I'm trying to sort a set of winter tyres for my vRS and looking at options

Anyone have experience of whats good?

I've seen kuhmo kw23 for £55 on mytyres

a\lso has prem brands suchj as hankooks, bridgestones,goodyear which are £80 and up

sorryu if my typing not accurate. only have use of one hand and difficult plus bit pushed for time.sorry

I was looking at this this morning! I've got proabably 6-8 weeks left on my current set and after last winter was thinking about a set for the cold spell.

I noticed that all of the tyres on said website had speed rating H which isn't the standard for the Fabia. I wonder if this could createa problem with insurance?

I was looking at this this morning! I've got proabably 6-8 weeks left on my current set and after last winter was thinking about a set for the cold spell.

I noticed that all of the tyres on said website had speed rating H which isn't the standard for the Fabia. I wonder if this could createa problem with insurance?

Whats up with an H rating? Good for 130mph, the theroetical top speed of a vRS. If you're doing that in winter conditions, then you're my hero!

I had avon ice tourers fitted to my company estate last year. They transformed my confidence and safety. I was out working, when the other lads were stuck in. DOH!

If you're gonna buy winter tyres then do it now before the prices soar. We bought some a couple of months ago and have stashed them ready.

My gut feeling is this winter will be as bad, if not worse than last year. Bring back the jetstream!

Edited 31 August, 201015 yr by wdf76

I have a feeling that last winter was a one off and the next one will be very mild. However knowing how bad my tyres were in snow makes me wnt to buy a pair of wheels and fit winter tyres on them.

As said in many of my posts, winter tyres cope better than summer ones when the outside temperature is 7°C or below.

Here are the choices from Mytyres (sorted by price) http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?suchen=Ordern&cart_id=80162264.110.32287&ranzahl=4&Breite=205&Quer=45&Felge=16&Speed=H&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=Wi&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=20&sort_by=preis

Camskill only stocks Toyos Camskill - SNOWPROX TOYO S 952 - 205/45R16 (although currently has no stock)

Edited 31 August, 201015 yr by Jim H

Whats up with an H rating? Good for 130mph, the theroetical top speed of a vRS. If you're doing that in winter conditions, then you're my hero!

I've got to admit I don't have the correct answer on this one. I see your point with regard to 130mph being within limits but I cant imagine the insurance company will be 100% happy with people fitting a tyre rated to a lower speed than that which they leave the factory with.

I ran Michelin Primacy Alpin on my 145 QV, and they were great. Put them on when the temp consistently had a Max below 10C, and took them off when it was consistently over 10C. Their performance degrades once over about 7C they reckon, but well worth fitting for British winter, especially if you're in a remote area or often drive on less than perfect roads.

Winter tyres aren't cheap though, and you're best having a spare set of wheels for them too, which adds to the cost. Vredestein Snotrac's are supposed to be pretty good too. Not sure who makes a tyre of the right size for the Fabia though, as can't afford a set of wheels and tyres at the moment.

I'm hoping last year's snow was a one-off, and its a lot milder this time around. Winter tyres aren't just for snow mind.

Edited 31 August, 201015 yr by Slamby

I've got to admit I don't have the correct answer on this one. I see your point with regard to 130mph being within limits but I cant imagine the insurance company will be 100% happy with people fitting a tyre rated to a lower speed than that which they leave the factory with.

I can't see that an insurance company would have an issue that you had correct type of tyre for the conditions you were driving in (not outright speed classification). I'm sure that someone 'in the know' will be along. Half this country would be uninsured if tyre speed ratings were law, along with fitting crappy remoulds and partworns that could have been on an accident damaged car.

IIRC the Toyos got some pretty bad reviews when the German ADAC did their test on winter tyres. That's why I ended up with 185 60 15 Continental TS800 winter tyres - the secondhand rims and new tyres cost less than buying a set of 205 45 16 winter tyres.

Finding correct fitment rims off an Audi or VW isn't difficult and it also keeps the salt of your originals as well!

HTH

I'm very interested in this thread:

1, where's the best place to get hold of good quality steel rims

2, what are the insurance going to say if i put steel rims on?!

3, by the looks of these goodyear ultra grip they're good for v rated tyres anwyay so that's okay right?

It's something i've been meaning to do, but have not throught about since last winter. Do these tyres really make such a difference. I had eagle f1's on the front in the snow and they were just short of ditch finders!

Having followed a RAV4 up a snow covered hill that was sliding about the tyres make a massive difference - I just went straight up the hill!

Suggest you speak to your insurance company and explain what/why you propose doing - they 'should' be okay.

As regards where to get wheels - try fleabay for 15 inch 5x100 pcd alloys (Mk4 golf/pre 93 Audi A3/ mk1 fabia etc)

I'm very interested in this thread:

1, where's the best place to get hold of good quality steel rims

2, what are the insurance going to say if i put steel rims on?!

3, by the looks of these goodyear ultra grip they're good for v rated tyres anwyay so that's okay right?

It's something i've been meaning to do, but have not throught about since last winter. Do these tyres really make such a difference. I had eagle f1's on the front in the snow and they were just short of ditch finders!

1) I just went for the "steelies with snow tyres fitted" from Mytyres - that option used to be on the LHS - worked out that the wheels are quite cheap. My problem was that while going down a size was the correct way to go as wife's car has smaller diameter discs, finding the slightly wider rims at a scrappy was not going to be easy as most correct wheels were too narrow.

2) Its only the speed rating that should annoy them, I just don't get it though as mainland Europe insurance companies and the law make sure that they do use them and they are only available in lower speed ratings.

3) I just dropped down to H speed rating as that was what Michelin sold as a winter equivalent to my wife's tyres.

But for most choice buy now, though companies like Mytyres that build from mainland Europe did manage to get my Alpins late January/early February when UK traders could not.

brilliant, I'll think on. I can't imagine if you had an accident they'd be able to get away without paying anyway.

'Sir, your tyres were not suitable for the vehicle.'

'Riiiiight, but it was snowing, surely they're better than the Uniroyal RAINSPORTS?'

'Erm, let me check:P'

Cars that have Maxidot displays have a feature for warning you of the speed limit for winter tyres. So they anticipate you putting on lower speed rated tyres.

I've got to admit I don't have the correct answer on this one. I see your point with regard to 130mph being within limits but I cant imagine the insurance company will be 100% happy with people fitting a tyre rated to a lower speed than that which they leave the factory with.

I have checked with my insurance company, and they don't care. I'll be fitting H rated winter tyres to the Leon in winter.

I have checked with my insurance company, and they don't care. I'll be fitting H rated winter tyres to the Leon in winter.

Sorted

Cars that have Maxidot displays have a feature for warning you of the speed limit for winter tyres. So they anticipate you putting on lower speed rated tyres.

Indeed, and the handbook warns about not exceeding the speed rating. I believe in Germany you have to have a windscreen sticker warning.