you should have done that first. once tyres start to wear unevenly they stay like it even after tracking is done.
Whos gone winter tyres this year?
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Whos gone winter tyres this year?
you should have done that first. once tyres start to wear unevenly they stay like it even after tracking is done.
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I did when the tyres were fitted.
Garage says its perfect at 0 degrees both sides and needs no adjustment. the rears are also correct. They are good outfit, but nobody told the Panda so it's still pulling left.
The track-rod lock-nuts are seized solid so I'd intended to fit new only to find it needs a special tool that nobody stocks. Cue eBay and wait a week for the thing to arrive.
The back axle might be out of line (many are) but the alignment data says it's ok.
Update, just fitted my winter wheels & tyres to my daily hack. Weather's been offering to change, so bit the bullet while sunny but frosty on the ground.
Armed with pain killers I started off. My garage is just a few hundred yards from my house. Managed to Finnish the wheel change in just under an hour, not too bad for me, taking into account my dodgy knees & my hip (waiting for op') Tyres needed air, so managed to use my foot pump for the front, but struggling big time with the rears. Taken the car home & looking for my electric pump somewhere in my shed... Ah the joys......
Armed with pain killers I started off. My garage is just a few hundred yards from my house. Managed to Finnish the wheel change in just under an hour, not too bad for me, taking into account my dodgy knees & my hip (waiting for op') Tyres needed air, so managed to use my foot pump for the front, but struggling big time with the rears. Taken the car home & looking for my electric pump somewhere in my shed...
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DIY tyre fitting has to be properly hard core. :worship:
A good styrup pump is far easier and quicker than a foot pump. This one has two stages, so could also be used on high pressure bicycle tyres.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Moto-GP-Track-Day-Tyre-Pump-2-Stage/122593433507?epid=9016999202&hash=item1c8b2357a3:g:k10AAOSwGYhcACY~
A good styrup pump is far easier and quicker than a foot pump. This one has two stages, so could also be used on high pressure bicycle tyres.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Moto-GP-Track-Day-Tyre-Pump-2-Stage/122593433507?epid=9016999202&hash=item1c8b2357a3:g:k10AAOSwGYhcACY~
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I did when the tyres were fitted.
Garage says its perfect at 0 degrees both sides and needs no adjustment. the rears are also correct. They are good outfit, but nobody told the Panda so it's still pulling left.
Maybe your panda and my 500 know something that mechanics don't? Mine does it too!
Also still on my same tyres. Never change 'em. Need two new though. Still running ridiculous deep dish chrome wheels in winter - salt is not loving them.
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With the popularity of cycling.. you can get a
'Track pump'
Pretty cheaply.
Similar air volume to a foot pump.. just a different stowing shape..
Charlie
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The new track rods went in ok. It had recently passed the MoT but steering feels properly direct again. Anyone thinking of doing the job (without dropping the subframe), you need a cam action tool to turn the inner rod end. There are no spanner flats and no space to use anything less subtle. If its a 100HP don't loose the steering lock spacers.
So job done and tracking corrected and... it's pulling left.
Next job to loosen the back axle bolts and see if it's possible to nudge it across a bit.
So job done and tracking corrected and... it's pulling left.
Next job to loosen the back axle bolts and see if it's possible to nudge it across a bit.
Holy Thread resurrection Batman!
But given this is an annual thing thought I'd recycle a thread and be environmentally friendly!
So I've been in the "I don't bloody need winter tyres I'll just drive carefully thanks" for a very long time and to be honest I'm probably still there.
But the MOT in july brought 3 advisories for cracked tyres (current tyres have been on for 24k and 3 years but are very legal).
However the few times we do get snow are best described as an adventure on the garden roller Goodyears on it and as I've got older my driving style is further and further from the ragged edge especially as I've normally got a child in the back.
So where is this going? To replace my cracked Goodyears would be 90 odd quid per corner, found an offer on Black circles giving 40 quid off 4 tyres..which works out as 98 quid per corner for Goodyear Vector 4 seasons gen 2.
We shall see how they go, apparently highest rated all season tyre basically joint with cross climate and standard fit on PSA cars with the All grip system.
Why have I suddenly gone for it? Well my wife works 7-7 in the middle of winter and the thought of going out to rescue her on uncleared roads on the current tyres is very grim indeed without the thought of a child in the back. Also she's insured on this car so I could actually just send her in this if the weather is bad as tbf it's only worth about 3.5 to 4k now so winter beater duties are not below it.
Also they are meant to be all round...so no spare wheels and tyres.
But given this is an annual thing thought I'd recycle a thread and be environmentally friendly!
So I've been in the "I don't bloody need winter tyres I'll just drive carefully thanks" for a very long time and to be honest I'm probably still there.
But the MOT in july brought 3 advisories for cracked tyres (current tyres have been on for 24k and 3 years but are very legal).
However the few times we do get snow are best described as an adventure on the garden roller Goodyears on it and as I've got older my driving style is further and further from the ragged edge especially as I've normally got a child in the back.
So where is this going? To replace my cracked Goodyears would be 90 odd quid per corner, found an offer on Black circles giving 40 quid off 4 tyres..which works out as 98 quid per corner for Goodyear Vector 4 seasons gen 2.
We shall see how they go, apparently highest rated all season tyre basically joint with cross climate and standard fit on PSA cars with the All grip system.
Why have I suddenly gone for it? Well my wife works 7-7 in the middle of winter and the thought of going out to rescue her on uncleared roads on the current tyres is very grim indeed without the thought of a child in the back. Also she's insured on this car so I could actually just send her in this if the weather is bad as tbf it's only worth about 3.5 to 4k now so winter beater duties are not below it.
Also they are meant to be all round...so no spare wheels and tyres.
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My all seasons were fitted with TPMS this week, so no dash warning this year, and cleaned.
Possibly fitting on Sunday
D
Possibly fitting on Sunday
D
All season..
Surely they cannot be super squidgy compound like winters..?
On a side note.. cracking on relatively fresh tyres seems to be on the rise..
Production changes?
Or is it environmental pollution..??
CO levels are now at a 12 year high..
Surely they cannot be super squidgy compound like winters..?
On a side note.. cracking on relatively fresh tyres seems to be on the rise..
Production changes?
Or is it environmental pollution..??
CO levels are now at a 12 year high..
All season..
Surely they cannot be super squidgy compound like winters..?
On a side note.. cracking on relatively fresh tyres seems to be on the rise..
Production changes?
Or is it environmental pollution..??
CO levels are now at a 12 year high..
Compound wise anything I could tell you would be lifted off the Goodyear Website.
But what I can tell you is that most tyre tests rate them at least top 3 as an all season. They are a winter biased tyre and as result in some tests have actually out performed the winter tyres used as a control in snow and ice while still giving very good wet weather braking and aquaplaning performance.
Conversely they are not the sharpest handling on a warm sunny day but they aren't going on a track car. They are meant to give decent fuel economy, produce less noise than my existing tyres and go where you point them which will do. Summer performance is at best equal to an average summer tyre but a bit less precise.
I was a bit disappointed with the cracking on the current, new tyres is a bit overkill it was mild but I've had delamination due to aging in the past and I'm not in a position where I need to risk it.
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Quick before and after.
3.5 year old Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance, entirely legal but you can probably see why using this on snow and ice now that it has hardened up due to aging was not something I fancied.
Brand new Goodyear Vector 4 seasons gen 2
Despite appearances..the new tyres actually generate less road roar
3.5 year old Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance, entirely legal but you can probably see why using this on snow and ice now that it has hardened up due to aging was not something I fancied.
Brand new Goodyear Vector 4 seasons gen 2
Despite appearances..the new tyres actually generate less road roar
My winters were put on last Monday. I go the whole hog and change the alloys for steelies as well as rainsports to hankooks - I rarely see the car in the daylight between now and March so I don't miss the aesthetics of the alloys.
But it does make a big difference to me in so many ways.
The heavy diesel engine and low profiles were a nightmare in snow (and I've been driving daily in the NE of Scotland without a problem for a long time and through some pretty bad winters). I could not believe what a difference dropping from 17" to 15" made as well as the different tyres. Plus I don't worry about bumping the cheap steelies over potholes as winter progresses
I do regularly think about buying a small car with narrow tyres as a winter substitute because they're so much fun and can pretty much get everywhere in my experience. :idea:
Must stay away from the classifieds!
And Simon!
Now all I need is for the temperature to go up slightly so that I can get the alloys cleaned up before they go into storage until March/April. To be fair, it was -1°C when I woke up and it's now 2°C. Another couple of °C and it'll be fridge temperature and good to go
But it does make a big difference to me in so many ways.
The heavy diesel engine and low profiles were a nightmare in snow (and I've been driving daily in the NE of Scotland without a problem for a long time and through some pretty bad winters). I could not believe what a difference dropping from 17" to 15" made as well as the different tyres. Plus I don't worry about bumping the cheap steelies over potholes as winter progresses
I do regularly think about buying a small car with narrow tyres as a winter substitute because they're so much fun and can pretty much get everywhere in my experience. :idea:
Must stay away from the classifieds!
And Simon!
Now all I need is for the temperature to go up slightly so that I can get the alloys cleaned up before they go into storage until March/April. To be fair, it was -1°C when I woke up and it's now 2°C. Another couple of °C and it'll be fridge temperature and good to go
The heavy diesel engine and low profiles were a nightmare in snow (and I've been driving daily in the NE of Scotland without a problem for a long time and through some pretty bad winters). I could not believe what a difference dropping from 17" to 15" made as well as the different tyres. Plus I don't worry about bumping the cheap steelies over potholes as winter progresses
I do regularly think about buying a small car with narrow tyres as a winter substitute because they're so much fun and can pretty much get everywhere in my experience. :idea:
From what I've seen the tyres are the important bit, obviously the bigger and heavier the car the more work you are giving them but while researching my purchase I did watch several tyre tests.
One of these put 16 205/55 winters against 17 215/45 and 18 225/30. I was surprised by how little there was in it. The smaller tyres had a small advantage in snow and ice but this was reversed in wet and dry handling.
Hmm? you've noticed this too? The Astra has a 3 year old tyre with at least 6mm tread on it and cracking visible at the base of the tread pattern. The Punto has two quite old tyres on the front with only minor cracking but one of the rears, which was renewed by the dealer when we bought it about 4 years ago, is showing deeper cracks. It's very noticeable though that the deeply cracked ones are all budget "cheapies". Lesson to be learned I think?
When we were young, starting our family and very broke all the time, I bought a Citroen Dyane. (MOT failure on king pins - remember them?) Working on it required a lot of "thinking outside the box" but it was a good purchase, very cheap to run and I ran it for a number of years.
At that time we lived in a wee village up in the hills south of Edinburgh. The snow could be quite deep in winter and both approach roads to the village were up steep hills. When the snow came the Citroen was the only conventional (ie non 4 wheel drive) vehicle which would regularly get up the hill. I think it was the combination of very thin tyres - 135 SR 15, good ground clearance and a flat floor pan, and an absolutely gutless engine which reduced the possibility of wheel spin. I have many fond memories of that car and, like you, harbour a "secret" desire to own one again - just for fun. Maybe an Acadiane this time?
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Given the current weather I am thinking of changing mine for paddlewheels !!
Interesting. I go from 205/45/17 to 185/55/15 and notice a big difference but how much of that is psychological is hard to guess. Probably a lot more than I realise. Still, it works for me and the steel wheels are a fraction of the price of the alloys so the peace of mind of not worrying about potholes also helps
My first ever car was a breadvan shaped polo with a mighty 1093 cc. That car got anywhere and there were a few times I suspect I was one of the last vehicles out of Aberdeen heading north before they closed the road. Heavy snow just would not stop those skinny wheels.
My friends originally called it an old ladies car and took the p*** until they realised how good it was at making sure we could still get to the city and home again regardless of the weather.
Loved that car and would have another if I found one in good condition and cheap. Sadly those options are not synonymous nowadays
Interesting. I go from 205/45/17 to 185/55/15 and notice a big difference but how much of that is psychological is hard to guess. Probably a lot more than I realise. Still, it works for me and the steel wheels are a fraction of the price of the alloys so the peace of mind of not worrying about potholes also helps
Ah it's different situation for me, the alloys are worthless pretty much.
Brand new from a dealer would be expensive but a combination of a lot of younger people getting into 3s and buying new wheels and the fact that diesels sold really well but the engines available are prone to catastrophic failure after about 8 years mean the markets currently flooded.
I could literally go onto face book now and get 4 wheels for 80 quid + postage.
After my mini nightmare with changing on to my winter wheels yesterday, & finding one of my summer tyres has a large bulge, so needs changing, although all tyres are legal, I'm seriously thinking to go all season, this will put a stop for me having to go through this every year. It seems to get a bigger struggle as time goes on, but I still like tinkering.
It's not the main roads up here as much as the the wee town roads & cul de sacs that never see the sun & gritters only get to much later. I do breakfast runs very early for some of my clients.
Just to add, it's well known that going onto smaller wheels & tyres will indeed give you more traction in the winter.
It's not the main roads up here as much as the the wee town roads & cul de sacs that never see the sun & gritters only get to much later. I do breakfast runs very early for some of my clients.
Just to add, it's well known that going onto smaller wheels & tyres will indeed give you more traction in the winter.
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