Yep, it's annoying how so many cars have fat tyre only options and the narrow tyres are better in heavy rain too IMHO.

Fashion over function, unfortunately

The general public has driven this though, wide low profile wheels are what people want, even if they are less useful in poor weather and rattle your fillings on bumpy roads.

The assumption that you get better handling is generally not as black & white as most people think either.

Good point about 4WD... I've heard it said before that a 2WD car on winter tyres is better on snow/ice/cold tarmac than a 4WD on summer tyres.

That last paragraph made me laugh, you must have smirked when you saw that? Unless it was your car it hit at the bottom?!

Another good point, I'd never actually considered the legal side of things in some European countries that require you to use winter tyres at certain times of year.

No luckily it wasn't my car and the 4x4 driver was priceless. The comment of "but that little car could do it, so my 4x4 should have been fine" was brilliant. Esp when the A2 driver said, well yes but I have winter tyres on and the 4x4 driver kept on with the "but I have 4x4".

I finally got around to measuring the tread depth today and all 4 of the tyres are at about 6mm.

They have been rotated front to rear at about 6 months old, but that is it.

Since first fitted the car has probably covered 20'000 miles, so I think getting 30'000 miles from them should be doable as long as there are no stray nails etc. Here is hoping.

Would you regard 30,000 as good then? Honest question, I have never actually kept track of mileage on any tyres I've ever owned, so I don't know what would be "good"?!

How did you find the WR over summer, happy enough with their performance? I don't expect them to go round bends like a Goodyear GSD3 or anything, but were you aware of any compromise in performance?

As mentioned in the other thread, I'm going to look at buying a couple of spares, but it's catch 22 because I would like to assess them before buying more, but I'll probably get a puncture before I have time to make my mind up :eek:

Would you regard 30,000 as good then? Honest question, I have never actually kept track of mileage on any tyres I've ever owned, so I don't know what would be "good"?!

How did you find the WR over summer, happy enough with their performance? I don't expect them to go round bends like a Goodyear GSD3 or anything, but were you aware of any compromise in performance?

As mentioned in the other thread, I'm going to look at buying a couple of spares, but it's catch 22 because I would like to assess them before buying more, but I'll probably get a puncture before I have time to make my mind up :eek:

30k isn't bad for a tyre, you can get more if you pick the correct tyre, but then they tend to be harder, so it's a trade off against each other.

How are you finding your tyres anyway?

Passed 2 4x4's last night with all wheels spinning. One stopped me and asked "is you skoda 4x4?" when I told him I was 2wd with snow tyres he couldn't quite believe it...........!

Passed 2 4x4's last night with all wheels spinning. One stopped me and asked "is you skoda 4x4?" when I told him I was 2wd with snow tyres he couldn't quite believe it...........!

Had similar and seem to get a "how can you pass me? "`I have 4x4, Yo!`" reaction.

Which tyres are you running out of interest.

Edited 6 January, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

We use Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3Ms on our MINI Cooper S as dedicated winter/snow tyres. These are actually a performance winter tyre and come in a good selection of widths and speed designations; one of the tyres recommended by Porsche for winter use. We're currently living in Upstate NY and get over 100" of snow on average every winter and these tyres have never let us down (also available as runflats which is a good idea in bad weather).

A word of warning though. Once the weather starts to warm up, switch back to normal all-season or hi-po tyres as winter ones (at least these Dunlops) tend to wear out very fast. Great tyre and would certainly buy again (would be be default choice if I owned a vRS).

Im running 205/55R16 Avon Ice and Snow Touring ST. This is the second car I have fitted them too - last year I put them on my 3.0Tonne Mercedes Vito Van and they were fantastic on that.

I think the wheels were £200 for 4 and the tyres £75 ea inc fitting and vat.

I'll take them off end of March and they went on beginnning of December.

TC

I managed 2 miles today in deep snow with my conti sportcontact 16", ok i put snow chains on front wheels! and i had to turn off ESP.

james.

Is it worth getting snow chains instead of winter tyres?

well no... i think winter tyres are the way to next oct I will think about them. But i had two snow chains from old car so, a back road is covered in deep snow so I thought I would give it a shot, the problem is no way you can kerb on any clue with what's under road!

James.

I have a question for those that are changing tyres for winter.

Are you swapping the wheels or just tyres?

Does this mean you all have garages full of tyres?

how much does it cost to have them changed over? I get tyres fitted for free, when I replace tyres due to wear - normally ;-)

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/tpl/mag6/art200901/htm/conduite-neige.htm

link is quite intresting

I have a question for those that are changing tyres for winter.

Are you swapping the wheels or just tyres?

Does this mean you all have garages full of tyres?

how much does it cost to have them changed over? I get tyres fitted for free, when I replace tyres due to wear - normally ;-)

I have ordered new 16" steel wheels and Nokian wr g2 tyres from www.mytyres costing about £470,but i drive to Austria every year to go sking. At the moment here in Swansea my vRS with its 18" wheels hasnt moved yet this year because of the ice,The reason i'll be getting the wheels as well is that i can change the wheels myself when i want to without going to ATS which i cant get to and you have to remember when your using your winter tyres your not wearing down your other tyres.

I put the wheels and tyres I purchased to put on my octavia when it arrives on the touran yesterday. They are fitted with 225/45R17 vredestein wintrac xtreme tyres. I have found them wonderfull. Did 120 miles last night in the snow. Only complaint i have is found my self doing 65 mph on the motorway then notice there were lots of snow covered signs. Then I rembered that I must be in 50mph average speed zone.

Plus i think she looks nice on them. locks clean now the snow has washed it to.

I intend to put some all weather tyres on the wifes Ford Focus as it is on Continental Sportrac at the moment and is c**p in the snow and slush.

My new VRS will stay in the garage in snowy conditions so one simple question (if there is such a thing)

Tyre size is 205 55 R16 91V, it does about 4000K per year, in urban conditions so performance and handling capability is not an issue.

Which all weather tyre should I get?

Thanks

I have them on my normal wheels, but if I have the money I will get some steels in the spring and put the winters on them and get some normal tyres for the summer.

Is it worth getting snow chains instead of winter tyres?

Summer tires + chains still have only 50% of the traction of winter tyres without chains. I have seen an Audi with Summer tires and chains not being able to climb a small inclination in the Alps. And in Alpine conditions you might need winter tyres and chains to safely travel across slippery road conditions.

i currently have 225/50/17 size but quatrac3 are 225/45/17 would this be a problem or would new size fit ok??

On the (german) site adac.de you'll find a lot of tests of tyres. I recall that all weather tyres always are a compromise. It would be better to have a set of summer tyres and a set of winter tyres. Just click on http://www1.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/default.asp?ComponentID=4772&SourcePageID=236104&=, and look for Sommerreifen (summer tyres) or Winterreifen (winter tyres). The first is a comparison between cheap tyres ans 'brand' tyres, the second is a test of winter tyres, with a comparison to all weather tyres. You'll notice that they never match the winter tyres...

The Quatracs don't have the snowflake on a mountain symbol but just a snowflake along with the sun and other items.

 

I know this is an old thread, but just in case anyone is mislead, the Vredestein Quatrac 3 does have the snowflake/mountain symbol that cheezemonkhai included in a subsequent post.