Winter tyres vol 2

[jamesbilluk]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

You'll have no bother with those at all - full on to run all year round though

They're surprisingly quiet which I didn't expect, could be that the car is well insulated, but I can't seem to detect any more noise from inside the car with these on compared to the Scorpions, and they're a very smooth ride as well.

[ElectricPics]

I've just had a set of Uniroyal Rainsport 3's put on my XF. Apart from dramatically improving the ride from the previous noisy rock hard Dunlop SP Sports it came with they seem to be often overlooked as a good winter tyre, certainly in the context of a British winter anyway.

[jon-]

Kolbenkopp said:

From a quick glance the Bridgestone seems to be even more 'summer biased' than the Michelin CC. That can be a good thing. Scored the shortest combined braking distances on wet and dry surface. Not so good in real snow compared to a proper winter or other all-seasons. I'd consider them as snow is rare where I live, but slush/cold/rain isn't.

The Autobild test is only available as a teaser, but the top ten is discussed in the image gallery and one can find the braking distance (stopping distance in m from 100 kph) table further down in the article [1]. Little extract:

Tyre	Braking Wet	Braking Dry	Combined
Bridgestone Weather Control A005	45,2	39,4	84,6
Michelin CrossClimate +	48,1	40,8	88,9
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2	46,2	44,6	90,8
Hankook Kinergy 4S²	47,8	43,1	90,9
Continental AllSeasonContact	48,6	43,4	92
Vredestein Quatrac 5	48,6	43,9	92,5
Falken EuroAll Season AS210	49,5	43,6	93,1

[1] http://www.autobild.de/artikel/ganzjahresreifen-te...

Exactly, that's always the point I try and make. Just because a german publication doesn't rate a tyre as well as another, doesn't mean the winning tyre is the correct tyre for the uk.

I'm surprised the A005 finished last in the full test, as soon as I have the details it'll be on tyre reviews, but for now it looks to be a great winter tyre for the UK, much like the CrossClimate is.

[Silverbullet767]

Currently in the market for a new set of 17" winter tyres.

What's the best this year? Specifically 225/45. I had Goodyear eagle UG GW3-RSC before, and they were absolutely shocking in the wet. I don't really care about RSC either. An un-repairable puncture in one of the tyres has pushed me to a new set, I just can't bring myself to buy another poor tyre.

[RicksAlfas]

Silverbullet767 said:

Currently in the market for a new set of 17" winter tyres.

What's the best this year? Specifically 225/45. I had Goodyear eagle UG GW3-RSC before, and they were absolutely shocking in the wet. I don't really care about RSC either. An un-repairable puncture in one of the tyres has pushed me to a new set, I just can't bring myself to buy another poor tyre.

Last couple of winters I've used Continental TS860 which scored highly in tests at the time. I've been very pleased with them in all conditions. But they might have been overtaken by now.

I think the TS850P is very highly regarded too.

https://www.continental-tyres.co.uk/car/tyres?cart...

Jon will have an answer!

[tobinen]

Same size I am after for the Touring but at the lower-mid range price point. I am making a few calls now

I also want 235/60 R16 for a spare set of alloys for the CL

[300bhp/ton]

SydneySE said:

I don't get it'; what are people expecting from their tires performance wise in the snow? The idea is to drive for the conditions- i.e pull away slowly (perhaps 2nd gear in some cars) and brake gently, and with anticipation. Keeping to the speed limit, especially around urban. areas, you won't have an issue. First few years after I moved to the UK I was driving a supercharged lotus exige S, with Yokohama A048 semislicks in the snow, no worries:

Mid engine and lightweight are good combos for traction. But tbh you'd only get so far in a car like that in certain snowy conditions.

Deeper snow and you'd get beached pretty easy and you simply won't have the traction in deeper snow or steeper climbs. Also moving off with RWD when on an adverse camber can be a challenge, as you may not have enough traction to make the front wheels rotate, and the back will simply move side to side.

So yes, it is driving to the conditions, but sometimes those conditions aren't doing 7mph in a 60mph zone. Going super slow is fine if you only have 2-3 miles to cover. But if you have an hour + "normal drive" and 30-40 miles to cover. You can't reasonably do it at walking pace. Not if a vehicle can be capable and safe going quicker on the correct tyres.

This was a few years ago, but I did 190 mile round trip to client site and back in these conditions.



This was also a few years back. Drove for over 1/4 mile in snow this deep and deeper to rescue a stuck Mondeo at the bottom of the hill.


This last winter we had a couple of snowy days. Haven't got any pics uploaded. However I followed a 4wd BMW estate thingy up one of the steepest hills in the area. Bison Hill near Whipsnade zoo. He didn't even get to the steep bit before he was spinning all 4 wheels and couldn't go any further. I stopped put the handbrake on and waited 5+ mins while he attempted to make a 36 point turn, including several trips into the side of both banks. He also looked to be on some kind of winter tyre also, but I don't know what make.

Once out of the way I simply released the handbrake and performed a normal hill start and continued on my way without drama. An Elise most certainly wouldn't have made it anywhere close to getting up the hill. And considering most snowy days I go out in the Land Rover with the rope in the back and have towed and rescued loads and loads of people. It goes to show the difference the correct tyres and or vehicle make in such conditions.

[Legend83]

Just bought a set of Michelin Pilot Alpin 4's for the RX8 on eBay for £250 - 5.5-6mm of tread left. That's better than half price.

[Krikkit]

300bhp/ton said:

This was a few years ago, but I did 190 mile round trip to client site and back in these conditions.


An Elise most certainly wouldn't have made it anywhere close to getting up the hill. And considering most snowy days I go out in the Land Rover with the rope in the back and have towed and rescued loads and loads of people. It goes to show the difference the correct tyres and or vehicle make in such conditions.

Ultimately it's horses for courses, isn't it?

An Exige on A048's will get a little way, but not do a great job in those conditions. Your Landy would be an unnatural partnership to take on a track day where the Exige shines.

[untakenname]

How much is the going rate for getting tyres swapped off the rims?
Around me most places are charging £20 per corner.

ElectricPics said:

I've just had a set of Uniroyal Rainsport 3's put on my XF. Apart from dramatically improving the ride from the previous noisy rock hard Dunlop SP Sports it came with they seem to be often overlooked as a good winter tyre, certainly in the context of a British winter anyway.

Think I'm gonna go with Rainsports this winter for added piece of mind, I did ok just about with Federal 595's last winter in the snow (but got panned when I uploaded a video in this thread).

Edited by untakenname on Thursday 4th October 18:08

[Chris944_S2]

ElectricPics said:

I've just had a set of Uniroyal Rainsport 3's put on my XF. Apart from dramatically improving the ride from the previous noisy rock hard Dunlop SP Sports it came with they seem to be often overlooked as a good winter tyre, certainly in the context of a British winter anyway.

Couldn’t agree more!
I remember then uniroyal rain tyres on a mates 540i about 10 years ago, they kept him moving during the odd days when the midlands got a bit of snow. They were miles better than any kind of sports tyres, like the PS2’s I had on my E39 that led me do abandon the car in an industrial estate overnight while he drove straight out with no issues.

Now I live in the Alps which is a completely different story and I have a set of proper winters, but in most parts (or at least the bottom half) of the UK, those uniroyals are an ideal compromise.

[littleredrooster]

I have two Rainsports in the shed which I really could do with getting rid of. 245/45 17 almost new...

[Willy Nilly]

jon- said:

Kolbenkopp said:

From a quick glance the Bridgestone seems to be even more 'summer biased' than the Michelin CC. That can be a good thing. Scored the shortest combined braking distances on wet and dry surface. Not so good in real snow compared to a proper winter or other all-seasons. I'd consider them as snow is rare where I live, but slush/cold/rain isn't.

The Autobild test is only available as a teaser, but the top ten is discussed in the image gallery and one can find the braking distance (stopping distance in m from 100 kph) table further down in the article [1]. Little extract:

Tyre	Braking Wet	Braking Dry	Combined
Bridgestone Weather Control A005	45,2	39,4	84,6
Michelin CrossClimate +	48,1	40,8	88,9
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2	46,2	44,6	90,8
Hankook Kinergy 4S²	47,8	43,1	90,9
Continental AllSeasonContact	48,6	43,4	92
Vredestein Quatrac 5	48,6	43,9	92,5
Falken EuroAll Season AS210	49,5	43,6	93,1

[1] http://www.autobild.de/artikel/ganzjahresreifen-te...

Exactly, that's always the point I try and make. Just because a german publication doesn't rate a tyre as well as another, doesn't mean the winning tyre is the correct tyre for the uk.

I'm surprised the A005 finished last in the full test, as soon as I have the details it'll be on tyre reviews, but for now it looks to be a great winter tyre for the UK, much like the CrossClimate is.

So these still could be a good and suitable tyre for a small hatchback in the south east of England rather than the Michelin Energy Savers?

[jon-]

What's weird about it? They all look like that.

[RicksAlfas]

Don’t get stuck where you have to reverse out.

[mattwhite709]

I have an f30 m sport with the big brakes. I was looking for some 225 45 18 winter tyres.

I came across a set of 225 55 18 which the seller claims come of an f30.

Would I have any problems with these?


Thanks
Matt

[RicksAlfas]

mattwhite709 said:

I have an f30 m sport with the big brakes. I was looking for some 225 45 18 winter tyres.

I came across a set of 225 55 18 which the seller claims come of an f30.

Would I have any problems with these?


Thanks
Matt

Doesn't sound correct to me. Why guess? There is a specified size for your car. Use that. It will be in the handbook or on the pressure sticker. Failing that, your parts department will tell you it, or there might even be a BMW website which gives it.

[Honeywell]

Just replaced my Michelin CrossClimates on my F10 535d for another set of the new CrossClimate +

I run them all year round and the 1st set did 29,000 miles before replacement. The rears were more worn than the fronts. They looked fine fromma casual inspection but were near bald on the inside edge. Overall they were just on the wear bar indicators on the rear and about 1mm left to go on the front.

I consider this very good wear and better than previous summer tyres. In fact some Michelin Primacy HP tyres did less than 18,000 miles. On a hot day like we had in July I can hear some tyre squeal under high cornering load when really pressing on. But that was nice and progressive and just told you that you were approaching the limit and it was quite high (I was late for work).

This time I’m going to go to 15,000 miles and then swap them off the rims to front/rear and left to right so as to avoid the bald inner shoulders on the rear.

Good tyres, £150 a corner fitted.

[jon-]

mattwhite709 said:

I have an f30 m sport with the big brakes. I was looking for some 225 45 18 winter tyres.

I came across a set of 225 55 18 which the seller claims come of an f30.

Would I have any problems with these?


Thanks
Matt

As others have said, definitely not.. Those sizes are not interchangeable.

[Salamura]

I've had Pirelli Cinturato fitted to my Clio 172 over the last 2 winters, and have been really happy with them.



The grip they provide in cold and snowy conditions is very good. I drove across the continent with them in January, including up some mountain roads and some properly frozen b-roads, and the handling and braking always felt secure, even in deep snow.

I even drove with them on some properly warm and dry days, and the grip they provided was staggering for a winter tyre. The wear rate is very good on them too, I don't think they've lost a lot of thread and will certainly see me through one or two more winters without issues.

Only negative: they do make the steering feel a bit more numb, but that's the case with all winter tyres I find, just the more compliant side walls and thread. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with them. Recommended.