Winter tyres vol 2

[Barchettaman]

Our ‘winters’ are going on here in Frankfurt.

I run Nexen all-season tyres from November to Easter. They seemed to offer a better compromise for our climate and intended use here and have proved excellent in all conditions.

[Glosphil]

Since 2013 each winter I have changed my 225/40-18 summer tyres & wheels for Nokian WR D3 winter 225/45-17 tyres on 17" wheels.
The D3s were excellent in winter's cold & wet & on snow embarrassed an X5 on summer tyres. It was all over the place & holding me up.
A few days ago I had a set of Michelin Crossclimate 2 fitted to the 18" wheels & I'm interested to see how they are this winter.
It's snowing in Gloucestershire as I type! Very unusual for Gloucestershire in November! I'm more interested in how the new tyres perform on wet, cold roads.
Cars are a 2012 Octavia vRS followed by a 2018 Leon FR.

Edited by Glosphil on Saturday 27th November 09:36

[TAHodgson]

Cross Climate 2's on my M140i - did some of the dealer demonstrations for these at launch, comfortably able to drive all the way up the snow-dome in MK... even worn down to 2mm. Fantastic tyre.

[Pica-Pica]

Jdnatureboy said:

The people in a BMW X3 with X drive and summer tyres are probably still wondering why a Saab convertible was able to get up the hill they could only get 1/3 up. Well until I stopped at the top, got out and shouted "Winter Tyres" at them.

Ooh, how daringly bold of you!

This has me thinking. Way back when, tyres were generally more all-seasonable. Have manufacturers developed performance tyres so well that they have become more summer-related? Then surprise, surprise, they can slip in and market winter tyres, because ‘you really need these for winter’.

[vaud]

Pica-Pica said:

Way back when, tyres were generally more all-seasonable.

Were they? I recall my parents being stuck in snow and cars slipping and sliding in the 80s, and that would have been an era of narrower, higher profile tyres.

[craig1912]

TAHodgson said:

Cross Climate 2's on my M140i - did some of the dealer demonstrations for these at launch, comfortably able to drive all the way up the snow-dome in MK... even worn down to 2mm. Fantastic tyre.

Do you use them all year round or just as winter tyres? Interested to know as I use winters (on some secondhand alloys) but like the MPSS in summer

[Speed addicted]

vaud said:

Pica-Pica said:

Way back when, tyres were generally more all-seasonable.

Were they? I recall my parents being stuck in snow and cars slipping and sliding in the 80s, and that would have been an era of narrower, higher profile tyres.

I think the trend wider tyres is the main issue. You don’t need massive wheels to deal with the power output or clear the brakes on most cars.

Then when you get to winter the unnecessary high performance tyres and huge wheels become an issue.

How many times do you see small low powered cars doing just fine in winter where more expensive things are struggling?
Low weight and narrow tyres!

[TAHodgson]

craig1912 said:

Do you use them all year round or just as winter tyres? Interested to know as I use winters (on some secondhand alloys) but like the MPSS in summer

They'd certainly cope with year round use, the event I mentioned above consisted of snow-dome demo with a FWD Audi, followed by wet & dry track use on caymans @ Silverstone. Surprising results!
My car does the odd track day, very much spirited road driving - it'll be going back on PS4S's in Feb (ish)

[RicksAlfas]

I think it’s a combination of many modern cars having much wider, lower profile tyres as standard and the majority of tyre treads aiming for economy as car makers try and reduce CO2 levels.

[havoc]

RicksAlfas said:

I think it’s a combination of many modern cars having much wider, lower profile tyres as standard and the majority of tyre treads aiming for economy as car makers try and reduce CO2 levels.

Tread pattern and compound both make a difference...and the tread pattern on most summer tyres is just lateral grooves with almost no cross grooves and very few sipes.

[custardtart86]

I have just had CC2's put on my RWD 530d touring. This will be my first winter using a RWD car in the snow so I'm still a bit nervous.

I'll report back my experience once I've used them in the snow.

[Turn7]

Stupid question that I guess I know the answer to, but will ask anyway....

Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?

We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.

[anonymous-user]

Turn7 said:

Stupid question that I guess I know the answer to, but will ask anyway....

Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?

We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.

Very bad idea… the rear will try to overtake the front on bends and braking.

[coppice]

Full set . Years ago , we tried winters on the front of my OH's 205. You navigated by the view from the side windows...

On ye olden times -my dad was a GP and needed to do calls at any time, and in any weather, He never got stuck, even in the 1963 winter wonderland . Reason ? Being a very experienced driver helped but his cars -Anglias, Heralds , Vitesses - all had skinny tyres, hilariously so by modern standards . When radials came in , typical sizes were still only 145/155- 13s .

Best car I ever drove in snow was my 2CV - on badass 125/55 Michelin Xs . Snow, mud , ice - pas de probleme

[21st Century Man]

coppice said:

Best car I ever drove in snow was my 2CV - on badass 125/55 Michelin Xs . Snow, mud , ice - pas de probleme

Same here. I had Continental Winter Contact TS860's on my 2CV, it was just amazing. Full on nutter attack reckless should be banned accident waiting to happen mode like it was a hot sticky summer with the grippiest summer tyres.

[marine boy]

Should have a set of Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 snow tyres arriving next week for my Lexus LS400

I find the Blizzak's work better in snow than Michelin Alpin's

[B'stard Child]

F20CN16 said:

Turn7 said:

Stupid question that I guess I know the answer to, but will ask anyway....

Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?

We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.

Very bad idea… the rear will try to overtake the front on bends and braking.

^ WHS - Equivalent to having slick tyres on the back and new tyres on the front and driving on wet roads would you do that??

[mclwanB]

TorqueR said:

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

Vredestiens performed well but had an issue with the quatrac pros that 2 in short succession had subtle but terminal sidewall damage from no known impact damage after under 5000 miles each. Manufacturer of course said no defects at all after a song and dance to get them returned and assessed, would never buy or recommend Vredestien again! Have cross climates on other car and no issue in several years!

Edited by mclwanB on Saturday 27th November 14:09

[d_a_n1979]

Turn7 said:

Stupid question that I guess I know the answer to, but will ask anyway....

Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?

We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.

Full set; the size of the wheels on the Yaris won;t be huge, so prices will be good..

See what Camskill can offer: https://www.camskill.co.uk/#

[RicksAlfas]

Turn7 said:

Stupid question that I guess I know the answer to, but will ask anyway....

Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?

We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.

People get away with a front pair, but it’s not recommended at all.

If you don’t want the hassle of swapping go for four All Seasons.