Hi Offski, I have viewed that video along with test results from various web sites, also the fitter in question is a friend and ex work colleague, and gives far better prices than the 2 well known local outlets. So I don't think he would rip me off by selling me a high profit margin product. Are you a wee bit cynical from past experience.

Not sure I want to go down the full blown winter route, as we have not had the winters in the last couple of years to warrant it. Thanks for your input along with everyone else. It is good to get advice but I also like a bit of debate thrown in.

A bit late, but to echo what @logiclee said. I found that the GYV4S2's where a bit vague on turning into corners, but otherwise handled fine with my mk1 octy. I wouldn't suffer from grip degredation as it got colder.

 

I fitted Michelin CC's to the wife's fabia mk1 and they handled really well when the beast from the east came by. (-3 degrees at one point on snow - it was fine!).

 

I am tempted to look at conti's all weather offering soon.

Took the plunge and had the Goodyears fitted yesterday. Bet we have the mildest winter on record now.☺

On 06/12/2018 at 14:00, Highlander19 said:

Took the plunge and had the Goodyears fitted yesterday. Bet we have the mildest winter on record now.☺

 

Yep, that's what I finally did.

 

Initially the car felt a little 'floaty', but that's settled down now. I travelled 220 from Durham to Milton Keynes the other day, in heavy rain, and i must say the Bridgestone's handles the standing water absolutely brilliantly, and on cold mornings I've noted a big improvement in frontend grip.

I have only done about 100 miles since all season fitted, but in heavy rain witha lot of standing water, Goodyears coped well, and high hopes they will be the same when we get back to frost and colder weather, hopefully some snow to have a proper test.

2 hours ago, TheBinarySheep said:

In heavy rain, and i must say the Bridgestone's handles the standing water absolutely brilliantly, and on cold mornings I've noted a big improvement in frontend grip.

 

I found the same with my Bridgestone's on a trip to Edinburgh with the most rain back on the A7. Especial when I hit some standing water when overtaking a artic and two other vehicles. 10/10 for wet handling.

I have a local tyre shop that "bed & breakfasts" a full set of Vredestein winter tyres for me. I change them over every November and back in April. Costs me £60 a time but I do get the best of both worlds and the winter tyres are superb. Taken them over the Black Forest and the Austrian alps and they grip better than snow chains. Saying that I can already feel the difference in this weather as they are great at gripping in the dirty leafy muck we get around here. Mostly I read about all-season tyres is that they struggle at both ends of the spectrum, real ice and snow and on hot sunny days.

I’ve had Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons on the Scout and my old SLK230 and found them to be excellent in all conditions and would definitely fit them again.

Hope this is of help

Mark

Not noticed any difference between our all season Bridgestone A005 and the previous summer T001 on the Roomster during warm weather.  

 

But the difference in the Autumn / winter with wet or muddy or leaf mulch on roads is such a big improvement that I now seriously don’t understand why anyone would choose summer tyres in the UK.   Not for everyday driving, (different of course for specialist sports cars)

I am using Michelin CC+ since September 2017 and I covered nearly 36.000Km. In Greece where I live we have really hot summers reaching many times 39 or and 40 degrees while the mean value is between 32 and 35.

 

During the winter of 2017 I had no chance in snow but I had to face rains an low temps and they were brilliant. During last winter we had also really cold with a lot of days around 0 degrees (-5 to +) with rain and they were also brilliant. But last winter we had some snow. I found them to be far better than summer tyres but not as good as pure winter ones. Though i had no issues in my commutes and I tried to go to the first kilometres of a mountain road. They were Ok. Slight wheelspin at take off moments. I just got scared once in the town where I had to brake and there was ice under the snow, as my braking distance were longer than I expected.

 

Today I measured their thread depth and they are at 5.6 to 5.8 mm. As they are a more summer oriented tyres they do perform really well during summer coming slightly below a pure summer tyre. Also after 32.000Kms sometimes they tend to wheelspin during pulling away but no other than this.

 

I would like to try Vredestein Quatrac 5 but I do not know someone here in Greece that uses them so I have no idea of how they are coping high temperatures. Also I have found noone that uses Bridgestone A005.

Edited 5 June, 20197 yr by stratosg

On 05/06/2019 at 13:07, stratosg said:

I would like to try Vredestein Quatrac 5 but I do not know someone here in Greece that uses them so I have no idea of how they are coping high temperatures. Also I have found noone that uses Bridgestone A005.

The temperatures in Greece and the North East of England aren't really comparable; well not for extended periods anyway. 

 

I've used Quatrac 5's for the last 2 years and I'm happy with them across a range of temperatures and surfaces.  I didn't experience any issues when we seen high 20's for a few weeks last Summer.  They are also more than capable of sub-zero temps and deep snow.  I literally had a choice of two all-season tyres for my car and picked the Vredestein as they seemed hands down the better of the two, I would have ideally liked CC+ but it wasn't an option.  They don't brake traction or seem to struggle with my 280 on stints of 'spirited' driving either.   They have asymmetric tread so are more of a Summer/dry biased all-season tyre. 

 

Wear rate is very good.  Approx 22K miles covered and fronts are at 4mm and rears 6mm.  I've just switched to PS4's but kept the Vredesteins for now, just in case we do get a bad Winter (the last one was relatively mild). 

 

 

Edited 7 June, 20196 yr by penguin17

Yesterday was my first long motorway trip on the Vredestein Quatrac 5, since having them fitted last November iirc. Quiet for me and mpg was 54.5mpg indicated overall. This is as good if not better than the previous oe Michelin Energy. Cruised at 70-75 according to satnav on motorway. M1, A1M ,A66, M6, M74, M73, M80,A9, A90 to Dundee.

Returned back down south through flash floods on the motorway. Even when hitting standing water unexpectedly, the car stayed straight and did not pull to one side or the other at 60/70mph. Very impressed.

54 mpg indicated again. So, yes , I'd recommend the Vredestein Quatrac 5 for cruising long distances and getting good mpg. 

No overheating apparent in this warm weather and coping with the variable conditions otherwise .

On 19/06/2019 at 08:59, gregoir said:

Yesterday was my first long motorway trip on the Vredestein Quatrac 5, since having them fitted last November iirc. Quiet for me and mpg was 54.5mpg indicated overall. This is as good if not better than the previous oe Michelin Energy. Cruised at 70-75 according to satnav on motorway. M1, A1M ,A66, M6, M74, M73, M80,A9, A90 to Dundee.

what was your longer term experience? I live near the coast in S Wales, and normally do high mileages, so a summer biased all seaon with good mpg is the ideal tyre, so far I'm undecided between the Vredestein and the Bridgestone Weather Control A005

Still got the same Vredesteins and am very happy with them in all weathers.

On 30/07/2021 at 10:29, stever750 said:

what was your longer term experience? I live near the coast in S Wales, and normally do high mileages, so a summer biased all seaon with good mpg is the ideal tyre, so far I'm undecided between the Vredestein and the Bridgestone Weather Control A005

Both have been superseded by newer versions

 

Vredestein now makes the Quatrac Pro (lower profile tyres for higher performance cars, and Quatrac (no number, but effectively a Quatrac 6)

 

Bridgestone A005 has a newer version, A005 evo

 

6 hours ago, SurreyJohn said:

Both have been superseded by newer versions

 

Vredestein now makes the Quatrac Pro (lower profile tyres for higher performance cars, and Quatrac (no number, but effectively a Quatrac 6)

 

Bridgestone A005 has a newer version, A005 evo

 

I bought and fitted the A005 evo last week. Seem OK so far, feel a bit floaty compared to the potenzas but nothing tragic.