Winter tyres. Discuss.

[Corranga]

Apart from the fact their prices are the same as MyTyres et al, or they were for all the tyres I was shopping around for.

No doubt, I just laughed at their slogan, surely:
"Tyres you'll love at prices you'll love" is better

Good to see that SE Massive are a learning organisation, anyone left not on winter rubber ?!

As you may have gathered, bought form mytyres but don't have

Kinda looking forward to tearing up the snow (literally) in the Cupra this year.
Don't think it's quite cold enough yet anyways. I've had maybe 3 or 4 mornings sub 7 degrees, and evening commute is still a reasonable 10+
Hopefully i'll have the tyres before the snow and ice starts..

Chris

[campbell]

It won't snow with any effect at or near sea level until at least late November (and I only say that because of last year...normally it can be late December or even Jan before this happens, certainly in S Scotland).

However if you are travelling upland at all, it's quite feasible to encounter a covering, especially at night, any time from about now.

And as we all know, Winter Tyres are for more than just snow.

So enjoy, everyone We are just relying on the MINI, or alternatively my snowshovel abilities to ensure the Skoda can actually get out the drive this time!

It will be interesting to read everyone's reviews in April next year. Seriously - note down your observations, onlist or otherwise, and let's compare experiences when the cold season has passed.

[Sanjøy]

Could we get a cheap deal with KH for their snow days then ?

[thinfourth]

It will be interesting to read everyone's reviews in April next year. Seriously - note down your observations, onlist or otherwise, and let's compare experiences when the cold season has passed.

We live here

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=56.887 ... orm=LMLTCC

So have the farmer ploughing the road with a huge tractor and snow plough but not one piece of grit for the entire winter.

Winter 2009/10

We had Helens Honda accord which was unable to reverse out of its parking space. it just sat there spinning its wheels. And i've done more offroad stuff then most so not due to crap driver.

Also had a sheddy old golf estate which was running snow tyres and it was great in the snow but not immune to sheet ice as i crashed it through a barbed wire fence one night. Dragged it out with the landrover and enjoyed its new look until the damn thing had enough of being my car and commited sucide by setting fire to itself.

Winter 2010/11

Fitted smaller wheels to the Honda accord with kumho winter tyres. it was able to anywhere you would want to. The only time it got stuck due to snow was when i drove it into a snow drift on the lawn while looking for the driveway.

Away from snow it got slightly better fuel economy and rode better, handling and feedback remained the same .........terrrible.

The Golf had been replaced by a sheddy focus and it had the golfs tyres fitted and it was a damn near unstopable in the snow. it made bugger all difference to the way the car drove on dry tarmac but it is hard to judge as the previous owner had upgraded the car with some alloys with crap half bald tyres in the wrong profle.

Two of the nieghbours had almost identical Audi Q7s one on mortal tyres the other on winter tyres. One got stuck a few mornings the other didn't


This year the honda has been binned due to being a overly complicated pile of pooh and the focus has been sold as i aquired a mirca for Helen to use while the Honda was getting fixed. Now the Honda has gone the Mirca is mine.

Helen has a forester with winter tyres all round so she will be fine

Sadly tyre prices have got silly for winter tyres so i might not be able to upgrade the micra however i did get better tyres for the landrover as mud terrains are useless in snow

[campbell]

Helen has a forester with winter tyres all round so she will be fine

My dream winter combo. The Forester and tyres obviously, before I get punched

[rossybee]

Good to see that SE Massive are a learning organisation, anyone left not on winter rubber ?!

As you may have gathered, bought form mytyres but don't have

Kinda looking forward to tearing up the snow (literally) in the Cupra this year.

Same boat as Chris. But I've been told that I should expect delivery on the 4th which is next Friday

Also mildly excited at having something which will be able to get about in the snow - as it was utterly hopeless last year, so much for being Swedish

Chris - what size are you getting for the Cupra? I've ordered 225/40 VR18 XL - the XL means stiffer sidewalls apparently

[Corranga]

Chris - what size are you getting for the Cupra? I've ordered 225/40 VR18 XL - the XL means stiffer sidewalls apparently

Hmm, didn't know that about the XL, I opted for the higher speed rating instead of the XL - which in hindsight is a bit of a comedy moment as I've ordered H - up to 130mph rated winter tyres

The Seat is a poverty spec mk1 Leon Cupra. That means it looks like every other Leon (including the 1.4!), no nice bumpers or side skirts etc, just multispoke alloys and a little badge on the boot to identify the 180hp
Anyway, the standard wheel size is a more wallet friendly 16inch. I was all for putting 15s or smaller on for winter, but the brake callipers are too big, so 16 is the minimum size.

Standard is 205/55/16, but I opted for pikey spec 195/55/16 as the difference in diameter is negligible, and they were 15 quid a tyre cheaper
I reckon thinner = better in the snow anyway..

They'll be on Golf GTi alloys, so when I get the tyres, if you see a red Leon with VW centre caps, wave

Chris

[campbell]

One step down in width is often recommended for winter tyres, Chris, so that's one good call you did make

[rossybee]

Totally agree ref the downsize - unfortunately I had no option to go up one

Only because 18s ain't available in 205 width

Oh, and my mishtook - mine are HR rated to, not VR... but figured I'd not be going over 130 in adverse conditions

[PhilA]

i got H rated too. thought, might as well get the more sturdy tyre.
i kept with 205/55/16 for insurance reasons

[campbell]

Totally agree ref the downsize - unfortunately I had no option to go up one

Only because 18s ain't available in 205 width

Think that's why a lot of manufs recommend dropping a wheel dia size too.

[vet111s]

Ordered my wife's tyres today. (320d touring awful in winter spec).
Went for the wheel and tyre pack from mytyres for ease of fitting. Went down from 17" to 16" wheels as that's what BMW recommends but same width. Still got autosocks as a get out of jail free card.
Think my s111 landy should cope on it's m&s marked tyres as long as it passes it's mot and the starter doesn't break this year! (walks off to find some wood to touch)
Prices on my tyres has varied from £125/corner to £113 and back to £120 in a week!
Not in any great rush for them, just hopefully sometime in the next couple weeks!

Ali

[rossybee]

Totally agree ref the downsize - unfortunately I had no option to go up one

Only because 18s ain't available in 205 width

Think that's why a lot of manufs recommend dropping a wheel dia size too.

Mrs B doesn't need the hassle of chnging between the two with me being away a lot

[KevD]

Putting winter tyres back on missus mini mid week or next weekend. I'll get a new car at end of November but don't know what type ( fingers crossed ibiza FR) so will be at perfect time to struggle to get tyres to fit it - just as the snow hits probably

[Fluoxetine]

Good to see that SE Massive are a learning organisation, anyone left not on winter rubber ?!

Fitted my S2000 with a full set of 'R' tyres a few weeks ago. Aren't I silly?