I expect to be swapping the winter tyres off my Yeti soon - well, round about the end of this month.  When I put them on in the autumn I already knew that the OEM Dunlops were due for replacement, and I'm tempted to get a set of Michelin Cross Climates to replace those.  In theory that would mean not having to swap wheels & tyres twice year.  However, my winter tyres are 205/55R16s, specifically chosen so that I can fit chains if necessary - not a completely unknown requirement in Scotland particularly if, like me, you have a habit of heading up in to high & remote areas of the Highlands during the winter.

 

So I'm now wondering whether to get the Michelins in that size, and so run 16" wheels all year round.  But that then raises another question: should I get a set of 16" alloys, or get the Michelins fitted to my winter steelies and run with plastic wheel trims all year?  SWMBO doesn't like the steelies without trims, so at the moment they are sporting a set of cheap ones from Halfrauds.

 

Any views from the floor?

Hi 'ej'   I replaced my boots late last year for the CrossClimates.

Slightly quieter than previous standard fitted tyres.

Hold the road very well even in the wet. Even on bends at 60+ plus entrance/exits to & from motorways.

Covered 5000 miles on them so far, nice drive.

We all have our own brand choice based on previous experience,

and depends on how deep your pockets are to reach the £££s.

Yes, I would purchase them again.

If I was going to run 16" wheels all year round, I'd switch to alloys.

I use 16" Steels with Rif trims during winter, and think they look sh**e

If you were to go down the 16" route, you might look at the Kleber Quadraxer All-Seasons - not available in 17" AFAIK.  Mine have been on for two winters now and, although no snow, they've dealt with the local rural winter conditions (mud, stones, water and potholes!) without a twitch.  Warm-weather running is quite comfortable, and I have no worries about standing water on motorways.  Wear seems very fair, with 7mm of tread all round still, after about 9K miles. 

 

215/60/R16 - £99 a corner, fitted, from MyTyres.  Others may have them, of course

No secret I've been impressed with the Cross Climates. Good road holding, quiet and I'm consistently getting better mpg than with the original "summer" tyres it cam on. Too early to comment on wear rate but I'll happily replace them a few miles earlier if it means better grip on the road. And for me, if I'm going to be looking at those wheels all year round it's a no brainer - a set of alloys. (For what it's worth the Moon alloys aren't the best looking wheel in the world but they are really easy to clean!)

For me there are 3 extra advantages of running both summer and winter tyres/rims. Swapping the summer wheels front to back during change over to spread wear, using steel wheels in winter keeps the alloy summer wheels free from a lot of potential damage and I like

 

to have a good look at the brakes and surrounding underside area during the swap. Nosey that's me! 

For me there are 3 extra advantages of running both summer and winter tyres/rims. Swapping the summer wheels front to back during change over to spread wear, using steel wheels in winter keeps the alloy summer wheels free from a lot of potential damage and I like

 

to have a good look at the brakes and surrounding underside area during the swap. Nosey that's me!

A lot report their rear discs suffer badly from corrosion and don't seem to last......how do yours stand up?

A lot report their rear discs suffer badly from corrosion and don't seem to last......how do yours stand up?

Previous 1.8tsi about 45k mls before rear disc/pad replacement [quite a bit of uneven wear as well as corrosion] New 1.4tsi to early to tell, only at 6k mls up to now. Will fully inspect when I change to summer wheels in about 1 month from now.

To the OP, as useful as the comments are, I'd be looking for a 'like for like 'comparison.

Look at where each contributor is from, is their local weather on a parity with yours, have they experienced them on a prolonged period of snow or ice, heavy rain etcetera?

I run summer and cold weather tyres on my Scout, and would be interested in running cross climate tyres in the summer, as even though I live in the Central Belt, I still experience icy conditions when commuting to work (0400) in the summer months. The temperature hovers at approximately 4°C most mornings. It even Snowed heavily on several days last summer.

I've not seen enough feedback on here of this type of tyre being used in heavy snow to convince me they are good enough for my needs.

I have Dunlop winter tyres on 16" wheels  (size 215/60/15 because I gather this is an approved size and has a very similar rolling circumference to the OEM 17" tyre size)

 

Regarding the fitment of Cross Climates on 16" steel wheels...there are lots of places selling them now (either supply only or supply and fit) but lots of different specs for the same size.

 

Someone please remind me what speed index  and load rating is required to maintain manufacturers/insurers approval please.

Someone please remind me what speed index  and load rating is required to maintain manufacturers/insurers approval please.

....(size 215/60/15 because I gather this is an approved size and has a very similar rolling circumference to the OEM 17" tyre size)....

 

The OEM size for the UK16"SpecialBuildClub is 215/60/R16.  The same speedo etc AFAIK. 

Edited 3 March, 201610 yr by Brijo

The OEM size for the UK16"SpecialBuildClub is 215/60/R16.  The same speedo etc AFAIK. 

 

 

I admit to mis-typing 15" instead of 16" Sorry about that.  They're the ones I have on genuine Skoda steel wheels and am happy with. It has to be said ever since I bought them we haven't seen a flake of snow and not a lot of ice...but on balance that's a good thing I suppose.

 

Thanks for the table too...helpful.

I have Dunlop winter tyres on 16" wheels  (size 215/60/15 because I gather this is an approved size and has a very similar rolling circumference to the OEM 17" tyre size)

 

Regarding the fitment of Cross Climates on 16" steel wheels...there are lots of places selling them now (either supply only or supply and fit) but lots of different specs for the same size.

 

Someone please remind me what speed index  and load rating is required to maintain manufacturers/insurers approval please.

 

As noted above...should have said 16" not 15"....

Edited 3 March, 201610 yr by oldstan

No problem, Oldstan.  What's an inch, between friends?   

"What's an inch, between friends? "

 

Well, in this cold spell an inch counts for quite a lot.