General Which winter tyres are people going for

[306maxi]

Yes they are, tests show that stopping distances in summer on wintertires can exceed 20-30 meters, compared to good summertires, and that's a loooooooong distance at an emergency stop!!!

As always you drive to the conditions I just had a fun little drive in the snow and slush and as the road conditions changed I did a couple of test emergency stops to see just how much brakes I had, it's the sensible thing to do. I like to think I'm fairly conscious about the rubber I'm on and can make the appropriate adjustments. It's just like if you were driving a 50's car on crossplies.

Like I said I'd only do it if I came to the end of winter and the tyres were close to the end of their life in terms of being good for use in the snow. I just think it's a waste getting rid of tyres which are perfectly useable, just not in snow which to be fair isn't all that common in the UK

 

[306maxi]

Yes they are, tests show that stopping distances in summer on wintertires can exceed 20-30 meters, compared to good summertires, and that's a loooooooong distance at an emergency stop!!!

Not doubting you or anything but do you have any links? As always I like to read about tyres, tyre technology and tyre performance

 

[rallycinq]

I have 'all season' tyres rather than winter tyres. They have been very good so far an all the conditions we have had up here since December.

I am still concerned about them not sticking too well when the temperature does eventually rise, hence my order for Toyo Proxes T1Rs today.

Cheers

SPD

 

[306maxi]

I have 'all season' tyres rather than winter tyres. They have been very good so far an all the conditions we have had up here since December.

I am still concerned about them not sticking too well when the temperature does eventually rise, hence my order for Toyo Proxes T1Rs today.

Cheers

SPD

My tyre testing friend said to me that in his opinion all season tyres were jack of all trades and master of none.

 

[YouKnowWho]

I have 'all season' tyres rather than winter tyres. They have been very good so far an all the conditions we have had up here since December.

I am still concerned about them not sticking too well when the temperature does eventually rise, hence my order for Toyo Proxes T1Rs today.

Cheers

SPD

Which All-Season tyres do you have, and how do you find them compared to summer tyres?

There has been alot said about the benefits of winter tyres, but not as much on all season tyres.

My friend works for the highways agency - and they have all season tyres all year round on their patrol cars.

 

[rallycinq]

I got Vredestein Quatrac 3s. I got them fitted the day before the blizzards in December and its only been above 7 degress once since then, so I have never driven them in warm conditions.

I can say that they were absolutely superb in the deep snow and are equally superb on cold wet roads. I have had no issues with them and am keeping them for next winter.

Cheers

SPD

 

[FWD Boy]

Out of interest how do people rate the standard tyres supplied from the factory on both the 16"s and 17"s and has anyone upgraded to a better tyre yet and which brand type

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Not doubting you or anything but do you have any links? As always I like to read about tyres, tyre technology and tyre performance

I got a lot of tests, but most are in German, were there's no speed limit, and tyres are tested to their very limits....!!
F.i go to www.adac.de "reiffentests".....

Or this: http://www.carguideweb.com/articles/4424/

 

[DraigFlag87]

Out of interest how do people rate the standard tyres supplied from the factory on both the 16"s and 17"s and has anyone upgraded to a better tyre yet and which brand type

The only experience I've had are with the 17" wheels on the Abarth, supplied with Pirelli's as standard which are hard, noisy and not that good grip wise. Then i had Toyo TR1's, cheap, superb grip in wet and dry and much, much quieter. Grip and road noise was good even when bold! Bit O/T though, not winter tyres

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Or this: http://www.ama.ab.ca/images/images_pdf/Pneus_dhiver_en_ETE_Version_finale_Septembre_2008ABANG.pdf

 

[306maxi]

The only experience I've had are with the 17" wheels on the Abarth, supplied with Pirelli's as standard which are hard, noisy and not that good grip wise. Then i had Toyo TR1's, cheap, superb grip in wet and dry and much, much quieter. Grip and road noise was good even when bold! Bit O/T though, not winter tyres

Don't be silly If you want to discuss tyres in this thread then it's not a problem

 

[rallycinq]

The only experience I've had are with the 17" wheels on the Abarth, supplied with Pirelli's as standard which are hard, noisy and not that good grip wise. Then i had Toyo TR1's, cheap, superb grip in wet and dry and much, much quieter. Grip and road noise was good even when bold! Bit O/T though, not winter tyres

Thats good to hear. Them wheels are about to get Toyos on them.

Cheers

SPD

 

[RobW]

well that's it have now removed the winter tyres - fitted the Compomotive MOs today so back on Nankang NS2 summer tyres

and the good news is there is another season left in the Toyo SnowProx
wear totally even and fronts will be fine for rears this coming winter

 

[rallycinq]

Toyos still not arrived, Easter got in the way. Besides its still cold and hissing down here so I am unlikely to burn out the quatracs soon.

Cheers

SPD

 

[306maxi]

Well that's my winters off for another 6-8 months

Positives
Grip in the snow and slush was fantastic!
Rolling resistance was reduced so economy was better and the car was a bit quicker to accelerate
Wear doesn't seem too bad, I think they have around 7mm of tread left after almost 3k miles of winter driving.
My alloys aren't all corroded from the salt on the roads
Handling isn't as bumpy

Negatives
Swapping tyres over is a little bit of a faff tbh but that's more than compensated for by the grip and traction.
Car looks a bit naff on 14" wheels, glad to have the 16" multispokes on again. When the tyres need replacing I think i will see if there are some 15" sport wheels for sale on eBay or something.
Handling is bouncy (Still better than bumpy though)

Part of me would love to get some more 14" steelies with 175 summer tyres because the increase in rolling resistance was really noticeable tonight and it felt like the car had lost 10 horsepower but I did quite enjoy the nice crisp turn in of the summer rubber.

 

[rallycinq]

The only experience I've had are with the 17" wheels on the Abarth, supplied with Pirelli's as standard which are hard, noisy (

Yup, and I now know why!!!!

Cheers

SPD

 

[Andy Monty]

Well that's my winters off for another 6-8 months

Positives
Grip in the snow and slush was fantastic!
Rolling resistance was reduced so economy was better and the car was a bit quicker to accelerate
Wear doesn't seem too bad, I think they have around 7mm of tread left after almost 3k miles of winter driving.
My alloys aren't all corroded from the salt on the roads
Handling isn't as bumpy

Negatives
Swapping tyres over is a little bit of a faff tbh but that's more than compensated for by the grip and traction.
Car looks a bit naff on 14" wheels, glad to have the 16" multispokes on again. When the tyres need replacing I think i will see if there are some 15" sport wheels for sale on eBay or something.
Handling is bouncy (Still better than bumpy though)

Part of me would love to get some more 14" steelies with 175 summer tyres because the increase in rolling resistance was really noticeable tonight and it felt like the car had lost 10 horsepower but I did quite enjoy the nice crisp turn in of the summer rubber.

Put my GP back to summer tonight and it felt like it had more go.... less drag on the stock Bridgestone b250's than the snowtracs all had worn about the same according to my depth gauge was expecting to find the fronts a bit lower....

 

[rallycinq]

Summer tyres and wheels fitted (thanks Paul)

Yup, I think it probably needs lowered too, but................

Cheers

SPD

 

[RobW]

thise wheels work suprisingly well on your retro styled 500

but yes does need lowering

 

[rallycinq]

thise wheels work suprisingly well on your retro styled 500

but yes does need lowering

I think the chrome wheel centres would actually look better than the red ones.

May try that.

Cheers

SPD