Just found this article today about winter tyres. Great that they used an octavia as the test car - couldn't get a much more personalised test for us on briskoda!

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/66645/winter-tyres-test-reviews-and-prices-2013

Interesting that this years winner was 4th place last year!

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/60716/nokian-wr-d3

More interesting that it's not the same as these two tests (tested in 2013):

 

http://www.adac.de/infotestrat/tests/reifen/winterreifen/2013_winterreifen_test_225_45_r17.aspx?ComponentId=185957&SourcePageId=31821

http://siol.sdn.si/sn/doc/2013/10/gume_17.pdf

It being a test at Nokian's own facility might have had some impact on the results

 

But its the usual suspects up front, as ever.

I'm a bit of a cynic, whenever these reviews come out I'd like to see how much advertising revenue was received from each of the entrants during the previous year 

 

After all, if you're publishing, say, a computer magazine that depends on advertisers for it's lifeblood, would you really publish a bad review of a Dell pc if Dell had pumped £1m your way in advertising?

 

As I say, I'm a cynic.

I have just ordered a set of AVON Ice Touring ST 205/55 R16 91H from ATS EuroMaster for £308 fitted. Booked in for next week. Here is the link if any use to anyone - http://shop.atseuromaster.co.uk/tyres/avon/icetour-st/205-55-16-91-H-1-1EY396

Just got some Ice Tourings myself for the Omega with a view to putting them on the VRS when it comes. They literally stuck to the kitchen floor when I unwrapped them, looking forward to taking them to Germany this winter.

Bought some Ice Tourings last year for our Monte Carlo. Unfortunately all four started to show signs of premature ageing after only 4 months use. Avon kindly arranged for them to be inspected at their factory and agreed to refund me via mytyres who supplied them. Disappointing as previous experience with Avon tyres had been positive.

 

Replaced them with Uniroyal MS+66 supplied at a very good price by camskill; we will see how we get on with these Continental group tyres :wonder:

 

 

TP

This site seems to suggest there might be better winter tyres, but of course price is also a factor.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Avon/Ice-Touring-ST.htm

(I have no idea how reliable the information on this site is.)

I've gone with some Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes, I have always used this brand of winter tyres and have always been super impressed.

225/40 R18 for £100 a tyre.

Got my winters on now, I am really happy with the look.

 

Now just need to find a new set of alloys to put the summer tyres on for next spring (cant find any 18in mk3 alloys anywhere)