snow tyres

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 06 Jul 2011, 17:02

FWIW, I've found Goodride summer tyres very good value - quiet, long-lasting and reasonably grippy for budget tyres.
Don't know about the winter type, but I'd be happy to try them if I were in the market.

Post by **c.morewood** » 06 Jul 2011, 17:03

I'm with you Davie.... Vredsteins are the way to go.. I've never got stuck in the Xantia with those on.. I'm aiming to buy another pair for the back this year as the only problem I had last year was going round street corners here in Kemnay where the roads hadn't been cleared, the back tended to step out a bit and required a bit of opposite lock to keep her straight.
They're also really good on flooded roads where they disperse the water easily and don't pull you into the deep puddles.
Chris

daviemck2006 · Post by **daviemck2006** » 06 Jul 2011, 17:07

c.morewood wrote:I'm with you Davie.... Vredsteins are the way to go.. I've never got stuck in the Xantia with those on.. I'm aiming to buy another pair for the back this year as the only problem I had last year was going round street corners here in Kemnay where the roads hadn't been cleared, the back tended to step out a bit and required a bit of opposite lock to keep her straight.
They're also really good on flooded roads where they disperse the water easily and don't pull you into the deep puddles.
Chris

You would have had the same snow as I had last winter, I was flying up the tyrebagger going to work with the vredeistens (hi traq) on the c5 when lots of others getting stuck!!!!!!! Like you said magic water dispersal too.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 06 Jul 2011, 22:46

daviemck2006 wrote: a bit worried about the snow coming this winter.

You have a 107, what is there to be worried about

they are virtually unstoppable in the snow I find, our C1 had so much more grip than the C5s on wide 215 tyres. Fit some winter tyres to a C1/107 and it will be unstoppable.

Though I was happy enough with my C5 over the snowy period, both my C5s were running Michelin Primacy tyres and they performed ok. Our 52 plate C5 wears 195 tyres and it has noticeable more grip than the two with 215s - all summer tyres mind.

I will be getting some winter tyres very soon though, in preparation for the winter. Ill fit them to my 16" spare steel wheels and get suitable Citroen trims to hide them. Im looking forward to using winter tyres and seeing how much of an improvement they make.

daviemck2006 · Post by **daviemck2006** » 07 Jul 2011, 19:37

The grip of the 107 is hopeless in the wet on its continentals now they are a bit worn. Due new fronts shortly, rears still at 3mm. New vredestiens called for, put them on back, then I'll have the other pair replaced before winter. Only got 107 in Feb, never had any snow yet but quite confident it will be fine in snow. THink yo will find out winter tyres on the c5 will make a good car better. Go down a width and up a profile, slightly narrower woll help on fresh snow. Our 206 normally runs 195/50/15, snows are 185/60/15 feels like a different car! Cant really get narrower for 107 unless I put on bike tyres, push not motor

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 07 Jul 2011, 22:15

Our C1 has Michelin Energy tyres, they are about new as it has 4,500 on the clock. In the snow last winter it was superb, lots more grip than the C5s, braking and accelerating was excellent given the conditions. I have not had much problem with wet grip either, though tready tyres and a different make might explain that. How many miles has your 107 done on its front Contis?

I might change tyres size for the C5s winter rubber but I wanted to keep things more simple with the insurance, running a standard size tyre will keep them happier. Though with good winter tyres grip should be much improved even if using the same size tyres.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 07 Jul 2011, 22:44

205/60/16 Winter tyres seem like a good replacemet for the 215/55/16 summer tyres on the C5s.

daviemck2006 · Post by **daviemck2006** » 08 Jul 2011, 09:39

107 now done 22k, it doesn't take long to clock up miles at 100 a day! I'm happy getting that out of front tyres but really dont like the contis. I usually drive for economy, its ok for grip in dry, but in wet wants to go straight on with terminal understeer. Makes me slow more for bends and roundabouts meaning gears and acceleration, less economy! Still average 65mpg usually tho, still get 60 even if I do decide to cane it which is very rare. Did my sums for buying it at 60 so happy with that and its worth having the extra car.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 08 Jul 2011, 10:37

22K on the front tyres is pretty good really. As I say I have not had grip problems with our C1 on Michelin Energy tyres, even when pushing along in the wet, for the skinny tyres it has they are quite grippy.

Ours averages about 50-52MPG but its mainly town use and not driven for economy and the AC is used. Thats 10MPG better than our previous City car, a 1.0 Seat Arosa.

andy5 · Post by **andy5** » 12 Jul 2011, 01:06

I bought 4 secondhand Michelin Alpins on Mercedes steels on eBay, and was given another Michelin when I got there. Under £80, and two have about a millimetre or less of use and two could be unused.

I started looking on eBay last autumn when there were no Michelin 205 60 15 for sale anywhere and nobody knew when the next ones were coming.

So I've also picked up some wheels with unused and barely used Michelin Energy that size, and will soon get these 195 65 15 winter tyres swapped over to my older wheels, when I've finished wearing out the last one.

Then I can cut back from 11 wheels in the garage at the moment, back down to 6.

MPV · Post by **MPV** » 28 Jul 2011, 10:49

Good to see people thinking about winters now the long dark nights are drawing in...

I'd be careful about cheap Chinese winters. The German ADAC (like our AA) do extensive testing of winter tyres every year. Last year in Germany it was made law that you have to have winters fitted in winter. The ADAC did a test of some cheap Chinese ones and they were totally useless and probably dangerous! I would stick to a well known brand with a reputation to uphold. Before you buy, look at the reviews, there are quite a lot online.

Last year the Goodyear Ultragrip7+ and the Continental TS830 came out best. This year Goodyear have brought out the Ultragrip 8, whcih is supposed to be even better. I've bought a couple for this winter (from mytyres last month when they were going cheap). Mytyres annoy me a lot, they change prices every day and change their stock everyday, so you never know what they've got.

Always cross check prices with the other online tyre sellers, eg Camskill can be very cheap, then there's Blackcircles and Pneusonline.

Obviously the best thing is to have a spare set of wheels. Mytyres sell winters with steel wheels. Alternatively, get some from a scrappy...or go for cheap alloys online, eg at Rochford Tyres, you can geta set of 4 for just over £200. Steels are probably better as if you do slide into a kerb they can be hammered out again.

Many people like to go down a width size with winters to increase the pressure on the ice and improve grip, although some people say it's not necessary. If you do go down a width remember to select the right profile to keep your speedo correct.

I can't wait for the snow, with winters fitted it's fantastic fun!

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » 28 Jul 2011, 16:17

My Xsara is quite poor in the snow. I'm a smooth driver so I blame it on the car being so low - in any depth of snow you can hear hear the mound between the tyre tracks rubbing against the lower front bumper and the underneath.

The tyres were not too bad considering they are Fate - cheap. There are still with good depth and with a blocky tread pattern.

However, for my next set I think I'll go with something that has better sidewalls as there was a tendenacy for the car to roll going into corners - absolutely no confidence in them.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 29 Jul 2011, 19:59

I have a spare set of 16" steel wheels and now a full set of Citroen wheel trims too, no I just need to get some winter tyres and get them fitted ready for winter.

Remember what happened last winter, you couldn't get hold of winter tyres for love nor money, best get them now

allanmc · Post by **allanmc** » 31 Jul 2011, 14:46

another question about snow tyres, been on to My Tyres about a full set of Vredsteins the Xantia size is 205/60/15 and cost £80.30 but 195/60/15 are £63.50 what do you think
allanmc

Post by **myglaren** » 31 Jul 2011, 16:03

allanmc wrote:another question about snow tyres, been on to My Tyres about a full set of Vredsteins the Xantia size is 205/60/15 and cost £80.30 but 195/60/15 are £63.50 what do you think
allanmc

Mine had 195/60/15 all round when I bought it but I have replaced them with 205/65/15s.
Can't say that I am aware of any difference but they must specify a particular size for a good reason.

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