 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I'm considering getting a set of winter tyres and a set of spare wheels for my Laguna. The greasemonkey at my local kwikfit didn't know what a winter tyre was, so wasn't able to give me an idea of price. Any idea of how much winter tyres are, and how much a set of wheels might be? Tyre size is 225/45 R17.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Did you ask for M+S (Mud and Snow) they may understand that ?
I'd buy them on the mainland there more geared up overhere for what your after.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
doesn't the Laguna have some clever stuff in the wheels though?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
ise, do you mean the tyre pressure sensors?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
rob@rar.org.uk, I am also considering this for the Laguna if we don;t change it before the Winter, I know the alloys are about £130 each . Try on www.mytyres.com for quotes for the tyres.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Helen Beaumont, hopefully regular wheels will be much cheaper than that. Alloys plus new tyres would not make it a worthwhile proposition for me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helen Beaumont, what about a quick trip to the car breakers for a second set of wheels ? Must be cheaper than retail
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D G Orf, that idea is being looked at, but we have so far been unable to find one (there is one buckled on our car at the moment). rob@rar.org.uk, I noticed somw winter tyres on mytyres for about 85 squids each.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
rob@rar.org.uk, get them in Albertville, le Feu Vert is part of Geant/Casino, cheapest prices & they'll change your summer tyres for winter tyres at no cost, other than buying the winter tyres from them. They usually have promotions starting in Nov.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David@traxvax, thanks for that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
The last set I bought was around 130euro per tyre/wheel with steel rims IIRC, that was from Germany which seem the cheapest. I need a new set for this winter but I've not looked at the prices yet. The local outlets will start sending offers out soon so it's not worth expending effort just yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
ise, if I could get that price without too much hassle I think I'd go for the winter tyres option.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've heard of much higher prices here in Switzerland and France, I don't know if Germany is cheap or just our local place was exceptional. I'm considering popping up there to get a new set though and getting them to store my summer tyres.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
rob@rar.org.uk
I did this on my peugeot 306. Steel rims cost me £10 each - they were clogging up the dealships shelves following a client upgrade to alloys. Avon M&S tyres about £85 apiece, fitted to drive wheels only. I put them on in November, took them off in April and never got stuck anywhere in the UK, whilst my wife was spinning our 4wd Subaru off the road, and not getting up the hill out of our village. The tyres last for ever so your summer tyres don't cost as much longterm either.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
I hadn't thought of fitting only to the drive tyres. Is this recommended or frowned on? It would certainly help with cost and storage if I only needed two wheels rather than four.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Just as you would fit snowchains to your driven wheels, if you ony have two snow tyres you would fit them on the driven wheels as well. Not as effective as fitting four snowtyres, but cheaper, and certainly more effective than four ordinary tyres.
Friends of mine in SW germany have two sets of wheels: a nice set of alloys with "summer" tyres: and a nasty-looking set of steel rims and winter tyres. They just swap the sets over twice a year.
Bear in mind you would still be required to carry snowchains in many parts of europe, no matter what tyres you have on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Try e-bay for spare sets of wheels can sometimes pickup bargains.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| rob@rar.org.uk wrote: |
| I hadn't thought of fitting only to the drive tyres. Is this recommended or frowned on? It would certainly help with cost and storage if I only needed two wheels rather than four. |
I really don't think this is a good idea at all. It's not analogous to snow chains at all, snow tires aren't traction devices. You need them on all four wheels if you intend to stay on the road or use your brakes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Yeah, but if he can only afford two snow tyres then that is a better option than snowchains: snowtyres will help with traction, braking and steering.
Definitely agree 4 snow tyres are preferable tho.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
rob@rar.org.uk, r u out there for the whole winter ? If not, then the wear on winter tyres driving back across France may be an issue ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| the ice perv wrote: |
Yeah, but if he can only afford two snow tyres then that is a better option than snowchains: snowtyres will help with traction, braking and steering.
|
I really don't see that at all. Winter tyres are not a replacement for traction devices such as chains. They're definitely not a better option, in fact they're not an alternative at any level. Having winter tyres doesn't mean you don't need chains.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ski wrote: |
| rob@rar.org.uk, r u out there for the whole winter ? If not, then the wear on winter tyres driving back across France may be an issue ? |
No sadly not. Just one or two trips to the Alps by car each season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ski wrote: |
| rob@rar.org.uk, r u out there for the whole winter ? If not, then the wear on winter tyres driving back across France may be an issue ? |
No, winter tyres are meant to be used on the road, it's kind of the point. They are not intended just for getting traction in snow. They should provide better grip and handling in lower temperatures on normal road surfaces. Anything below 4'c depending on the exact rubber compounds. In fact the harder compounds of winter tyres gives them probably a longer lifetime than summer tyres.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Martin, Yes i got my 306s wheels for £10 each from a breakers, however my tyres were only £40 so for £100 all in I was sorted.
They are infinately better than conventional tyres but perhaps because mine only cost £40 they only lasted 3 seasons. I only use them on the front which is fine, but you do need to be conscious that traction at the back is less !
Ise, I thought winter tyres had softer not harder compounds, to provide better traction in lower temperatures. I would therefore exepect them to wear out faster than conventional tyres?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
feels harder when I dig my fingernail in  not very scientific though.
My experience has been they last longer and I get better fuel consumption though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Yes they do last longer .. and some people claim that they are better (if noisier) for summer use but I have never used them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
On my car all season tyres last for a shorter time than normal tyres and winter tyres a lot less time, but the winter tyres were cheap Stunners, the all season I'm using at the moment are expensive Vredestein quatracs. That might account for the diference. I've usually only had all season or winter tyres on the front (drive) wheels and they make a big difference to whether or not you get up hills in snowy conditions. In fact last year driving up to the lecht I had an easier time in my 2wd skoda with Vredestein quatracs than an AWD subaru with summer tyres. I've only once had problems with the back stepping out unexpectedly, but I had planned to fit quatracs all round this year. Unfortunately the local garage couldn't get any quatracs when I needed new rear tyres. So come the winter I'll probably move the quatracs to the back and put a pair of Vredestein snows on the front with one of my sets of spare rims. For spare rims it may be worth checking with a main dealer. I got four steel rims thrown in free when I bought my car 2nd hand as the dealer was selling a new fabia with optional alloys and the steel rims were surplus. Dealer said they just skip the steel rims normally.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| rob@rar.org.uk wrote: |
| I hadn't thought of fitting only to the drive tyres. Is this recommended or frowned on? It would certainly help with cost and storage if I only needed two wheels rather than four. |
Here's what Michelin have to say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Just spoke to a nearby tyrefitter who seemed more knowleadgable than my local kwikfit. They said that they can order in winter or snow tyres for me, price is similar to standard summer tyres. They also have a winter tyre service where you can rent winter tyres and they charge per mile (they fit winter tyres onto your exisiting rims, and store your summer tyres). Cost is around 2p to 4p per mile depending on the tyres you use (I think this was for the set of 4 tyres, not per tyre). This might be a better option for me as normally I fly to the Alps, driving occasionally when I need to take stuff out to the apartment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
rob@rar.org.uk, That sounds rather good, are they part of a chain (no pun intended!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Peter S,
My winter tyres did about 36000 miles and looked only half worn, diesel motor on top of them so they were well loaded, but gave fantastic traction - the limiting thing was the speed rating limited me to 70mph, OK for UK but not long slogs to the alps on the motorway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| eEvans wrote: |
| Yes they do last longer .. and some people claim that they are better (if noisier) for summer use but I have never used them. |
They might need better summer tyres On a hot road surface the traction's just not there on the winter tires for me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Martin Nicholas wrote: |
Peter S,
My winter tyres did about 36000 miles and looked only half worn, diesel motor on top of them so they were well loaded, but gave fantastic traction - the limiting thing was the speed rating limited me to 70mph, OK for UK but not long slogs to the alps on the motorway. |
My TS790-V's were rated to, well "V" obviously That's about 150mph. My experience was they weren't so good over about 220kph though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| Quote: |
Having winter tyres doesn't mean you don't need chains.
|
That's what I said in my original post, ise,
| Quote: |
Bear in mind you would still be required to carry snowchains in many parts of europe, no matter what tyres you have on.
|
I've heard many anecdotes which state that using winter tyres will either delay or obviate the need for snowchains until conditions get really, really bad. My own experience driving through the snow in Yorkshire in my mates' car: on winter tyres, we overtook several herberts in blizzard conditions, who were either stranded helpless, or were struggling to fit chains as we sailed past feeling v smug & warm. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
ise, Oh, I don't know - how many days in the UK are over 8-9 degrees C  But seeing as we're on the subject. The misconception about "winter Tyres' has raised itself again here. They are not 'Snow and Ice' tyres, rather they work in colder, damper conditions more effectively. They are obviously a vast improvement on Snow/Ice etc as well
So in suggesting that they shouldn't be used for driving back to the UK, I would respectfully suggest that whoever wrote that is wrong.
No, I'll be blunter.... They are totally incorrect.
Those of us who have been to Germany , Northern France, Northern Italy etc. between October and May will have noticed that cars "With summer tyres" are the exception , not the rule. It's only the Brits who don't use them as a matter of routine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| boredsurfin wrote: |
| rob@rar.org.uk, That sounds rather good, are they part of a chain (no pun intended!) |
I don't think so: http://www.felthamtyre.co.uk/ They are very near Heathrow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So thats 40-80 per journey for me, but then I'm nowhere near Heathrow to pick them up. Maybe I should ring round our local places.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All tyres (inc winter tyres) are not equal. Here's a winter tyre test from the Austrian AA (in german).
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/pages/resshp/anwendg/1111601.html
Basically these are the winners
Tyre Size 165/70 R 14 T
Winners = Continental WinterContact TS 780, Michelin Alpin A2 and Semperit Winter Grip
Tyre Size 205/55 R 16 H
Winners = Bridgestone Blizzak LM 25, Continental WinterContact TS 810 and Pirelli W 210 Sottozero
Also very good = Pilot Alpin PA2 and Uniroyal MS plus 55.
Not good / avoid = Goodyear Vector 5
http://www.oeamtc.at/tests/reifen/
They also tested 4x4's with summer & "all-year", not winter tyres in winter conditions. They concluded that it was really dangerous as the braking distances were so much longer.
Last edited by After all it is free  on Tue 6-09-05 11:19; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DB and ise, ta very much.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
