Going to be fitting some winters, and pretty much decided on these after reading all the bumf and reviews about them.

 

However, before I do, have any of you fine people got these? How are they? I'll be fitting them to my 18" alloys.

• Do they grip well in the wet when braking and steering (and both)?
• Are they quiet?
• What are they like on the snow? (slightly less important as it doesn't snow much here, but when it does I need to be able to drive on it). 

Ta Muchly! 

 

 

Have a look at the videos in this Yeti forum thread to see what they're like on snow

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/380086-my-winter-driving-videos-yeti/

 

I've used Nokian WR A3 for the last three years (now on their new Weatherproof all season) and the tyres were outstanding on what snow we had. Quiet and very grippy, and I'd expect the D4s to be as good if not better - they're A rated for wet grip which I think is the first winter tyre to get that.

I have used Nokian WR tyres for the past two winters.  No snow in Gloucestershire but definite improvement in traction, braking and cornering in lower temperatures, especially on wet roads compared with the Contis.   Particularly impressive at near freezing temperatures on wet roads.  Never had to drive with them on snow or ice.

 

Yet to fit them this year.  Temperatures around here forecast to be 10C+ until Friday when I intend to swap my wheels.  Summer tyres are 225/40-18 and winters are 225/45-17. 

I have used Nokian’s for the last 5 years and personally I would not choose any other winter tyre.

 

Not yet fitted my D4’s as the car has literally JUST arrived... but the A3’s and D3’s were excellent in snow, ice and the wet greasy roads

Going to be fitting some winters, and pretty much decided on these after reading all the bumf and reviews about them.

 

However, before I do, have any of you fine people got these? How are they? I'll be fitting them to my 18" alloys.

• Do they grip well in the wet when braking and steering (and both)?
• Are they quiet?
• What are they like on the snow? (slightly less important as it doesn't snow much here, but when it does I need to be able to drive on it). 

Ta Muchly! 

 

D4 is good on the wet and the dry roads, in temperatures around 12 degrees and around 4 degrees too.

 

Not had a chance to test them on the white stuff yet, but no reason to believe they'll be any worse than the WR A3, WR G2 or original WR I have fitted to previous cars.

 

Basically it feels like a slightly wet road, rather than a snow covered one.

For example on the original WR, I stopped on highgate hill in London to avoid a 4x4 on summer tyres, then started again with no fuss at all. That's a steep hill

 

Obviously the comment that they're not studded and they're not hakka r2 with carbide grit in them, so you still have to take care on ice.

 

I have not noticed the noise either, which suggests they're pretty quiet, as I'll normally notice PDQ.

Edited 30 November, 201510 yr by cheezemonkhai

Thanks muchly for your replies guys Just ordered 4 Nokian WRD4's from TyreLeader - £369.96 didn't think that was too bad at all (plus about £40 to get them fitted somewhere)

Fitted them to my vrs tsi the other week but hadn't used the car at all until yesterday.  Even then it was only the Sainsbury run, so not much test.  I did notice they were quiet, quieter than the conti sports.   I inflated them to 39 psi. I run the contis at about 36 psi.   What pressures does everyone else use?

I was just going to use the 2.4 bar that Skoda recommends....should winter tyre pressures be different?

I was just going to use the 2.4 bar that Skoda recommends....should winter tyre pressures be different?

 

Yes, winters run @ 0.2 bar higher than ‘normal’ tyres.

Yes, winters run @ 0.2 bar higher than ‘normal’ tyres.

 

How come? Is it something to do with the material they're made from?

Yes, they use a higher silica content rubber which works better in the cold.

yes, the softer, grippier rubber gives a softer sidewall i guess, so they recommend higher pressures.  I've played with pressures between about 39psi and about 32 psi with my continentals and found the car quite sensitive to pressure for mpg but not for any detrimental noise/comfort/grip....ended up settling at about 36 psi for good mpg and ensuring even tread wear.  haven't had the d4s on long enough to play around, just put them up to 39 as a rough guess.....'a bit more'. 

oh and by the way Fluff,  I've staid at standard summer size, 225/40 r18

Was just trying to order some 18in D4's for my vRS (but company credit card ain't playing ball with Oponeo, so will have to wait until been into office). Wasn't sure if to go for D4's or A3's though?

 

Have ordered Weatherproofs for the wife scout as mileage is far less and she can keep them on until it almost gets handed back to Solutions at end of lease.

Wasn't sure if to go for D4's or A3's though?

 

Whilst the A3’s are good (I 1st fitted them in 2010) the D4 is new this year IIRC, so should be better... but I have yet to fit mine and it will be 2 weeks before they go on the car.

Whilst the A3’s are good (I 1st fitted them in 2010) the D4 is new this year IIRC, so should be better... but I have yet to fit mine and it will be 2 weeks before they go on the car.

 

There seemed to be only a quid or so a corner in it so thought D4's. Was wondering about weatherproofs on the vRS but as work pays for them (when the card works!) and my mileage is 30-35k miles per year, i'd be back to summers by late spring latest i think (although was wondering if i'm almost too late swapping coming to mid dec).

not too late ...never too late if you haven't had a crash or got stuck.  Definitely not too late with the unseasonally warm weather this year.  this my first year with winter tyres, to decide when to fit them I looked up average temps for London.  they hit 7 or 8 C for November with average daily's of about 4C by the end, so I was planning to fit the first weekend in November, before it got cold.  As it was I fitted the last weekend of the month and yet it is still warm with daily highs of 11 or 12, and being cloudy the lows overnight aren't that low...we've not really had any frost yet.  it'll change I'm sure but it is odd.

Not too late no, particularly not in the UK where it's still warm really. Collecting mine tomorrow, will be fitting them hopefully this week if I have time; but wouldn't be that fussed if it had to wait a couple of weeks as it's still warm enough for the summer tyres mostly. 

Well got the D4's on the way from Tyre leader as slightly cheaper and card worked there, although i've got the wifes Weatherproofs from Oponeo as that was on own card so worked ok - both dispatched today from Germany i believe, so a race to see which gets here first.

 

 

not too late ...never too late if you haven't had a crash or got stuck.  Definitely not too late with the unseasonally warm weather this year.  this my first year with winter tyres, to decide when to fit them I looked up average temps for London.  they hit 7 or 8 C for November with average daily's of about 4C by the end, so I was planning to fit the first weekend in November, before it got cold.  As it was I fitted the last weekend of the month and yet it is still warm with daily highs of 11 or 12, and being cloudy the lows overnight aren't that low...we've not really had any frost yet.  it'll change I'm sure but it is odd.

 

 

Not too late no, particularly not in the UK where it's still warm really. Collecting mine tomorrow, will be fitting them hopefully this week if I have time; but wouldn't be that fussed if it had to wait a couple of weeks as it's still warm enough for the summer tyres mostly. 

 

Yeah, i think i'd kick myself if / when it does get cold - its good to know the D4's will be on the vRS soon as i have about 7 miles off the main roads onto rural roads up on to the moors to get home which can get tricky in the winter at time. But i was probably more bothered about the Scout really as it has silly tyres as standard from new for that kind of car (surely most people are buying them for potential mud / snow activity) and be fairly annoyed if we had summer tyres on it and then i felt uncomfortable to use it if we do get snow or bad ice etc. 

I ordered mine from TyreLeader on the 4th and they were ready for delivery yesterday. Didn't think 3 days was too bad coming from Germany

 

Just picked them up this morning! Fitting tomorrow  :clap:

 

Just found this thread. I've used Vredestein (Snotrack and Extremes) since 2007, I'm an early UK adopter and just got D4s this year. So far they have been excellent in the wet, much better than the Vredesteins and are reasonably quiet too. They doo seem to ride harder than the Vreds though, not as squishy in the steering either, which I guess is something to do with the new tyres construction (if you believe their marketing). They are pretty good in mud too and I'm awaiting the first serous fall of snow and the appearance of ice to see how they handle those problems.  

Ahh excellent! I was a little afraid that the steering would feel too soft and squishy; when I picked them up today the first thing I noticed was how soft the rubber is compared to summer tyres! We're having a fair amount of rain at the minute so looking forward to changing from my not-far-off-bald conti's >_>

The original tyres are still best for steering feel (precious little in the Vitara) and dry grip is probably better too, but it's only slightly. In every other case I have encountered so far, the D4s are better Economy hasn't suffered in the slightest either.

Lovely jubbly! All fitted this morning Impressed so far, they seem reasonably quiet and comfortable; need to get them run in properly before I can comment on the grip. 

 

A downside I've noticed is that there is zero protection for the wheel, the edge of the alloy sticks out a good couple of mm from the tyre  :|

 

I ordered mine from TyreLeader on the 4th and they were ready for delivery yesterday. Didn't think 3 days was too bad coming from Germany

 

Just picked them up this morning! Fitting tomorrow  :clap:

 

 

 

 

Seems Tyreleader are pretty spot on - ordered mine Monday mid morning after sorting company credit card issues out and they arrived today (Wed pm) - from Germany, can't ask for better!

 

Oponeo, for the wifes weatherproofs were ordered Saturday night but not dispatched till today (guess it probably just depends on stock though), so expecting them Friday probably.

 

 

A downside I've noticed is that there is zero protection for the wheel, the edge of the alloy sticks out a good couple of mm from the tyre  :|

 

 

 

Thats interesting as i was just looking at them and thought they might be ok, but can see the concern in your photos - have you upped the bar/psi, just wondering if this makes much difference to the side wall?