V50 Wheels/Tyres : Winter tyres?

[961]

We bought a set of 4 Continental Winter tyres last winter and were the only ones that got out of our village on to the main road inc several 4wd jobs

Don't bother with snow socks. OK for a get you out of a stuck situation but very limited mileage

Buy a set of wheels from a breaker for the winter tyres to go on. Put them on beginning of November, take them off mid April. Job done!

[Daim]

Originally Posted by 961

We bought a set of 4 Continental Winter tyres last winter and were the only ones that got out of our village on to the main road inc several 4wd jobs

Don't bother with snow socks. OK for a get you out of a stuck situation but very limited mileage

Buy a set of wheels from a breaker for the winter tyres to go on. Put them on beginning of November, take them off mid April. Job done!

Winter tire recommendation here:

October til Easter (Oktober bis Ostern).

It basically is always right

[Bendolfc]

Originally Posted by tayandre

These guys have a good reputation and decent prices, delivery included:

www.mytyres.co.uk

Nice one for that feller, looks reasonably priced for 16 inch alloys & tyres. Deffo going to do it this year with regular trips down to Devon, almost lost it on the motorway last year - was quite lucky.

[v50inred]

Everybody says that the deals on Blackcircles and mytyres etc are amazing.

However I keep.checking and finsing that a large independant near me undercuts them every time.

I always check these online places and if I was saving I would buy from them but they haven't undercut yet.

I would give the advice to check a few locals as they may beat the online places.

I personally use Elite in Rainham.

I would add that winter tyres are a good idea if you have the storage room for the extra wheels and the money obviously.

My work uses Michelins exclusively and this year put on winters also Michelins.

Tried snowsocks and they were pretty useless in my opinion. As they can only really be used on uncleared roads. I never got stuck anyway.

[oldsteve]

A couple of other online retailers worth consideration :

http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/

Used Pneus for a set of winters (Vredestein) on my previous car. They were cheaper than Mytyres (including delivery) and had availability when many UK suppliers had no stock.

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/

Just received a set of Continental ContiWinterContacts 225/50 R17 98 V For my V70 from these guys. £15 per tyre less than any other supplier and free delivery. Ordered online over the weekend, order was confirmed on Monday and delivered this morning (Thursday). This is a well known Polish company who have only recently started to operate in the UK.

Of course as already mentioned, it is always worth taking online quotes to local tyre companies and giving them a chance to compete and don't forget to cost in the fitting price.

Steve

[tayandre]

Some very good prices on the Polish site. Might give them a try.

[dangerous brain]

I ran hankook ice bears across this last winter on an 18" rim in a 320 bhp RWD automatic motor and I had absolutely no problems with traction in even the heaviest snow. The wear on them in non winter conditions wasn't bad either. camskill have quite a range of winter tyres.

[oldsteve]

Originally Posted by tayandre

Some very good prices on the Polish site. Might give them a try.

With limited feedback, I took a bit of punt on them really, they had the right tyre in stock at the best price. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again though

However, keep a regular eye on ALL the online sites, in my experience the prices as well as stock seem to vary on a day to day basis.

[tec]

Originally Posted by v50inred

Everybody says that the deals on Blackcircles and mytyres etc are amazing.

However I keep.checking and finsing that a large independant near me undercuts them every time.

People on forums always say that independents are cheaper, but for winter tyres I have never found that to be true.

Manufacturers only make a limited number of winter tyres each year, and once the stocks are sold no more are made until the following winter,
and independents will not buy the stock quantities required to be able to sell at better discounts than for example Mytyres or Blackcircles.

As people found out last winter, when the stocks are low, prices are high, so do buy early to avoid the high prices.

[tec]

Originally Posted by dangerous brain

I ran hankook ice bears across this last winter on an 18" rim in a 320 bhp RWD automatic motor and I had absolutely no problems with traction in even the heaviest snow. The wear on them in non winter conditions wasn't bad either. camskill have quite a range of winter tyres.

Another vote from me for Icebears.

Had them on my C4 last winter 17inch and was able to get up my road which is on a steep hill, and never been able to do that on normal tyres.

The number of abandoned cars at the bottom of the hill was proof the tyres were working very well.