Decisions, decisions.

 

Undecided between getting RS3 or winters.

 

size: 205/45/16

 

 

RS3 are only £234.28 delivered

 

Winter tyres prices:

 

goodyear winters (GW-3) £252.36

 

Hankook W310 £270.76

 

Though the goodyears don't seem to get very good reviews.

 

 

Big question is are we gonna have a bad winter!  Last year was so mild, didn't need winters and thus didn't miss them but in years before I did have winters on and found them brilliant in the snow and ice.

 

 

I could go for a size down: 195/50/16 - Bridgestone Blizzak LM32 for £289.96

 

 

 

 

 

 

The narrower the better in both rain and snow, it doesn't matter what tyres you use on ice unless they're studded. I use steel wheels with 185/60/14 Uniroyals during the winter.

I ran rainsport 2 last winter on another car and they were fine. I'd take rainsports over snow tyres every time in the uk. There wet weather performance is very impressive.

I'm considering Rainsport 3's when I kill my Parada's off on Friday. I've got Kumho's ecsta le sports on the back and I'm torn weather to just buy two more of them or some RS3's especially with winter coming up and probably lots of rain.

Just to throw an idea out there you can actually run winter tyres year round...

 

Do some research on this, as it's not as silly as it sounds especially if you use your car for commuting early mornings and late evenings when the temperatures are generally lower.

 

Yes OK in summer on those nice hot sticky days summer tyres will perform better and be more fun, but how often do we really get nice days like that. It's more often than not cold and raining lol. Something to have a think about people!

how long would actual winter tyres last if used all year round? you could run something like an A048R all year round if you were only going to use the car when the weather suited them, way more fun per mile

I'm just about to get some 17's back on the car again and have been pondering what tyres to get.

 

If I can afford it then I'm just going to buy something like the Michelin PS3, which is meant to be a fantastic tyre in the dry and wet. No faffing about with winter only tyres. Only downside is that they're quite expensive!

 

I ran Parada's in the winter last year which was a BIG mistake! Can be quite scary when it's wet. No confidence at all!

 

I've also had RS2's in the past and found them very good in the wet and not too bad in the dry either!

Just to throw an idea out there you can actually run winter tyres year round...

 

Do some research on this, as it's not as silly as it sounds especially if you use your car for commuting early mornings and late evenings when the temperatures are generally lower.

 

Yes OK in summer on those nice hot sticky days summer tyres will perform better and be more fun, but how often do we really get nice days like that. It's more often than not cold and raining lol. Something to have a think about people!

I did actually run winters into the ground a couple of years ago,  I got some hankook winters 195/50/16 a couple of years ago and ran them through all winter and spring!  Until the front two were worn right down.  Problem was I did not get much mileage out of them.

I ran rainsport 2 last winter on another car and they were fine. I'd take rainsports over snow tyres every time in the uk. There wet weather performance is very impressive.

 

Could be worth a punt, especially at the price

No faffing about with winter only tyres. Only downside is that they're quite expensive!

 

I can't believe you even said this, all you do is faff around with the damn car and throw obscene amounts of money at it 

Ha ha yes this is true of late!

 

Hence I don't need to have to buy both a set of summer AND winter tyres

I would have thought that the Uniroyal Rain Experts were a better mix of summer tyre with some winter capability?? Great in the wet and a much better tread design for winter...

The narrower the better in both rain and snow, it doesn't matter what tyres you use on ice unless they're studded. I use steel wheels with 185/60/14 Uniroyals during the winter.

i gotto stick with 17's anything smaller wouldn't fit over my brakes :(

Ran winter tyres all year this year on the wifes Pug 206 HDi GTi, she only does about 3k pa, so didnt see the point fannying about, Not noticably worn since the last service either.

 

Just ordered me a set of 205 45 16 Hankook i-cepts for mine on 16" steelies. Handy for the colder evenings run out

Ran winter tyres all year this year on the wifes Pug 206 HDi GTi, she only does about 3k pa, so didnt see the point fannying about, Not noticably worn since the last service either.

 

Just ordered me a set of 205 45 16 Hankook i-cepts for mine on 16" steelies. Handy for the colder evenings run out

 

W310?

Winters....

 - Best used with a separate set of wheels. Do you have storage for the alternate set? Garage/shed? Is it secure or would they be out of sight?

 - Fit them now. Take them off when the cold mornings stop. Probably April or maybe early May.

I currently have Goodyear GW-3 on the rear which I bought last October which ran on front until March. In March I bought a pair of RS3 and ran them on front. I've now done 7.5-8k miles and Rainsports need replacing. I am thinking of buying a new pair of summers and putting my half worn winters on front. I am also thinking of trying GY Assymetric 2 to see if they will last any longer. However.I've seen a problem.

 

Goodyear Assymetric 2s are £80 delivered from Camskill:

Goodyear GW-3s (winters) from Mytyres are also £80 delivered each.

 

I could also buy some (award winning) Conti TS850 for £115 each from Mytyres .So like you not sure which to buy.

If you're willing to go to a 55 then the rs3s are 208 delivered on Oponeo

If you're willing to go to a 55 then the rs3s are 208 delivered on Oponeo

 

I'll consider 195/50 or 205/50, but car is lowered slightly so I think 55 will be not be advisable!

 

Or I could change to a car that has 205/55 tyres, they are so cheap in that size!

I currently have Goodyear GW-3 on the rear which I bought last October which ran on front until March. In March I bought a pair of RS3 and ran them on front. I've now done 7.5-8k miles and Rainsports need replacing. I am thinking of buying a new pair of summers and putting my half worn winters on front. I am also thinking of trying GY Assymetric 2 to see if they will last any longer. However.I've seen a problem.

 

Goodyear Assymetric 2s are £80 delivered from Camskill:

Goodyear GW-3s (winters) from Mytyres are also £80 delivered each.

 

I could also buy some (award winning) Conti TS850 for £115 each from Mytyres .So like you not sure which to buy.

I currently have GY Asymmetric 2 on, and they are very good.  I'm down to almost 1.6mm on the rear and 3mm on the front and they are still performing in the wet.  

 

Tyreleader has them for £72.09 delivered.

GW-3 are £63.09 on tyreleader too!

 

contis are £101.99 on tyreleader

 

I might go for GW-3 at that price....

 

 

ps.  not much wear out of the uniroyals was it? - I do 30k a year, so I could technically go through a one set of winters and summers per year.  What did you think of the GW-3?

Edited 7 November, 201411 yr by trebormint

I'll consider 195/50 or 205/50, but car is lowered slightly so I think 55 will be not be advisable!

Or I could change to a car that has 205/55 tyres, they are so cheap in that size!

Though it would be worth a mention

Trying to get skoda to replace mine as a good will gesture before trading standards and vosa get involved

Edited 7 November, 201411 yr by RhyssMD

I'd think that anyone dabbling in buying quality types like Michelin Pilots and expecting them to be reasonably good in winter should really think again. From my personal experience of buying Michelin tyres, it was down to just how unsuitable these tyres were in cold weather that made me buy Michelin Alpins for winter use. Don't get me wrong, the summer tyres that Michelin make are excellent in summer, just don't expect them to be all season tyres.

Biggest problem with most summer tyres in winter these days is the tread design IMHO.  Most have no cross grooves across the tread - only longitudinal grooves along the circumference which are never going to grip on snow...   regardless of compound used etc.

I currently have Goodyear GW-3 on the rear which I bought last October which ran on front until March. In March I bought a pair of RS3 and ran them on front. I've now done 7.5-8k miles and Rainsports need replacing. I am thinking of buying a new pair of summers and putting my half worn winters on front. I am also thinking of trying GY Assymetric 2 to see if they will last any longer. However.I've seen a problem.

 

Goodyear Assymetric 2s are £80 delivered from Camskill:

Goodyear GW-3s (winters) from Mytyres are also £80 delivered each.

 

I could also buy some (award winning) Conti TS850 for £115 each from Mytyres .So like you not sure which to buy.

 

As it's getting colder, I'd keep the winters on the back. You're more likely to drive to the comfort/limit of the front tyres' grip as you can feel what they're doing.

I currently have GY Asymmetric 2 on, and they are very good.  I'm down to almost 1.6mm on the rear and 3mm on the front and they are still performing in the wet.  

 

Tyreleader has them for £72.09 delivered.

GW-3 are £63.09 on tyreleader too!

 

contis are £101.99 on tyreleader

 

I might go for GW-3 at that price....

 

 

ps.  not much wear out of the uniroyals was it? - I do 30k a year, so I could technically go through a one set of winters and summers per year.  What did you think of the GW-3?

 

I have never had a tyre last only 7 months, I'm sure even my soft Toyos lasted longer. However, over the last 2 years I am doing a lot more miles. I used to do 7-8k per year and now doing 11-12k.

 

Tyre leader was mentioned on another thread, and I did notice how cheap GW-3 were. http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/goodyear/eagle-ultra-grip-gw-3/205-45-r16-83h-250293 However, they mention DOT 2011, so are old stock made 3 years ago. Currently they are showing other (hopefully this years) GW-3s for £80.

 

I've had GW-3s for 2 or 3 winters and are not bad, certainly better than GSD-3s in the cold! I can still get it to wheelspin but I'm probably expecting too much when accelerating hard from junctions. The only problem I see is they are am old design of tyre (I think launched in 1990s or early 2000s) and now Goodyear are producing version 9s, so I fancy trying Contis for a change (new last year).