LCR winter tyres

[jds]

Evening

After not getting up snow and ice covered hills tonight - tried no throttle, lots of throttle, mid throttle, no joy - what are Seat's recomendations for Leon Cupra R's regarding winter tyres?

Also anyone any real experience of the differences?

Can't deal with the agro of snow socks, seem to be a bit of a band aid to me.

Ta, John

 

[Jii]

225/45/17 or 225/40/18 is the size to go, but what tyres you can get in there?
Can you even get real friction tyres in there? Like nokian wr2, hakkapeliitta r or continental contiwintercontact series tyres, or is it just some summer tyre with m+s mark?

 

[Willie]

Hi jds,

I was in the same boat as you. I couldnt even get over a speed bump outside my house, that was the final straw!!!
I bought Michelin Pilot Alpin 2s, these were the top of the range tyre at the time, £750 for 4.
When looking at these I wondered if i was doing the right thing.
Could a low profile winter tyre really make that much difference?

The answer was YES!!

I tried stopping on a snow/ice covered decent hill and thought I was going to spin and slither before I moved off, WRONG. no spin, no slither, just 100% traction.
Get a set, even if you can only stretch to a cheap set to do for now. But if you can get a real good set and they will do you for years.
I will now never be without winter tyres, these will always be fitted by November.

If you buy a set you will be preaching there benefits to everyone like I have been doing since buying these.
Now it really bothers me that people try and carry on in summer tyres in the winter, not me and not my family.
My mum has a Tiguan, even it in the snow with summer tyres wasnt that great, with winter tyres on its AMAZING.
DO IT, you will not regret it

 

[henryk]

So what size is your winters Willie ? I have a Leon FR tdi with summer tyres on and lost 3 days pay in the last 2 weeks due to the weather. I'm definitely going to buy winter tyres and was thinking of 2 for the front first on spare rims, but what size ? Do I go for my standard 225/45/17 or the narrower and higher 205/55/16 option ?

 

[JaWalks]

I'm considering buying another wheel and then fitting a pair of decent winter tyres to that and my spare. Can just put them on the front then when it snows. Hmm the more I think about it the more it makes sense!

 

[Willie]

I bought the OE size and had them fitted to my OEM LCR alloys for the first 2 years.
then I bought some spare alloys and had the winters on them and the summer/track tyres on the OEM LCR wheels.
So mine are 225 40 18 winter tyres.

Just get the same size as your OEM wheels, then you can look out for a second set of alloys later.

be careful with winters only on the front, even though you will get going okay cornering will have to be at a very reduced speed tas your rear tyres will be like slicks and tail out in snow/ice is very difficult to catch.
I would only advise fitting 4, fit 2 at your own risk

 

[Willie]

some video proof

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ObVLNHk-i4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drOtBWhGxks&NR=1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqZFT1avoZY

Need any more proof, lol

 

[henryk]

Yes I do agree with you 100% that 4 is the way to go, especially after watching the videos. I was just looking for a quick cheap fix untill after xmas so that I could have time to look for a second set of alloys for winter. The 3 shifts that I lost in the past fortnight would have payed for a budget set of winters for my oem's.

 

[seatcupramad23]

Winter Tyres are sold out everywhere down brum

 

[EL]

Winter tyres are becoming more and more of an necessity with the current weather conditions. Doesn't look like the crap snow will be leaving anytime soon either!

 

[henryk]

Winter Tyres are sold out everywhere down brum

Think it's all over, and if you do find any they will bump the price up.

 

[rödcupra]

we have in law to have winter tires on from 1st december to 1st march, should be in every country IMO

 

[Willie]

we have in law to have winter tires on from 1st december to 1st march, should be in every country IMO

Yes.
The problem with Britian is that people think of winter tyres as SNOW tyres, its not just in the snow they perform better than summer tyres.
An time the temperature is below 7 degrees C the winters come into their own.
This is pretty much from November to April in Britian

 

[EL]

That's a good point Willie, people do have the assumption that winter Tyres are only needed in these awful conditions however they really do have more usage than that

 

[Willie]

Yup and they last longer than summer tyres too.
People think there spending money when they buy winter tyres, where infact there saving money.
Winter tyres last FAR longer than summer tyres

 

[6th.replicant]

Hmm, can't decide whether to go for Snow Socks (as a temp fix) or winter tyres - although I'm starting to lean toward the latter.

Trouble is, where to find anyone with stocks of winter tyres? Camskill, for example, are sold out of 225/40/R18s, as are Tyremen.co.uk, while BlackCircles want you to fill-out a 'Winter Tyre Request Form'.

Any suggestions, please?

Ta

 

[mattfinn]

Winter tyres are less prone to going hard in the extreme cold too as far as I know, also a massive factor in grip! I'm on the look out for a winter solution, after being a quattro owner going to fwd is awful in the slippy stuff!

 

[Stupidog]

I just did a trip from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and back today and can only describe the winter tyres as AWSOME !

The outer lane with 1-2" of snow on it and now real previous run marks was no problem up to 60mph, I started out very gently and built confidence and testing on route. I've previously ran around in a V8 Defender with track edge tyres and can honestly say that the traction and control is better than that if not the clearance.

I can't believe I have not used them in the past and having tried them I think people using non winter tyres in this are wrong. I will never risk myself or others again by using normal tyres in the snow / ice.

Although I am aware people quote drive to the conditions I feel that's like driving at night by moon light with no lights. If the conditions are less then 5-7 deg use the tyres for the job.

 

[adon30]

The outer lane with 1-2" of snow on it and now real previous run marks was no problem up to 60mph

round here people must think I'm mad overtaking on the 'snowy' lane. But I have more confidence and grip on it that the ruts they are running in on there summer tyres.

I started with just two last year. The back end was scary at times but just used all the power to control it from the front. This year I have all four and it feels extremely good. Running with vredsteins and infinitys. Although I don't recommend the infinitys they do the job but I would prefer something a bit more sporty for normal winter use, especially when it's wet.

 

[adon30]

Hmm, can't decide whether to go for Snow Socks (as a temp fix) or winter tyres - although I'm starting to lean toward the latter.

Trouble is, where to find anyone with stocks of winter tyres? Camskill, for example, are sold out of 225/40/R18s, as are Tyremen.co.uk, while BlackCircles want you to fill-out a 'Winter Tyre Request Form'.

Any suggestions, please?

Ta

Winter Tyres are the better solution all round. If it's bad enough for snow socks no doubt it will be too deep for a cupra to clear.

I have seen some about on eBay when the cold snap hit, but even part worn set were near new retail prices.