Winter Tyres - continental winter tyres TS 830P - First thoughts

[JellyCat]

Hello.
I've seen lots of threads about what tyres to buy so thought I'd just chuck in a little feed back on my first ever purchase and use of winter tyres.
After nights and nights trawing through the internet forums and posts about which tyres are best etc and almost going nuts in the process I came to the conclusion to go for it and buy a set.
Last year I just got back home by the skin of my teeth from staying at Loch Loman when the snow hit in November, I touched lucky and didn't have to stop the car once until on the M6. If I had stopped on that snow, there was no way I would have been able to get going again on my summer tyres (loads of BMW's all stuck in Glasgow on the M8 I noticed ).
So.... After much internet R&D I opted for a set of x4 TS830P from Continental
Cost me about 680 for the set of x4, I didn't buy a new set of rims, I just got the tyres switched over and will be storing the tyres in my garrage.
Today I drove them around cheshire (temp was between 6.5c and 7.0c this morning in Cheshire), ok not on snow or ice but was interested to see how they went.
Noise level - turned out to be noticably less than the Dunlop SP port maxx which came on the car from VW!!!
Feed back - good (on the dry).
Cornering - very grippy as good as \ if not better than the Dunlops!
Roll on the snow and ice to play on!!!

[p3eps]

I've got a set of them too.
I ran them from Jamuary until April this year - but they never really saw any snow other than a tiny covering when I went snowboarding at the Cairngorms a couple of times.
Mine are on a set of 18" wheels instead of my usual 19's - and I certainly found the road noise to be less than my Dunlop Sport Max's too.

They're still sitting in the garage as the temperatures around here are still 10degC plus at the moment - but once we get down to a regular 5-6degC I'll get them swapped over.  Mine were more like £800 for the 4 - but then that was when winter tyres were sold out everywhere after the worst snow in years!!

[Mr_F]

I've got this particular set of wellie's too!

Initially fuel consumption was up and as per normal not as much stick in the bends until they wore in.  Have had them on a bit premature and am now 700 odd miles in barely seeing ANY sub 7 degrees temperatures.  Yes I do feel a tad silly!

Quieter, though I put that down to them being softer and smaller being 17" replacing 18" standard Dunlop jobs.

Anyone seen any snow or cold temps mentioned for the near future, was actually thinking about swapping back last weekend.

Mr F

[dubber36]

Noise level - turned out to be noticably less than the Dunlop SP port maxx which came on the car from VW!!!

I was convinced I had a failed wheels bearing by the sound of my Dunlops, until I drove by Brother-in-laws GTI with the same tyres on.

I'm having a set of Hankook Ice Bear W300's on my Passat next week. I need 4 new tyres anyway, so thought I would give them a go. I've been watching the temperatures too. It's been 13 degrees here today 

[Jimmymature]

Noise level - turned out to be noticably less than the Dunlop SP port maxx which came on the car from VW!!!

I was convinced I had a failed wheels bearing by the sound of my Dunlops, until I drove by Brother-in-laws GTI with the same tyres on.

I'm having a set of Hankook Ice Bear W300's on my Passat next week. I need 4 new tyres anyway, so thought I would give them a go. I've been watching the temperatures too. It's been 13 degrees here today 

I too have the sound of wheel bearing issues on my Dunlops, looks like four new tyres need to be purchased in the same pay day as Christmas 


Jim

[p3eps]

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/274180/evo_2011_winter_tyre_test_the_verdict.html

Conti's are the best 

[GolfTi]

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/274180/evo_2011_winter_tyre_test_the_verdict.html

Conti's are the best 

I have been very impressed with my winter Contis, I'll be putting them back on next week.

I'm going for Continental for my next summer tyres as well, the bridgestones have worn very well though. 

[JellyCat]

The following is interesting - my wife hates cars and finds them and driving very dull (she has never even put petrol into a car - ever!).
However... on Friday she it was her turn to do the school run and took the golf.
She came back and said the new tyres are great and much better than the original ones (this was even at 13c temp!). There's a a junction onto a bridge which crosses a local motorway which is a slippy, including the first corner which normally you get the traction control kicking in even with only a little power. However the wife reported back major improvement and no slipping.

Also mud test.... The school has a carpark overflow onto a grassy slope which gets churned up into mud thanks to lots of big 4x4's so we never park there (had done only twice and the second time I got stuck last time and almost had to be pulled out by the schools tractor which was brought over in preperation!) . Wife had to park there on Friday - was very, very muddy but with the continentals the car just drove right out with zero drama!

Totally sold on Continentals (especially with the far less tyre noise than Dunlops!) the , come April \ March next year will be getting x4 new sport contact 5's and binning the dunlops in my garage!
If anyone is interested I got them from kwick fit but online (£160 each inc fitting etc).
Also a quick question - how do you store the tyres on their sides or standing up (on the tyre tread?)