Just wondering what peoples opinions are on this.

 

For information I generally travel about 12-15K a year. My commute is split about 50/50 motorway and urban with approx 50 miles a day. Looking for a tyre that will yield decent grip and decent wear but not cost too much (looking at replacing all four together).

 

My current tyres are 225/50 R17 (a mix of various brands), all sitting with about 3mm left on them so need replaced pretty soon. Cant decide whether to switch to winters (with new steel wheels) or simply replace the current mix with all seasons.

 

Any thoughts

Not cost to much and running a seperate set of winters on steel rims if you have to buy four "summer" tyres soon anyway would suggest the All Seasons are a good idea.

 

They are a decent all round tyre, we've got the Goodyear 4season version, but grip starts to go off a bit over +20c.

The other Yeti was doing high miles and high speed work, so that runs a dedicated set of winters and summer tyres.

With your location, I would go down the winter tyre route, the best rated winter tyre of the moment are the Continental WinterContact TS 850's, they can be had for ~£145 a wheel.

As my post says its general motorway and urban commuting so no need for ultra high performance tyres.

 

As for the location, we tend not to get it too bad weather wise unlike the borders and highlands.

 

As for the performance of the 4 seasons dropping beyond 20+ deg - that probably wont be too big a problem!

But do you ever venture out of the city & into the wilds or beyond in the winter months, so it maybe worth putting the winters on as a bit of an "insurance policy".

I've been running dedicated winters on separate steel rims with the Yeti but contemplating going the 4 Season route with the new Octavia III 150 4x4 we have on order. Have run the Goodyear tyres on a Fabia to good effect, so I think it's worth a try with the 4x4.

 

 

TP

I was running Maxxis MA-Z4S 4 season tyres on my Octavia Scout (and a couple of other cars too), but these are increasingly difficult to find. If I still had it, I would be tempted by Nexen N'Priz 4S all-season tyres due to their more open pattern - and they are less expensive too. £67 at Oponeo just now.

I've no direct experience of Nexen although reviews seem OK, but I have invested in a set of Nexen winters for my Fabia; and I have just bought some Maxxis MA-AS all-season tyres too as its not a particularly sporty car to punish them.

For normal use all-seasons are fine but for an enhanced margin of safety or performance I would recommend full winters.

Whenever I want retail therapy I seem to find an excuse to buy a set of wheels or tyres. Help!

Edited 31 October, 201312 yr by Jeeves

I was running Maxxis MA-Z4S 4 season tyres on my Octavia Scout (and a couple of other cars too), but these are increasingly difficult to find. If I still had it, I would be tempted by Nexen N'Priz 4S all-season tyres due to their more open pattern - and they are less expensive too. £67 at Oponeo just now.

I've no direct experience of Nexen although reviews seem OK, but I have invested in a set of Nexen winters for my Fabia; and I have just bought some Maxxis MA-AS all-season tyres too as its not a particularly sporty car to punish them.

For normal use all-seasons are fine but for an enhanced margin of safety or performance I would recommend full winters.

Whenever I want retail therapy I seem to find an excuse to buy a set of wheels or tyres. Help!

 

Hmm i like the sound of those Nexen ones - cheap as well. Also saves having to think about new wheels.

 

One reason for thinking 4 season tyres is that in the last really bad winter, I managed near normal mobility in an Octy L&K with probably half worn tyres (missed one day at work due to the roads being blocked by other cars not lack of mobility on my car) so, what with the 4x4 capability and an increase in grip from 4 seasons I reckon I would be able to get virtually everywhere.

Cheap & Safe are usually at the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to tyres.

 

You'd be far better paying extra for a good quality & reputable name than buying "cheap & cheerful". 

Always best to check out a few Winter Tyre tests before buying - Auto Express has a 2013 Winter Tyre test on line. remember tyre compounds and tread patterns change every year so a Best/Good buy last year could be a Dont Buy this.

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/64430/product-awards-2013-best-winter-tyres

 

 

I went with the Goodyears as they are gret value at the moment with a £50 petrol voucher if you buy 4

Cheap & Safe are usually at the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to tyres.

 

You'd be far better paying extra for a good quality & reputable name than buying "cheap & cheerful".

I can see where you're coming from, but its a bit like being pleasantly surprised by a loan car.

I only used to put Mich on my Audi RSs, but as I worked for them it was also the obvious thing to do. Now that I don't work for them I would still prefer them, but have had my blinkers lifted by other brands who accept that some drivers want a compromise and like to fit all-seasons (which they don't make). So, much like Skoda they offer something for the value conscious driver who also values quality.

We all draw the line somewhere, and whilst I would not personally use most Chinese tyres e.g. Sailun Atrezzo 4S, my experience of Maxxis suggests that the Premium/Mid-range/Budget categorisation is not so clear cut. Maybe I've not had a bad experience because I've not tried them all and generally know what characteristics I'm looking for e.g. open pattern 80/20 land/sea M+S etc.

I've seen some reasonable reviews of Nexen (Korean) tyres, so I'm happy to fit them as a full winter pattern for all year use to the lowest powered car I have ever bought new. My next car "up" is happy on Maxxis 4 season tyres and has over 100bhp more, but is driven in different ways - roads, conditions, manner etc.

I'm basically saying that you can find something that fits your individual circumstances even if it means considering something off your normal radar - as long as you maintain sensible criteria for your shortlist. I would have a completely different choice of both tyres and car if I lived near my in-laws in England.

We've not noticed any problems with lack of grip using Vredestein Quatrac 3 in the summer, despite some seriously spirited driving.

 

They're not available in the size mentioned by the OP, but Hankook Optimo 4S are -- we're almost certainly going to be using them for our furby.

 

 

 

 

ETA ... now have 5 Optimo 4S tyres stacked up in the hall waiting to be fitted!

I fitted a set of the Optimo 4Ss to my Clio 172 Cup about this time a couple of years ago as I wanted an extra margin of safety with higher speed winter use. 195/50 15 H at £45 each fitted, so inexpensive. Now that I've got the Maxxis Z4S fitted to the original wheels I've refitted the smaller Optimos to my Felicia Fun which can't deliver much high speed cornering abuse regardless of season.

I have been impressed with them and would have fitted them to my Octavia Scout in the same size as the OP's Yeti had they been available then, but settled on some Maxxis instead as they looked more conventional and so would not concern some buyers when I eventually sold it.

Had I kept it, I would definitely have considered the Optimos now that they're available, but as I had been using some open-patterned AT/Rs I would probably have tried the Nexens for this very reason.

For a car I used for go-anywhere access rather than dynamic driving, that's a compromise I was willing to accept so is not a recommendation as such. I can however recommend the Hankook Optimo 4S as they did see some spirited hot hatch driving in Spring temperatures - and occasionally Summer too when my wife forgot!

Although I've no experience of the 77's I have Uniroyal MS Plus 6 tyres on my fabia, and already they make a huge difference in the colder conditions.

 

these seem very reasonably priced for your size if you wanted to go down the dedicated winter tyre route. 
http://www.camskill.co.uk/m97b0s1472p111596/Uniroyal_Tyres_Winter_Snow_Car_Uniroyal_MSPlus77_Uniroyal_MS_Plus_77_-_225_50_R17_98H_XL_FR_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_E_Wet_Grip%3A_C_NoiseClass%3A_2_Noise%3A_71dB

 

Most tyre places will store your tyres for a small charge, which might be worth looking at when changing back in the summer.

With your location, I would go down the winter tyre route, the best rated winter tyre of the moment are the Continental WinterContact TS 850's, they can be had for ~£145 a wheel.

Personally id save a good deal of money and go for Nokians. Ive had the Continentals (slightly older design) and the Michelin Alpins and now have the Nokians - there isnt as much in it you'd think. The Alpins probably lead in terms of dry weather grip but the Nokians are 99% as good as the Contis imo and far cheaper.

I have just put a set of Kumho KH21 Solas all weather tyres on the car today. I will report back once I hit a bit of bad weather. Just a word of note, even though they are listed as an all weather tyre, they do actually have the full winter marking on them (snowflake/mountain)

I have just put a set of Kumho KH21 Solas all weather tyres on the car today. I will report back once I hit a bit of bad weather. Just a word of note, even though they are listed as an all weather tyre, they do actually have the full winter marking on them (snowflake/mountain)

I think a number of all-season tyres do. I know that Goodyear Vector 4Seasons, Hankook Optimo 4S and Vredestein Quatrac 3 all do, so in that regard that could count as winter tyres!

 

Although it's probably not a good model, I picture tyres as having a preferred temperature working ranges. These ranges overlap as you move from winter, through all-season, to summer tyres. A knowledgeable friend once told me that most 'normal' tyres have a working temperature down to +7C, is mentioned in the manufacturer's specifications, (although I haven't been able to get hold of this kind of detailed information for any tyre).

Ive been really impressed with goodyear 4 seasons on the scout and my old SLK230. forr my driving they were a perfect compromise.

Mark

The Kumho KH21 Solus have proved to be very good in the wet but we haven't really had any wintery conditions yet.

If I was you, I'd slap the Goodyear 4seasons on. It's easier than running two sets of rims. But this is a bit of a thread resurrection, so you've almost certainly done something by now.

If I was you, I'd slap the Goodyear 4seasons on. It's easier than running two sets of rims. But this is a bit of a thread resurrection, so you've almost certainly done something by now.

I hadn't - given the extremely mild winter we have had I didn't feel the need.

 

Will bear this in mind for the winter to come though.

Well since the thread's been resurrected...

 

At work we use winters all year round on ALL service vehicles. Be it transport vehicles or front line response units. I've been surprised how well they perform since I felt my x-type got rather "squishy" when the temperature rose a bit. Mind you, a "van" handles ever-so-slightly worse than a Jag to start with!

 

I had winters on my vRS and they are a whole lot quieter than the supplied Sport Contact 2's and the mpg is a bit worse too.

 

I'm not sure what size the Yeti uses but I had Pirelli Scorpion ST's on a shogun pinin a few years back and they were epic tyres. Never let go in the wet (short wheel base and rear drive mostly) and performed better than I thought they might in the really bad winter a few years back, in fact I rarely had to use the 4wheel drive mode! Might be worth looking for a dedicated 4x4 tyre like those?