Winter tyres vol 2

[jon-]

Quatrac 3 -> Quatrac 5 -> Quatrac

I believe the Quatrac Pro was released after the Quatrac 5 and targets larger rim sizes.

Pirelli, don't get me started. Though Michelin have just done the same with the new Cup 2 Track Connect. It replaces the Cup 2 Track Connect.

[blueST]

I don't know if it just my size, but has anyone else noticed a bit of a shortage of winters here? When looking at the well known tyre sellers I was seeing only a small choice of brands, with quite a few of those being the unnamed "budget" choice lottery which is not for me. It did seem to get a bit better in the last week, but when I finally booked some for fitting with ATS they phoned to cancel as they had no stock at all.

Got what I wanted from Camskill in the end, arrived today, but need to arrange fitting now.

[jon-]

Good choice

The wholesalers and retailers I've spoken to pretty much ordered no winter stock after the past 2-3 winters being awful sales. We need a dump of snow, then naturally no one will be able to get winter tyres because no one ordered them.

[loskie]

perhaps production was somewhat hampered too due to one or two wee issues

[anonymous-user]

jon- said:

Good choice

The wholesalers and retailers I've spoken to pretty much ordered no winter stock after the past 2-3 winters being awful sales. We need a dump of snow, then naturally no one will be able to get winter tyres because no one ordered them.

I can understand that. Down here in the South a harsh winter is a once in a decade event.

[blueST]

jon- said:

Good choice

The wholesalers and retailers I've spoken to pretty much ordered no winter stock after the past 2-3 winters being awful sales. We need a dump of snow, then naturally no one will be able to get winter tyres because no one ordered them.

This is our 2nd set. Was very pleased with the first although they do seem to wear quickly.

[Davie]

Re. Vredestein Quatracs... I think the "Pro" in a slightly updated version of the 5, mainly aimed at the larger sizes. The tread is similar to the 5 but not identical. There's also a new version due... but I agree, does seem a bit bewildering at times!

As far as availability goes, I was just about to order via Black Circles but they now only list the 103 Y XL rated tyres and they've gone up by £15 per tyre since Tuesday night.

Camskill are showing the 99 V version but best go order a set this morning before they disappear too then get the fitted locally.

[chris4652009]

I run winters all year round, have done for the last 5-6 years now.

[Davie]

chris4652009 said:

I run winters all year round, have done for the last 5-6 years now.

Each to their own however I've tried various winter tyres when it's been milder, wetter or dry and all have been less than great. I had Nokians that were lethal in the wet and Dunlop Ultragrip that felt very vague and the treads tore up rather quickly. My old dear has Nankang SV2 on her car and it's comically / worryingly bad in the wet / damp conditions.

I don't buy into this swapping winter to summer tyres stuff, more so as the majority of the time I'm on roads that are wet, muddy, cold or just generally a bit crappy but running winters all year round in the UK, not sure on that one either to be honest.

[B'stard Child]

chris4652009 said:

I run winters all year round, have done for the last 5-6 years now.

You don't do many miles then? - Only time I run winters in the early months of summer is when they get down to below 4mm - then I'll run them till they are dead so I can get a new set ordered and fitted for the next winter. I always think I'll get 4 or 5 months out of them and it's normally 3 months max - it's quite surprising how quickly they get destroyed on warmer roads

[Pica-Pica]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

jon- said:

Good choice

The wholesalers and retailers I've spoken to pretty much ordered no winter stock after the past 2-3 winters being awful sales. We need a dump of snow, then naturally no one will be able to get winter tyres because no one ordered them.

I can understand that. Down here in the South a harsh winter is a once in a decade event.

Similar in North West Wales - unless you travel inland and higher up. By the coast it is fine, I have kept a weekly temperature chart for last few years, and it rarely goes below 3 degrees C as a minimum overnight temperature, hence the summer tyres all-year round on my 335d and Vredestein Quatrac 5 on my wife’s Fabia.

(I lived in Kent in my youth, occasionally, once a decade or so, there would be a icy blast down the North Sea leaving a big snow fall, followed by winds and drifting snow).

[Drive Blind]

winters back on today

[nickfrog]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

I can understand that. Down here in the South a harsh winter is a once in a decade event.

That's true, but winters remain a good choice for most of our winters (I live in in the South too), particularly in contrast to an aggressive summer tyre. They're probably not a "must have" but they are a "nice to have" IME.

[syl]

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?

An XL tyre and a standard tyre inflated to the same pressure will support the same vehicle weight. The “advantage” to an XL tyre is that it can support a heavier vehicle because it can be inflated to higher pressures.

You will be inflating your tyre to the manufacturers supplied PSI - so as long as the tyre you chose can be inflated to that PSI, you have no issues and they are not worth any extra cost.

Edited by syl on Friday 13th November 13:01

[DailyHack]

B'stard Child said:

You don't do many miles then? - Only time I run winters in the early months of summer is when they get down to below 4mm - then I'll run them till they are dead so I can get a new set ordered and fitted for the next winter. I always think I'll get 4 or 5 months out of them and it's normally 3 months max - it's quite surprising how quickly they get destroyed on warmer roads

I do or did, 25/30k until covid struck, and a trip down to Italy and back on my winters fitted to my 3 series...no problems, been on for around 1 and 1/2 year now, got my use out of them..

They are pretty low now "for winters", hovering around 4/3mm so won't be too good as new, but better than summers due to their compound.

Usually swap out seasonally, but circumstance meant they stayed on the BMW longer.

RIKEN btw, will buy again - been great tyres.

[Gtom]

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...

A bit cheaper than nearly £300 each


https://www.camskill.co.uk/m217b0s11767p0/All_Seas...

[loskie]

maybe a better idea to go down a wheel size or two

[Davie]

I believe that the Quatrac 5 isn't available in "bigger" sizes and hence, the Quatrac Pro is.

I've just ordered 4 x 235/55/17 via Camskill and they're due here early next week. They were the cheapest and are pretty decent at keeping you updated with the progress of the order.

Also fitted a new pair of Cross Climates on her ladyship's car yesterday. It had a full set last year and the rears are still 6mm but the fronts were killed a bit prematurely due to inner shoulder wear. Now resolved with a geometry check and adjust.

New time the fronts need doing, the rears won't be far off and I'm changing to Quatracs on it too. The Michelin are good but I think they're very soft and for the extra expense, I'm not really seeing the benefits.

[B'stard Child]

Winters on



Last wash of the year - I hate cleaning cars in winter

[Gtom]

Davie said:

I believe that the Quatrac 5 isn't available in "bigger" sizes and hence, the Quatrac Pro is.

I've just ordered 4 x 235/55/17 via Camskill and they're due here early next week. They were the cheapest and are pretty decent at keeping you updated with the progress of the order.

Also fitted a new pair of Cross Climates on her ladyship's car yesterday. It had a full set last year and the rears are still 6mm but the fronts were killed a bit prematurely due to inner shoulder wear. Now resolved with a geometry check and adjust.

New time the fronts need doing, the rears won't be far off and I'm changing to Quatracs on it too. The Michelin are good but I think they're very soft and for the extra expense, I'm not really seeing the benefits.

My dad has used cross climates on his Ford kuga, he got 40k out of his last set, they can’t be that bad?