Winter tyres?

sunshinetours

Goodyear Ultragrips 17" on mine replacing the Conti Sportcontacts 19" until March I reckon. First true test in the snow yesterday and as per Mikey the difference is amazing for stopping and steering especially. It was hard work getting enywhere last winter so gave up eventually and got train etc where i could but at least have the option this year of using the car in most weather we are liekly to get
Biggest shock was being able to attempt snow covered hills and back roads and having control whilst doing so!

jud!th

Ok so can anyone give me advice? Sorry if my questions seem a bit stupid...

I've got a W-reg Vauxhall Zafira and would like to get tyres for winter. Should I get the wheels with the winter tyres so I can change them over when the snow's all gone, or should I get tyres?

How do I shop around? What am I asking for if I'm comparing like for like?

What do I need to know/consider?

thanks very much

Inactive

sunshinetours wrote: »

. Maybe leave the thread for those who have fitted winter tyres this year after driving on summer ones last year? Personally I think THAT is the best advice I have given....

Oh a new self imposed Mod, silly old me, I thought that anybody could post their opinion on here, as long as it is within the rules.

Of course if I had spent a fortune on tyres that are only going to be possibly useful for a couple of months of the year, for 2 out of the last ten years, then I would perhaps need to justify the expense.

Any

jud!th wrote: »

Ok so can anyone give me advice? Sorry if my questions seem a bit stupid...

I've got a W-reg Vauxhall Zafira and would like to get tyres for winter. Should I get the wheels with the winter tyres so I can change them over when the snow's all gone, or should I get tyres?

How do I shop around? What am I asking for if I'm comparing like for like?

What do I need to know/consider?

thanks very much

What you need is the tyre size - that you find your current tyre - just look straight at it. for example mine is 185/60R15 84H. It's always in this form. If you tell tyre fitters that combination and what you want (winter tyre) they will find you suitable tyre.
If you are going just for tyres.

Whether it is better to get the wheels as well - if you can get them for good price, it is definitely worth it. Because our local garages charge £13 a tyre for swaping over. And some garages will not change over to used tyres at all. While swaping over the wheel should not be a problem for a man (so my OH says:D)

sunshinetours

Inactive wrote: »

Oh a new self imposed Mod, silly old me, I thought that anybody could post their opinion on here, as long as it is within the rules.

Of course if I had spent a fortune on tyres that are only going to be possibly useful for a couple of months of the year, for 2 out of the last ten years, then I would perhaps need to justify the expense.

Nope not new nor a mod (nor want to be thanks anyway)- you crack on and give us the benefit of your experiences - they brighten up the day even if they don't really add anything useful!

Not justifying anything to anyone just telling it how it is. Obviously where you live it stays above 7 degrees or so most years between December and March then..... Not even starting on the potential cost savings by having the right rubber on at the right time to save wear....

mikey72

jud!th wrote: »

Ok so can anyone give me advice? Sorry if my questions seem a bit stupid...

I've got a W-reg Vauxhall Zafira and would like to get tyres for winter. Should I get the wheels with the winter tyres so I can change them over when the snow's all gone, or should I get tyres?

How do I shop around? What am I asking for if I'm comparing like for like?

What do I need to know/consider?

thanks very much

I bought the winter tyres online, (same size as normal, 195/65/15).
I'd been watching ebay for a while, and picked up a full set of tyres and rims for £15.
I paid £10 a wheel to get the tyres put on, then swopped for the wheels on the car. I'll swop back in spring.

Inactive wrote: »

Oh a new self imposed Mod, silly old me, I thought that anybody could post their opinion on here, as long as it is within the rules.

Of course if I had spent a fortune on tyres that are only going to be possibly useful for a couple of months of the year, for 2 out of the last ten years, then I would perhaps need to justify the expense.

I get about 18 months out of a set of front tyres, I'll get three years out of two sets if I swop every year. Won't cost anything to have decent tyres on. In fact the Nokians were cheaper than the Michelins.

Lum

vaio wrote: »

Not what goodyear say, go to

http://eu.goodyear.com/uk_en/tires/repository/EagleF1GSD3_2/index.jsp

click the "compound" link on the right and you get....."The Eagle F1 GS-D3 tyre offers you supreme power transfer with demanding traction and braking in summer conditions."

which I think is diplomatic speak for "get some winter tyres or you will have an accident"

That's the exact tyre I have. I love them to bits as they are fantastic most of the time, even on soaking wet roads.

However they are awful in the snow as I found out last year. Didn't have an accident but did manage to get stuck up in the Brecons at 1AM (the joys of having a partner who likes to do night time photography) and ended up having to push the front end of the car around after getting stuck in the middle of a 3 point turn (someone had abandoned a car they'd crashed in the spot I'd originally planned to turn around it)

I have no intention of going through that crap again, so my Nokian WR-G2s are arriving at National Tyres on Penarth Road tomorrow lunch time

That said, I suspect someone with a more boring, but still high quality, tyre may well fare better in the winter than someone running Eagle F1s.

It's also moneysaving. The F1s are about £100 a corner, wheras the WR-G2s are £60 a corner so for 3-4 months of the year I will be putting wear on a cheaper tyre.

sunshinetours

jud!th wrote: »

Ok so can anyone give me advice? Sorry if my questions seem a bit stupid...

I've got a W-reg Vauxhall Zafira and would like to get tyres for winter. Should I get the wheels with the winter tyres so I can change them over when the snow's all gone, or should I get tyres?

How do I shop around? What am I asking for if I'm comparing like for like?

What do I need to know/consider?

thanks very much

As others have said - cheapest way is to find a cheap second hand set of wheels and avoid the change over costs by DIYing it each winter/spring

Other issues not mentioned are availability now that snow has arrived. You may have to take what is on offer rather than choosing best reviewed tyres etc

Also consider how long you will keep car as if only for another year or so you may not get value out of them , even though you may be able to sell on ebay

Any

sunshinetours wrote: »

As others have said - cheapest way is to find a cheap second hand set of wheels and avoid the change over costs by DIYing it each winter/spring

Other issues not mentioned are availability now that snow has arrived. You may have to take what is on offer rather than choosing best reviewed tyres etc

Also consider how long you will keep car as if only for another year or so you may not get value out of them , even though you may be able to sell on ebay

Not just "be able"...
I have Suzuki Swift and I cannot come accross single set of wheels on ebay!

Any ideas where else to look?

mikey72

I'd been looking for a while. You may be better off paying to get them put on your own rims this year.