I'm looking for some winter rubber for my Sti Wagon which currently has F1's fitted.

Search content is a little thin, so here's a fresh thread flooking for some up to date recommendations

So far I've come up with:

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's

Toyo winter tyres

Kumo

Verdestein

So who's used what and how did go?

Cheers in advance

 

Have a look at Nokian tyres - in Scandinavia they really know what winter and snow are

 

I put some Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's on mine. I live in the UK but came to Slovakia for xmas. On the way the temps were -15degree celcius, and they worked fantasic. Ive never used winter tyres before, but they have won me over.

 

I'm running PA3s - similar spec to the 2s. Superb tyre in cold, wet, or slushy conditions. Good too in snow though you still need to drive with a bit of savvy. Wear well too - This is my second winter on them and I reckon I'll squeeze three winters in all.

 

the only winter ones i found when looking were 170 quid each. yer right, LOL.

 

I am amazed that people in Britain don't use winter tyres when the temperature drops below 5 degrees Celcius. A country ruled by Health & Safety officials uses tyres that are at best unpredictable in low temperatures.
From a car enthusiasts view, the use of winter tyres allow for MUCH better traction and MUCH better braking in cold, slippery conditions.
I was up in Scotland a couple of weeks ago, and it was a sorry sight with cars stranded everywhere and even Imprezas not being able to get up slight inclines. On my Pilot Alpins I was having proper fun!

In my opinion, all the people that normally harp on about safe driving etc., that are still running on summer tyres are very hypocritical lunatics. In Germany you still have the choice to run summer tyres in winter. But if you are involved in an RTA in the winter and your car does not have winter tyres, you are automatically the guilty party.

 

I normally get 2 winters out of the winter tyres. It seems that running a set of winter tyres and a set of summer tyres works out more or less cost neutral as leaving summer tyres on in the winter seems to wear them a lot due to all the wheel spinning..........

 

Tell me where you get em from and for how much and i may change my mind!
And your point about winter tyre wear i disagree with. You cannot get more tyre wear in the winter 'from all the wheel spinning' as they are spinning on ice! No wear.
Anyway i agree with your safety comments though, I would really like to try some but the cost is prohibitive and i have managed 23 yrs without any up to now.
thats not to say that if i could get some at a sensible price then i would.

 

I mean, on mytryes the Pilot Alpin PA3 are £194 fitted each! FFS. That is ridiculous.

 

You don't have to use Michelin. There are plenty of winter tyres at half that cost. Most will make a huge difference on cold, slippery surfaces compared to summer tyres.

I had the Nokian WR before. They were better than the PA3 on ice and snow but not quite as good in the wet.

 

FYI, Nokian winter tyres are designed for SNOW and ICE.

Unstudded Nokian tyres like the Hakkapeliitta R, are designed for SNOW and slush.. on dry tarmac or in the wet, they are horrid.

Studded Nokian tyres like the Hakkapeliitta 7 or 5, are designed for ICE, SNOW and slush. they are also rubbish in the wet.

They are also not designed to be used in above 20C weather, they can literally melt at motorway speeds in warmer weather. And never dyno with winter tyres, they will also melt.

 

I got mine from eBay. They were used, but were really As New. I got all four for 300.

 

I bought the Toyo Winter tyre.
Very good.
Brand new £120.00 per tyre.
We have had snow for 2 weeks now,and it still falls daily, these tyres have already proven there worth when another car was out of control and did not/could not stop, but I could, I remained in control and stopped perfectly well as he passed too close for comfort.
The others drivers face was a picture of panic!

 

I have just put Verdestein tyres on & am impressed so far

 

We've got Kumho KW17's and would highly recommend them - they've been superb in all conditions this winter.

 

pinseeker, Warthog how much and where from, etc, etc?????
Thx.

 

Group buy etc etc?

 

I would like to know the differences winter tyres make in the present conditions of -10 degrees, snow blizzards, compressed snow and ice, slush, wet etc. compared with 'summer/performance tyres'

So, how do they help in the situations where you really need help, ie trying to keep traction/stop going downhill, cornering and braking on the flat?

My classic goes uphill a treat and I have never got stuck in fresh snow, ice or whatever else. BUT, that's the only advantage I can see. Downhill you're with everyone else. Avarage speed needs to be restricted to 30mph max etc

 

Winter tyres make a massive difference in slush, snow or ice. In addition to the tread, they have very small grooves in the rubber called sipes, which flex and help expel snow and ice from the tyre surface, maximising grip and contact. In addition, the rubber used is 'stickier' at low temperatures. Finally the tread pattern is much more open and designed not to clog with snow/ice.

Add all these things together and you get a far grippier more assured handling when accelerating, cornering or braking on snowy/slushy surfaces. I recently got over Hartside Pass (1900ft, 31 hairpin bends) with 20cms of lying snow and the car felt grippy, stable and secure at all times. Wouldn't have been the same on summer tyres!

 

Great input lunar tick, thanks.

Since finding about winter tyres and talikg to folk, it's good to be able to convey some dtail now.

I'm on the verge of pulling th trigger as some other poster said winter tyres balance out cost wise over 3 winters life

 

Great input lunar tick, thanks.

Since finding about winter tyres and talikg to folk, it's good to be able to convey some dtail now.

I'm on the verge of pulling th trigger as some other poster said winter tyres balance out cost wise over 3 winters life

 

you just have to find some now! Since i started looking, 7 types have now disappeared from the sites i was looking at.

 

I've used a set of Toyo Snowprox for the last 6 years, originally got them for my type r in 205/45/17 with a cheap set of alloys.
Had them on my newage for the last few winters and they stick like shit to a blanket. Only ran for a few months each year so plenty of meat on the treads.
Got the full package from Revolution for £900

 

If you can find them, Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds come out in the top four in every comparison test I could find (mostly on Swiss and German car mag sites). The clincher for me was they always got the highest rating for grip on ice, which I personally dislike most out of all adverse road conditions. I think they're usually a few quid cheaper than Goodyear or Conti equivalents too.

 

Interesting video from the Camskill site on the benefits of winter tyres and why you should fit 4 (I'd been thinking maybe just 2 - I won't now if I buy some having watched this video):
http://www.youtube.com/v/wCyiBoTxCao

 

COOPER TYRES / WINTER SNOW CAR / COOPER WEATHERMASTER SNOW - 225/45R17 91H TL :: £88.07 :: Winter Tyres - Snow Tyres - Mud and Snow Tyres - M&S Tyres - Town & Country Tyres :: R17" - 225/45/17, 225/45 R 17 ::

All I could find.

dunx

 

Tyres | Car tyres | Cheap tyres | 4x4 tyres | Run flat tyres is another good site i have found. They went from 7 types of winter tyres down to 1, but must have sold em all. 225/45/17 that was.
tyres online @ mytyres.co.uk: cheap passenger, summer, winter tyres and tyre dealer also has a few left but has sold the cheaper £120 Toyo Snowprox they had on.

 

YouTube - Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice

 

Like Richiewong & Aggs I got the Toyo snowprox S952. 225/45 R17 from tyreshopper. Great service, they rang around & managed to source them at short notice.

I'm impressed - only one weekend so far but they are very surefooted on wet and dry roads, and snow & ice also - but compared to my std 18" goodyear F1A's though I supose they should be

 

just a quick question

would 235x45x17 fit ok on hawk sti?

ta