Winter tyres. Discuss.

[rossybee]

I am stumped. Plenty of choice for rear winters for the Europa but can't find any to fit the fronts
The rims are 5.5 x 17 and I currently have 195/45 ( standard is 175/55) but it looks like 195 is maximum you can put on 5.5 rims
Apart from buying new rims, which I don't want to do, what would anyone suggest ?

runflats on a Europa?

[j2 lot]

I am stumped. Plenty of choice for rear winters for the Europa but can't find any to fit the fronts
The rims are 5.5 x 17 and I currently have 195/45 ( standard is 175/55) but it looks like 195 is maximum you can put on 5.5 rims
Apart from buying new rims, which I don't want to do, what would anyone suggest ?

runflats on a Europa?

Out of stock though - just need to find somewhere with stock now

[PhilA]

how about changing to winters now?
found tyres i want, all online places are out of stock of the size i need. its a good price, and includes fitting. they wont store the tyres for me, so means i need to fit them now.
seems quite warm for rest of october yet, but who knows.

will be doing a trip to plymouth in middle nov, hope that no use up all their tread, but then, given the useless gritting scheme they have down there it probably useful

[SAJ]

I am stumped. Plenty of choice for rear winters for the Europa but can't find any to fit the fronts
The rims are 5.5 x 17 and I currently have 195/45 ( standard is 175/55) but it looks like 195 is maximum you can put on 5.5 rims
Apart from buying new rims, which I don't want to do, what would anyone suggest ?

I went the new rims route. No hassle at all anymore.

[SAJ]

how about changing to winters now?
found tyres i want, all online places are out of stock of the size i need. its a good price, and includes fitting. they wont store the tyres for me, so means i need to fit them now.
seems quite warm for rest of october yet, but who knows.

will be doing a trip to plymouth in middle nov, hope that no use up all their tread, but then, given the useless gritting scheme they have down there it probably useful

I switched to my winters 2 weeks ago. If you leave it too long they end up out of stock.

[PhilA]

goodyear ultra grip 8 fitted to the alloys on the car.
different feel to the summers that came with the car.
4 deg and wet last night on the way home - i think i felt more grip - but it is compared to michelen eco tyres (think its primacy hp).
weather - bring it on

[Stu160]

Sleet in pitlochry yesterday!!

Stu

[PhilA]

Sleet in pitlochry yesterday!!

bought crampons and snow shoes.
i tell ya - we gonna get a new ice age!

[tuscan_thunder]

Sleet in pitlochry yesterday!!

Stu

I had a couple of guys who'd come across from Fort William and they said they came through some white stuff - it'll be down to the lower areas soon!

[rossybee]

Ali - that's my plan - even mine being 18s aren't that much more than 16s (not enough more even to justify buying steels) and will replace with summers (which need replacing soon anyways) come springtime

As a heads up folks, eventually got round to ordering some from mytyres last wednesday, in less than a week they'd gone up £7 each, proof that the increase has already started

[ClarkyBoy]

Just so you know, laws ryres in bridge of don are away to take delivery of their 18'' winter tyres this week, i placed my order for the audi last week and ali is doing me the set of 235 40 18 for around 520 quid.

After a long conversation with ali law on whether to go for a premium winter tyre ir a budget one i opted for budget on the understanding that the only real difference is the lifetime of the tyre, no considering i will probably change the audi this year i see little point in getting a set of tyres that after winter will gater dust in my shed for years!

Also, the prices are rising week by week right now as the projected cold snap sets in!

[Doc883]

After a long conversation with ali law on whether to go for a premium winter tyre or a budget one i opted for budget on the understanding that the only real difference is the lifetime of the tyre,

Cant agree with that analogy and does Ali give the same advice for summer tyres ? Budget winter are a big improvement over summer but wont perform as well as premium winter tyres.
As with most things in life you definitely get what you pay for. There is a very good article on winter tyres in the current EVO magazine that's worth a read

[Jam_s160]

while living in Munich for the last 4yrs, myc ompany car bmw 120 d had a new set of winters tyres put on every Oct to March. Each year was a different brand and the cheaper brand they put on one year where noticbly inferior. So much so i complained and along witha few others at work and they all got changed again to the premium brand.

[Corranga]

Ali - that's my plan - even mine being 18s aren't that much more than 16s (not enough more even to justify buying steels) and will replace with summers (which need replacing soon anyways) come springtime

As a heads up folks, eventually got round to ordering some from mytyres last wednesday, in less than a week they'd gone up £7 each, proof that the increase has already started

Doh! Just picked up a set of mk4 golf gti alloys for the Seat... Tyre shopping tomorrow methinks.

[ClarkyBoy]

After a long conversation with ali law on whether to go for a premium winter tyre or a budget one i opted for budget on the understanding that the only real difference is the lifetime of the tyre,

Cant agree with that analogy and does Ali give the same advice for summer tyres ? Budget winter are a big improvement over summer but wont perform as well as premium winter tyres.
As with most things in life you definitely get what you pay for. There is a very good article on winter tyres in the current EVO magazine that's worth a read

In fairness, i have never actually had winter tyres before, the last 3 years i have just run the audi on whatever tyres its had on it, generally a good summer tyre, michelin, bridgestone etc, and the car has never struglled once in the snow, and i do alot of miles regardless of the weather, away up skiing etc.

I put new wheels on the car in the summer and they came with proper cheapo tyres, so i figured i should change them before they find a ditch whn it sarts snowing! So basically thought i would give winter ones a go.

As for what i was told, ali said that he was going on the feedback he got on these tyres from last year, and if they dont do the job, he knows i will be back for replacments. I have bought all of the audi tyres from laws and never had anything but good from them.