2017 Winter Tyres thread

[Kev_Mc]

It's that time of year again.

I'm looking to get some winter tyres for my 9-5 Aero.

I had Continental (Continental WinterContact-TS-850 195/60 R15 88T) on my 9-3 hatch which is now gone.

Had Nokian (Nokian WR A3 215/55 R16 97H XL ) previously, and these felt like they had more grip than the Continentals, but this was on a different car so hard to tell.

I prefer grip to a tyre that lasts longer (I don't see the attraction in being able to admire the 6mm left on the tyres as it lays upside down in a hedge). 

Any recommendations for this winter?   

[sgould]

Nokian have changed to an A4 which looks similar.

The Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme were very good, but are directional and when I damaged the two nearside wheels in a pothole, it was a fag to get things sorted so that I didn't end up with two new tyres on one side and half worn on the other.

Continental are good. So are Dunlop.  But I only have experience of the first two.

[Audax]

Any recommendations for this winter?   

Unless you really really need some dedicated winter tyres (in which case you'd probably want nordic studded tyres) you buy some Michelin cross climate tyres and leave them on all year round. Job Done. Really there is nothing more to be said.

[Kev_Mc]

Unless you really really need some dedicated winter tyres (in which case you'd probably want nordic studded tyres) you buy some Michelin cross climate tyres and leave them on all year round. Job Done. Really there is nothing more to be said.

Hadn't considered All Season Tyres to be honest. As long as they're good enough to keep me on the road in the snow that's all I'd need.

I will look into those as that would save me a packet. My current tyres are crap - 3 Pirellis (though all mis-matched) and a Nexen which doesn't hold air too good.

[Audax]

Hadn't considered All Season Tyres to be honest. As long as they're good enough to keep me on the road in the snow that's all I'd need.

I will look into those as that would save me a packet. My current tyres are crap - 3 Pirellis (though all mis-matched) and a Nexen which doesn't hold air too good.

I'd say the Cross Climates are better than "all season" tyres, they're all season while being proper winter tyre rated too. I've not had a chance to try them in actual snow but when it has been slippery and slushy, watching videos and reading reviews suggest nobody has complaints about them in snow. I've had them on my 9-3 Aero now for just under a year, they are wearing slowly and have been great in summer, wet and winter. In all honesty I can't see myself using anything different in the future.

[sgould]

Indeed.  The Cross Climate are a level above "all season tyres".

Nokian do a similar tyre that they call "Weatherproof".  There may be others on the market by now.

As an aside, my Nokian A3 are labelled "All weather plus".  I have run them through the summer without any real noticeable handling or wear issues.  And I find them very quiet.

[Audax]

Indeed.  The Cross Climate are a level above "all season tyres".

Nokian do a similar tyre that they call "Weatherproof".  There may be others on the market by now.

As an aside, my Nokian A3 are labelled "All weather plus".  I have run them through the summer without any real noticeable handling or wear issues.  And I find them very quiet.

I would happily try the Nokian if they were cheaper but since the Michelin have been so good I think I may be lazy and just keep using them. The Nokian WR G2 I had on the 9-5 (which I think the WR A3 is the replacement for) went through a couple of summers with absolutely no problems although they did give a bit of a bouncy castle style ride so if you want performance I would be slightly wary of that compared to the cross climates.

[sgould]

I usually try and stick with tyres I know.  The Cross Climates get very good reviews and that type of tyre may be the way to go in future, for me, when I change the car.  But having bought a second set of wheels a few years ago, I will stick with the two sets.

I just had a quick look at the www.mytyres.co.uk website and they are doing the 225/45 17 XL Cross Climate at £118.50 and the Nokian Weatherproof at £90.80

[wrighar]

tyreleader.co.uk have 235/45*17 Nokian WRA3's for about £80 each currently if you don't mind new 2014 tyres

[Kev_Mc]

Didn't know there was a difference between Cross Climate and All Weather to be honest.

Thanks for all the info 

I'll be looking at Cross Climates - the set I have on the car now need binning, so I would have been looking at a set of Winters and Summers, so I should be saving a few quid whilst hopefully managing to stay on the road if we do get the odd sprinkling of snow this winter!

[sgould]

2014 is a bit old for winter tyres.  I think I read somewhere that winter tyres have an effective life of 4 years, and summer tyres about 6 years before the plasticisers have evaporated and reduced the grip.  That may be optimum life, and not actual.  And probably info from the manufacturers that can't be relied on.

[sgould]

The difference between the Weatherproof/Cross Climate tyres is the little "mountain and snowflake" symbol on the sidewall.  If you want a tyre that works better in cold weather and snow, the tyre needs this.

The "all season" tyres don't have the symbol and are just made with a tread pattern that looks to have more grip.

The "mountain & snowflake" symbol is not to be confused with "M&S" tyres which are sold as "Mud & Snow" tyres.  M&S is a very old description and is for tyres with an open tread pattern where the gaps in the tread are more than 30% of the contact patch.  There is no guarantee of the grippiness of the rubber.

[phoenix]

The Michelin Cross Climates have the mountain/snowflake symbol. I've got a set of 17s to go on my winter rims which will be done in the next couple of weeks then I can report on them.

[sgould]

This is the symbol that you need to find on the sidewall

[Kev_Mc]

On mytyres at least, I can't find 235/45 R17's - they only do 225/45 R17's.

My owners manual says 225's are okay for winter but recommends 235's for summer. I'll check blackcircles to see if they do Michellins in 235s.