(Boring) Another tyre thread -- which winter tyres?

jase1

OK, please let's not get into any arguments about winter tyres, part-worns or any of that other stuff. I'm just interested in people's views on the best VFM in this sector.

I have bought a second set of wheels very cheaply (£10, almost brand-new, bloke I bought them from just wanted space back in his garage). Looking around the various tyre sites, and reading various forums I've come up with the following shortlist. Don't really want to spend a massive amount on them (I've always been a mid-range buyer and will probably remain so) but I am open to comments (all prices are for 205/55/16).

I'd prefer a winter-biased tyre as opposed to a snow plugger.

1) Nexen Winguard Sport, £55. Korean tyre, seem to be reasonably well liked (the older Winguards weren't so hot, these seem much better).
2) Falken HS-439, £65. Japanese, good quality but apparently better in the wet than the snow.
3) Nankang SV-2, £57. Taiwanese, get good reviews but I'd need some persuading as some older Nankang tyres were pretty ropey.
4) Nokian WR G2, £80. Finnish tyre with a good reputation but I'm concerned that they are more a snow tyre than anything else, and they are expensive.
5) Winter Tact WT90, £38. These are remoulds (shudder), but seem to be well-regarded in their native Germany. They look OK but the old stigmas about reliability are present in my mind. There seems to be a consensus that these are a sensible purchase as rear tyres, with better quality rubber such as the Nokian out front, on a FWD car, as they have good grip but are perhaps not the last word in handling.

Any suggestions appreciated. Bear in mind that these will probably be on the car for four months of the year or so so I need to make sure I buy the right rubber.

mikey72

I've got the Nokians.
Can't really compare them to the others, but they're amazing on snow and ice compared to the Michelin Energy,
They don't rate top of the class in the wet for aquaplaning, but they're at least as good as the Michelins are in the wet.
I have noticed they snatch after the come out of deep water at high speed, which suggests they have been aquaplaning, but then again every other tyre I've had has done that, but they're fine on corners.

I have them on the front, and a chinese mud and snow all season tyre on the back, that I was given to try out.

The car has been perfect all winter, absolutely no drama at all, unlike last year when the Michelins were all over the place on the front.
Only way I could get it to slide was by using the handbrake.

Flying-High_2

Those prices are they fitted?...

Have a look at Reifen.com they'll ship 4 to the UK for under 20Euros..

I've just had quick look and they'll do 4 BF Goodrich G Grip Winters for under £320shipped they'd be my choice... Nokians are similar.

BF Goodrich are part of Michelin.... All 3 of mine are on Goodrich now... Not a Conti in sight;)

TiTheRev

+1 for the Nokians. They got all the rave reviews when I was searching in November, and there's even some links on YouTube for videos of guys doing 40+ mph on ice/snow and cornering with no troubles.

Personally ended plumping for some Pirelli SottoZero's (part worn) which have done me proud...except they have developed slow punctures *lesson learnt*

mikey72

Flying-High wrote: »

Those prices are they fitted?...

Have a look at Reifen.com they'll ship 4 to the UK for under 20Euros..

I've just had quick look and they'll do 4 BF Goodrich G Grip Winters for under £320shipped they'd be my choice... Nokians are similar.

BF Goodrich are part of Michelin.... All 3 of mine are on Goodrich now... Not a Conti in sight;)

mytyres.co.uk are another good german supplier, but they have increased their prices over the last few months.
They may be the same company, certainly a similar name on the german website, reifendirekt.de

jase1

The BFGs are quite a bit more expensive for my size (around £50-60 more for four) than the Nokians that were already on the upper limit of what I'd like to spend.

(ah, I see, they are £81 each on mytyres, in which case they are on the list -- only problem being that that price is for speed T, which is the lower limit of what is acceptable for the car).

No the prices aren't fitted, but my local garage will happily sort them for a fiver a tyre if I'm bringing the car in for a service at the same time.

I note that mikey72 mentions having no issue with having lesser tyres at the back -- is this a viable way of keeping the price down?

jase1

I think the problem with the prices is more due to the weakness of the pound than anything else

Flying-High_2

mikey72 wrote: »

mytyres.co.uk are another good german supplier, but they have increased their prices over the last few months.
They may be the same company, certainly a similar name on the german website, reifendirekt.de

Not sure if they're linked...

Reifen = Tyre

jase1

No I don't think they are. Their websites are totally different (reifen.com vs mytyres), although I think reifendirekt is mytyres (aren't they both Delticom?).

Flying-High_2

jase1 wrote: »

.

(ah, I see, they are £81 each on mytyres, in which case they are on the list -- only problem being that that price is for speed T, which is the lower limit of what is acceptable for the car).

Seems a lot of the Winter stuff is only T Rated... 118mph that is.

More than enough for a Safety concious commuter in a cold winter;) Dont want to be skating about do we?... PM me if you go for BFGs and I'll have them off you when they get to 3mm in a few years:D

jase1

It's more an insurance thing in all honesty -- I *think* T is fine but I'd need to be sure.

And yes you can have them when they hit 3mm