Xantia winter tyre suggestions ?

[Old-Guy]

Anyone considering buying winter tyres, could do worse than read Auto Express Winter Tyre Test 2014-15

[Mandrake]

Thanks for the suggestions so far everyone.

[Stickyfinger]

[c.morewood]

Definately Snotrac 3

[RichardW]

All season tyres are marked M&S - however, when you look at them, they are pretty well what we would have considered standard tyres 25 years ago. Unless you are looking for 10/10ths grip in summer you will never get near the limits of them in dry conditions - whereas the extra grip afforded by them in adverse conditions is welcome when things get slippery. Seemingly the new Michelin Cross Climate is fully M&S and summer rated - no doubt at a price! I can't see that I will fit anything else other than all seasons now - we never have much in the way of hot dry weather up here - but plenty of cool damp stuff!

[DSNL]

Here, when the temp drops to 7 degrees constantly then tyres are changed. I only live 20ks from the German boarder and they INSIST you were full snows when the weather drops.
Always go a size thinner and don't drop the pressures. Many people confuse snow that you get on roads and the powder snow of glaciers you see on TV.
The local goverment do not even bother gritting the roads sometimes. People just get on with life.

[bobins]

I only live 20ks from the German boarder and they INSIST you were full snows when the weather drops.

I've just come back from Germany and all three hire cars in our group were already fitted with proper winter tyres with the mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall. If it doesn't have this symbol, it isn't a proper winter tyre.

[Hell Razor5543]

You could always consider getting decent snow chains (time to watch this discussion go boom!).

[Xantidote]

BOOM

[KP]

Vredestien Wintrac 4Xtreme, Goodyear Ultragrip 8+, Michelin Alpin(these are more than likely what would have been designed to go on the cars in the Alps regions anyway)

[KP]

Heres plenty of choice for you

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Winter-MIC ... 58bf6a6b48

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/winter-tyre-2 ... 4196e97f5b

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vredestein-Sn ... 25a343d13d

(looks like the wintrac aren't available in the correct size but even T rated should be more than adequate for you unless your breaking speed limits in the winter.. however if you look around they are available in the right size in the new pattern style and H speed rated with 91 load rating.

Try AJS tyres down south, they do shipping as well and Tyresdirect.

[KP]

I only live 20ks from the German boarder and they INSIST you were full snows when the weather drops.

I've just come back from Germany and all three hire cars in our group were already fitted with proper winter tyres with the mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall. If it doesn't have this symbol, it isn't a proper winter tyre.

This is partially correct.
Only BRAND NEW as in made in the last year or so have this symbol.
Tyres that are old and have sat on a shelf or used tyres often dont have this symbol but will be marked M&S(not Marks and Sparks BTW )


I have Alpin 4's in the garage and Goodyear ultragrip 8+ on the front of my XM. They are wearing pretty well and are far better in the wet than the previous michelins that were on it albeit they were down to 3mm before i replaced but started on 6mm, the front end is the heaviest in the XM of any PSA car due to its engine and setup so wear is heavy on the tyres and the load rating needs to be upto it.

Personally i would move the alloys on and get steels and clean them up, they are easier to balance and clean as well and less likely to get nicked when you put some nice brand new tyres on them, it is glasgow afterall!
If you go upto 16" PSA steelies then the only tyre choice IMO is the wintrac 4Xtremes. as noted here and far and wide they are by far the best tyre all round and a lot of people run them year round as their wear rate is very low even for a very soft winter compound tyre!