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

mikey72

jase1 wrote: »

No I agree. Just highlighting some of the dangers of making assumptions.

I was shocked at the example I'd quoted -- I knew that the company in question made tyres for a bunch of companies so I looked them up, and then all of a sudden stories of shady practices popped up.

That said, most tyre companies have made mistakes over the years.

I dare say that the largest companies (Giti, HZ, Linglong, Triangle) will lead the next wave of cheap-but-good tyres, but I'm not sure they are there just yet.

Problem being though that there are a bunch of still smaller companies (Comar -- company behind Rotalla etc) that are still producing unmitigated junk.

It didn't seem that shady, and the litigation was worth muddying , and the tyres still conformed to all required standards.
From the article, Firestone had a much bigger recall, so it gets everyone in the end.

I would still say chinese tyres are worth watching, they catching up fast.
That and the only way to really know who made your tyre is to read it off the sidewall.

rsvtoddy

The big manufacturers only make winter tyres for approx. 1 month each year (July ish) so generally they are more readily available around October time.

As the Germans (and others) start re-ordering their replacements around November the availability goes down and the prices start going up.

I ordered in September!

HTH

mikey72

I bought my Nokians from Mytyres at the start of November last year.
Just checked the price with them, now they're exactly twice what I paid for them.

Hintza

I also heard good reports about Vredestein (but hadnt realised they had been taken over)

http://www.vredestein.co.uk/Banden_Bandgroepen.asp?UsersessionID=50629389&BandgroepID=2

jase1

Good shout mikey, thanks. If the tyres in my size could be bought for anything like £40 that would be an absolute bargain.

Hintza -- I have a completely open mind on this one, and I know that Vredestein tyres (summer or winter) are excellent. If the bargain happens to be a Vred I would buy without hesitation -- I think it's the Wintrac that gets rave reviews.

Strider590

mikey72 wrote: »

I bought my Nokians from Mytyres at the start of November last year.
Just checked the price with them, now they're exactly twice what I paid for them.

For this reason I shall be purchasing my winter tyre's (for next year) some time in the middle of May/June :cool:

Heard good things about the Falken and also one of the "budget" brands, as well as the Nokians. If my current tyre's need replacing by then I shall go for the Nokian entyre.

jase1

Yes, well this will give me an opportunity to locate some cheap tyre bags anyway

Whether the wheels ultimately go in the shed, or the loft (I haven't decided yet) they'll need to be covered up for various reasons.

It does seem as if just about any winter tyre will give significant benefits in the snow -- and of course any old piece of scabby rubber is adequate in the dry -- I just need to ensure that the wet and ice grip is up to the job.

Hintza

Strider590 wrote: »

For this reason I shall be purchasing my winter tyre's (for next year) some time in the middle of May/June :cool:

Bit of a bu$$er if as another respondent suggested they don't make them until July!

Strider590

Could always take the TopGear approach and fit a flamethrower to your car

flyingscotno1

Strider590 wrote: »

For this reason I shall be purchasing my winter tyre's (for next year) some time in the middle of May/June :cool:

Heard good things about the Falken and also one of the "budget" brands, as well as the Nokians. If my current tyre's need replacing by then I shall go for the Nokian entyre.

Two on the front of my car, decent in all conditions and excellent in the wet in my opinion. Bit of a loss of grip in the front from good summer tyres, but better than Kenda budget summer tyres. Really enjoying running them all year, great to have a tyre, no issues in rain or summer, come snow, and grip is still there even if a good Nokian winter tyre would keep going in deeper stuff. They really are a good balance, impressed with Nokian Tyres.