable on fresh snow and ice around the lanes. It had some horrible ditchfinders on it which I still have, but I’ll likely just leave the winters on the Volvo year round – it won’t get much use in the summer anyway and they’re still an improvement on what the car came with.
It’s already saved our bacon this week – I couldn’t get the beemer out of the drive, and the OH’s Alfa was stuck with a frozen on handbrake cable
…the Zeta Antarcticas have been on all year now and covered around 7k miles. They were excellent in the Snow last winter, even getting us up and over the A5004 to Buxton in fresh snow after I foolishly followed the satnav. No issues at all in the FWD Volvo.It’s already saved our bacon this week – I couldn’t get the beemer out of the drive, and the OH’s Alfa was stuck with a frozen on handbrake cable
They’ve been absolutely fine all summer, with no noticeable wear, and no ‘scary’ moments in dry or wet conditions – admittedly the old Volvo didn’t get driven hard, but it pulled up well if required. I wouldn’t put them on a performance car, but on a lollopy old car like the Volvo they’ve been spot on. I know a few PHers have winter sheds/station runarounds and the like, and for that kind of use I’d recommend them as a budget proposition.
LDN said:
I've put Nokian all around; on three cars, ready for a Winter in the Alps... but hearing that things move on so quickly; I'll always look at the tests.
I couldn’t agree more. If I was doing a lot in the Alps, I’d have replaced my Nokians with another set of Nokians. They are amazing in the snow and MUCH better than my other car on a different brand ofWinters. This year, I’m mostly UK based with only 1 trip (3k miles) planned to the Alps. It’s for that reason my preferences are slightly changed and I’m considering the Alpin 6.
I've put a set of Barum Polaris 5 on my Golf R for this winter. Live in Yorkshire (close to Peak district) so have seen varying weather already these past 4 weeks. First impressions are favourable, with good grip in everything I've seen so far. Who knows how it'll play out through winter, but Barum do seem to have a good rep these days and the extra expense to the named brands seems unjustified.
Saying that, am sure my next update will be from an upturned Golf on Woodhead Pass...
Saying that, am sure my next update will be from an upturned Golf on Woodhead Pass...
A900ss said:
LDN said:
I've put Nokian all around; on three cars, ready for a Winter in the Alps... but hearing that things move on so quickly; I'll always look at the tests.
I couldn’t agree more. If I was doing a lot in the Alps, I’d have replaced my Nokians with another set of Nokians. They are amazing in the snow and MUCH better than my other car on a different brand ofWinters. This year, I’m mostly UK based with only 1 trip (3k miles) planned to the Alps. It’s for that reason my preferences are slightly changed and I’m considering the Alpin 6.
SVS said:
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
It’s all round crappy / frozen / winter weather not just snow and slush I am wanting these CC’s to work in.
I’m wondering the same thing: for all round crappy/wet/autumn/winter weather, whether to go Cross Climate vs Vredestein Quatrac vs Yokohama Geolander 
SVS said:
All Geolander tyres are stamped with the Snow Flake mark, according to Yokohama’s website.
Hmmm, not sure if they have always been. I’ve slid down a snowy road with Geolanders on; And then went on to read that they go like hockey pucks in freezing temperatures. Which explained my mishap somewhat. I have a set for one vehicle and they go on the car; Spring to Autumn. I’ll be taking a look next time I’m with them!
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