Good morning, noob here!

We're just about to put an order in for a Yeti (woo hoo) - on lease, thanks in part to the brilliant deals available to my wife from the NHS lease scheme!

Total running costs are very important to us, and therefore we've done all the maths with regards price v fuel efficiency v fuel costs etc and are plumping for one of the 2WD Greenline models - we were going to stick to an S, however we may upgrade our choice to an SE thanks to some of the things I've learnt on here regards spec difference (such as the boot rails, rear cup holders) and the listed spec differences (e.g. sunset glass and MP3 connection). So thank you already for the great guidance here!

The questions I have are in relation to the fuel saver tyres in snow.

We currently have a Peugeot 308, with the full fuel-saver kit - 1.5HDi engine, low rolling resistance tyres, etc etc. Economy is fantastic (averaging over 55mpg, with the vast majority of journeys being short runs), however the car was an absolute nightmare in this winter's snow. I had to literally dig myself out of an eight of an inch of mild slush!

I hadn't even considered it might be the fuel-saver tyres until my wife questioned the description of the similar tyres on the Yeti.

So a couple (well, 3) questions I suppose:

1) For those with experience of these tyres, are they dramatically/noticeably inferior in the snow (I understand why they MIGHT be, but ARE they, in practice)?

2) Would the Yeti have any inherent advantages (or indeed disadvantages) over our existing car in terms of snow performance?

3) How did those with 2WD Yeti's in 1.2 TSi guise cope this last winter?

None of this will likely put us off a Yeti, but the overall price difference for us isn't enormous between the 1.2TSi and the Greenline, and snow performance in 'normal' v 'fuel saver' tyres might swing it in favour of the TSi.

Many thanks in advance!

Good morning, noob here!

We're just about to put an order in for a Yeti (woo hoo) - on lease, thanks in part to the brilliant deals available to my wife from the NHS lease scheme!

Total running costs are very important to us, and therefore we've done all the maths with regards price v fuel efficiency v fuel costs etc and are plumping for one of the 2WD Greenline models - we were going to stick to an S, however we may upgrade our choice to an SE thanks to some of the things I've learnt on here regards spec difference (such as the boot rails, rear cup holders) and the listed spec differences (e.g. sunset glass and MP3 connection). So thank you already for the great guidance here!

The questions I have are in relation to the fuel saver tyres in snow.

We currently have a Peugeot 308, with the full fuel-saver kit - 1.5HDi engine, low rolling resistance tyres, etc etc. Economy is fantastic (averaging over 55mpg, with the vast majority of journeys being short runs), however the car was an absolute nightmare in this winter's snow. I had to literally dig myself out of an eight of an inch of mild slush!

I hadn't even considered it might be the fuel-saver tyres until my wife questioned the description of the similar tyres on the Yeti.

So a couple (well, 3) questions I suppose:

1) For those with experience of these tyres, are they dramatically/noticeably inferior in the snow (I understand why they MIGHT be, but ARE they, in practice)?

2) Would the Yeti have any inherent advantages (or indeed disadvantages) over our existing car in terms of snow performance?

3) How did those with 2WD Yeti's in 1.2 TSi guise cope this last winter?

None of this will likely put us off a Yeti, but the overall price difference for us isn't enormous between the 1.2TSi and the Greenline, and snow performance in 'normal' v 'fuel saver' tyres might swing it in favour of the TSi.

Many thanks in advance!

Welcome to our forum

There are many threads on here about snow performance & tyres.

As fuel saver tyres will ultimately have slightly less grip, I would expect (I remember my Dad having some Michelin tyres that did over 50,000 miles) the grip to not be up to 'standard summer tyres', but that is not why you're buying a greenline - for performance.

Some people have coped well with 2wd and summer tyres, whereas other have gone down the winter tyre route like me.

Ultimately, winter tyres are the best when the weather drops below 7degC. You will stop the quickest, be able to steer and accelerate, so much better than with summer or fuel saver tyres. The one thing they have going for them is that they are narrower than the silly 225/50's fitted to SE/Elegance models.

Re the TSI v Greenline, it really depends on the mileage you are going to do. Long trips where the car warms up - 15+ miles, over 30 mins, or short trips. The petrol is better over short trips, the diesel on long ones...

Mike

A 2wd Yeti with the current tyres will be no better in Winter compared to your current car, ie. a bit of a nightmare. If you want the Greenline economy then I suspect that the answer, and you probably don't want to hear this, is to bite the bullet for 2 months of the year and get winter tyres for December/January, Feb as well if the weather is bad. You will then get the Greenline benefits for 9-10 months of the year but you are also safe and capable to drive around in the snow. Don't forget you will still have all the other benefits of the Greenline model, you only lose the marginal issue of low roll resisting tyres for that short period.

Edited 20 January, 201115 yr by EdmundBlackadder

I think you are mixing water (ice!!!) with oil (low rolling resistance) I suspect that you will need to invest in winter tyres for those bad days 'cos you can't have the best of both worlds.

Having said that, I have run my Yeti through TWO bad winters on the supplied Goodyear tyres without any problem (great care taken) but you will see that I run a 4x4 with the off road button. So, in my opinion, you would need to compromise. A Greenline with winter tyres as an extra OR a 4x4 OR don't drive in really bad weather. (only joking)

GreenLine II runs on 205/55 R16 tyres as standard on all trim levels, which will be marginally better than the 215/60 on the standard 'S' trim and leagues better than the daft 225/50 high speed sports tyres on the 'SE' & 'Elegance'. Plus if you want to go down the winter tyre route or change the low rolling resistance tyres to an all season pattern, then in the 205/55 size theres plenty of choice.

Only slight downside is the reduced ground clearance of the GreenLine; 155mm against 180mm but in all other respects an excellent choice particularly in 'S' & 'SE' trim (ESP standard for one).

Regards,

TP

Plumber - thanks for the response.

I'm no expert on tyres - so excuse me if I check my working here:

The 205 tyres (which, as I understand it means a width of 205mm?) on the greenline are likely to be better in snow than the wider 225 tyres on the SE?

It sounds counter-intuitive to me - on the completely novice basis that I assumed wider would be better? (I have no basis for this assumption at all!!)

The ESP thing I've just noticed on the Skoda website - is it right that Hill control and ESP are standard on the S, but not on the SE? That also sounds a bit daft??

Thank you for your help!!!!!

The other point to note is that these 'green' versions of cars often specify their low rolling resistance tyres to be run at higher pressures than normal - sometimes as much as 10psi higher - to further help with rolling resistance. This may not help in coping with snow.

quote name='Norbert_Up_Norf' date='20 January 2011 - 15:40' timestamp='1295538026' post='2247220']

Plumber - thanks for the response.

I'm no expert on tyres - so excuse me if I check my working here:

The 205 tyres (which, as I understand it means a width of 205mm?) on the greenline are likely to be better in snow than the wider 225 tyres on the SE?

It sounds counter-intuitive to me - on the completely novice basis that I assumed wider would be better? (I have no basis for this assumption at all!!)

The ESP thing I've just noticed on the Skoda website - is it right that Hill control and ESP are standard on the S, but not on the SE? That also sounds a bit daft??

Thank you for your help!!!!!

GreenLine II runs on 205/55 R16 tyres as standard on all trim levels, which will be marginally better than the 215/60 on the standard 'S' trim and leagues better than the daft 225/50 high speed sports tyres on the 'SE' & 'Elegance'. Regards,

TP

Only people who like skating think the SE tyres are"daft". The rest of us just cope with the winter conditions on our Goodyears.

bad winter again here -20oc and 3ft deep snow, my 1.2 s fitted with oe goodyears managed it all...infact our car was the only one off our street...where i live its a remote part of yorkshire with plenty of steep hills...had no issues unlike my focus

I'd like to echo Terfyn and Lee67 here because I, too, have survived intact and smiling with the stock Dunlop Sport tyres through the snow and the drifts and the ice and the mud and the leaves and sheep and welsh farm collies.

I have absolutely no complaints regarding my Yeti's ability in snow - but I do have the 170 4*4 version.

Only people who like skating think the SE tyres are"daft". The rest of us just cope with the winter conditions on our Goodyears.

Hi Terfyn,

you must have different snow and ice over on the west side in Cymru :wonder: as the 225/50 Goodyears on my previous 140 SE were darn dangerous over here in the East on the Wolds last winter :S and it wasn't skating but reverse tobogganing that lead to me switching to winters.

Pleased that they work for you mind but I'll more than likely only run 16" (215/60) wheels on the new beast (if it ever arrives ), funds permitting.

Regards,

TP

Pleased that they work for you mind but I'll more than likely only run 16" (215/60) wheels on the new beast (if it ever arrives ), funds permitting.

Regards,

TP

What wheels and tyres are you thinking of TP?

Mike

What wheels and tyres are you thinking of TP?

Mike

Moon alloys for summer running; tyres not sure yet but a 4x4 road tyre could be on the cards, as there are one or two options in 215/60 size. Winters if I can source some in the summer, then 215/60 Nokian WR G2 or Verdestien Wintrac Xtreme are prime candidates for a set of steels. Prefer steels for winter bit more tolerant of damage as you unfortunately found out.

Regards,

TP

Moon alloys for summer running; tyres not sure yet but a 4x4 road tyre could be on the cards, as there are one or two options in 215/60 size. Winters if I can source some in the summer, then 215/60 Nokian WR G2 or Verdestien Wintrac Xtreme are prime candidates for a set of steels. Prefer steels for winter bit more tolerant of damage as you unfortunately found out.

Regards,

TP

Where will you get the moon alloys from? Are they available yet from Skoda?

and what will you do with the spitzbergs?

I didn't realise there were any 4x4 road tyres available in the 215/60 size, which ones?

Mike

Plumber - thanks for the response.

I'm no expert on tyres - so excuse me if I check my working here:

The 205 tyres (which, as I understand it means a width of 205mm?) on the greenline are likely to be better in snow than the wider 225 tyres on the SE?

It sounds counter-intuitive to me - on the completely novice basis that I assumed wider would be better? (I have no basis for this assumption at all!!)

The ESP thing I've just noticed on the Skoda website - is it right that Hill control and ESP are standard on the S, but not on the SE? That also sounds a bit daft??

Thank you for your help!!!!!

Hi,

For snow or ice your better off with a narrower tyre to bite down into the surface; wider tyres tend to ride over the top leading to more sliding about.

For example we currently have two Fabia's one on standard 165/70 R14 tyres and the other 205/45 R16. Had no problems getting about this winter in the Fabia fitted with the 165/70 tyres. However the other was so poor we have bought some steel wheels and full winter tyres in 195/55 R15 just to ensure mobility come any more ice and snow.

Regard ESP and HHC then only the Elegance and all DSG have this as standard. GreenLineII trim has just the ESP on the 'S' and 'SE' I believe. Otherwise with the 'E', 'S' and 'SE' the you have to look to the options list for ESP and again I belive HHC is only an option on 'SE'.

Hope that helps,

TP

Edited 20 January, 201115 yr by The Plumber

Winters if I can source some in the summer, then 215/60 Nokian WR G2 or Verdestien Wintrac Xtreme are prime candidates for a set of steels. Prefer steels for winter bit more tolerant of damage as you unfortunately found out.

Regards,

TP

Great minds think alike Been having a good old think about what winters to apply to my steelies for next winter (SM arrives 1st March so too late to worry about this winter) and it looks like the Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme's are the front runner. Decent value for 215/60's and decent reviews too :yes: Unless the Dunlop 3d's drop in cost considerably that is. Just a question of waiting until the winter comes to an end and winter tyres drop to their lowest price point and then trying to pick up a set before you are unable to buy them again before next autumn and the prices rise again! Sorry, slight thread hijack, carry on again campers....

For snow or ice your better off with a narrower tyre to bite down into the surface; wider tyres tend to ride over the top leading to more sliding about.

I've spent some time thinking about why narrower tyres may be better. I doubt that wider tyres really do ride over the top; the contact patch size is a function of the weight of the car, and that doesn't change for slightly narrower tyres. What does change, however, is the shape of the contact patch. With a narrower tyre the part gripping the surface will be longer and narrower, which I think is probably advantageous on a slippery surface when it comes to accelerating and braking. Cornering probably isn't as good, but that's hardly a problem in the worst conditions!

Hi Terfyn,

you must have different snow and ice over on the west side in Cymru as the 225/50 Goodyears on my previous 140 SE were darn dangerous over here in the East on the Wolds last winter and it wasn't skating but reverse tobogganing that lead to me switching to winters.

Pleased that they work for you mind but I'll more than likely only run 16" (215/60) wheels on the new beast (if it ever arrives ), funds permitting.

Regards,

TP

Well, obviously, Welsh snow is superior. A quality unsurpassed anywhere else.

Despite being on Lleyn with the sea (and, allegedly, the Gulf Stream) on three sides, we have caught the bad weather with everyone else. Admittedly not so intense with temperatures no lower than -7C and snow about 6" thick but, being in the country, we are virtually grit free. (only once this winter) so, for me, the Yeti 4x4 is an essential. Even better than my old XT which was heavy and difficult to turn on ice, even in 4x4 mode.