[Merv B]

Yes I know this is another winter tyres thread, but please dont shoot me down. Current thinking is hold off until the summer and buy some winters then when there is less demand rather than paying through the nose now. Afterall my car will be parked up until next year and dont have many big trips to make until March really. So can anyone give me an idea of what 225 45 17s would be during the summer months.

Cheers

Merv

[chris330D]

Not on sale until about September when the manufacturers do a run. They are expensive now because a limited number are produced each year.

[AlanQS]

I reckon semi-decent ones could be bought for about £600 for the set.

I understand some viewpoints towards them regarding the extra expense but in the long term, they will cost you nothing. Normal summer tyres wear faster during winter conditions than winter tyres - and vice versa, so if you mix use of winter and summer tyres, over a couple of years, your tyre expenditure works out about the same so all you are doing is spending some more up front.

[Merv B]

Thanks for the replies. I know from speaking to Goodyear that they schedule their production run around April.

At the moment I could possibly get some Nokians for £600 but was hoping to pay less out of season and just keep an eye out for some 17in style 159 or 188 rims to put them on in the meantime.

[briers]

Paid 488 for 4 wintrac xtremes mid october

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Merv B

...So can anyone give me an idea of what 225 45 17s would be during the summer months.

I know that Mytyres were showing Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme 225/45 R17 94V XL @ £148.10 each, in mid October, including delivery, not fitted.

By mid December were £170.10 each, when they went out of stock.

One or two others showed cheaper prices, but had no stock, even from early autumn.

May give a bit of an idea of how it changed into this winter.

Back in 2006 the same Vredestein tyre from Mytyres, was £110.70 in mid November.

HighlandPete

[ss134]

Check out German Ebay - there are loads of winter tyres on there in the size you want - a lot of them are used but in good condition, shipping will have to be negotiated with the seller (use google translate!) but you can get yourself an absolute bargain if you can be bothered:

http://cgi.ebay.de/225-45-17-91-H-Wi...item4cf3e3cb22

http://cgi.ebay.de/Vredestein-Quatra...item3a61a70347

http://cgi.ebay.de/Winterreifen-Cont...item230c970dda

[MOB]

In June I paid £100 for a set of 4 Dunlop 16" winters with 5/6mm of tread left - off eBay, and there were loads to choose from

[Giff]

How long do winters last? Is there a minimum tread depth for them to be effective in the snow? Does the compound "go off" quickly?

[Ti Rich]

I just paid £596 for a set of Falken Winter tyres to fit the OE rims.

[YvesD]

Originally Posted by Ti Rich

I just paid £596 for a set of Falken Winter tyres to fit the OE rims.

Rich,

I'm really interested to hear your opinion on these. We have 'normal' Falken ZIEX 912's on our Espace and have been very pleased with them so far.

Cheers

Yves

[Sukey]

Buying in September is a good scheme. From the experience of others this year, some very nice quality winter tyres could be had for less than half current prices.

Tyres have been hugely expensive this year because of the change in legal requirement in Germany and early snow here - this has been rehearsed at length elsewhere on the forum. Am guessing prices won't come down any, either, given that there are no more being manufactured, or at least very few, according to rumour.

Black Boots UK were very helpful and I got a set 2nd week in December by sitting on a waiting list and agreeing to £520 including delivery for a set of 4. Cheapest postage quote I've seen from delivery people, too.