I'm looking at switching to some all season tyres on the Sportline but it seems (from what I can find) I'm restricted to a choice of two, Vredestein Quatrac 5 or Maxxis AP2.  I still have a set of R16 Winter alloys/tyres in the garage from my previous car but unfortunately they won't fit the Superb and I've found storage to be a bit of an issue so I'll be selling them soon and perhaps 'compromise' with some all season tyres.   The recent bad weather made me realise that I miss the added security of a tyre that works when the mercury drops.  

 

All season favourites, such as the Michelin CrossClimates and GY Vector 2 only cater for a max of R18 but unfortunately I can't currently afford to buy another set of wheels at the moment and as I've already said, I find storing a pile of wheels a bit of an inconvenience. 

 

Is anyone aware of any others or is anyone using the Vredestein or Maxxis and can give some real world feedback?  From what I can see the Vredesteins are the better of the two but perhaps now lagging behind the aforementioned CrossClimates. 

 

Thanks in advance

Sharkrider is a big fan of Maxxis tyres I believe, drop him a line.

@AwaoffSki - I found a post you made on the Maxxis. Care to chip in, please? 

The AP2 Maxxis were really good in the wet, cold, on snow, on salted roads, even fun in the spring.

Sidewalls are soft though and i got a bad bulge on a sidewall and then noticed cracking as well. 

a replacement Pair of tyres were sent to me without any issue and i had them fitted to the rims for free but i never fitted them until the car was traded in and i fitted these wheels tyres.

I would not hesitate fitting and using Maxxis AP2 for a winter season but not to use all year.

Edited 5 December, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

3 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

The AP2 Maxxis were really good in the wet, cold, on snow, on salted roads, even fun in the spring.

Sidewalls are soft though and i got a bad bulge on a sidewall and then noticed cracking as well. 

a replacement Pair of tyres were sent to me without any issue and i had them fitted to the rims for free but i never fitted them until the car was traded in and i fitted these wheels tyres.

I would not hesitate fitting and using Maxxis AP2 for a winter season but not to use all year.

Perfect thanks.  Price difference between the Maxxis and Vredestein isn't that much so I'll probably go with the Vredesteins.   

I always used Vredesteins for years & years and all year after Stirling Remoulds with snow treads stopped being easily bought back in the 80's.. 

Before that i had used Town & County and many other tyres that really were Mud & Snow even if not 'Cold Weather tyres'.

 

I assume you have driven on a few Dunlop SP 44 in your time.

I had much fun on them on various cars.

Edited 5 December, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

One consideration I had when looking for winter tyres was the availability if I damaged a tyre.  In relation to Vredenstein I found the situation unacceptable in northern Lancashire and south Cumbria - it looks to be an area that isn't targeted for sales.  I even called Vredenstein  and asked where I could buy them.  Their suggested dealer made no mention of the brand on their web site and when called "we could get then in a couple of days but you'd have to pay courier fees".  I'm not anti Vredenstein - fitted them on my Audi 80 years ago and no issues.

I finally opted for 17" alloys and Michelin CrossClimate and I believe their tread pattern causes the sides and rear of the car to get a lot more dirty than last winter.   The tread is like a tractor tyre but with more ribs, unlike other tyres that all seem to have some grooves running round the tyre.  I'm guessing that the design causes more water to be pushed out to the sides of the tyre as spray.

 

2 hours ago, AwaoffSki said:

The AP2 Maxxis were really good in the wet, cold, on snow, on salted roads, even fun in the spring.

Sidewalls are soft though and i got a bad bulge on a sidewall and then noticed cracking as well. 

a replacement Pair of tyres were sent to me without any issue and i had them fitted to the rims for free but i never fitted them until the car was traded in and i fitted these wheels tyres.

I would not hesitate fitting and using Maxxis AP2 for a winter season but not to use all year.

Hmmm, that doesn't look good and ironically placed in the vicinity of the 'reinforced' label 

1 hour ago, peter_k said:

One consideration I had when looking for winter tyres was the availability if I damaged a tyre.  In relation to Vredenstein I found the situation unacceptable in northern Lancashire and south Cumbria - it looks to be an area that isn't targeted for sales.  I even called Vredenstein  and asked where I could buy them.  Their suggested dealer made no mention of the brand on their web site and when called "we could get then in a couple of days but you'd have to pay courier fees".  I'm not anti Vredenstein - fitted them on my Audi 80 years ago and no issues.

I finally opted for 17" alloys and Michelin CrossClimate and I believe their tread pattern causes the sides and rear of the car to get a lot more dirty than last winter.   The tread is like a tractor tyre but with more ribs, unlike other tyres that all seem to have some grooves running round the tyre.  I'm guessing that the design causes more water to be pushed out to the sides of the tyre as spray.

 

You raise a valid point regarding future/short notice availability.  I had thought about this myself and will probably keep 1 of the P7 Summer tyres to use as a stop gap whilst I source another, if required. 

 

FYI Camskill stock Vredestein and are based in Whitehaven, Cumbria. 

A mistake i made was not fitting them when i could get the chance myself, 

they were delivered to a 'Car Wash' garage that Fits Tyres, free fitting, so i thought lets see how they do since taking over this former garage.

 

Well 3 total idiots were making a mess of fitting, fired a screw driver across the workshop as the bead slipped, 

brought in a 4th member of staff, and they called the tyres and me all sorts.

They were a bit taken back when i told them what i thought of them in their language.

Then when finished they said no charge, i said no i would not be asking for money but would be warning others to avoid them.

 

PS

My Offroad Tyres were always from Camskill, until i got another supplier that got them to me quicker yet from the same depots.

Edited 5 December, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

On 05/12/2017 at 12:39, penguin17 said:

I still have a set of R16 Winter alloys/tyres in the garage from my previous car but unfortunately they won't fit the Superb

 

What makes you think they will not fit?

 

Only the 220 & 280 TSi need 17”+ wheels to clear the brakes.

12 hours ago, Gizmo said:

 

What makes you think they will not fit?

 

Only the 220 & 280 TSi need 17”+ wheels to clear the brakes.

Where were you two days ago?!?! 

 

I asked the salesperson when I was ordering my Superb and she went and grabbed one of the technicians, I pointed at the Winter wheels on my Leon and told him the size and he said that they wouldn't fit, 17's were needed.  To be doubly 'sure' I then looked on MrWinterWheels (where I bought mine from) and they only listed >17" alloys for the Superb 3T so I just assumed that what the dealer told me was correct.  Now you've posted that I've done some digging and yes, 16's will fit the car....

 

Shame as I've ordered some Quatrac 5's from Slovenia but it's not a big loss as I got 4 for £350, which is roughly what I'd be spending on the two front tyres alone, as they are just under 4mm at the mo and I like to replace at 3mm. 

 

Thanks for the heads up though as I blindly thought they wouldn't fit but evidently 312mm discs are the max threshold for 16's. 

8 hours ago, penguin17 said:

I asked the salesperson when I was ordering my Superb and she went and grabbed one of the technicians, I pointed at the Winter wheels on my Leon and told him the size and he said that they wouldn't fit, 17's were needed.  To be doubly 'sure' I then looked on MrWinterWheels (where I bought mine from) and they only listed >17" alloys for the Superb 3T so I just assumed that what the dealer told me was correct.  Now you've posted that I've done some digging and yes, 16's will fit the car....

 

Had a Leon with 16" winter wheels/tyres before the Superb. The 16" emergency spare (not a space saver) supplied by Skoda is exactly the same wheel I used on the Leon and is fitted with a 205 55 16 tyre so the Leon wheels/tyres I have will physically fit.

 

BUT

 

IF you check the dims of the 16" wheels fitted to the S models the offset is different and they have 215 60 16 tyres fitted. Don't think the small difference in offset would make any difference but the overall diameter of the Leon tyres is about 33mm less and that will lower the car and affect the speedo, the insurers may have an issue as well.

 

So the brand new winters will stay in the shed and will hopefully be fitted to the wifes new motor next winter. Just got to make sure we get a car they will fit.

I can vouch for Vredestein Quatrac 5 being an excellent tyre. Have them fitted to two Fabias and an Octavia. Comfortable, quiet and no performance problems noticed. They have a wear rating of 400, and that has translated into a real life long life. Lasting far longer than previous oe Dunlop, Bridgestone and Goodyear efficient grip performance tyres. Also low rolling resistance. Reasonably priced.

 

Btw, cheapest place is usually Camskill.co.uk. Have them delivered and fit/balance at place of your choice. I use F1 autocentres at £10 per corner.

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m142b0s10015p0/All_Season_-_Four_Season_-_All_Weather_-_Car_MPV_Tyres_-_19_inch_R19_inch_-_235_40_19_235_40R19

Edited 13 December, 20178 yr by xman

Will be fitting nokian wr a4 shortly

3 hours ago, laurencemchenry said:

Will be fitting nokian wr a4 shortly

 

I was only looking at them earlier. I'll be interested to hear how you find them.

6 hours ago, CheshireBumpkin said:

 

I was only looking at them earlier. I'll be interested to hear how you find them.

 

You wont be disappointed, 

i am on my 5th set of Nokians (235/40/19” WR A4)