Winter Tyres

[Gizmo!]

Well, there's a thread everywhere else about them

Think I'm going to take the plunge. I just took the toy out for a play and the rears - never too sticky at the best of times, they're Bridgestone ER30s - were lighting up everywhere under only mild provocation. (Sorry, Harlow).

Anyone used winters/all seasons on their '5? As a lighter car I get the feeling the recommendations won't necessarily be the same.

[Munter]

We're running some Nokian WR-G2 on the 5. When it's cold and wet they seem to have more grip than I'd expect from the Dunlops.

1st year with them though so we'll have to wait and see how they do in the snow/slush.

[Bonefish Blues]

Hankook W310 winters here - exactly the same comments as above. Interestingly Mrs BFB has ER30s on the front, and also had some "fun" with a wall last winter - they don't like these conditions one bit.

[Gizmo!]

Bonefish Blues said:

Hankook W310 winters here - exactly the same comments as above. Interestingly Mrs BFB has ER30s on the front, and also had some "fun" with a wall last winter - they don't like these conditions one bit.

I'd go so far as to say the Stones are dangerously entertaining, certainly when cold and in the rain.

[poing]

Just fitted these: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Continental/Wint...

I find them great in the wet and not as bad as expected in the dry. Not so great in the damp/greasy conditions we often get but I haven't had enough dry running to properly run them in. We'll see how they cope when the snow hits, they got good reviews.

[Bonefish Blues]

Gizmo! said:

Bonefish Blues said:

Hankook W310 winters here - exactly the same comments as above. Interestingly Mrs BFB has ER30s on the front, and also had some "fun" with a wall last winter - they don't like these conditions one bit.

I'd go so far as to say the Stones are dangerously entertaining, certainly when cold and in the rain.

She certainly put the sts up the wall...

[HereBeMonsters]

I'm still rocking the P5000s...

[Gizmo!]

Well, just for future reference - I've ordered some Nankang SV2s from Mytyres. £53 per corner: we'll see how they go. Can always put them in the shed for the summer if they turn out to be rubbish when it gets warmer.

[PHuckov]

I'm going to try and continue on the T1Rs They've been fun already so I can't imagine what'll happen when it snows! I have 60kgs of sand to stick in the boot though

[skinny]

i couldn't get up my 10ft drive last year when it snowed, with t1r's. but i did still a lot less stuck than most others around here

[Gizmo!]

I didn't get stuck at all on the Bridgestones. But I did take it very easy and had some entertaining moments. Trying to get out of an ice-bound Fleet services, knowing I needed to get some momentum going to make joining the M3 halfway safe, but getting sideways at 40mph on a sheet of ice was pretty hairy and I don't fancy repeating it!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs298....

[dblack1]

I wouldn't try a winter on summer tires with this car. I switched my stock rims for some 15x6.5 and Michelin X-Ice Xi2 185/60/15 for winter use, although I don't believe these are available in Europe. These winter tires have better traction than I have experienced with any other tire (Or tyre)...

As for winter tires, I haven't noticed a lot of difference between different winter tires, the margin is not very large. There is a very large difference between winter and all season tires. As for summer tires, mine scare the crap out of me after a hale storm and I run 205/45/17 for the summer.

And for reference, I have a 04 Mazdaspeed edition

Edited by dblack1 on Thursday 25th November 08:09

[ironictwist]

How are you getting on with them Gizmo?

[Dan_1981]

PHuckov said:

I'm going to try and continue on the T1Rs They've been fun already so I can't imagine what'll happen when it snows! I have 60kgs of sand to stick in the boot though

Mine were appalling yesterday.

Dangerously bad.

Think I'm going to have to invest if it makes a big difference?

[Gizmo!]

ironictwist said:

How are you getting on with them Gizmo?

Not fitted yet. Being delivered in a couple of days, which may just turn out to be perfect timing

[PHuzzy]

Mine are actually not too bad, we haven't had much snow yet though! I'm anticipating them to be shockingly awful

[Silver Smudger]

Bonefish Blues said:

Hankook W310 winters here - exactly the same comments as above.

Which of the above comments? "more grip than I'd expect" or "lighting up everywhere"

Thinking of fitting these on MR2 Roadster, so have similar requirements to the MX5 owner.

[Bonefish Blues]

Silver Smudger said:

Bonefish Blues said:

Hankook W310 winters here - exactly the same comments as above.

Which of the above comments? "more grip than I'd expect" or "lighting up everywhere"

Thinking of fitting these on MR2 Roadster, so have similar requirements to the MX5 owner.

The comments above my post, 3rd in thread - i.e. they're f***ing good!

Need a few miles to scrub in mind, so just be careful when first on.

[Gizmo!]

Sat in the local BMW specialist getting them fitted now, on the morning where Essex/London finally catches up with the rest of the country and has 3" of snow

[Gizmo!]

Initial impressions good. The fitter commented on the difference - old the old tyres he managed to get stuck driving it from where I'd parked into the fitting bay (after I'd driven 5 miles there...) and needed a push, the new ones just drive normally.

They clearly still need scrubbing in but on the wet and slushy drive home they just feel like normal tyres on a wet road. I did a couple of deliberate drifts just to see how the breakaway is, and it's all nice and controlled.

Only one concern: Mytyres delivered 86 load rating tyres not 82, I didn't notice till I got home. Am I correct in assuming this won't make too much difference?