Had a set of Goodyear Vector 4 Gen 2's fitted to one of our Octavia's recently.

 

225/45x17's at my local tyre fitters for £400.

 

Our other Octavia has had Michelin Cross Climates fitted for the last two years.

 

So I thought I'd share my experience although I should say this is not a direct comparison as one Octy is a Mk2 and the other a Mk3 and 205 v's 225.

 

Over the last 15 years or so I've swapped summer/winter tyres but the Cross Climates have really impressed me except for one area and that's compacted frozen snow and ice. They are great in snow and in cold temperatures but I think the lack of sipes leaves them trailing a winter tyre for grip on ice. For this reason I wanted to try the Goodyear's which are more winter biased.

 

So first impressions on the Goodyear Vector 4 G2's. They are quieter and more supple than the factory fit Y rated Nexen SU1 summer tyres. The steering feel is good but the initial turn in bite isn't as good as the Summer when pushing them but for 99% of driving you wouldn't notice. 

 

Comparing the Michelin's and Goodyears in the dry at this ambient temperature (Around 10 degrees) there seems little difference.

In the wet with standing water it's again very close possibly a little less pulling from the steering with the Goodyear's. So both really good wet and dry and certainly better than a budget summer.

 

So as I do a fair bit of driving in the peak district I'll update when we get some bad weather. But the initial impressions on the Goodyear are very positive.

 

Lee

From what I can gather from reviews which I've read, the ambient and the ground temperature does have to be around 5'c or lower for you to start noticing the difference in grip.

 

One's plan when I'm back on ones' feet is to get michelin cross climate tyres for my current 18's (to use them as winter wheels) and put michelin PS4's on a set of new 19's for summer / warmer weather use.

 

All the summer tyres I've ever had I've always found to be horrendous in the winter, regardless of the make, size, wear or age. When we had a little dusting of snow at the end of 2016, my Bridgestones were only 6 months old, but it was like driving on sheet ice covered in oil with slick tyres. Easy to wheel spin, easy to lock up the brakes and easy to induce lift off oversteer.