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Author Topic: Winter Tyres  (Read 3850 times)

Offline rsreid2000

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Winter Tyres
« on: October 05, 2010, 08:58:37 am »
I was considering putting on some winter tyres this year after the bad snow last year in which I drove a focus estate which was surprisingly good in the snow.
The GTI has 18" on, could I drop a size or do I stick to the 18". My understanding is that the skinnier the tyre the better.
Car is DSG what are they like in the snow/ice.
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Offline icenutter

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2010, 11:07:45 am »
Winter tires are amazing; after you've had a set there is no going back.  The grip they give in poor weather is incredible.  They're also much better on cold, damp tarmac, so they are definately not 'snow tyres.'  Driving a car with summer tyres in the winter is frankly terrifying in comparison.  Don't let anyone tell you that 'just drive slower in the snow,' or 'its never that bad in the UK.' They really are good.

Narrower tyres are theoretically better, but I'd just get a set in the same size as your standard tyres.  I've got a set of 16" wheels from a GT Sport with my winter tyres on, but that's more because I already had the tyres from my Audi A4.  You can also fit standard snow chains on the 16" wheels, rather than posh ones.
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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2010, 11:29:30 am »
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Offline gobbleplease

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2010, 09:27:27 pm »
i think im going to go for a set too if i can get the 17s over my brakes !
The dunlops and contis won the winter tyre tests, although i dare say any would be better than f1s in the snow ! :scared:
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Offline andrewparker

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2010, 10:09:50 pm »
Quote from: gobbleplease on October 05, 2010, 09:27:27 pm
The dunlops and contis won the winter tyre tests, although i dare say any would be better than f1s in the snow ! :scared:

Which tests are these mate? Wouldn't mind reading a bit of a comparison as I've no idea what to go for.
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Offline gobbleplease

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2010, 10:57:48 pm »
There are loads mate, auto Bild done one where the dunlops won andthe contis came second.
There are a few other winter and summer tests from magazines too
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Offline LouCyffer

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #6 on: October 06, 2010, 07:09:38 am »
I have Vredestein Wintrac Extreme 225/45/18 on my 'winter' Monzas. Just waiting for the ambient temperature to drop into their working range. I'm sure November will oblige.... :wink:

As for how the DSG does in the snow; I got mine last November. After driving 4x4 Subarus for 8 years, I got front wheel drive just before the worst winter for 30 years. And in all honesty the DSG was brilliant. Much better than I thought a front wheel drive car on 18s would be. I'm expecting it to be ridiculously good on Wintracs.
« Last Edit: October 06, 2010, 07:12:01 am by LouCyffer »
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Offline 182_blue

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2010, 07:51:34 am »
Im sorely tempted to get some Wintracs for my Taladegas but i am not sure 19" winter tyres are a good idea ?
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Offline icenutter

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2010, 08:02:07 am »
The only reason they would be a bad idea is that you might scratch your 18s.  You will get more traction, even in the dry, than summer tyres.  Apart from the cost and maybe storage they are a win-win situation.
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Offline 182_blue

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #9 on: October 06, 2010, 08:05:51 am »
Do you get more road noise
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Offline ub7rm

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2010, 08:17:37 am »
Another brand which are very good is Nokians - they are from Finland and if anyone knows about running tyres in the snow its them  :happy2:
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Offline icenutter

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #11 on: October 06, 2010, 10:22:51 am »
Quote from: 182_blue on October 06, 2010, 08:05:51 am
Do you get more road noise
A small amount more. When I changed from PS3 to Sessanta (summer tyres) the noise level went down noticeably, and the winter tyres are maybe a little noisier than the PS3s.

They take a little hit on mpg as well - maybe a little less than 1 mpg.
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Offline JPC

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #12 on: October 06, 2010, 10:53:15 am »
I love my vredestein cold weather tyres! They're epic!
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Offline Frodo-anni

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2010, 11:19:51 am »
Last year i put some lassa snoways on some 16" steelies on my anni, the difference was amazing  :jumpmove:

I was going up silly hills that people couldnt even walk up!
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Offline JPC

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Re: Winter Tyres
« Reply #14 on: October 06, 2010, 11:36:17 am »
Me too mate. I was trying to find the steepest scariest hill that I couldn't get up

I failed as I got up them all first time!!
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