Gonna use the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55r16 from my Seat - brilliant tyre on Scandinavian roads, especially here in Scania where it's getting icy quite easily.

Gonna use the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55r16 from my Seat - brilliant tyre on Scandinavian roads, especially here in Scania where it's getting icy quite easily.

Had hakka 8 on my last car. Its a really brilliant tyre!

Had hakka 8 on my last car. Its a really brilliant tyre!

Studded - we can't use them in the UK :(

 

Imagine the sparks at 186mph down the motorway as you test out the top speed of your Y-rated studded winter tyres

Studded - we can't use them in the UK :(

Imagine the sparks at 186mph down the motorway as you test out the top speed of your Y-rated studded winter tyres

You dont really miss out on much. Studded tyres does only have a real advantage on ice. Once the temperatur goes below freezing a regular wintertyre is just as good in most situations.

Nokian's WR A3 & WR D3 are both very good winter tyres. They've recently brought out a new D4 tyre that gets an A rating for wet grip. Assuming that is as good or better than the A3s I've run for the last three winters then it will be very good indeed.

 

They've also brought out a new all season/all weather tyre called Weatherproof. Same idea as the Michelin CC but this is a winter tyre designed to work well in summer, compared to the CC being a summer tyre that works in winter. In the size for the Yeti both come with a 98 V XL rating, and both have the same C / A / 69db label. Mine have only been on a few days - too early to give any feedback! I presume there will be comparative reviews coming out soon, now there are stocks available. 

I will definitely be keeping an eye on the Weatherproofs. They look perfect, especially for my other half (we currently run 2 sets). I'd very much rather have a winter that is designed to be used in summer too than the other way around.

Till a few years ago they were telling us to get smaller wheels for winter, what I hear now from Austrian friends is get the same size as your summer ones. I have been on various models of Goodyear over the last 25 years without a problem. We drive down the autobahn at 160KMH in winter (as long as no snow or ice) the warning comes on if we go over 180 KMH set by the tyre fitters as part of the service.

I've just ordered a set of Weatherproofs for my allroad as the 17" winters and 18" offroads from my Scout /previous allroad don't fit.  I would say that the compound and tread pattern are way more important than the width which only causes a problem if the first two are compromised.

 

My MkII Scout could take 245/45 18" tyres without fouling and maybe even 235/55 17" (untried), but the 4x4 was/is a little lower.  Although speedo had parity with GPS, there was no problem with driveability and the wider tyres made the MkII chassis feel more planted.  I'm hanging onto my wheels and tyres in case I get the (increasing) urge for a MkIII, but I do have a spare unused set of all-season offroads.

The new Skoda Elegance 4x4 estate arrives next week on 17' wheels and 225/45/17 tyres.  When fitting winter tyres, is it a good idea to fit slightly narrower tyres to improve grip.  For example, can I fit 205/55/17on the same wheels without a problem.  Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

John

 

My MK II Octy Elegance had the 16" alloys and 16" steels, so was running 205/55/R16.

 

The car I'm looking at picking up has 18" wheels, so there's no way I'd even think about putting winters on those.

Firstly because the cost of 18" tyres is high and secondly the grip will be less good than 16" tyres on snow.

 

Personally I'd fit 16" wheels if you're so inclined.

 

I've just ordered some Nokian D4 to replace the now worn out A3 tyres on the steels.

I've just ordered a set of Weatherproofs for my allroad as the 17" winters and 18" offroads from my Scout /previous allroad don't fit.  I would say that the compound and tread pattern are way more important than the width which only causes a problem if the first two are compromised.

[snip]

 

1200 miles on the Weatherproofs so far. Very good in the wet, no downsides in the dry, and a smooth ride.

 

[snip]

I've just ordered some Nokian D4 to replace the now worn out A3 tyres on the steels.

 

I was quite torn over getting more summers and swapping the A3s for these. I'd be interested to how you get on with them, and if you notice much difference. Wet grip seems better with the Weatherproofs, so I expect you'll see that with the D4s too.

The D4 are supposed to be much better in the wet, and frankly the A3 were a lot better than the summer tyres in standing water on cool days.

 

I'll certainly let people know what I think of them compared to the A3. So far the major down side is that the spare will be running backwards on half of the car if I need it until I can get it changed over.

As I said, I didn't consider the all weathers just because of the 18" rims, but I think for many people in the UK they're a good thing.

 

I'd far rather have people running on something that's ok on snow, rather than bloody useless (Summers).

 

The new car shouldn't be too long and to be honest it's getting the point where the 18" tyres might just go straight into the tyre bags and storage for the first 6 months.