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Winter tyre reviews

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
or Toyo open country. Much cheaper than our current Continentals on Tyreleader/
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Boris wrote:
Ok, have been looking around ebay and there are few packages out there which look tempting.

BUT.................

Could someone please explain how I know what Rim Width I have Puzzled The options are 6J or 7J but I only ever order tyres as 205/55 R16 never been asked rim width before! Tape measure guesstimate says 7

A 205 will go on a 6" rim no problem, I'd say that was a better size than putting it on a 7".
Normally the rim size is stamped on the rim somewhere, otherwise it's a tape measure job, much easier to do without a tyre fitted however.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Hells Bells wrote:
or Toyo open country. Much cheaper than our current Continentals on Tyreleader/

That's because they're rubbish compared to the Continentals
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Spyderman, that's what I wanted to know, apparently fitted to Audis so I thought they might be OK.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Spyderman, thanks - had a good look at tim and handbook but nothing obvious anywhere

So next stupid question - assume current wheels are 6", if I buy a complete set which are 7" am I screwed, or vice versa? Complete guess but won't the bolts be too long/short
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Boris wrote:


So next stupid question - assume current wheels are 6", if I buy a complete set which are 7" am I screwed, or vice versa? Complete guess but won't the bolts be too long/short


Bolts will probably be ok but may mess up your suspension geometry or rub on your wheel arches.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Boris, You need to check the offset of the 7" rim over the 6" rim, the rims on the inside can run very close to suspension parts, on the outside they cannot protrude beyond the bodywork. Bolt fixing will be the same, the wheel won't be any thicker. Easy to check, does the manufacturer offer a 7" rim as as option? if it does you should be fine fitting them.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
putting the wrong sized wheels and tyres on your cars can void the insurance ..you can do it if the profile of the tyres is adjusted to compensate for the smaller rims but they have to have the same rolling radius otherwise the gearing is altered...heck with the handbook and your insurance company if you put anything other on
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
So after much debate, think I'm going to take the same approach as do with the Disco - run Winter tyres all year! For the cost of swapping them over twice a year, can buy another tyre or 2.

So come on then SH - recommendations and prices for 205//55 R16
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I'm after a set of 4no 215 40 17's for OH's A1, seen some 45's at the right price, is it ok to go 45 rather than 40?

Tried making contact with the Tyremen SH guy on here at the weekend to ask and for a quote. Any thoughts from anyone?

Cheers
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Markymark29 wrote:
I'm after a set of 4no 215 40 17's for OH's A1, seen some 45's at the right price, is it ok to go 45 rather than 40?

Tried making contact with the Tyremen SH guy on here at the weekend to ask and for a quote. Any thoughts from anyone?

Cheers


The max recommended variation in overall size is 2.5% - See here http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html

A 215/45 17 will be about 3.5% bigger than a 215/40 17 so probably not close enough

A 205/45 17 is within 2% and a 195/45 17 is within 0.5% of the original size.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Boris wrote:
So after much debate, think I'm going to take the same approach as do with the Disco - run Winter tyres all year! For the cost of swapping them over twice a year, can buy another tyre or 2.

So come on then SH - recommendations and prices for 205//55 R16


What cost? It's a DIY job, even with a crappy scissor jack. Takes about an hour IME
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Red Leon, with another set of wheels yes is DIY job - not DIY job to swap the tyres only
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Markymark29, Tyreman will give you advice on the phone. I. Getting my winter wheels fitted by him tomorrow.
After that it will be DIY,p.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
These questions may have been asked before but I couldn't find any reference.

When putting handed/directional snow tyres back on the Scooby Forester AWD for the winter should those that were on the front last year go on the rear this year, does it matter?

Do I need a right and a left side spare or would one non-directional snow tyre be temporarily OK for either side?

If there's only one directional spare how great would the effect be if it was in the 'wrong' side?

Could this be reduced by putting chains on it (and the other tyre on that axle of course)?
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
jbob, could you PM me his name and tel no please?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Boris wrote:
Red Leon, with another set of wheels yes is DIY job - not DIY job to swap the tyres only


Apologies - I have just read your previous post properly. I'll get me coat Embarassed
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Markymark29 wrote:
jbob, could you PM me his name and tel no please?


http://www.tyremen.co.uk/customer-service/about-us
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Red Leon, no probs, there has been much discussion of options and sep wheels was one, mind you if you have your coat on could you give the car a clean Laughing
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Having just looked at Tyreman prices, may well go for the wheels and tyres package - cracking prices Cool

Is there a SH discount Puzzled
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More winter tyre reviews here ............

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/66645/winter-tyres-test-reviews-and-prices-2013
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Quote:

the wheels and tyres package

not available for my vehicle, it seems. That's what you get for buying an obscure specialist car in order to stand out from the crowd. wink
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
DB, thanks for link - Octavia as test car as well - how handy! Think confirms my prefrence for the Continental tyres
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Just going to add to this one...

I'm looking for a set of winter runflats for my 530d estate, as i dont really want to have to fund a spare and extra tyre, nor do i fancy the gunk kit, and nor do i fancy taking 4 people to switzerland in OH panda. Are they largely the same in terms of performance compared to their non-RF counterparts? Looking for a 225-50-17 or equivalent

Contenders seem to be the michelin pilot alpin PA2, Dunlop wintersport 4D or Pirelli Sottozero W210 S2. Thoughts/experience of any of these on a big RWD car.

Also thoughts on ditching the runflats for winter, and what you'd recommend as a puncture repair kit. I can get a good deal on Conti TS830P in non RF, but not sure if it will end up costing me more if i need to buy a 5th wheel and tyre
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I was glad of my winter tyres this morning, loads of ice on the roads, have the gritters not woken up from their summer hibernation yet?
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I don't like not having a spare and I don't like spacesavers either. My solution was to buy a single secondhand alloy wheel on ebay (£10 I think) and fit it with the least worn of the winter tyres from the set I was replacing. This now lives in the spare wheel well all year round. If I get a flat in the summer I'll just run on 3 x 17" summer tyres and one 16" winter one until I can get the puncture fixed /replaced. In the winter I would still have 4 x winter tyres though one on an odd wheel which I can live with.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I swapped mine over yesterday. The local garage that supplied them originally did not charge and we only have the one set of rims.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
DJL, my plan if I go down wheel route, which is looking likely, is to use one as spare as only have a can of gunk. Will also mean less storage needed in garage!
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I have Gyear Ultraplus 7s and about to change fronts as garage mucked up tracking last winter and trashed front tyres in just over 1000 miles. Was well impressed with them over 2 winters.
7 no longer available, so getting 8s on a good deal. Is it best to fit new winter tyres at front or rear on a fwd car? Normal thinking is new at rear as weight is thrown forward under breaking and so rears can maintain breaking with greater tread depth, but not so sure with winter tyres. With weight being thrown forward and on ice an snow, it seems better to have the grip at the front.
Current rears are at 7mm.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
colinstone, 7mm is virtually new so I wouldn't worry. Conventional wisdom is best on the back to avoid ends swapping under hard braking.

As I do my best to avoid hard breaking in winter but sometimes need optimum traction I tend to put new or best tyres on the from to maximise the chances of getting up the hairpin bend into our apartment.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi all,

Apologies for my absence, the threat of snow in the UK has meant that we have gone insanely busy with all winter related product and I must admit I'm struggling to keep track of forum threads. If anyone needs any specific advice please either PM me or get in touch; info@tyremen.co.uk or 08456 807 808 and please make sure you mention snowheads and I'll look after you as best as I can.

Phill.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
tyremen, thanks for your advice and the deal we've sorted, see your lads on 30th.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
That's my winter tyres on. Have gone for something different this year. Avon Ice touring. Will report back on how they perform.
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Sold my very old Vito which has Vredestein Comtracs on that did three trips out to the Alps and a total of around 18 weeks and a fair amount of driving all over the place, one tyre was worn but that was down to the van as opposed to the tyre the others still had around 5k in them according to my tyre guy.

New van, a T30 Highline that came with a nice set of alloys, and I managed to get them to throw in the old steels so have had new tyres put on those.

My guy who runs a big tyre place close to where I live opted this time for GT Radials Maxmiler WT 215 / 65 R16s and looking at the spec and reviews seems a pretty rock solid choice for light commercial vehicles.

I'll be going out for the whole season mid December driving out pretty loaded up, then dropping kit off at La Tania and Tignes before heading down to Serre Che, so majority of my driving then will be with not so much load in, that said I have a very steep hill to get up to where I live, and that's not the bad bit, it's the coming back down as the T junction can be the quite busy (Briancon / Grenoble road) and last year having spent nigh on a hour digging the van out then on driving out had to steer it into a drift on the hill to stop me sliding out into the road!

So not taking any chances this season as I don't really want to dent my nice new toy so will also be carrying some Thule Easy-Fit CU9 chains that you're meant to be able to fit in 12 seconds, vids looks most impressive, so will review once I get them, though one thing putting them on here in the dry and another in the dark on the side of the road in a dump!

First week of Jan I'm commuting backwards and forwards to La Grave as I'm on a course, though do have options to stay should I need to, so will very much be keeping one eye on the weather that week, though that's pretty obvious bearing in mind the course I'm doing Confused
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Had my winter wheels and tyres fitted yesterday, went for the conti 830p. Got them done at tyremen, in Hull, great service, very professional and I would recommend them highly.
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Got a set of 4 very lightly used Avon Ice Touring ST's on flee bay 225 40 18's if anyone interested? Changed car and don't fit the new one.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Markymark29, bug, they would have fitted my car.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Markymark29, how much you wanting?
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Will PM you.
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jbob, sorry, never thought about putting them on here. Have put stuff on in the past and not had any success so just put on flee bay.
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