Winter Tyres

[Evening Star]

As snow chains & snow socks aren't going to be the best solution for me, I thought I'd do a "straw" poll to find out from everyone here what's their most trusted or favourite brand of Winter or Snow tyres & why?

Hopefully this should help me make an informed choice of which ones to go for!

Ta!

Edited 10 January, 2010 by Indiana Jones

[Superskoda]

I have use michelins and continentals and both were good, in the snow with a BMW its probably hard to judge. Any winter tyre will feel alot better after trying to get round on summer slicks, i couldn't belive the difference at first and it will slowly catch on in the UK if the weather persists in winters!

European equivalent autoexpress etc will do tests so some of our overseas members should be able to help. Also they seem to be harder to come by in the UK so you might be restricted on what makes you can get hold of for a reasonable price.

[Jim H]

Vredestein and Nokian. I believe Nokian are the winter/snow tyre specialist and are based in Finland. As you may have guessed, they are related to Nokia.

As I say in most winter tyre threads, I wish either company would make something suitable for my Furby vRS.

Edited 10 January, 2010 by Jim H

[Evening Star]

Vredestein and Nokian, these two names keep coming up regularly in internet posts & searches.

I can find Vredestein tyres in name only, there doesn't appear to be that many dealers here & Nokian is even worse, which considering the very good reviews & reports about them seems rather odd.

Edited 10 January, 2010 by Indiana Jones

[Zdenek Fibich]

I was going to shop around for winter tyres (the sport-oriented ones on my vRS being no good in snow), but was hampered by the first tyre sealer finding a screw in one of my tyres. I accepted the offer of Avons - not a brand I've used before but all they had in my size (225/40/18). So far they've been excellent - no slipping at all whereas before Christmas with the OE Continentals I was forever getting stuck.

[Jim H]

Vredestein and Nokian, these two names keep coming up regularly in internet posts & searches.

I can find Vredestein tyres in name only, there doesn't appear to be that many dealers here & Nokian is even worse, which considering the very good reviews & reports about them seems rather odd.

Try internet sites like Mytyres and Camskil. The only problem is they may be out of stock due to the high demand.

My dad spoke to the main importer of Nokian tyres last week and he said they are difficult to get them due to the demand in Europe.

Edited 10 January, 2010 by Jim H

[magic62]

Dunlop Winter 3D do well in tests in Europe for a couple of years already. Continental TS830 (newest) or the TS810.

Had the TS810 2 seasons before the 3D. Like the 3D better.

[riph72]

I use the Nokian WR, it's marketed as a winter tyre in the UK but as an all-season tyre in North America. It's the same tyre though, it's got the M(ud)+S(now) symbol and even has "All Weather Plus" written on it (UK version).

I intend to run it all year round, as long as the wear is acceptable in summer. It has a wear rating of 420, which is quite reasonable even for a summer tyre!

[Evening Star]

I was wondering what M+S was!

For a moment I was thinking that a certain High St chain had gone into the automotive industry!

[magic62]

M+S doesnt qualify as winter tyre in Europe, only if it also has the snowflake symbol.

M+S used to mean Mud and Snow, but as there are more different kind of tyres nowadays, a real winter tyre should have the additional snow flake.

[kumquat]

Vredsteins Snowtrac 3...... fantastic tyres

[Evening Star]

I've just worked out these winter tyres are going to cost me over £450 + some more wheels to put them on...

[KayakJim]

Another vote for Vredstein Snowtrac 3. I got mine in early December from Tyremen.co.uk. They say they are the largest UK agent for Vredsteins.

[magic62]

I've just worked out these winter tyres are going to cost me over £450 + some more wheels to put them on...

Staying mobile and out of trouble will save you more

[riph72]

M+S doesnt qualify as winter tyre in Europe, only if it also has the snowflake symbol.

M+S used to mean Mud and Snow, but as there are more different kind of tyres nowadays, a real winter tyre should have the additional snow flake.

It's been sometime since I looked into all this, so I have confused M+S with the snowflake symbol. Not that it matters, I don't think, my tyre has the "snowflake on a mountain" symbol

[riph72]

I've just worked out these winter tyres are going to cost me over £450 + some more wheels to put them on...

That's why I'm taking my chances with the all-season option, we'll see how it goes through summer...!

[riph72]

Staying mobile and out of trouble will save you more

Exactly, a single bump will probably pay for your winter tyre set for a number of years!

[Evening Star]

Another vote for Vredstein Snowtrac 3. I got mine in early December from Tyremen.co.uk. They say they are the largest UK agent for Vredsteins.

They don't do them in the size that I need.

I need 225/45/17 91.

[riph72]

They don't do them in the size that I need.

I need 225/45/17 91.

Nokian do the WR in that size...

[KayakJim]

They don't do them in the size that I need.

I need 225/45/17 91.

mm.. yes this can be a problem with 17" wheels, which is why many opt for a set of 16" steel wheels (or alloys) to swap over in the winter. This also means that you can put chains on if required. 17" rims can have problems with clearance with chains fitted. The cost of an extra set of steel rims will probably pay for itself in a couple of years as you won't need to pay the garage to swap the tyres round twice a year (at least £30 each time).

Also worth noting that a narrower profile will give you better performance in snow and ice i.e. 205 as opposed to 225. Check out the manual it lists suitable tyre and wheel combinations.

Edited 10 January, 2010 by KayakJim

[magic62]

Vredestein has the Wintrac xtreme in 225/45 17 Loadindex 91.

[Lady Elanore]

Another vote for Vredestein Snotracs. Don’t forget that while you are running them, you aren’t wearing out your regular tyres, so if you keep them for a few years they won’t cost you any extra apart from the cost of the wheels. Quite cheap really, for the piece of mind.

Don’t bother with Mud and Snow, as any tyre that is optimised for mud is looking for some off road use. Winter tyres are road tyres! More super soft rubber grips the road and the sipes not only pinch at the snow for traction, but when snow is compressed under a tyre it turns to water, some sipes literally suck this water up and allow the tyre to remain in full contact with the surface. Think about how an ice skate works and you get the picture.

Edited 10 January, 2010 by Lady Elanore

[riph72]

Also worth noting that a narrower profile will give you better performance in snow and ice i.e. 205 as opposed to 225.

This is my understanding too!

[riph72]

Don’t bother with Mud and Snow

I've confused M+S with "snowflake on a mountain" in earlier posts, which hasn't helped

[Evening Star]

So with my Sports Suspension, if I get myself some cheap 16" alloys, what size (other than 16") tyres would you recommend, so that I don't have problems with clearances?