Winter tyres vol 2
Discussion
ecsrobin said:
So not specifically winter tyres but fitted a set of Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen2’s to the Mrs’s Citroen C1 that I’m currently commuting in. My cars I’ve always run things like Michelin PS3/4’s or equivalents and been impressed with grip as you’d expect but I’ve been blown away by how they’ve transformed the car and cornering in the wet there’s so much grip I think I surprise a few cars on the commute. Even she’s noticed a positive difference and she’s oblivious to anything 
With that in mind I’ll definitely invest in a set of all seasons for winter for my next car.
My wife's Zafira has Vector Gen2 and I agree they're exceptionally good in the wet, especially cold+wet or greasy roads. I also had a car with CrossClimates (car now sold) and that was also good on nasty roads, although not as good as the wife's car with Vectors.With that in mind I’ll definitely invest in a set of all seasons for winter for my next car.
I currently don't have a car of my own with all-season tyres (both have sporty summers) and I'm really feeling the difference and missing all season tyres in the last few weeks. I'll be changing one of my cars to all-seasons very soon.
Regarding surprising, yes, I was vigorously driving the wife's Zafira last winter along a twisty, cold, wet, greasy B road and a young lad in his Ibiza FR tried to keep up. He ended up sliding off the road on a bend onto the verge. He's probably still wondering how he couldn't keep up with a crappy old Zafira.
The freezing temperatures last week prompted me to swap the all-season tyres onto our two cars.
I went for mid-budget Nexens and they’ve been terrific.
The combination of decent summer tyres and swapping onto ASTs seems to be the ideal solution for the vast majority of European drivers.
I went for mid-budget Nexens and they’ve been terrific.
The combination of decent summer tyres and swapping onto ASTs seems to be the ideal solution for the vast majority of European drivers.
I know this is not the all-season tyres thread (and I'm assuming there isn't one of those) but does anyone know of a decent all-season tyre available in 255/35/R20? We've just bought a Jaguar XF estate and I'd hoped to put a set of Vredestein Quatrac 5's on it but they're not available. The only all-season tyre I can find in that size are the Quatrac Pro and they're nearly £300/corner...
8bit said:
I know this is not the all-season tyres thread (and I'm assuming there isn't one of those) but does anyone know of a decent all-season tyre available in 255/35/R20? We've just bought a Jaguar XF estate and I'd hoped to put a set of Vredestein Quatrac 5's on it but they're not available. The only all-season tyre I can find in that size are the Quatrac Pro and they're nearly £300/corner...
That's about it, and they're the version of the tyre you wanted for your wheel size, so even if the Quatrac 5 did exist it would be a similar price.The joy of 20s
I now have a set of Michelin Crossclimate+ on my Octavia 4x4, mostly in the hope that we'll be allowed out of the country to go skiing at some point. There is almost no chance of any snow where I live but first impressions of how they deal with wet tarmac is very positive indeed.
Oh and the joy of 16s, a whole set can be had fitted for just over £300.
Oh and the joy of 16s, a whole set can be had fitted for just over £300.
TurboHatchback said:
I now have a set of Michelin Crossclimate+ on my Octavia 4x4, mostly in the hope that we'll be allowed out of the country to go skiing at some point. There is almost no chance of any snow where I live but first impressions of how they deal with wet tarmac is very positive indeed.
Oh and the joy of 16s, a whole set can be had fitted for just over £300.
Wow, I have also just had a set of Crossclimate+ fitted to my Subaru Outback 3.0r in the same hope as you, they cost more like £500 though. Size 215/55 R17 W (98) Oh and the joy of 16s, a whole set can be had fitted for just over £300.
Regardless looking forward to getting them on some snow
jon- said:
That's about it, and they're the version of the tyre you wanted for your wheel size, so even if the Quatrac 5 did exist it would be a similar price.
The joy of 20s
The Quatrac 5 did exist, we had a set on our previous car. That also had 20" wheels but different fitment I guess. The odd thing about the Quatrac Pro is in 245/35/R20 they're a little over half the price...The joy of 20s
8bit said:
jon- said:
That's about it, and they're the version of the tyre you wanted for your wheel size, so even if the Quatrac 5 did exist it would be a similar price.
The joy of 20s
The Quatrac 5 did exist, we had a set on our previous car. That also had 20" wheels but different fitment I guess. The odd thing about the Quatrac Pro is in 245/35/R20 they're a little over half the price...The joy of 20s
Mines on its winters now; Avon WV7s in 235/45/17 flavour
Great tyres; this is the 2nd winter they'll be going through; did very well last winter, more so in Feb when we were up in the Scottish highlands for the week (folks have property in Dunkeld) and I was out on my usual jaunt finding big stones to lift/stick on me shoulder...
Dalwhinnie Stone; dug that out of 3ft of snow
Then the Newtonmore Stone; further up the A9; dug that out too
Drove down part of the track but the car started to bottom out; so walked the rest of the way:
Great tyres; this is the 2nd winter they'll be going through; did very well last winter, more so in Feb when we were up in the Scottish highlands for the week (folks have property in Dunkeld) and I was out on my usual jaunt finding big stones to lift/stick on me shoulder...
Dalwhinnie Stone; dug that out of 3ft of snow
Then the Newtonmore Stone; further up the A9; dug that out too
Drove down part of the track but the car started to bottom out; so walked the rest of the way:
Thoughts on XL rated tyres?
Original fit is a 235/55/17 V 99 tyre and it needs four tyres soon, already decided on what brand but said tyres are available as a 235/55/17 V99 or as a 235/55/17 Y 103 XL.
It's 1850kg of SUV / Crossover nonsense but is never fully laden, even after she's obliterated the monthly budget in Asda and I never tow anything manly. I generally run the tyre pressures at the higher end of the recommendations.
I know XL rated tyres have a heavier, stronger construction and better suited for higher pressures etc but possibly at the detriment of a bit ride comfort and weight but to be honest, on nigh on two tons of softly sprung barge... doubt it'd even be noticeable?
So really it comes down to strength? Are XL rated tyres a bit more likely to survive pothole attacks and generally be a bit more durable / longer lasting or probably not worth the extra cost?
Said cost is pretty negligible to be fair, about £50 over the four tyres (mail order) but just trying to work out if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Any thoughts?
Original fit is a 235/55/17 V 99 tyre and it needs four tyres soon, already decided on what brand but said tyres are available as a 235/55/17 V99 or as a 235/55/17 Y 103 XL.
It's 1850kg of SUV / Crossover nonsense but is never fully laden, even after she's obliterated the monthly budget in Asda and I never tow anything manly. I generally run the tyre pressures at the higher end of the recommendations.
I know XL rated tyres have a heavier, stronger construction and better suited for higher pressures etc but possibly at the detriment of a bit ride comfort and weight but to be honest, on nigh on two tons of softly sprung barge... doubt it'd even be noticeable?
So really it comes down to strength? Are XL rated tyres a bit more likely to survive pothole attacks and generally be a bit more durable / longer lasting or probably not worth the extra cost?
Said cost is pretty negligible to be fair, about £50 over the four tyres (mail order) but just trying to work out if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Any thoughts?
Thoughts on XL rated tyres?
Original fit is a 235/55/17 V 99 tyre and it needs four tyres soon, already decided on what brand but said tyres are available as a 235/55/17 V99 or as a 235/55/17 Y 103 XL.
It's 1850kg of SUV / Crossover nonsense but is never fully laden, even after she's obliterated the monthly budget in Asda and I never tow anything manly. I generally run the tyre pressures at the higher end of the recommendations.
I know XL rated tyres have a heavier, stronger construction and better suited for higher pressures etc but possibly at the detriment of a bit ride comfort and weight but to be honest, on nigh on two tons of softly sprung barge... doubt it'd even be noticeable?
So really it comes down to strength? Are XL rated tyres a bit more likely to survive pothole attacks and generally be a bit more durable / longer lasting or probably not worth the extra cost?
Said cost is pretty negligible to be fair, about £50 over the four tyres (mail order) but just trying to work out if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Any thoughts?
Original fit is a 235/55/17 V 99 tyre and it needs four tyres soon, already decided on what brand but said tyres are available as a 235/55/17 V99 or as a 235/55/17 Y 103 XL.
It's 1850kg of SUV / Crossover nonsense but is never fully laden, even after she's obliterated the monthly budget in Asda and I never tow anything manly. I generally run the tyre pressures at the higher end of the recommendations.
I know XL rated tyres have a heavier, stronger construction and better suited for higher pressures etc but possibly at the detriment of a bit ride comfort and weight but to be honest, on nigh on two tons of softly sprung barge... doubt it'd even be noticeable?
So really it comes down to strength? Are XL rated tyres a bit more likely to survive pothole attacks and generally be a bit more durable / longer lasting or probably not worth the extra cost?
Said cost is pretty negligible to be fair, about £50 over the four tyres (mail order) but just trying to work out if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Any thoughts?
Davie said:
Thoughts on XL rated tyres?
Original fit is a 235/55/17 V 99 tyre and it needs four tyres soon, already decided on what brand but said tyres are available as a 235/55/17 V99 or as a 235/55/17 Y 103 XL.
It's 1850kg of SUV / Crossover nonsense but is never fully laden, even after she's obliterated the monthly budget in Asda and I never tow anything manly. I generally run the tyre pressures at the higher end of the recommendations.
I know XL rated tyres have a heavier, stronger construction and better suited for higher pressures etc but possibly at the detriment of a bit ride comfort and weight but to be honest, on nigh on two tons of softly sprung barge... doubt it'd even be noticeable?
So really it comes down to strength? Are XL rated tyres a bit more likely to survive pothole attacks and generally be a bit more durable / longer lasting or probably not worth the extra cost?
Said cost is pretty negligible to be fair, about £50 over the four tyres (mail order) but just trying to work out if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Any thoughts?
In theory they will be a little more robust. In practice, some brands have exactly the same tyres for the XL and non-XL tyres, so it might not be any difference.Original fit is a 235/55/17 V 99 tyre and it needs four tyres soon, already decided on what brand but said tyres are available as a 235/55/17 V99 or as a 235/55/17 Y 103 XL.
It's 1850kg of SUV / Crossover nonsense but is never fully laden, even after she's obliterated the monthly budget in Asda and I never tow anything manly. I generally run the tyre pressures at the higher end of the recommendations.
I know XL rated tyres have a heavier, stronger construction and better suited for higher pressures etc but possibly at the detriment of a bit ride comfort and weight but to be honest, on nigh on two tons of softly sprung barge... doubt it'd even be noticeable?
So really it comes down to strength? Are XL rated tyres a bit more likely to survive pothole attacks and generally be a bit more durable / longer lasting or probably not worth the extra cost?
Said cost is pretty negligible to be fair, about £50 over the four tyres (mail order) but just trying to work out if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Any thoughts?
Just one word of warning for those considering budget winters: the Goodride 16” winters that our daily came with were utterly appalling when they started to get to 5mm and below.
They turned the car into an dangerous under steering mess.
No such issues with the AST Nexens that replaced them, although they’re still at 7mm all round.
They turned the car into an dangerous under steering mess.
No such issues with the AST Nexens that replaced them, although they’re still at 7mm all round.
Barchettaman said:
Just one word of warning for those considering budget winters: the Goodride 16” winters that our daily came with were utterly appalling when they started to get to 5mm and below.
They turned the car into an dangerous under steering mess.
No such issues with the AST Nexens that replaced them, although they’re still at 7mm all round.
I think general rule of thumb is winters, when around 4-5mm, is the right time to replace.They turned the car into an dangerous under steering mess.
No such issues with the AST Nexens that replaced them, although they’re still at 7mm all round.
Isn't that the law in Germany and similar?
My pals just fitted the Petlas winter tyres to his 335D; hasn't used them in anger yet but says they're a superb feel to the car. He lives East Lancs way; so will get a lot more wet and colder weather than I will generally and he's up and down the M65 daily to his motorsport garage near to Preston
They seem to get very good reviews currently!
Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff