Winter tyres?

[t-tony]

Been busy prepping some more wheel bolt covers for my winter wheels.

Original Turbine style 17". 225/47x17.

These will be going back on as soon as Jack Frost puts in an appearance and they start salting the roads.

Anyone got any recommendations fot winter tyres?

Tony.

 

[Redline]

That’s a good question Tony. We have a set of Pirelli Sottozero’s for Gail’s car on 17”s. They are 45% profiles and the offset is only 30 on those wheels. Neither is a good fit for the 330e that has 37 offset and needs 50% profile although the offset could be sorted with spacers. So, I’m looking for winters too.

Auto express have a review of winters here - https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/acces...7/winter-tyres-test-best-tyre-brands-reviewed

The Continental TS860 comes out overall winner but the Hankook i*cept RS2 was a close second. However, you have to look closely at where they performed. The Hankook was a clear winner on snow and the Continental much better in the wet. The latter probable suits the majority of winter conditions that most of us face on a day to day basis.

What isn’t so clear is the performance on ice. We (in the soft south) get far more icy roads generally than we do snow.
This is especially true off main roads and out in the sticks where gritters don’t get until the major routes are clear.

I would prioritise performance on ice above that on snow. If you know you’re going to get snow then the Hankooks, but, would they be better on ice too? With rear wheel drive that’s a key indicator but this review doesn’t give any clues.

 

[t-tony]

I haven't even asked at work up to now, it just crossed my mind when I finished doing those nut covers earlier. I would like to think they would give me a set for my retirement present Ian.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

I haven't even asked at work up to now, it just crossed my mind when I finished doing those nut covers earlier. I would like to think they would give me a set for my retirement present Ian.

Tony.

That would be nice - something useful

 

[t-tony]

It would, but I'm not holding my breath mate.

Tony.

 

[Brian H]

Buying winter tyres just now will save money, the first hint of proper winter and these tyres take a hike in price.

 

[t-tony]

Quite likely Brian. Only problem is they're a bit scarce too just now. Where I work we don't have big stock all year round. I'll have to look into it next week when I'm back at work.

Tony.

 

[abh29]

We have recently sold OH's Nissan QQ that ran on Michelin A4 Alpine 215R16 [on Alloys] and also sold my X1 e48 that ran on Pirelli Sottozero Winters 210 225/50R17 94H RSC M & S [on steels]
As regards what different tyres are better for , this is very much the case ,last year when snow got a bit deeper I used my sons D Max with new BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tyres --- great in snow or slush but not much good in heavy frost. They are not actually winters.

I much preferred the Michelin A4's to the Sottozero for grip, but that may partly have been the QQ was manual the e84 was Auto.

I now need to look into selling these off, and deciding if I need to buy a set for the f48 , which is 4wd but this is not as good as winters.
Due to a change in lifestyle it is not as important that I can go out every day now.

 

[mm13]

Hi,
Real winter tyres: Pirelli Sottozero 3
Medium winter tyres: Michelin Crossclimate.

Test in "Auto Bild" Germany, the 4 best winter tyres:
- Dunlop Winter Sport 5
- Continental WinterContact TS860
- Kleber Krisalp HP3
- Fulda Kristall Control HP2

I use the All Season Tyre Hankook Kinergy 4S H740 XL M+S, it´s more then enough for the "winter" in northern Germany.

 

[t-tony]

Hey, thanks for that Michael.

Tony.

 

[mid life crisis]

I put the Michelin Crossclimate on the Yaris that the wife uses as the daily driver & I must admit I was quite surprised how well they performed in last years snow.
Gary

 

[t-tony]

Thanks for that Gary.

Tony.

 

[Dino D]

I put the Michelin Crossclimate on the Yaris that the wife uses as the daily driver & I must admit I was quite surprised how well they performed in last years snow.
Gary

Is that the same Yaris that ‘quite suprised’ a few //M cars on a big hill?

Back on topic I’ve looked at the cross climates and they appear to offer the best of both worlds for a relatively ‘mild’ winter that we have most of the time any way..
Seems like they should last longer than full winters but maybe there will be feedback from people who’ve had them for a whole year now, I believe they were only launched last year

 

[t-tony]

I know people run winter tyres all year round but surely that defeats the object?

Tony.

 

[Dino D]

I know people run winter tyres all year round but surely that defeats the object?

Tony.

The cross climates supposedly are all year round.
I wouldn’t run proper winters as they have 2 tread wear markers - the higher one being for when the ‘snow’ ability is diminished and the second for when they are illegal.
So if you wear it half way down over summer you then lose that extra depth that gives the grip in snow...

Not sure how the CC’s work but can understand why some one would run them all year on a low performance car or live in muddy rural area to avoid fitting/storing etc (especially in the SE where a bloody garage costs more than a whole house ooop north!)

 

[Redline]

If you’re going to potentially need to drive irrespective of the conditions (below axle deep in snow) then I would go for full winters. If you have another car available that’s going to be more capable (or one you’re prepared to sacrifice to the effects of the elements I would put CCs to cover all but the worst of conditions.
If you’re up ont’ tills then it’s always winters.

 

[demig]

Always used Nokians on my 3 series which were excellent. I have used them in the summer as when they get to the snow marker depth in winter I figure it makes more sense just to keep running them as they’ll not go back on the next winter. Can’t remember the specific details but as they are Finnish I figured their winters would be good as they understand snow and they’ve always served me well up here in Northumberland.

 

[Ianmc]

Winter tyres are a marketers bonus in England. Very rarely needed.

 

[mid life crisis]

Had the Crossclimate on the Yaris for 2 years now, as others have stated they are an all year round tyre rated for winter use.
The wear rate doesn't seem too bad, although I have stopped using as a pace car for @Nodzed on Fish Hill now
Gary

 

[abh29]

I know people run winter tyres all year round but surely that defeats the object?

Tony.

I have in the past used a set of winter tyres in summer ,as they were approaching the 4 mm that are required to perform in winter. if I had put them back on the next winter they would have dropped down 3mm during the winter period.

My trouble at present is finding winter tyres for the X1 which car the "BMW. Star"