LOOK! I just bought myself for Christmas: Winter Wheels & Tyres.

[p3asa]

Thanks that's good to know.

[am1w]

GolfTi: Forgot the 'lingual' bit or was it 'polar'?

[gizzywizzy]

Right then been out this morning on clear gritted main roads (ungritted side roads horrendous) and there is probably a slight more rumble noise from the winter tyres than with the summers, but certainly not enough to think twice about getting some.  The steering on corners feels slightly softer also but again is hardly noticeable, imo there is very little noticeable difference and in safety terms absolutely no contest.

[Hartside]

No real difference in road noise on tarmac from either of our cars with winters fitted. Strangely my mate reckons his new Fiesta sounds really noisy since fitting them, and they are the same ones I fitted to our Yaris. Steering definitely not as confidence inspiring if driven hard into a corner, but then again you tend not to drive hard knowing you've got them fitted (at least I dont)

[Rolfe]

I actually thought mine (Hankook IceBear) were quieter than the Bridgestones, but that could have been my imagination.

Rolfe.

[am1w]

Thanks for all the responss. Most appreciated.

Gizzy/GolfGti: They probably sound noisier (Gizzy) due to the gritted road surfaces. They are supposed to be very quiet tyres. The slightly less focused steering response is a given due to the softer tyre compound.

Rolfe: The Hankook Icebear 300 are very good winter tyres and very, very quiet from what I have been told and now onfirmed by you.

Hartside: Thanks for your input.

I'll post soon on how my Michelin PA3 winters feel in comparison to the Bridgestones. The PA3s are W rated tyres (169 mph) and have a slightly harder compound than most winter tyres. This might help the steering response. It is one of the reasons I chose them, apart from their quietness (from reviews).

[GolfTi]

Asker

When?

[am1w]

Asker
When?

Unfortunately, not before Christmas. Tyres are en route. Will be after Boxing day. Also, a few logistical problems to sort out at my end.

[Rolfe]

Rolfe: The Hankook Icebear 300 are very good winter tyres and very, very quiet from what I have been told and cnow onfirmed by you.

I'd say they're bloody miraculous, actually.

I had them fitted a few days before the snow hit, so when I first drove away on them, there was no grit on the road.

Rolfe.

[am1w]

Have been reading some interesting reviews and tests in North American rags regarding the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3s.

They are considered to be in-between an all-season and cold weather tyre. They tested them as V rated. Mine are W rated. They are excellent for handling and grip on dry and wet pavements and effective all year round except for those odd very hot days when temperatures go above 25 deg C. They are effective in light snow conditions but not in heavy snow situations and thick ice. They are considered to be THE high performance cold weather tyre.

So they seem appropriate for the weather conditions in London.

I'll report my findings as soon as I have them fitted. I might also be the first to have bought these on this forum.

Can't wait!