Winter tyres. Discuss.

[alicrozier]

Here's a valid question....most winters are a necessity on the typically modern low profile tyres...yes?

Brand new city car, so full tread, good tyre make, narrow-ish 165/70R14, 60bhp thru front wheels. How would they cope in a little snow?

I think it would be more than adequate Ross.

That said a winter wheel and tyre set that size would be buttons (and not take up much space!).
My elderly neighbor had a Pug 107 on winters, totally unstoppable and hoot by all accounts. He used to regularly J-turn it in the cul-de-sac...

[graeme]

Interesting-ish, but kinda long, story about Mytyres. My dad's caught them playing silly buggers with pricing, and they have refused to honor his order when the prices went up.

Basically, dad orders 4 tyres at £280 each.
2 arrive. Email arrives offering alternatives for the other 2. No offer of refund for the first two.
Dad calls, advises he won't run different tyres, and wants two more the same.
They say they don't have any, can't get any and won't supply them.
Dad says "they're on your website at £330 each, so you do have stock. Send me two more."
They deny having any stock, or being able to source any more ever again. Offer alternatives or refund.
Dad hangs up, orders two at the new price of £330 and they arrive next day.

Basically, mytyres lied a lot so they didn't have to fullfil the order at the price agreed.

Part two, while discussing this with friends on the phone, dad spotted that the same tyre was showing as different prices for him and friend. A bit more digging suggests (e.g. not yet conclusive) that they might be playing the airline seat trick, where if you keep visiting the page, the price keeps going up. Cookies, serverside, don't know, and I haven't personally verified, but it doesn't appear to be user error. Allegedly verified by non-techy dad on different logins on different laptops side by side.

So, all round they seem to be mucking around with prices a bit, and orders should be treated with caution. Having said that, they were the best price by miles and dad does have 4 tyres, albeit with a battle for the difference back on the second two.

[rossybee]

Here's a valid question....most winters are a necessity on the typically modern low profile tyres...yes?

Brand new city car, so full tread, good tyre make, narrow-ish 165/70R14, 60bhp thru front wheels. How would they cope in a little snow?

I think it would be more than adequate Ross.

That said a winter wheel and tyre set that size would be buttons (and not take up much space!).
My elderly neighbor had a Pug 107 on winters, totally unstoppable and hoot by all accounts. He used to regularly J-turn it in the cul-de-sac...

Thanks Martin & Ali

It's the good lady wife's Skoda Citigo. I just don't want the grief when away offshore that she can't get up the mild incline from our garage which would easily snooker the Volvo on its 40 profile 18s prior to us getting winters for it.....might have a wee t'internet search to see how much winters would be including steelies

[alicrozier]

It's the good lady wife's Skoda Citigo.

Had to google Skoda Citigo, assume that's a Skodafied VW Up.

btw, whilst off topic on Citi cars, have you seen that the new Twingo is RWD? I guess it would struggle to drift though...
Sensibly I should look at one of these for my daily commuter usage...instead of R8's.

[rossybee]

It's the good lady wife's Skoda Citigo.

Had to google Skoda Citigo, assume that's a Skodafied VW Up.

btw, whilst off topic on Citi cars, have you seen that the new Twingo is RWD? I guess it would struggle to drift though...
Sensibly I should look at one of these for my daily commuter usage...instead of R8's.

It's an Up. With Skoda nose. Same dash etc and a great wee runabout, amazingly spacious for four adults, solidly built, grp 1 ins for elder child who is 17 next year, 0% finance. No brainer for our needs.

Now, the twingo shares under bitties with the new smart forfour and is meant to be pants. Hey ho

[Jam_s160]

I just bought my winter tyres for the elise 2 weeks ago via

Www.tyreleader.co.uk

You have to wait a little longer but the prices beat mytyre and black circles by quite some margin!

As recommended from a recent Seloc thread.

I'll be ordering another set for my Touareg next week. All good from my perspective.

[j2 lot]

Yoko W drives fitted to the evora on friday.

That's what I have on a spare set of rims waiting to go on the Evora.
I had W-drives on the Europa over the last couple of winters and rate them really highly. They felt a bit softer but you soon get used to the change in feel and they were superb in snow and really sure footed in cold conditions

[Lazydonkey]

Good to know

Did you just buy another set of standard wheels keith ?

[j2 lot]

Standard wheels in black with tyres from a classified on SELOC. They are w-drives fitted in Lotus recommended sizes so quite happy with that and they are virtually new. They were a bit of a steal as I was just beaten to an e-bay sale for an almost identical set a few weeks before and had bid £300 more than I eventually paid.

[steve_weegie]

I just bought my winter tyres for the elise 2 weeks ago via

http://Www.tyreleader.co.uk

Yep, these guys or Oponeo will be delivering my next set of tyres. Oponeo have many available for 48 hour delivery also.

[Doc883]

Just had a set of Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 fitted to the 330d X Drive Touring. Also bought them from tyreleader but not entirely trouble free. Original order was for Pirelli Winter 270 Sottozero which they were showing In Stock but they simply cancelled my order and refunded me without any explanation. When I inquired they said they had the tyres but they were DOT 2012. Worth watching out for.
Anyway all ended well so looking forward to some snow to see how the Alpin's and X Drive work together

[SAJ]

Just had a set of Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 fitted to the 330d X Drive Touring. Also bought them from tyreleader but not entirely trouble free. Original order was for Pirelli Winter 270 Sottozero which they were showing In Stock but they simply cancelled my order and refunded me without any explanation. When I inquired they said they had the tyres but they were DOT 2012. Worth watching out for.
Anyway all ended well so looking forward to some snow to see how the Alpin's and X Drive work together

The PA4 is a great tyre, I'm using them on the Evora (same set as last winter - 275/30/20 and 235/35/19) and on the few occasions in the morning when the temp has been 3 or 4 degrees they magically become grippy which you can feel via the steering wheel.

Also just seen this recently: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/20 ... e-Test.htm placed 2nd only to the newer Pirelli and beating the newer Contis.

[Doc883]

Just had a set of Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 fitted to the 330d X Drive Touring. Also bought them from tyreleader but not entirely trouble free. Original order was for Pirelli Winter 270 Sottozero which they were showing In Stock but they simply cancelled my order and refunded me without any explanation. When I inquired they said they had the tyres but they were DOT 2012. Worth watching out for.
Anyway all ended well so looking forward to some snow to see how the Alpin's and X Drive work together

The PA4 is a great tyre, I'm using them on the Evora (same set as last winter - 275/30/20 and 235/35/19) and on the few occasions in the morning when the temp has been 3 or 4 degrees they magically become grippy which you can feel via the steering wheel. Also just seen this recently: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/20 ... e-Test.htm placed 2nd only to the newer Pirelli and beating the newer Contis.

Great news, read some of the reviews and they were highly rated. Had Yokohama W Drives on the wifes S-Max and they were excellent too.

[j2 lot]

D'oh went to change the wheels today and realised that the Jack I have isn't long enough to reach the Evora jacking point. It is low enough and worked fine with Elise variants but the Evora jacking points are well in from the outer cill so the base of the Jack isn't long enough to clear the sill- So any recommendations for a replacement?

[Sanjøy]

Costco alu trolley jack?