Like Markjmd I've got Dunlop D3 wintersports (205/55R16 - a common size in europe and on my spare standard rims and the same height as my 225/45R17) and though my first winter tyres I think they are brilliant!! To top that, I got them the day before the snow in mid Dec, set of 4 part worns on ebay £130 in the same town as me - result.

Went out for a play the first night it snowed (much against "her" better jundgement) and was astounded.

Previously my V3 wagon was lethal on a frosty road and no better in snow, I dreaded it, now I'm confident that whatever the weather I should get through - the problem is everyone else getting stuck!

Ice is still ice, but even then grip is better, as for fresh snow and slush grip is very good, ABS being a rare occurance, and recently I've had the white outside lane of dual carriageways to myself

Beware of overconfidence though, I got to work the other day complaining of the slow general traffic (one nervous driver, A road 25-30mph - big queue) only to be told by a coleauge that uses the same road that he'd had 4 "moments" at relativly slow speeds

I wouldn't go another winter without them (even put a set of new Vredestein Quadratrac's -all season - but snowflake marked and M+S on her corsa for all year use - she's happy too) and if I get 2 seasons from them incredible value, and even one season they've proved their worth for the confidence and safety for me and transporting the family (not to mention that one day of missed work would cost much more than I paid for them!). If you've got spare rims (or pick up a cheap set) do it.

Here endeth todays lesson

 

Hi,

I have PA2 on MY97 2.0 AWD (production year 2006). Great on dry&cold, great on wet, On slush at 60kmh and faster I don't feel it grip well. At slow speed I have no problems going uphill but in corners even at slow speed it is "fun to drive". Braking on snow and slush ABS have a lot to work. Braking on ice is almost like no braking at all.

Since very happy with Vredestein Sportrac3 summer tire next year I will probably look for Snowtrac3 or Wintrac Extreme since both tire available in 195/60-R15.

 

The Vreddy Snowtrac 3's scored very well overall in a review I read (Swiss Motor Touring Club, Winter 2009, but in French unfortunately), even compared to the newer generation Michelin PA3's:
2nd highest score of the bunch for ice, also 2nd highest for snow, in the top 5 for dry, fuel-consumption and wear, and just outside the top 5 for wet. The only thing that really let them down was one of the worst scores in the test for ride-comfort/noise.

 

THREAD REVIVAL!!!


Is it really worth getting a set of winter tyres for down south since we don’t tend to get as bad a winters?

I used to have a set of Cooper weather master SA2 on my MR2 but found they only got used for a couple of months and the weather never seemed bad enough.

Also what cheap steel wheels fit an impreza if I went down the winter tyre route?