Winter Wheels and Tyres

[Daz Auto]

i would just get any old winter tyres... its not like you are racing on snow. as long as they do the job you will be fine 

Hmmmm...?

"While budget winter tyres can offer vastly superior snow performance to any summer tyre, budget winter tyres can struggle when the roads are wet or warm. Premium manufactuers spend hundreds of millions of pounds a year on R&D and testing, ensuring their tyres can meet the demands of one criteria, without significantly sacrificing other performance. With the average winter in the UK being 40% dry, 45% wet and 15% snow, we'd think twice before fitting a budget winter tyre which might only be an advantage for 15% of the winter!"

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Winter-Tyre-Buying-Guide.htm

[am1w]

i would just get any old winter tyres... its not like you are racing on snow. as long as they do the job you will be fine 

Hmmmm...?
"While budget winter tyres can offer vastly superior snow performance to any summer tyre, budget winter tyres can struggle when the roads are wet or warm. Premium manufactuers spend hundreds of millions of pounds a year on R&D and testing, ensuring their tyres can meet the demands of one criteria, without significantly sacrificing other performance. With the average winter in the UK being 40% dry, 45% wet and 15% snow, we'd think twice before fitting a budget winter tyre which might only be an advantage for 15% of the winter!"
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Winter-Tyre-Buying-Guide.htm

Buy the best you can afford. You cannot afford not to.

[Daz Auto]

Different sizes, different results, different reviewers ......... 

... yeah, I just figured that out (see edit on previous post).

Though the tyres I have just bought finished 1st in 3 different reviews for the size I wanted.

[am1w]

I bought the Michelin PA3s for my 18" wheels. Expensive.

Vredestein Wintrac xtreme
"designed to protect you"
225/40 R18 92W XL with rim protectionleiste
only £ 194.70
Average based on 799 test results
Score: 1-Excellent 6-Poor   Ã˜1.9 
Grip in dry conditions  1.9
Braking in dry conditions  1.9
Grip in wet conditions  1.9
Braking in wet conditions  1.9
Grip in snow  1.8
Driving comfort  1.8
Internal noise level  2.0
Exterior noise levels  2.1
Tyre wear  2.1
Kilometres driven  12.165

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3
225/40 R18 92W XL with rim protectionleiste, GRNX
only £ 222.30
Average based on 85 test results
Score: 1-Excellent 6-Poor   Ã˜1.9 
Grip in dry conditions  1.7
Braking in dry conditions  1.7
Grip in wet conditions  1.8
Braking in wet conditions  1.8
Grip in snow  2.1
Driving comfort  1.6
Internal noise level  1.9
Exterior noise levels  2.0
Tyre wear  2.0
Kilometres driven  11.244

Both these winter tyres are superb and very close in performance.
The Michelin is slightly quieter with a slightly better ride.
The Vredestein is better in the snow.

[Daz Auto]

I bought the Michelin PA3s for my 18" wheels. Expensive.

My requirements are slightly different. I regularly dodge potholes on some of the worst roads in the UK. My seattle shadows would get destroyed along with the relatively expensive 17 inch tyres. So am putting Goodyear Ultragrip 8 tyres on some cheap secondhand R16 VW alloys. Total cost of 4 tyres and alloys fitted £530.

[am1w]

I bought the Michelin PA3s for my 18" wheels. Expensive.

My requirements are slightly different. I regularly dodge potholes on some of the worst roads in the UK. My seattle shadows would get destroyed along with the relatively expensive 17 inch tyres. So am putting Goodyear Ultragrip 8 tyres on some cheap secondhand VW alloys. Total cost of 4 tyres and alloys fitted £530.

Probably the very best 16" Winter tyres.
If they made them in 17" and 18", they would probably be tops too.

[mkviken]

I'm going to buy a cheap set of 16 wheels for the winter

i have spotted a very decent and well priced set of audi A3 wheels. they're from a 2007 model

they should fit a 2011 GTI right?


i have been looking at steel wheels and tyres from mytyres website but the alloys would look a bit better i suppose!

we have 2 cars and the golf won't be doing much work at all over the winter but i want to take best care as possible of my moza shadows.

way i see it a set of spare winter wheels costs the same as having 2 monza wheels refurbed and once I'm done with them i can sell them on any way!

[R32UK]

i would just get any old winter tyres... its not like you are racing on snow. as long as they do the job you will be fine 

Hmmmm...?
"While budget winter tyres can offer vastly superior snow performance to any summer tyre, budget winter tyres can struggle when the roads are wet or warm. Premium manufactuers spend hundreds of millions of pounds a year on R&D and testing, ensuring their tyres can meet the demands of one criteria, without significantly sacrificing other performance. With the average winter in the UK being 40% dry, 45% wet and 15% snow, we'd think twice before fitting a budget winter tyre which might only be an advantage for 15% of the winter!"
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Winter-Tyre-Buying-Guide.htm

Buy the best you can afford. You cannot afford not to.

Considering i have managed 10yrs of winters without winter tyres... i think i will just about get by ok. I have only ever struggled with traction in the snow, but still managed to always get where i am going. No need to spunk £600+ on tyres when £300 ones will do the trick.

Altering your stlye rather than your tyres will help you get through the conditions in 90% of the uk

[Daz Auto]

Considering i have managed 10yrs of winters without winter tyres... i think i will just about get by ok. I have only ever struggled with traction in the snow, but still managed to always get where i am going. No need to spunk £600+ on tyres when £300 ones will do the trick.

Altering your stlye rather than your tyres will help you get through the conditions in 90% of the uk

True. But as ken and I have pointed out above there some good reasons to have winter tyres. And not just to protect our original alloys. The 'A' road I drive to work on is sometimes gritted and sometimes not when there is frost. Last year I counted 3 cars in the ditch IN ONE DAY! They had all lost control at slow speed on black ice. As for the cost, well my summer tyres should last me roughly twice as long. So my summer tyres will last me 2 years instead of 1. Also my 16 inch winter tyres are cheaper than my performance summer tyres are likely to be. In cold weather, winter tyres are said to wear better than summer tyres as they spin and slide less.

[mkviken]

summer or performance tyres wear out loads quicker in the cold conditions as they don't get hot enough and the rubber cold tears, instead of being playable

your right you will get more miles out of summer tyres if you used them just in the sprain/summer.

when you weigh up the pro's and con's it makes sense to have a spare set of cheap winter wheels. if i hit a kerb the cost of a replacement wheel would far outweigh the cost of a set of winter crappy ones.