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Camskill have Pirelli sottozero's in 205/55/16 for £88.40 each which is what i used last winter and found them excellent but it's the first time i've used winter tyres so can't compare them to anything else other than running summer tyres in the winter. I'd reccommend them, never got stuck once! and grip was really good!
They're michelin alpin a4's are £103.50 for the same size.
They're michelin alpin a4's are £103.50 for the same size.
I'm sticking with TS830s too, they were simply awesome last winter, best I've used yet.
Had a look on mytyres a couple of weeks back and the selection of winter tyre was very small and very expensive, guess stocks are low in middle of summer.
I deffo want to to get some TS830s with some steelies, but they are pretty expensive at the moment! Bloke from Camskill said most Continental stock will be arriving in September.
When I bought my winter tyres last year, the tyre dealer advised me to wait until September as theey're hard to get before. It's all about timimng, too early or too late and it gets £££.
I need some new ones this year after changing cars, only trouble is that 19" winter tyres are bloody expensive & second hand Ford Kuga alloys are a lot harder to find than SEAT alloys!
Needs a bit of looking into I think, would get another set of Wintrac Xtremes though as they performed very well on the Altea. Will have the advantage of 4WD this year as well
Needs a bit of looking into I think, would get another set of Wintrac Xtremes though as they performed very well on the Altea. Will have the advantage of 4WD this year as well
I need some new ones this year after changing cars, only trouble is that 19" winter tyres are bloody expensive & second hand Ford Kuga alloys are a lot harder to find than SEAT alloys!
Needs a bit of looking into I think, would get another set of Wintrac Xtremes though as they performed very well on the Altea. Will have the advantage of 4WD this year as well
Can you not downsize and use steels?
4WD with decent winter tyres should go pretty much anywhere.
Looking at downsizing to 17" but would prefer alloys (They look nicer than steel
) Just struggling to find any without having to pay dealer prices as I would prefer OEM ones rather than aftermarket.I have a bit of time yet before they are needed so hopefully something will turn up.
Just been looking round at prices as I want to buy a set of TS830s for the Mondeo we bought recently. Think it will need 215/55/16 (haven't found any wheels yet though!).
Definitely reckon there will be an ideal period to buy - overpriced due to lack of stock at the moment (not surprising), then when the weather hits prices will go through the roof again.
Although I felt there was noticeably more interest in winter tyres last winter than ever before - so perhaps the tyre companies will hold more stocks this year ?
Useful to know that September is when the stocks start arriving
Definitely reckon there will be an ideal period to buy - overpriced due to lack of stock at the moment (not surprising), then when the weather hits prices will go through the roof again.
Although I felt there was noticeably more interest in winter tyres last winter than ever before - so perhaps the tyre companies will hold more stocks this year ?
Useful to know that September is when the stocks start arriving
AND be able stop and go round corners too
Several new variants of winter tyre by the bigger brands are available this year.
The first couple of 2011 Winter Tyre Tests have taken place too:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-ACE-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Auto-Zeitung-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm
So far, it's looking like the Goodyear Ultragrip 8 is the one to beat (if it's available in the size you need).
The first couple of 2011 Winter Tyre Tests have taken place too:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-ACE-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Auto-Zeitung-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm
So far, it's looking like the Goodyear Ultragrip 8 is the one to beat (if it's available in the size you need).
Those Goodyears must be something special as I thought my TS830s were amazing in the snow last year and they seem to score quite a bit lower than the Ultragrip 8s do...
On a related note, what's the consensus view on when (i.e. what thread depth) to replace winter tyres?
My understanding is that performance tails off gradually with wear (after the initial scrub-in of course), but then snow/ice performance drops off dramatically below 4 or 5 mm of tread. Is that about right? I would always personally err on the side of safety over cost but it can't be good for the environment (or wallet) getting rid of tyres too early.
I'm trying to predict whether I'll need to buy a pair this winter or not - if so I might as well get them now while they're still vaguely affordable...
On a related note, what's the consensus view on when (i.e. what thread depth) to replace winter tyres?
My understanding is that performance tails off gradually with wear (after the initial scrub-in of course), but then snow/ice performance drops off dramatically below 4 or 5 mm of tread. Is that about right? I would always personally err on the side of safety over cost but it can't be good for the environment (or wallet) getting rid of tyres too early.
I'm trying to predict whether I'll need to buy a pair this winter or not - if so I might as well get them now while they're still vaguely affordable...
That is about bang on what I understand it. Things is at 4-5mm on winter tyres is going to be still a massive improve over summers.
I understand your concern over the tail off in effectiveness but do the same rules apply to you and your summer tyres in relation to water dispersal? i.e. ditching them at 4mm (probably when they should go on this basis?).
I understand your concern over the tail off in effectiveness but do the same rules apply to you and your summer tyres in relation to water dispersal? i.e. ditching them at 4mm (probably when they should go on this basis?).
I had set of part-worn winters last year 5-4mm all round and they were immense in snow. Very very good grip. As they were 17" I sold them on with 15% loss over purchase price before winter so made a good deal. For this winter I got separate set of 16" Audi alloys and 4 new Dunlops Winter Sports 3D with 8mm of brand spanking new thread so I'm hoping for heavy snowfalls in October ;-)
Good point about the same being applied to summers (or not). TBH though I'm using Michelin Energy Savers and they don't seem to be wearing at all from what I can tell... at this rate they won't need replacing (whether at 4mm or below) until I'm ready to swap the car anyway. 
I think I'll check the tread on my winters and take a view. Sounds like they're still effective around 4-5mm so unless I'm already close to that tread depth, they're probably fine for this season.
I think I'll check the tread on my winters and take a view. Sounds like they're still effective around 4-5mm so unless I'm already close to that tread depth, they're probably fine for this season.
That was my thought too.Those Goodyears must be something special as I thought my TS830s were amazing in the snow last year and they seem to score quite a bit lower than the Ultragrip 8s do...
Would be nice to see a few more of the European winter tyre tests completed, see if the results are consistent.
The Semperit was a surprise, second in both tests !
Also surprising was the Michelin Alpins coming a fair way down the list.
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And the Blizzaks ......
Yet the KUMHO IZEN range weren't even tested - i've been running these and really rate them.
Yet the KUMHO IZEN range weren't even tested - i've been running these and really rate them.
Decided Im gonna take the plunge and get some winter tyres this year after reading through this thread. Didnt have many problems last year, the roads here barely moved above 30mph, usually a 4x4 holding everyone up! but I did get a few frights where I lost grip and would hate to have even a slow(ish) smash. As has been mentioned it isnt really costing more as it will extend my summer tyres by about the same and hoping to get cheap wheels.
So, have decided Im gonna get some used 16" alloys and new rubber, not totally decided yet but looking like the vredestein snowtrac. Ive found a few wheels on ebay but not confident I have all the sizes correct. Here goes....
I have 57 Leon FR TDI, completely standard, currently on the standard 17" alloys.
Looking for 16", 5 stud, 112mm stud diameter wheels (fairly sure this is correct). Been looking at Audi, Seat, VW and Skoda wheels.
Rim width? Does this matter (will buy tyres to match) some I found have 7J, is this ok for the car?
Is there anything else I have to look for?
Thanks for any advice
So, have decided Im gonna get some used 16" alloys and new rubber, not totally decided yet but looking like the vredestein snowtrac. Ive found a few wheels on ebay but not confident I have all the sizes correct. Here goes....
I have 57 Leon FR TDI, completely standard, currently on the standard 17" alloys.
Looking for 16", 5 stud, 112mm stud diameter wheels (fairly sure this is correct). Been looking at Audi, Seat, VW and Skoda wheels.
Rim width? Does this matter (will buy tyres to match) some I found have 7J, is this ok for the car?
Is there anything else I have to look for?
Thanks for any advice
I just searched for my old FR TFSI wheels and the mytyres site said I need
"6½ x 16**5 x 112.00 x 57.00 ET: 50.00 5-hole steel wheel (9915)" so I'm pretty sure that's what you need too.
Good choice opting for winter tyres... It's really night and day difference when there's snow on the roads. It's been 29 degrees C today though! Madness!
"6½ x 16**5 x 112.00 x 57.00 ET: 50.00 5-hole steel wheel (9915)" so I'm pretty sure that's what you need too.
Good choice opting for winter tyres... It's really night and day difference when there's snow on the roads. It's been 29 degrees C today though! Madness!
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