[Subzero2003]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Interesting. Expensive summer tyres and better than el-cheapo winter tyres according to that...

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

Hmmm...strange how they used Goodyear Excellence tyres as their "premium summer tyres" (which are actually strictly midrange tyres), instead of sticking a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric 2's on....

Strange that? Wouldn't you say? It's almost like they were afraid that they're "premium winter tyres" wouldn't show much of an improvement over their best summer tyre (F1A2), so they used a midrange summer tyre instead...

Michelin did the same thing in their test, they used Michelin Primacy HP tyres, which are midrange tyres, and compared them to their best winter tyres. Why didn't they use Pilot Sport 3's instead?

I don't think i've seen a tyre manufacturer who tests their BEST winter tyre against their BEST summer tyre. I wonder why...

[V8RM]

Right, despite not wanting to spend money on winter wheels, I feel I'm going to have to... just dont fancy 255s on 19s in ice n snow.

Question
Do I go for 17s i.e. cheaper inc. tyres or 18s?

The thought of smaller 17s with a train like appearance makes me shudder. If anyone can recommend a good 17" wheel with good offsets. ET 34 on an 8" rim is going to very narrow looking at the back IMO, but I think 17s make more sense TBH.

Spotted these 17s
http://www.bmautosport.co.uk/showroo...h=51_23_122_32

But then I like these 18s
http://www.********.com/index.php?ro...product_id=175

To be honest I don't want to go higher than £400 for wheels.

I may just continue to trudge through Ebay on a daily basis and try and get a set of older OEMS... that could take me to June though . Problem with Ebay is that a lot are cash on collection, which is ok if you have the time or live close by.

Opinions and thoughts are all welcome...

[davyk31]

I would go for 18s if I buy winters again, previously had 17s but they do look so small when you are used to the 19s. Reckon either a mint set of used 18s or a brand new set of 18s is the way to go. Given these will be on for a few months in the year its important to keep the looks decent so don't be tempted to go for a set of winter wheels that are badly marked unless you are happy enough to live with that.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by V8RM

Opinions and thoughts are all welcome...

Personally if I was going to get winter tyres, I'd get 17-inch. Cheaper. If you get a bad puncture and have to replace it in middle of winter, then it is easier to get a replacement.

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by V8RM

Right, despite not wanting to spend money on winter wheels, I feel I'm going to have to... just dont fancy 255s on 19s in ice n snow.

Question
Do I go for 17s i.e. cheaper inc. tyres or 18s?

The thought of smaller 17s with a train like appearance makes me shudder. If anyone can recommend a good 17" wheel with good offsets. ET 34 on an 8" rim is going to very narrow looking at the back IMO, but I think 17s make more sense TBH.

Spotted these 17s
http://www.bmautosport.co.uk/showroo...h=51_23_122_32

But then I like these 18s
http://www.********.com/index.php?ro...product_id=175

To be honest I don't want to go higher than £400 for wheels.

I may just continue to trudge through Ebay on a daily basis and try and get a set of older OEMS... that could take me to June though . Problem with Ebay is that a lot are cash on collection, which is ok if you have the time or live close by.

Opinions and thoughts are all welcome...

I've bought a set of 18" Riva DTMs for winter & they look very good for the money & the finish is excellent. Like you, I was undecided on 17" or 18" but they could be on the car for the best part of half a year, so I wanted something that looked OK. I don't see the point in saving £100 & hating the look of my car for months, every time I see it with horrible wheels!!

[V8RM]

Originally Posted by davyk31

I would go for 18s if I buy winters again, previously had 17s but they do look so small when you are used to the 19s. Reckon either a mint set of used 18s or a brand new set of 18s is the way to go. Given these will be on for a few months in the year its important to keep the looks decent so don't be tempted to go for a set of winter wheels that are badly marked unless you are happy enough to live with that.

I'm thinking new, unless I can see the used ones first... slightest blemish would annoy me.

Originally Posted by kaishang

Personally if I was going to get winter tyres, I'd get 17-inch. Cheaper. If you get a bad puncture and have to replace it in middle of winter, then it is easier to get a replacement.

I know what you are saying and my head says "yes I agree", the missus says "no" though

Originally Posted by IanS100

I've bought a set of 18" Riva DTMs for winter & they look very good for the money & the finish is excellent. Like you, I was undecided on 17" or 18" but they could be on the car for the best part of half a year, so I wanted something that looked OK. I don't see the point in saving £100 & hating the look of my car for months, every time I see it with horrible wheels!!

I'm liking the DTMs in Hyper Silver and I'm now convinced its got to be 18s or I'll not be happy. I've asked a wheel specialist for pricing inc tyres, so hopefully comes in at a good price. I've seen the wheels for £350 on Fleabay!

Any pics of yours?

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by V8RM

I'm liking the DTMs in Hyper Silver and I'm now convinced its got to be 18s or I'll not be happy. I've asked a wheel specialist for pricing inc tyres, so hopefully comes in at a good price. I've seen the wheels for £350 on Fleabay!

Any pics of yours?

It's the Hyper Silver I've got - The rims behind the spokes are a charcoal colour which makes the spokes stand out better - I'm afraid they're not fitted them yet so it would have to be a photo sat next to the car or close ups of the wheels themselves, let me know - I've put on 4 coats of Silicon Resin Polish/ EGP so hopefully they should stay fairly clean during the mucky weather

[V8RM]

Originally Posted by IanS100

It's the Hyper Silver I've got - The rims behind the spokes are a charcoal colour which makes the spokes stand out better - I'm afraid they're not fitted them yet so it would have to be a photo sat next to the car or close ups of the wheels themselves, let me know - I've put on 4 coats of Silicon Resin Polish/ EGP so hopefully they should stay fairly clean during the mucky weather

Cheers, actually saw a e90 in le mand today with them on, looked good. Wondering what gloss black would look like, thinking it would match gloss black window surrounding

[zebedee]

I have for sale on eBay a set of 205 55 16 winter tyres, Michelin Alpin, all with 8mm of tread.

Collection only in Dunfermline or near Belshill

eBay ref 330804735239

[pretendporsche]

For the people really worried about getting to work 'if' it snows in your area.

http://audisrs.com/

[Carjack]

Originally Posted by pretendporsche

For the people really worried about getting to work 'if' it snows in your area.

http://audisrs.com/

Audi? Too much torque steer for me!
With winter tyres my 320D M-sport gives me a real drive 365 days of the year under all conditions, except deep snow.
Audi? You must be joking!

[a11y]

Originally Posted by pretendporsche

For the people really worried about getting to work 'if' it snows in your area.

http://audisrs.com/

I take your offering and laugh at it: Don't stop me now

[Dizzle]

#WinterModeActivated

So this weekend I've swapped my wheels and my winter setup consists of Goodyear Ultragrip 7+ 205/55 R16 91H TL

I've a question concerning tyre pressures.... what's the ideal pressure to run on 16's for the winter tyre?

[kenno78]

Originally Posted by edowen

It isnt about just Snow. Winter tyres perform better than summer tyres below 7 degrees, and on ice, slush, dewy roads etc.

Not sure if that's just marketing schpeel. I put my winters on yesterday and with a small prod of the throttle got the wheels to light up. SWMBO panicked as we had our 2 month old in the back.

The summer tyres didn't spin at all in dewy conditions. :/

[jedster]

I agree. Was driving with my "summer" AS2s in freezing conditions last week, -2 at one point according to OBC, and I had absolutely no issues.

Put on the narrow 18" winters yesterday and have tc light kicking in all the time?

Originally Posted by kenno78

Not sure if that's just marketing schpeel. I put my winters on yesterday and with a small prod of the throttle got the wheels to light up. SWMBO panicked as we had our 2 month old in the back.

The summer tyres didn't spin at all in dewy conditions. :/

[davyk31]

If your winters are brand new they need a few miles to scrub the slippery surface off, apparently takes long than it would for a summer tyre.

[smacg]

Had a fair bit of Snow up in aberdeen this week so first time i've used the tyres in anything but wet and they have been brilliant. Im running Continental Winter contact TS830P all round on oem 18" MV3's. Some unfortunate fellow crashed this morning causing 5-8mile tail backs. this persuaded me to try the back roads as a wee test. Completely snow covered up a notoriously steep hill with T junction at the top and I conquered it with ease! Not even a hit of slip. I took some satisfaction (rightly or wrongly) passing an Audi stuck in a ditch,(after stopping and asking if they were ok of course!) Of course, they were on summer tyres so i am now convinced that winter tyres do make a hell of a difference!

[sa12]

Had my winter wheels (MV3 with Michelin Pilot Alpin) on for the last month and only really encountered 'winter' weather this last week. I have to say that I'm very pleased with the performance so far.

Car felt planted driving on fresh as well as compacted snow + slush & didn't feel like it was going to let go.

It was strange for me to be overtaking vehicles in snow without my butt cheeks gripping onto my seat in anticipation for the car twitching that you expect the first time you attempt this after the snow starts! This is usually followed by the sinking feeling of knowing that an hour of driving behind someone travelling 10mph slower than you're comfortable driving awaits because you're not happy overtaking!!

The argument on whether winter tyres are worth the outlay with our British weather will continue but IMO, I believe it's definitely worth the expense - especially if you do a lot of miles!

[addo402]

What tyre pressures are you all running on your winter tyres?

I'm running 18" Conti 830P on CSL Reps my Alpina D3. The recommended pressure on the car (in the drivers door) for winter tyres of the same size (albeit Winter Michelins) is 2.5bar on the front and 3.5bar on the rear. That's about 36 and 50psi! The tyres say on max pressure of 51psi!

I can understand the increased tyre pressure to open up the grooves, but 50psi seems a bit high. I put the rears up to 49psi cold and they went up to 52psi after a short run, so lowered them back down again.

Just wondering what non Alpina's have as a recommended pressure for winter tyres?

Cheers

[dotmit]

Living in the middle of London I don't think I need winter tyres, but I'd just get these if I needed them:
http://www.bmwgenuineparts.co.uk/pro...l-and-tyre-set

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by dotmit

Living in the middle of London I don't think I need winter tyres, but I'd just get these if I needed them:
http://www.bmwgenuineparts.co.uk/pro...l-and-tyre-set

Make sure they fit over your brakes?

[dotmit]

Oh, they probably do, I have a 325
But I wouldn't really ever buy them anyway unless I lived in the countryside!