Just priced up some winter tyres for the BMW:

Pirelli SottoZero: £400+VAT EACH < thud >

No other tyre available in runflat. And non-runflat isn't an option due to the fact the sodding thing has no space for a spare tyre (nor a jack)

So, £1920 of tyres and thats not including the wheels (I'm not sticking on a set of 15" steels or small cheapy alloys for the entire winter, 19" alloys look lost on the thing)

FYI Pirelli/Good Year summer tyres are about £220+vat in the same size

 

OUCH!!

http://www.reifendirekt.de/cgi-bin/r...t=ALL&weiter=0

I just paid €171 a corner for my Pirelli Sotozero S2 with 3% didscount for being in the ADAC/AA.

 

Run flats are a pointless gimmick, get normal tyres and one of these http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165664

 

My Nokians from last year will be getting fitted to the Astra at the weekend, Huge difference in the wet over the standard Goodyears on the Van never mind in the snow.

Subaru probably wont see the road too much in the winter, apart from a snow covered car park.

Cheapest place I found last year for winter tyres was http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/

Graeme

 

Off topic but I'm for the run flat issue, I've had a BMW with them on and had a puncture and at least it enabled me to easily to get to work - admittedly at a lower speed than normal, and get to the garage to get it repaired.
Unlike my current Audi which has non run flats in and no spare - just some goo that for all reports does not work well at all. OK I can sit and wait and ring Audi assist and they will sort it.
Given a choice I would choose run flats - if the car has been designed / suspension set up with them in mind compared to normal tyres and no spare. But a spare tyre would make the most sense

Richard

 

What's stopping you from using a non runflat tyre though?

 

No space for a spare (not even a space saver) and being stranded in the middle of France and 200 miles to go to get to the ferry. Plus I'm not going to risk faffing round at the side of a 130kmh autoroute trying to re-inflate a flat tyre...I'd rather be able to limp to a safe place and do it there, where a conventional tyre could well be shredded and beyond repair by then.

Used tyre weld twice before...once it worked, once it didn't work. Still, I have two cans and a compressor in the boot just in case. That way at least all bases are covered: 50 mile range on a flat RFT to wherever I can safetly use the tyre weld and/or pump to re-inflate it.

Don't get me wrong, I hate runflats and if it were local use in the UK I wouldn't use them. Just wish the car had a spare wheel well; all there is two shallow storage trays and a battery plonked in the middle (BMW used to fit them in the OSR corner of the boot).

 

Why don't you use non-runflats and then when you go abroad take a spare wheel and changing kit in the boot

 

Like I said already no space in the boot for a spare...due to: dog...luggage, contraband (legal ) and passengers

If there was a space wheel under the floor of the boot like old BMWs used to have, I'd gladly do that....short of bolting the wheel to the tailgate like a old 4x4 there is nowhere else for it to go.

 

Expensive Ali though i dont use runflats on the scoob, you could try this place which is where i purchased my winters from a couple of years back

www.goodgrip.co.uk

Tony

 

I have never had any problems while driving on normal tyres making due allowance for the road conditions.

Les

 

Once you experience driving on winter tyres you will never drive on summers in winter again

 

My mother bought a set of winter tyres last year, even she says they make a massive difference in wet conditions. Don't tell me a 65 year old woman can see the difference and benefits of these and the die hard petrol heads on here can't?

 

People think they can get by on summers but when they try and have a comparison with a benchmark they will convert and would never think of doing what they have been doing for years.

Never say never

 

This is the issue though, they have all decided they don't need winter tyres yet have never tried them. It's a bit like it somehow challenges their manhood if they admit that they might be better off on winter tyres, but that's SN for you these days!

Agreed it depends where you are in the country and how much you need to use your car, but the economics is a different argument to the physics.

 

For once I agree absolutely

 

just bought a set of 4 for the scoob ready for november, had them on the wifes ibiza gti last year and they where superb. the grip difference on greasy roundabouts is amazing

 

+2

 

So now that we're in the Autumn season, surely it's about time to start thinking about putting your winter tyres on and getting your orders in as Winter is only just around the corner!? It was on my mind today and my tyres are stacked in the garage just waiting...

 

Managed to get through the winter without any winter tyres on the BMW 330i, but you've got me thinking now......

 

No-where near the time needed for fitting winters

Mine stayed in the shed all last winter

 

just put new tyres on the landy... scooby going to sleep in garage, when it gets cold....

 

Having read this thread I'm frankly gobsmacked at some of the ignorant and stupid comments coming from the 'too expensive waste of time corner'

Just as a good performing summer tyre can transform the handling and braking characteristics of your car so too can a decent set of winter boots once the temps start to drop. If you need to stand a better chance of getting about it really is a no brainer.

I'm guessing the majority of folks opposed to 'winter tyres' have NEVER actually had the opportunity to make a comparison. If you have then your objection can only be purely financial so I'm guessing you would be in the 'not in a position to take that advice so will take a gamble' even if it was to become law !'

If your happy wearing slippers outdoors in the winter months then your highlighting how dumb you are !

It really isnt a case of having a chuckle because you look a bit of a dick when you fall **** over tit and anyway harsh weather conditions are always a great excuse if your not particularly in love with your job and realise those summer slicks might not be actually up to the job ! But if you are crazy enough to venture out in your metal box of choice this winter without a suitable pair of boots on your far more likely to inconvenience other people or even worse, damage property or god forbid injure someone. And for those that are likely to retort with the ' it never gets bad enough where I drive' then you can be forgiven and I want you to text me next weeks lottery results !

We still have a choice in the UK regarding the tyres we decide to operate in the winter months. I know which one i'll be making again

 

And we are off again

Every year without fail

I'd say it was a tad too early personally to entertain winters tho

 

Nice sales pitch!

 

I do use them, but do think they're over-rated, especially for UK use

They shine on compacted snow and ice, and how often are conditions like that, and how often are you going to take your scooby out then?

Otherwise they give low grip and a squishy ride

 

I live out in the sticks so every year we get weather like that and the council don't treat the smaller roads just the main roads so winter tyres are very useful.

My Scooby is used every day.

The ride is a bit odd but it's better than ending upside down in a ditch.

 

Also half the people on this board are too dumb to realise that winter tyres are not just for snow and ice, but I gave up trying to explain it a couple of years ago. You can't make stupid people clever!

 

Ah cool the annual winter tyre thread that gets shot down by the BMW drivers who have never had them, don't need them or think the weather doesn't warrent them.

To Losboz, you are wasting your breath and typing finger mate everyone on scoobynet personally trained the Stig so are by definition driving gods in any conditions.

But well done for trying, these threads cause an endless source of amusemnt every year, slowly followed by the how much is a new set of alloys as I just bent my last set threads. Along with the I put my 4wd car in the garage and use my rear wheel drive (insert german crap here) in the winter threads.

 

Do you think so ????????

I run a transport business and when I see the myriad of In-dash cams of incidents in the winter months it hits home how totally ignorant most drivers/operators are of the benefits of running appropriate rubber in the UK.

Its a legal requirement in many European countries and while it is another cost we have to swallow along with the inconvenience of carrying two sets of wheel/tyres and chains on long Euro trips you only have to look at the chaos a cold snap or tiny snowfall causes over here. Yes local councils don't have either the money or resources to keep on top of it and I suspect a large factor of personal decisions is the fact its never a given that parts of the country will actually get any snow at all ! But their not just for snowy conditions and this is what so many folks just don't understand !

Yes maybe I am a little biased but when our vehicles NEED to get places its numpties who slide, spin and fishtail up and down our byways who add to the problem.

I can relate to those who don't have to travel far over winter and really cant justify the additional expense but like the f***wits who drive without lights when its tipping it down its not themselves their endangering its every other bugger