Replaced my OE Dunlops with Goodyear All Seasons in October 2011. Have done about 23k miles since, and I've been really pleased with them.

I've got a question about the wear indicators in the grooves though. In common with most tyres, there are indicators (a raised section) that show when the tyre has reached the legal tread depth limit. However, there are second indicators, that stand rather prouder. Am I right in believing that these latter show when the tyre is no longer effective in snow conditions - even though they're still 'legal'?

I'm off to the Alps to ski in a few weeks time, and if I am right in my belief I'll need a couple of new tyres before I go.

Anybody had any dealings with "My Tyres" who seem to have the best deal on the Goodyears at the moment?

You are correct Bob.

Haven't used My Tyres personally, but they seem to get good reviews.

You are correct Bob.

Haven't used My Tyres personally, but they seem to get good reviews.

Cheers Graham! Helpful as always!

Replaced my OE Dunlops with Goodyear All Seasons in October 2011. Have done about 23k miles since, and I've been really pleased with them.

I've got a question about the wear indicators in the grooves though. In common with most tyres, there are indicators (a raised section) that show when the tyre has reached the legal tread depth limit. However, there are second indicators, that stand rather prouder. Am I right in believing that these latter show when the tyre is no longer effective in snow conditions - even though they're still 'legal'?

I'm off to the Alps to ski in a few weeks time, and if I am right in my belief I'll need a couple of new tyres before I go.

Anybody had any dealings with "My Tyres" who seem to have the best deal on the Goodyears at the moment?

Hi Bobdog,

I just Googled tyre wear indicators and the Michelin website said the main tyre idicators (noted with a Michelin man on the side wall) is set at approx 1.6mm - the UK legal limit. Michelin Cold Weather (winter) tyres have an additional tread wear indicators (with a snowflake on side wall) set at 4mm - for optimal grip on snow.

I have just gone and looked at my winter tyres: Goodyear Ultra Grip and supprise (and I had not noticed before!) a tiny snow flake on the side wall indicating the (I guess) 4mm tread wear bar and tiny arrows indicating the 1.6mm bars.

Whether the higher limit is the legal limit in European countries, I do not know...

Peter

PS Are you a member of the Flat Earth Society now?

Cheers Tristar ... confirmation all round. Now found a better deal at Love Tyres and have ordered two Goodyear Vectors at £119.60 each. Need to get them fitted locally now!

Norfolk is only flat until you try to pedal a bike round it! :beer:

Tristar, the 1.6 mm is the EU minimum thread depth for all tyres. The 4 mm thread depth is the recommended - but not enforced - minimum thread depth for winter tyres.

Cheers Tristar ... confirmation all round. Now found a better deal at Love Tyres and have ordered two Goodyear Vectors at £119.60 each. Need to get them fitted locally now!

Norfolk is only flat until you try to pedal a bike round it! :beer:

Careful they dont scratch the rims whilst changing!

MyTyres. (for anyone else, as Bobdog has ordered them now)

Very good, BUT if you've never bought there before they have a funny system of security for new customers.

This means for your first order you need to do a bank transfer or (IIRC) use paypal.

They won't take a credit or debit card online like most companies do, until your second order.

So allow a little extra time for that.

People don't realise this, get the order delayed and then criticise them.

I found it annoying too, but went through with it and now I can just use my debit card when using them.

I believe the legal requirement (in Austria at least) is that winter tyres have at least 4mm of tread.

For what it's worth, I've just changed my 4 year old Avon Ice Touring ST which came off my previous Passat as 215/55-16 for correct Avons in 205/55-16 94V Extra Load at £87 per tyre all in through ATS on line.

They seem to be quieter than the old tyres and I have to say, have improved the ride.

John

ATS weren't able to offer any all season tyre in the right size (225/50-17). I've been really happy with the quality of the Goodyears ... over 14 months and 22k miles, winter and summer ... and they were really tested in the snow last winter.

I believe the legal requirement (in Austria at least) is that winter tyres have at least 4mm of tread.

For what it's worth, I've just changed my 4 year old Avon Ice Touring ST which came off my previous Passat as 215/55-16 for correct Avons in 205/55-16 94V Extra Load at £87 per tyre all in through ATS on line.

They seem to be quieter than the old tyres and I have to say, have improved the ride.

John

Running the same Avon ST but in 195/55 R15 size on one of our Fabia's the other has Bridgestone Blizzak LM30's in the size. Professional reviews/tests suggest the LM30 to be the better tyre but our experience thus far is quite the reverse.

TP

Running the same Avon ST but in 195/55 R15 size on one of our Fabia's the other has Bridgestone Blizzak LM30's in the size. Professional reviews/tests suggest the LM30 to be the better tyre but our experience thus far is quite the reverse.

I can see how the Avon would make a good impression, being the best of all winter tyres for comfort and noise, and being very good (not quite the best) in wet-road adhesion and braking. It's another matter, though, when it comes to dry-road adhesion and braking, where it is a bit of a liability. And then of course there's the wear rate: like almost every other Avon since I first bought some in the 1960s, it wears fast. Soft rubber is their speciality. It's not for nothing that they supplied Rolls-Royce. I'll be interested to hear how long yours last.

Well b*gger that for a game of soldiers. Having initially accepted my online order, Love Tyres have now cancelled it, saying they don't have the Goodyears available. Hmmm - must do some more investigating!

Oponeo list them as being in stock - http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finder/car-all-season-tyres-goodyear-225-50-r17 - though I don't know how their price compares with others you've looked at.

Thanks Martin, and happy new year. Just ordered via My Tyres ... eagerly waiting to see what happens.

Well b*gger that for a game of soldiers. Having initially accepted my online order, Love Tyres have now cancelled it, saying they don't have the Goodyears available. Hmmm - must do some more investigating!

An all-too-common scam among online tyre retailers, I'm afraid: take your order first, then see if they can obtain the tyres somewhere.

Tyre retailers online fall into three categories:

- those who do not show what's in stock

- those who show what's in stock but lie about it (anyone saying every tyre is in stock is definitely in this category)

- those who show what's in stock and can usually be trusted (though even they often have a disclaimer saying they don't guarantee availability).

Another nasty twist comes from those retailers that claim everything is in stock and refuse to allow you to cancel an order if delivery time turns out to stretch into weeks.

The fundamental distinction is between mere drop-shippers and actual stock-holders. In my view online retailers should be obliged to make that clear.

Caveat emptor. Have you tried Oponeo or Reifen yet? Both trustworthy in my experience.

Edited 2 January, 201313 yr by r999

Thanks Martin, and happy new year. Just ordered via My Tyres ... eagerly waiting to see what happens.

Hmmm..... good luck!

Cheers. For the last 8/9 years I've used a little independent tyre dealer/fitter about 2 miles from where I lived in W. Yorks. He was brilliant. A few ££ more expensive than the big boys, but great service ("I'll drop it off at yours on the way home if you like? No, pay me at the end of the month - no problem"). However, I've not yet found a similar dealer now I've moved home to Norfolk and thought I'd try out these online boys. May have to go back to the tried and tested!

I can see how the Avon would make a good impression, being the best of all winter tyres for comfort and noise, and being very good (not quite the best) in wet-road adhesion and braking. It's another matter, though, when it comes to dry-road adhesion and braking, where it is a bit of a liability. And then of course there's the wear rate: like almost every other Avon since I first bought some in the 1960s, it wears fast. Soft rubber is their speciality. It's not for nothing that they supplied Rolls-Royce. I'll be interested to hear how long yours last.

The ST appears well capable what ever the weather/temperature so far (still to test in snow) and as to wear, then I can only compare their ZV5 which replaced a pair of Continental PremiumContact2 on a previous Corsa. The Avon lasted longer than the Conti and was also better in all other respects than the more expensive brand, although they were both equally poor in snow.

TP

An all-too-common scam among online tyre retailers, I'm afraid: take your order first, then see if they can obtain the tyres somewhere.

Tyre retailers online fall into three categories:

- those who do not show what's in stock

- those who show what's in stock but lie about it (anyone saying every tyre is in stock is definitely in this category)

- those who show what's in stock and can usually be trusted (though even they often have a disclaimer saying they don't guarantee availability).

Another nasty twist comes from those retailers that claim everything is in stock and refuse to allow you to cancel an order if delivery time turns out to stretch into weeks.

The fundamental distinction is between mere drop-shippers and actual stock-holders. In my view online retailers should be obliged to make that clear.

Caveat emptor. Have you tried Oponeo or Reifen yet? Both trustworthy in my experience.

I was recently impressed with Event Tyres (yet again) who didn't show the tyre I wanted on their on line list, but when I phoned their local depot, they spent about 10 mins searching their usual suppliers stocks on-line and when they still had no luck, offered to phone round see if they could get one. An hour later, they phoned back having found the right tyre (it wasn't for the Yeti I should add) and still came up with a good price.

You cant fault that sort of service!

Edited 2 January, 201313 yr by speedsport

+1 for Event tyres.

I can see how the Avon would make a good impression, being the best of all winter tyres for comfort and noise, and being very good (not quite the best) in wet-road adhesion and braking. It's another matter, though, when it comes to dry-road adhesion and braking, where it is a bit of a liability. And then of course there's the wear rate: like almost every other Avon since I first bought some in the 1960s, it wears fast. Soft rubber is their speciality. It's not for nothing that they supplied Rolls-Royce. I'll be interested to hear how long yours last.

My old Avons had been through three and a half winter seasons (November to about March) including three trips to the Alps and were still showing 6mm front and 7mm back. I don't think that's a bad wear rate after 15000 miles plus and to be truthful I've not found them wanting under any road conditions either when they were on my Tdi 170 Passat or on my last or this Yeti.

John

Hmmm..... good luck!

I've never had problems with MyTyres for either my cars or my sons.

John

The ST appears well capable what ever the weather/temperature so far (still to test in snow) and as to wear, then I can only compare their ZV5 which replaced a pair of Continental PremiumContact2 on a previous Corsa. The Avon lasted longer than the Conti and was also better in all other respects than the more expensive brand, although they were both equally poor in snow.

TP

I found the Ice Touring ST to be great in snow. I have ZV5s on my Merc C180.

John

I was recently impressed with Event Tyres (yet again) who didn't show the tyre I wanted on their on line list, but when I phoned their local depot, they spent about 10 mins searching their usual suppliers stocks on-line and when they still had no luck, offered to phone round see if they could get one. An hour later, they phoned back having found the right tyre (it wasn't for the Yeti I should add) and still came up with a good price.

You cant fault that sort of service!

My previous set of Avon Winter Tyres came from Event Tyres. Fitted at home within three working days of order. ATS would done this for £9.99 but I'm just round the corner from them at work.

John