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There's not really a stand-out winner IMHO. There are several models which get good reviews. When I researched winter tyres I remember the Dunlop Winter Sports 3D getting excellent writeups. There's a YouTube video somewhere of a little FWD equipped with the Dunlops pulling a stuck SUV out of a ditch in the snow - impressive stuff!
I plumped for the Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3s as they were supposedly slightly better for 'normal' winter weather - i.e. dry or wet cool but not frozen - conditions, although not quite as good in the snow. And the Michelins' new compound supposedly has lower rolling resistance (for improved mpg).
It's a personal choice thing. Just like summer tyres, where you'll get umpteen people swear by the Goodyear Eagle F1s and then several others tell you that X tyre is better than the Goodyears. Neither view is really 'right'... it's a subjective choice.
I plumped for the Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3s as they were supposedly slightly better for 'normal' winter weather - i.e. dry or wet cool but not frozen - conditions, although not quite as good in the snow. And the Michelins' new compound supposedly has lower rolling resistance (for improved mpg).
It's a personal choice thing. Just like summer tyres, where you'll get umpteen people swear by the Goodyear Eagle F1s and then several others tell you that X tyre is better than the Goodyears. Neither view is really 'right'... it's a subjective choice.
Still I reckon the price you paid for the Vreds and the Conti's on offer wasn't bad considering.
Seems like 18's have fallen into the relms of normal money now.
Seems like 18's have fallen into the relms of normal money now.
Try Mytyres, they will be a little bit more though.
I assume they'll have the stocks as they'll be straight from the Continent.
I assume they'll have the stocks as they'll be straight from the Continent.
Bit of an update.
This year I've put winter tyres on both cars.
The Passat is still running the Dunlop Wintersport 3D's already discussed, on the standard 16" Passat Sport alloys (205/55/16).
The Zafira that we bought recently is running a new set of Nokian WRG2's, that I bought via mytyres in December. They're on a spare set of steel rims that I bought off Ebay. Size is also 205/55/16 (the standard alloys on this model run 225/45/17, but 205/55/16 is an "approved" size for this car and fitted on lower trim spec models).
Both have been excellent, the Zafira is doing very well - brand new winter tyres with full tread depth, and the weight of the car (over 1600kg, big diesel lump at front over driving wheels) are a very good combination. Given that my wife is heavily pregnant and is also ferrying our 17month old son around, it's quite reassuring - over the last few weeks, there have been a large number of times where she's kept going around most other cars that have got stuck up the long hill to our village.
My advice if anyone is going to fit winters - is to still drive as carefully as you would with summer tyres. The difference is you're far more likely to get going (and be able to steer and stop) where summer tyres will just spin and slither. Don't get carried away with over confidence, as they're not invincible.
A word of warning though - when you get pure ice like we've got at the moment, no tyre will going to give you any grip! (Aside from studded tyres which aren't suitable in the UK, that is).
This year I've put winter tyres on both cars.
The Passat is still running the Dunlop Wintersport 3D's already discussed, on the standard 16" Passat Sport alloys (205/55/16).
The Zafira that we bought recently is running a new set of Nokian WRG2's, that I bought via mytyres in December. They're on a spare set of steel rims that I bought off Ebay. Size is also 205/55/16 (the standard alloys on this model run 225/45/17, but 205/55/16 is an "approved" size for this car and fitted on lower trim spec models).
Both have been excellent, the Zafira is doing very well - brand new winter tyres with full tread depth, and the weight of the car (over 1600kg, big diesel lump at front over driving wheels) are a very good combination. Given that my wife is heavily pregnant and is also ferrying our 17month old son around, it's quite reassuring - over the last few weeks, there have been a large number of times where she's kept going around most other cars that have got stuck up the long hill to our village.
My advice if anyone is going to fit winters - is to still drive as carefully as you would with summer tyres. The difference is you're far more likely to get going (and be able to steer and stop) where summer tyres will just spin and slither. Don't get carried away with over confidence, as they're not invincible.
A word of warning though - when you get pure ice like we've got at the moment, no tyre will going to give you any grip! (Aside from studded tyres which aren't suitable in the UK, that is).
just been reading all the winter tyres threads cos im gonna get some for next winter. i did a wee search on tyretest.com and there appears to be only 2 tyres for my size 215/40/17
# Bridgestone - Blizzak LM-22 (a total of 17 reviews)
# Nokian - WR (a total of 768 reviews)
or 1 tyre for the original size 205/40/17
# Pirelli - W 210 Sottozero (a total of 146 reviews) edit: after lookin about these came 2nd in the tire track chart. found them on national.co.uk for £122 p/tyre fitted
the plan is to get another set of wheels for the winter but thats gonna be tricky because of the cupra brakes.
should i look at changing to 16's (i doubt it possible to fit 16's to the front)?
looks like it'll be a struggle to get winter 18's at a low profile with same width.( dont wanna be rubbing)
what would others do?
# Bridgestone - Blizzak LM-22 (a total of 17 reviews)
# Nokian - WR (a total of 768 reviews)
or 1 tyre for the original size 205/40/17
# Pirelli - W 210 Sottozero (a total of 146 reviews) edit: after lookin about these came 2nd in the tire track chart. found them on national.co.uk for £122 p/tyre fitted
the plan is to get another set of wheels for the winter but thats gonna be tricky because of the cupra brakes.
should i look at changing to 16's (i doubt it possible to fit 16's to the front)?
looks like it'll be a struggle to get winter 18's at a low profile with same width.( dont wanna be rubbing)
what would others do?
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Take a look on mytyres - all ranges will be available at 17" if it's a farily standard size. I can recommend the Vred Wintrac Xtreme as a mid price option. Other than that I'd look at the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D or Nokian WRG2. I did months of research and these tyres are reasonably priced with excellent performance.
Also, I'm sure you will find 16" rims if your brakes are still standard - 16s fit on the MK2 Leon FR with 312mm discs up front.
Also, I'm sure you will find 16" rims if your brakes are still standard - 16s fit on the MK2 Leon FR with 312mm discs up front.
16s definitely wont fit your car. In fact half of the 17s on the market wont either.
tell me about it, just been reading up in the mk4 section.
its gonna be even harder finding 2nd hand alloys that fit. don't wanna spend a fortune on them if they're gonna sit in a shed for 8months a year.
got plenty of time to sort it out.
I've ran Pirelli snowsport's on my MK2 in 195/45 16 for the last few winters and they are spot on! They were not so good on my Leon in 225/45 17 but I think thats power&width of foot print.
Have them on my MK4 TDI in 205/45 16 and again great. In both sizes really good on compacted snow, ice and light snow/slush, needed chains on the fronts for lots of powdery snow (5inch or more)
Only problem now is the price to replace them!
Have them on my MK4 TDI in 205/45 16 and again great. In both sizes really good on compacted snow, ice and light snow/slush, needed chains on the fronts for lots of powdery snow (5inch or more)
Only problem now is the price to replace them!
Going to 18's will surely mean going to a pretty wide size, which would be less effective in snow. The narrower the better.
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