Cheap 4x4

andy8442

Oh God! OP I'm soooo sorry but we've stirred up the Winter tyre debate again. This could run for awhile.

Lagopus

Which winter tyres are best on a budget? I've trawled around and there aren't many familiar names - Ling Long and Good ride sound pretty dodgy to me!

Also, would a spare set of steel rims (from the scrappy) be a better option than swapping the winter/summer from the alloys?

Common sense has prevailed!

Ghostrider

Well I bought a smaller set of rims 16" it makes it easier to swap them over each year.

What's your budget and what size tyres do you need?

Lagopus

Tyre size is 195/60 R15. I'm looking to spend £300 tops on rims and tyres. I'm thinking Kumho KW23's on the back and Bridgestone Blizzak on the front - hopefully rims won't cost much from our friendly scrappy.

Lum

Lagopus wrote: »

Which winter tyres are best on a budget? I've trawled around and there aren't many familiar names - Ling Long and Good ride sound pretty dodgy to me!

Linglong is one of those brandnames that are so well known that it is now used to describe a product regardless of who actually makes it (same as how everyone calls a vaccum cleaner a Hoover even if it's not made by Hoover). Only problem is, Linglong is used as the name for crap tyres! Never heard of Goodride.

Also, would a spare set of steel rims (from the scrappy) be a better option than swapping the winter/summer from the alloys?

It will work out cheaper in the long run. My local tyre place charge £40 to swap over a set of customer provided tyres onto the existing wheels, they charge £10 to just swap over a set of wheels with tyres already fitted, and there is always the option of doing this yourself.

mianjakesmummy wrote:

now i am a woman so my recommendation may be somewhat worthless

Please don't do this your opinion and experience is just as valid as anyone else's.

I would, however, suggest that it was the tyres that made the most difference, but 4wd certainly is going to make it easier especially when setting off, and the RAV4 is supposed to be a lot of fun.

mianjakesmummy

Lum wrote: »

Please don't do this your opinion and experience is just as valid as anyone else's.

I would, however, suggest that it was the tyres that made the most difference, but 4wd certainly is going to make it easier especially when setting off, and the RAV4 is supposed to be a lot of fun.

sorry i worded that badly - i didn't mean in all respects - i just meant in respects to cars (that was my rubbish attempt at trying to be funny in that some women don't really know alot about cars lol)

but yes the rav was ALOT of fun and it never once let me down or complain about the amount of times i accidentally mount the kerbs - it was also great at reverse parking - i would always make sure i reversed in front of hubby's car, when i heard the 'thump' i knew it was time to go forward, and not one scratch or dent (on my car anyway lol)

Ghostrider

Lagopus wrote: »

Tyre size is 195/60 R15. I'm looking to spend £300 tops on rims and tyres. I'm thinking Kumho KW23's on the back and Bridgestone Blizzak on the front - hopefully rims won't cost much from our friendly scrappy.

Well first of all I wouldn't mix tyres like that, stick with 4 the same - not only that but if you use this place for tyres they give an extra £20 discount for ordering 4 tyres. They also fit them at your home for you and you dont pay until they are fitted.

http://www.event-tyres.co.uk/yourorder.php?action=update

4 Cooper Winter tyres are £247 fitted and they are at least a known brand. I think the next ones up would either be the Kleber or the Avon tyres but that will work our just shy of £300 and blow all your budget.

You may have to hunt about and pay a slight bit more for your wheels. I'd recommend either a scrappy or actually even eBay for the wheels.

Another place for cheap winter tyres is https://www.mytyres.co.uk

fivetide

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

wasn't in Preston was it? sounds just like my estate. The council won't grit it but the only way on / off is a hill that leads straight onto a busy main road

No Yorkshire! But a similar thing. Salt ran out as well so it was just grit being chucked down in the end.

Nice vid from Ghostrider but I still reckon, on a road, driving sensibly and you come across a completely smooth section of black ice, you are in the hedge before you know it regardless of tyres.

My point wasn't that they don't work, I know they do, if you read back you'll see I said several times I had some on the scooby (Nokian WR for reference, very good kit actually) but readiong some of these posts you'd think changing the tyres made everyone into Juha Kankkonen or something.

Winter tyres help but they are in no way a silver bullet, you still need to drive to the conditions, that's all I'm saying.

5t.

Strider590

mianjakesmummy wrote: »

it never once let me down or complain about the amount of times i accidentally mount the kerbs

I've been driving 14 years and haven't once "accidentally mounted" a kerb, perhaps your car is too big for you?

andy8442

Lagopus wrote: »

Which winter tyres are best on a budget? I've trawled around and there aren't many familiar names - Ling Long and Good ride sound pretty dodgy to me!

Also, would a spare set of steel rims (from the scrappy) be a better option than swapping the winter/summer from the alloys?

Common sense has prevailed!

I got a set of Sunny winter tyres from mytires.com last year. They have been fine.I did about 5k over the winter and they seem hard worn, so I'm hoping to get a good few years out of them.