Winter tyres

[dfsGTD]

Slightly off thread but I have been using eco mode in the snow and find the softer power delivery useful for making progress (maybe just me, l'm no driving god and need all the help I can get) Winter tyres have been a must last few days.
Cracking picture of your Golf up to its mirrors in snow. Respect to a car and driver that can handle these conditions!!!!!

[itavaltalainen]

Don't have direct comparison between WR A4 and D4 on the same car, I've got the A4 as 205 55 16 (94V XL) on my GTD, my mom has the D4 on her Toyota Corolla hatchback 1.4 diesel (195 60 15 iirc).

Think the D4 are better on lighter and less powerful cars, A4s I would probably rate better for more powerful cars in the UK. Much depends on the size of wheel/tyre you want or need, they don't make both in all sizes!
The D4's pattern would make it more suitable if you encounter snow often - though couldn't say I had trouble with traction until I beached the car on a snow bank as I slowed down too much...
A4s are better in the dry and moist, wet they are about the same. My A4s have gotten a little bit noisy at 70-75mph, maybe because of asymmetric design? Not much worse than the Michelin Alpin A4 I had on before.

[mcmaddy]

Thanks for that. 👍

[Hebegeebee]

An alternative is some All Weather (AW) tyres instead of full on winters. I have winters on the wife’s car and I put 17” Conti AW Contacts on my GTi-P. They’ve been fine in the snow that we’ve had here up to a few days ago. Then the snow got too deep to venture out in, and I didn’t want to damage the front or rear overhangs on the car.
For the few times that we get snow the AW tyres are a better choice for me - plus they’re V-rated tyres, were new out when I bought them last August and they were cheaper than full winter tyres.

[robtt]

Is that a competitor for the Michelin crossclimate + ? Must admit, living in a very rural area, this type of tyre appeals for the additional traction you get . I have to go down muddy and rough farm tracks and they can be a challenge given our sometimes wet summers .

[I wanted a GTi]

This may be of interest for thoes trying to decide which tyre is best suited for their driving.

https://youtu.be/RU4O3ulin80

[golfdave]

This may be of interest for thoes trying to decide which tyre is best suited for their driving.

https://youtu.be/RU4O3ulin80

I prefer direct comparison using the same car...& these are on hard compacted snow & using Subaru AWD systems...very good examples of braking & brake/steering ...winter beats all seasons..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC1E2eDt1JY

 

[I wanted a GTi]

This may be of interest for thoes trying to decide which tyre is best suited for their driving.

https://youtu.be/RU4O3ulin80

I prefer direct comparison using the same car...& these are on hard compacted snow & using Subaru AWD systems...very good examples of braking & brake/steering ...winter beats all seasons..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC1E2eDt1JY

 

Depends on what percentage of your driving is on snow. I doubt anyone in Scotland does more than 25% of their winter driving on snow let alone in the rest of the UK

[Guzzle]

Both videos helpful in their own way.

But what would be an interesting comparison would be winters vs all-seasons vs summers in winter temps but not on snow. 

[golfdave]

Depends on what percentage of your driving is on snow. I doubt anyone in Scotland does more than 25% of their winter driving on snow let alone in the rest of the UK

Agree....but it does show clearly the differences in the worst case weather for when the proverbial hits the fan...