Winter tyres. Discuss.

[campbell]

Never happened in my day. But it has been at least a couple of years since I bought from them.

[Doc883]

The Goodyear EAGLE VECTOR EV-2 "All Season" Tyres arrived today so I'm hoping they are the perfect tyre for whatever Scotland can throw at us weather wise

[tuscan_thunder]

They look the business; big chunky tread and lots of sipes. If you get stuck with them on, there'll be something far wrong!

[campbell]

I really ought to be sorting some out for the Octavia. But now that we have the MINI, the thinking has turned to using that in emergency situations which the Octy can't cope with.

[tuscan_thunder]

my MINI was good in the snow even on regular tyres; that iron-blocked engine puts a fair bit of weight over the nose!

[campbell]

my MINI was good in the snow even on regular tyres; that iron-blocked engine puts a fair bit of weight over the nose!

Precisely

It has the added bonus of enabling the Elise to stay tucked up all winter, on stands if need be (lots of maint planned...). Well that's the theory, whether the MINI will still be here by then is another matter but we are hopeful. It's been a cracking car so far and the kids LOVE it!

[alicrozier]

Agree the MINI is pretty good in the snow. I struggled a couple of times up the drive (it was 6 inches of wet snow on top of hard packed ice), but other than that only got stuck once last winter. I may have got through but had to stop when the X5 in front got stuck...

With winter tyres should be unstoppable (ish).

[campbell]

My Mum's (three) original Minis were also unstoppable in snow. Laugh a minute driving past all the other stranded vehicles.

[KevD]

Cooper D on winter tyres had no issues last year, and that was with pre-worn tyres Still have about 4mm on them 5000 miles after buying them so will run them another winter. Not bad for £110 all round.

Original mini in snow must have been a laugh. Wouldn't fancy it with X5's sliding towards it.

[alicrozier]

Yeah, squish! Ours is a MINI tho' Cooper so a bit bigger.
Where did you get winter tyres out of interest Kev?

[campbell]

Not bad for £110 all round.

Crikey. From where?!

[KevD]

Bought them off ebay. Currently in storage ( ie someone elses garage ) but think they were dunlop winter sports, 2 years old when we bought them with around 5mm tread left. Might have been continental winter contact. We bought them as two seperate pairs from seperate companies just as the snow was hitting.

You're advised to change them at 4mm, lot of companies selling them with 4mm to 4.5mm on them. Was going ot buy these for sisters mini as well but missed out

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4X-195-65-15- ... _904wt_905

[campbell]

Hmmmm.......how much diff between 5mm and 4mm, realistically?!

[KevD]

I don't know to be honest, I drove maybe 500 miles of that 5000! The question for us this winter will be

A) 300-£400 buying new winter tyres
B) £30 to refit with 4mm of winter tyre
C0 stick with 4 or 4.5mm of standard fit energy tyre?

No brainer really. Any hint of problems though and I'll buy new ones or others with 5mm.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Continental ... 519a5787aa probably still worth a winter season or two, you'll find a matching pair on ebay as well probably.

[campbell]

Ours would be 16 in rims...not sure what width and aspect ratio required on that basis, can't recall the std ones!