Hi John,

when I contacted my insurer regard fitting winter tyres and steel rims they were going to class them as a modification until I explained that the owners handbook stated I could do this, they appeared more happy and were not interested in charging me from that point and just noted the call.

Mind it did take me a few minutes to get the call centre in Outer Mongolia or wherever to understand what winter tyres were

TP

Thanks TP. Last week I called Virgin Mobile over a problem with my service. Call centre was in the Phillipines!

John

Getting back to the original post. The price rises continue.

I ordered a set of 215/60/16 Falken HS439 tyres on Friday for £312 delivered. The price went up 50p a tyre yesterday and has gone up another £3.50 today.

After extensive research on the Internet and talking to my local tyre fitter, mytyres.co.uk and tyres-pneus-online.co.uk are just about the only discount supplier of decent winter tyres. Mytyres are based in Germany and Pneus are in Northern France. I reckon that they buy tyres by the thousands but that the stock is limited in number. As the stocks run down then the prices go up.

My local tyre chap says that he can't get winter tyres any cheaper than these two suppliers but warns that as motorists in Germany in particular realise that they need new winter tyres (to satisfy their road laws) then the prices don't just go sky high, the supply of all but the grottiest budget imports disappears too.

UK retailers can supply the likes of Avon, Dunlop, Michelin and Goodyear winter tyres that are undoubtedly good but the prices are about double the likes of Falken and Nokian winter tyres that are at least their equal in performance terms.

So if you are after sensibly priced winter tyres, whatever the size, I'd get the order in soon.

My wife thinks that all of my research is a total waste of time as she predicts the mildest wnter ever. we'll see who's right come January.

I think you'll find also that people living in parts of Germany have to change tyres by law in the late Autumn - November I think so there could be a run on winter tyres during this month.

For those in the North of England, I used Event Tyres last January. They come to your home (or wherever) and change tyres on site. I found this rather good and the fitter was excellent. The prices weren't too bad although the tyres tend to be top brands. They use air bags to raise the car and fit and balance in a well equipped van. I couldn't recommend them highley enough.

I run a bus company in East Lancashire and our local Authorities in Blackburn and Lancashire are stocking up on salt since they are saying that early predictions are far another hard winter. I've instructed my garage managers to stock up on salt as I can't afford to have the loss of income I sustained last January and want to be ina position to grit access roads to my two depots and if necessary bus stops in the area.

Now that I have my Yeti and with winter tyres, I will not be getting stuck!

John

The numbers indicate the load index. Should at least be the same as the original tyres or higher.

The H is the speed index. H means max 210km/h, V = max 240km/h

GRNX is something from Michelin and means GreenX. A tyre that is optimized for less rolling resistance and should be more economical.

Thanks,

For a 140 Elegance, should it be a 94 load index?

Hate to cast doubts on your wifes metereological abilities but the people who got the winter forecast right last year, ie bloody freezing with lots of snow, are predicting an even worse winter this year due to three main factors :

1. 30% reduction in the strength of the North Atlantic current

2. the lowest solar output (energy) since records began

3. the la nina this year

There was also some stuff on particalisation of volcanic ash still present in atmosphere reducing solar power but they dont think it will affect temps, so basically as they were the only people to get it right last year, im listening to them !!

Funny enough a lot of local authorities are already stocking up to 5 times their normal salt and grit stocks !

Yeti weather on the way folks !!

So skiiing should be good in Europe this year. Will need to get the snowch***ns ready

John

Thanks,

For a 140 Elegance, should it be a 94 load index?

Hi Mr P,

yes 94H for a 140, see the Yeti Tech Guide My link and in particular the tyre and rim guide My link which I hope will help.

TP

I might be having a blonde moment, but I understand that the 205/55 R16 tyres will reduce my ground clearance by 25mm according to the Tire size calculator.

Mike

Ignoring the actual size, what is best to get in terms of the other numbers and letters?

e.g.

92H

96H XL

94H XL GRNX

Many Thanks!

To my understanding the letters XL means extra load which might imply stiffer side walls even though the weight rating is the same...

I might be having a blonde moment, but I understand that the 205/55 R16 tyres will reduce my ground clearance by 25mm according to the Tire size calculator.

Mike

Yes, as I understand it, it will reduce your ground clearance slightly and increase the gearing so you'll be doing slightly more revs than on the standard rubber.

I was definitely having a blonde moment, I should have said 12.7mm (1/2") as reduces diameter by an inch.

Yes you're right FocusZetec.

Mike

I agree with you.

Her understandable thinking is that we have invested a bit of cash in buying a 4x4 Yeti to replace a totally adequate Octavia. She also quite rightly thinks it daft that Yetis are supplied with 'summer' tyres as standard in the UK.

On a serious note, I think that many UK tyre suppliers have stuck their collective heads in the sand by virtually ignoring this part of the market. You should see the buzz on BMW forums as people are desparate to keep their rwd cars on the road this winter.

Well you think about it and ask your old relatives, and they all used to change over to winter tyres in the not too distant past, but it just seemed to get lost and now its coming back after some dodgy winters are making folks think a bit more about tyre changes.

Well you think about it and ask your old relatives, and they all used to change over to winter tyres in the not too distant past, but it just seemed to get lost and now its coming back after some dodgy winters are making folks think a bit more about tyre changes.

She's not that old. If she is then I'm in trouble!

They say that what goes around, comes around - well they are wheels

I am not sure I understand the discussion abouth winter tyre sizes. Winter tyres on the standard rim and tyre size specifications ought to satisfy most - UK for sure - conditions. <if you have 17" wheels and change tyres on the same wheels, the size is fixed. If you have 16" and do not have a REAL need for chains, ditto.

If you decide to buy new wheels and tyes, the standard size for the 16" wheels should be the best choice. On 4WD Yetis, chains can be fktted on the rear wheels with no problems, and that will take you anywhere you ought to be going. 2WD Yeis ought to stay on the roads, where winter tyres will do very nicely, thank you.

Chains are reserved for alpine skiers - and they already know what they need. All of the rest of us can get by very nicely with decent winter tyres in the usual sizes. Maybe some remotely located Welsh or Scottisch inhabitants needs ae different, but they also know what they need.

My take is: pick a well rated winter tyre based on WET PERFORMANCE, put them on and quit worrying about it.

Edited 4 October, 201015 yr by Agerbundsen

^^^^^^^^^^That is probably the most sensible answer to this thread!^^^^^^^^^^

Edited 4 October, 201015 yr by Llanigraham

Well you think about it and ask your old relatives, and they all used to change over to winter tyres in the not too distant past, but it just seemed to get lost and now its coming back after some dodgy winters are making folks think a bit more about tyre changes.

I remember my dad fitting M+S tyres, back in the days of a Wolesley 16/60 and crossplies.

And M + S tyres are not the same as winter tyres!

I don't remember my father or any of his friends ever changing tyres in the winter.

I am not sure I understand the discussion abouth winter tyre sizes. Winter tyres on the standard rim and tyre size specifications ought to satisfy most - UK for sure - conditions. <if you have 17" wheels and change tyres on the same wheels, the size is fixed. If you have 16" and do not have a REAL need for chains, ditto.

If you decide to buy new wheels and tyes, the standard size for the 16" wheels should be the best choice. On 4WD Yetis, chains can be fktted on the rear wheels with no problems, and that will take you anywhere you ought to be going. 2WD Yeis ought to stay on the roads, where winter tyres will do very nicely, thank you.

Chains are reserved for alpine skiers - and they already know what they need. All of the rest of us can get by very nicely with decent winter tyres in the usual sizes. Maybe some remotely located Welsh or Scottisch inhabitants needs ae different, but they also know what they need.

My take is: pick a well rated winter tyre based on WET PERFORMANCE, put them on and quit worrying about it.

Very good advice

Mike

And M + S tyres are not the same as winter tyres!

Actually, it is. In Finland where winter tires (not necessary studded ones) are compulsory from beginning December to end February the definition of an approved winter tire is that it is marked M + S (Mud & Snow).

Actually, it is. In Finland where winter tires (not necessary studded ones) are compulsory from beginning December to end February the definition of an approved winter tire is that it is marked M + S (Mud & Snow).

That was my understanding also after talking to a number of well respected tyre outlets before my purchase.

Wikipedia seems to agree also...

"Dedicated winter tires will bear the "Mountain/Snowflake Pictograph" if designated as a winter/snow tire by the American Society for Testing & Materials. Winter tires will typically also carry the designation MS, M&S, or the words MUD AND SNOW"

Actually, it is. In Finland where winter tires (not necessary studded ones) are compulsory from beginning December to end February the definition of an approved winter tire is that it is marked M + S (Mud & Snow).

That was my understanding also after talking to a number of well respected tyre outlets before my purchase.

Wikipedia seems to agree also...

"Dedicated winter tires will bear the "Mountain/Snowflake Pictograph" if designated as a winter/snow tire by the American Society for Testing & Materials. Winter tires will typically also carry the designation MS, M&S, or the words MUD AND SNOW"

The difference is you can get an M&S tyre that is not a winter tyre (think 4x4 off road tyres).

To be a winter tyre it needs to have the 'snowflake' symbol on the sidewall.

The definition of an M&S tyre simply means that a certain percentage of the tyre is made up of the 'grooves' in the tread, so just because you have M&S marked on a tyre does not mean it's a winter tyre.

Thank you, Gizmo, exactly what I was saying.

The difference is you can get an M&S tyre that is not a winter tyre (think 4x4 off road tyres).

To be a winter tyre it needs to have the 'snowflake' symbol on the sidewall.

The definition of an M&S tyre simply means that a certain percentage of the tyre is made up of the 'grooves' in the tread, so just because you have M&S marked on a tyre does not mean it's a winter tyre.

That was clearly explained. Thank you.

For anyone still unconvinced about the value of 'winter tyres' Look

2wd diesel Golf 170ps - posted on the Golf Mk5 GTI forum by one of the members - most impressive, I think?

The Vredestein Wintracks do look very capable, There are a set of 16" audi alloys on ebay with these BUT THE RIMS ARE 7.5 J - so too wide, all the other details were spot on :(