Winter tyres vol 2

[blueST]

jon- said:

Gad-Westy said:

blueST said:

This might be one that Jon could help answer: I've got a new car coming soon and I'm trying to decide whether to go all-season, or separate summer and winters.

Looking at the detail of the AutoBild 2021 All-season and winter tests, the snow performance figures for the all-seasons are pretty much equal to and sometimes better than the full winter tyre. This is making me question why I would even consider a full winter given they perform far worse in all other conditions.

Take Hankook as an example, all of the snow figures (traction, braking, handling) are better for their all-season than their winter. Either the tests are not comparable (different conditions maybe) or there is no point in having the winters given the compromise in other areas. If the test are not comparable how can I see what snow performance I'm loosing with an all-season compared to a winter as that's my important criteria.

This is what pushed me towards just using CC2's on our family barge vs. having dedicated summer and winter tyres. I'm yet to test this for myself, but Jon's test (and now the Autobild test) seem to put the CC2 (and maybe other All seasons) as almost matching a good winter tyre in snow tests while offering either good or average performance across the board for less extreme conditions. Last winter I was running our BMW on 10 year old Goodyear Winter tyres with about 5mm of tread. They did a great job in snow. I have a hope that the CC2's might be even better but actually if they're even close, they'll do us just fine. Ground clearance will become a problem before traction if they behave like the goodyears.

I've mentioned it before on this thread but the thing that is currently impressing me most is just how quiet they are. It's really noticeable (or not!). Annoyingly I can now hear a suspension knock that I couldn't hear before!

I've actually a video on this out next week. No, I don't think there's a real reason to use a full winter tyre in most of the UK given how good most all season tyres are in the snow.

However I do still think there's a good reason to use a summer tyre in the UK given how much warm dry and wet running we get, so my "ideal" is a summer tyre in the summer and a good all season tyre as a winter tyre.

The CC2 is now excellent in the snow, and it's the best in the dry, but it's still not the best in the wet.

Thanks Jon. In future tests of winter tyres, is there any way you can include a reference all-season? That to me would be as useful as the reference summer. I'm intrigued to see how the snow performance differs between the 2 in a side by side test.

[Drive Blind]

the gritters will be out overnight for the first time tonight - will need to get the winters looked out and swapped back over in the next few weeks.

[TorqueR]

What’s the general consensus on Vredestien Quatrac Pro? Are they a good tyre?

I have ordered a set of them for my Volvo S60 - I’ve seen some websites specify that they are winter tyres and some say it’s an all season tyre. Which is it?

[Carbon Sasquatch]

TorqueR said:

What’s the general consensus on Vredestien Quatrac Pro? Are they a good tyre?

I have ordered a set of them for my Volvo S60 - I’ve seen some websites specify that they are winter tyres and some say it’s an all season tyre. Which is it?

https://www.vredestein.co.uk/car-suv-van/campaigns/quatrac-pro/

If Vredestein say it's all season, then I guess it is....

[21st Century Man]

There are so many Quatrac variants it can be confusing, the one that's just called Quatrac is their newest/latest all season and does very well in the latest tests, outpointing the other Quatrac variants. I struggled to get a set of Quatracs in the UK just after launch so bought from an EU seller. Most sellers kept defaulting and refering me to the older Quatrac Pro. I think the Quatrac is more readily available now in the UK.

Just looking at the range they seem to have simplified things, just three now. Quatrac, Quatrac 5 and Quatrac Pro.

Edited by 21st Century Man on Tuesday 2nd November 19:31

[TorqueR]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

TorqueR said:

What’s the general consensus on Vredestien Quatrac Pro? Are they a good tyre?

I have ordered a set of them for my Volvo S60 - I’ve seen some websites specify that they are winter tyres and some say it’s an all season tyre. Which is it?

https://www.vredestein.co.uk/car-suv-van/campaigns/quatrac-pro/

If Vredestein say it's all season, then I guess it is....

That’s what I thought and I did look at the website but my invoice says they’re winter tyres. I’m not too fussed either way as they should be better in the upcoming (wetter and colder) months than the current summer tyres I am currently sporting.

[JakeT]

Drive Blind said:

the gritters will be out overnight for the first time tonight - will need to get the winters looked out and swapped back over in the next few weeks.

I fitted mine on Saturday, looking at the forecast. The general feel of summers when it’s cold outside are reason enough for me.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

TorqueR said:

That’s what I thought and I did look at the website but my invoice says they’re winter tyres. I’m not too fussed either way as they should be better in the upcoming (wetter and colder) months than the current summer tyres I am currently sporting.

Should be good for the UK - only a concern if you're in an area of Europe that mandates winter tyre use.

If they have the snowflake inside a 3 peaked mountain logo, then they count as winters.

[NorcyUK]

I’m thinking this could be a controversial question , but are there any budget winter tyres that people have experience of using and would recommend trying? I had some second hand Goodyear winters a couple of years ago, but they were already getting past their best then, so I don’t fancy risking them anymore. I know I’ll get told not to buy cheap tyres, it’s all that’s keeping the car on the road, but I’m curious to find a tyre that is the balance between good performance and budget friendly!

[21st Century Man]

NorcyUK said:

I’m curious to find a tyre that is the balance between good performance and budget friendly!

If you have a look at some of the big tyre tests there is usually a column ranking them by cost, so look at the cheapest and see how it did overall on the test.

It'll be the cheapest of the better brands though, no Chinese stuff!

[TorqueR]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

Should be good for the UK - only a concern if you're in an area of Europe that mandates winter tyre use.

If they have the snowflake inside a 3 peaked mountain logo, then they count as winters.

No, I do not expect to be leaving the UK and will be predominately around the Peak District, Sheffield and Nottingham. I guess I’ll find out when they’re fitted on Friday. Thank you.

[21st Century Man]

TorqueR said:

Carbon Sasquatch said:

Should be good for the UK - only a concern if you're in an area of Europe that mandates winter tyre use.

If they have the snowflake inside a 3 peaked mountain logo, then they count as winters.

No, I do not expect to be leaving the UK and will be predominately around the Peak District, Sheffield and Nottingham. I guess I’ll find out when they’re fitted on Friday. Thank you.

They'll be good. I'm a big fan of Vredestein. Got Quatrac, Quatrac 5 and Comtrac on my vehicles. They all have the three peak logo.

[blueST]

If you look at the German tyre tests on the Tyre Reviews website, they test a few of the more budget brands and some are ok. The likes of Kleber, Falken, Uniroyal are all acceptable if you don’t want be spending Continental money.

My own view is that Hankook really strike the best balance between price and ability.

Personally I would steer clear of the really cheap tyres like Devanti, Triangle and other bargain bin ones as they give up too much to achieve the winter performance.

[NorcyUK]

blueST said:

If you look at the German tyre tests on the Tyre Reviews website, they test a few of the more budget brands and some are ok. The likes of Kleber, Falken, Uniroyal are all acceptable if you don’t want be spending Continental money.

My own view is that Hankook really strike the best balance between price and ability.

Personally I would steer clear of the really cheap tyres like Devanti, Triangle and other bargain bin ones as they give up too much to achieve the winter performance.

I’m considering Avon WV7’s. Seem to get good reviews, mid-range brand, but still £400+ for a set!

[mybrainhurts]

NorcyUK said:

I’m considering Avon WV7’s. Seem to get good reviews, mid-range brand, but still £400+ for a set!

I've used those for a few seasons and confirm they're ok.

Got me up Winnats Pass in 6 inches of fresh snow in a Merc E class estate that shouldn't have even tried!

This year's best price has increased to £116 from £85 last year.

[jon-]

blueST said:

Thanks Jon. In future tests of winter tyres, is there any way you can include a reference all-season? That to me would be as useful as the reference summer. I'm intrigued to see how the snow performance differs between the 2 in a side by side test.

I'm hoping to go one better than this for the 2022 tests, if I can get the industry to agree it should be a fun testing season

[jon-]

The issue with cheaper winter tyres is are ARE losing out somewhere, there's no perfect tyre, even at the very premium end.

If you must fit a cheap winter tyre, find one where you're losing out in snow performance as that's less than 5% of UK running, on a bad year.

Most cheap winter tyres you lose out on wet performance, and given that's at least 50% of winter running, you might as well stay on a summer tyre.

[Hugo a Gogo]

For about 15 years I've used Goodyear vector or vredestein quatrac, of whichever generation, whichever I found for the best deal, usually vredestein are a bit cheaper.

They usually both do ok in the annual tests, in the better half, of the results
Almost went for hankook too

[bolidemichael]

Here's a Michelin cashback offer in time for winter tyres -- hopefully it'll be of some use to some of you.

[TorqueR]

21st Century Man said:

They'll be good. I'm a big fan of Vredestein. Got Quatrac, Quatrac 5 and Comtrac on my vehicles. They all have the three peak logo.

To update, the tyres have been fitted and my Vredestien Quatrac Pro’s have the three peaks logo.