Winter tyres. Discuss.

[tuscan_thunder]

Does anyone know of a tyre fitter in the Kemnay / Kintore / Inverurie area that doesn't mind fitting tyres they didn't supply. I Normally use Motorwerk in Aberdeen who are excellent, but I've got quite a few winter tyres to get fitted for various people so the logistics at the moment is going to involve the trailer.

The last time I checked with Tawse they weren't happy to fit them unless they supplied them, which wasn't very helpful given that it was Lotus supplied A048's I had to fit.

Norman at Tyre Devotion is mobile and will fit tyres he hasn't supplied. He's based in Alford but travels about. I've used him a couple of times as have the guys at work and he's been excellent.

http://www.tyredevotion.co.uk/

[smee]

Does anyone know of a tyre fitter in the Kemnay / Kintore / Inverurie area that doesn't mind fitting tyres they didn't supply. I Normally use Motorwerk in Aberdeen who are excellent, but I've got quite a few winter tyres to get fitted for various people so the logistics at the moment is going to involve the trailer.

The last time I checked with Tawse they weren't happy to fit them unless they supplied them, which wasn't very helpful given that it was Lotus supplied A048's I had to fit.

Ha ha ha good old Tawse. They once fitted tyres to a car then when the gaffer found out they hadn't supplied he made them take them off and put the old ones back on! He says it is for saftey and he cannot be sure unless he supplies.

[kerryxeg]

Norman at Tyre Devotion is mobile and will fit tyres he hasn't supplied. He's based in Alford but travels about. I've used him a couple of times as have the guys at work and he's been excellent.

http://www.tyredevotion.co.uk/[/quote]


After a few emails to tyre devotion, I got a response stating that "I am unable to fit the 4 17" new tyres that you have as due to product liability we cannot take the risk for tyres we have not supplied". Sounds like a Tawse approach to marketing.

No big deal, I'll revert to plan A with Motor Werk, they've always been no problem and so should be encouraged. Serves me right for being a bit lazy.

[Mr Momo]

After a few emails to tyre devotion, I got a response stating that "I am unable to fit the 4 17" new tyres that you have as due to product liability we cannot take the risk for tyres we have not supplied". Sounds like a Tawse approach to marketing.

No big deal, I'll revert to plan A with Motor Werk, they've always been no problem and so should be encouraged. Serves me right for being a bit lazy.

Spoke to Dave @ MW - he'll do mine this week - thanks for the tip

[Mike Scib]

Snow forecasted for next month! Better get the tyres fitted to my winter wheels sooner rather than later!

[KevD]

Wheels and winter tyres for older golfs, fabias, octavias and some others.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOTEX-VAG-VW- ... 2314365c2d

I was looking at an octavia 4x4 as shed but don't think I'll be getting it, Maybe it will suit someone else. Im still hopeful for the freelander as a shed.

[PhilA]

do u think its better to have spare Alloys with the winter tyres instead of Steel?

Steel wheels normally rust - and its bad to have rusty bits connected to the hubs id imagine?

[campbell]

If you keep the steels clean there is no reason for them to rust. If they get chipped, paint them up with hammerite

The wealth of alloys around these days probably makes them as cheap as (new) steels perhaps, but ultimately if you are not precious about looks and you find some steels, then you can always get pretty trims from Halfords

By pref we'd probably try to find alloys to preserve the look of the car (saddo, yes) however we are going to muddle by with the MINI this winter instead. Winter tyres look like waiting for yet another season now.

[thinfourth]

do u think its better to have spare Alloys with the winter tyres instead of Steel?

Steel wheels normally rust - and its bad to have rusty bits connected to the hubs id imagine?

I run my slocus on snow tyres with steel wheels and its pretty much unstoppable.

As to rust have had wat more issues with alloys sticking to hubs then with steel wheels.

[kerryxeg]

do u think its better to have spare Alloys with the winter tyres instead of Steel?

Steel wheels normally rust - and its bad to have rusty bits connected to the hubs id imagine?

The steel wheels are more robust than some alloys, which can be useful if you can't see kerbs and potholes for the snow and slush. So that's one reason to go with steel. For people going along to BMW for winter wheels, they are going to compare new steel vs new alloy which would be a good saving in that circumstance

I normally look for a reasonable set of used alloys, but I try to pick something that is well made and a design that's going to survive some abuse. I'd only pick a manufacturers supplied alloy (more chance of them being strainght in the first place and remaining so) - replicas might look the same but the material used and the QAQC is not going to be, hence they are often quite a bit softer and easily damaged. I'd also avoid designs with thin spokes. Finally, it's worth considering the size, if you run 18" normally, then 17" will be good with a winter tyre and be a fair bit cheaper. For the tyre itself, it might be worth considering a narrower tyre - also save a bit of cash, but it all depends what you start with and the mix of driving you expect.

[kerryxeg]

By pref we'd probably try to find alloys to preserve the look of the car (saddo, yes) however we are going to muddle by with the MINI this winter instead. Winter tyres look like waiting for yet another season now.

You could always consider a set of All Season tyres on the Skoda - I got a set of Goodyear Vector 2's for my mum's car last year (Nissan Almera) - tried them out in over a foot of snow, and had excellent grip. I've just bought another set for my Dads Audi, £113/tyre from Mytyres 225x40x17, cheaper than anything else I'd be buying so can't really lose. The trade off is that they are not going to be quite as good as summer tyres in terms of performance or life, but if it's the family barge then I think it's a good compromise on a short termer or limitage mileage car.

I've been fitting winter tyres every year for the past 15 years, ever since I spent a winter in Norway. The main reason I fit them on a quattro is not for traction but to reduce stopping distance and give some control on ice (not quite as good as studs, but in combination with ABS very effective).

[campbell]

Thanks Kerry.

It's been the usual tale of different events conspiring against us really

Our Skoda fronts were condemned earlier in the summer, and I switched to - yes you guessed it - a pair of Toyo T1Rs...which are going great. The OEM (Michelin) rears are now on the front, IYSWIM, but are unlikely to wear down until next spring I reckon - they still had 4mm or so on them.

So having spent cash on heading down that road, I can't justify changing to all-season tyres at the mo. A great tip all the same though.

Then the kitchen project went quite seriously over budget, so my grand plan from late 2010, to throw a few hundred pounds at winter rims and tyres for the Skoda, had approval withdrawn by the Finance Director

And in amongst all that we ended up with the MINI as a relief vehicle for the Elise, one silver lining of which is that it's purported to be pretty good in the snow even on regular tyres, so we are going to have some fun trying!

[PhilA]

am getting a focus sport this week, all going well.
it has "mini st" alloys, like http://www.fordonlineparts.co.uk/produc ... 483642-110
16"

so was looking at same alloys, and maybe get them coated black at some point - the car is white.

however, the strength point is a very good one. the roads were really bad last year, so maybe steel and just maintain them every summer.

u know, ive never actually ever jacked up the car on my own before...

for this to be an unstopable slocus, go for same 205 tyres, or go narrower?

[Stu160]

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D ordered for the Voyager , going to fit them on the old std 16" alloys, they get a good overall writeup, picked them over the Vredestein Wintrac 4 Extreme, so hope I have made the correct choice.

Stu

[thinfourth]

I may have a set of honda 16" alloys off a honda accord 2004 vintage for sale complete with winter tyres. See if your focus has the same bolt pattern etc. If it does and her car is sold we will sell them

for this to be an unstopable slocus, go for same 205 tyres, or go narrower?

my slocus was almost unstoppable due to

A = 185/65R14 maragoni snow tyres

B= it cost 400 pounds and I consider the plastic bits to be entirely optional hence all the grills etc in the lower half of the bumper have long gone. Inertia is your friend.

So if you have a shiny car i suggest my methods might not be suitable