MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: GTI-Ross on September 06, 2013, 07:38:36 pm

Title: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: GTI-Ross on September 06, 2013, 07:38:36 pm
Hey up guys, Im ok when selecting my summer tyres, but i have no idea about picking winter tyres as i have never bought any. I usually just leave the car on the drive.

So lets pretend i know nothing. At the minute my summer tyres are 18 x 225 x 40.  Do i need to get the same size or can you go to 45 or even 50 and adjust speed on MFD, and presume you still get 225 or would 215 work better with stretch?

Also, can anyone recommend a budget Winter with half decent rain / snow performance. Also looking to buy if anyone has any,

Thanks
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Panthera on September 06, 2013, 08:10:38 pm
not sure if this will help you, but http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/60709/best-winter-tyres

Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Bernhard30 on September 06, 2013, 08:11:54 pm
Tyre Reviews.co.uk will also give you a heads up mate.

Personally would stick with a known brand. Rather than chinese budget versions etc. I really rate my Conti ts830P 'winters'.

These things 'fairly obviously' tend need more tread to work. So whilst secondhand summer tyres are ok at 3/4 mm winters not so.
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Scottymon on September 06, 2013, 08:16:58 pm
Tyre Reviews.co.uk will also give you a heads up mate.

Personally would stick with a known brand. Rather than chinese budget versions etc. I really rate my Conti ts830P 'winters'.

These things 'fairly obviously' tend need more tread to work. So whilst secondhand summer tyres are ok at 3/4 mm winters not so.

I'm going to test this theory out this winter, have an old pair of 3/4mm Goodyear Ultragrips and plan on grabbing some Conti 830/850's and have some brand new AS2's, just for sh*ts and giggles.
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on September 06, 2013, 09:12:29 pm
See the reviews section on the forum. Nankang Snow SV-2 gets a great review  :happy2:
Title: Re: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: torque777 on September 06, 2013, 09:32:36 pm
Stupid question but do you really need them ?? If you live in town then maybe not ..I've looked into it myself and for the amount of time we get snow in the Midlands it didn't really seem worth it ..now I know winter tyres work really from below 5 degrees where as summer tyres start to loose it at below these temps ..but it's still a bit of an outlay ?

sent using my own fingers
Title: Re: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: GTI-Ross on September 06, 2013, 10:06:38 pm
Stupid question but do you really need them ?? If you live in town then maybe not ..I've looked into it myself and for the amount of time we get snow in the Midlands it didn't really seem worth it ..now I know winter tyres work really from below 5 degrees where as summer tyres start to loose it at below these temps ..but it's still a bit of an outlay ?

sent using my own fingers

Not just for snow, for rain as well. I was going around a medium size round-about today (a bit fast i admit) and the back end stepped out fairly easy (it was raining very heavy).

Just thought it would be a good purchase so i can keep my speed / over exuberant cornering up in the winter months
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Scottymon on September 06, 2013, 10:18:47 pm
Stupid question but do you really need them ?? If you live in town then maybe not ..I've looked into it myself and for the amount of time we get snow in the Midlands it didn't really seem worth it ..now I know winter tyres work really from below 5 degrees where as summer tyres start to loose it at below these temps ..but it's still a bit of an outlay ?

sent using my own fingers

Different strokes for different folks mate, I know in the winter, the roads I drive are going to be covered in snow/ice/slush, they are also going to include inclines and declines - I've tried summer boots on those roads and it's been extremely sketchy, easily halving my speed limit. The same roads on winter boots is like comparing it to a summers day in the rain; uneventful.  

But Summer tyre users do hold you up, lol.


After 5 mins of waiting they pulled over, and the winter booted GTI pulled away with little to no wheelspin... WTF.. I feel for the van drivers because they were clearly not going to make those rounds that day, BUT it may make their employers stick some winter stickys on for them!!
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: MPS on September 06, 2013, 10:23:25 pm
Can't understand for the life of me people who slag off winter tyres. 1: They're not snow tires, 2: yes they're more expensive but some facts to counteract these 2 points - 1: Summer tyres wear quicker than winter tyres in colder temps, so by taking them off and storing them until the summer you're not putting any wear on them. 2: Peace of mind that you'll never get stuck in an emergency.

This says it all really

Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: MPS on September 06, 2013, 10:33:58 pm
Even an M3 with 255 rears becomes perfectly drivable in snow with winter tyres! Say no more really!

Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Scottymon on September 06, 2013, 10:36:24 pm
Nice, I've got a 33% here that the Golf does winter booted... just, with some squiggles :happy2:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.staticflickr.com%2F2531%2F4131768670_386954f76f_b.jpg&hash=245401725df36150be73e1ca4cf2a6384635cd4e)
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: MPS on September 06, 2013, 10:38:29 pm
Haha! It gets better! Even a 4x4 is totally pretty useless against the winter booted M3!

Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Scottymon on September 06, 2013, 10:41:57 pm
Seen them matey... too true, it's all in the compound, the summer boot freezes up so doesn't matter if it's 6WD it's still 6 blocks of frozen wood spinning around... now change those babies to winters and you have something special:

Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Andy on September 06, 2013, 10:43:21 pm
Some one mention tyres :grin:
winter tyres are worth it..
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Scottymon on September 06, 2013, 10:47:11 pm
I don't know whether it's the child within me, But I really fancy an Impreza WRX/STI this winter, there's something about that offbeat boxer sound that's quite intoxicating, anyone with me? 
I'd keep the Golf, but just want the Impreza parked up somewhere, lol. :party:
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: MPS on September 06, 2013, 10:59:35 pm
^ this! Gotta love that warble!
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: GTI-Ross on September 06, 2013, 10:59:51 pm
Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: MPS on September 06, 2013, 11:01:55 pm
I'd say stick to the exact same spec.
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Scottymon on September 06, 2013, 11:09:40 pm
PMSL, only in Russia:

Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: GTI-Ross on September 06, 2013, 11:17:21 pm
anyone use all season tyres? seen as it rains 70% of the year?
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: flashp on September 06, 2013, 11:36:40 pm
I don't know whether it's the child within me, But I really fancy an Impreza WRX/STI this winter, there's something about that offbeat boxer sound that's quite intoxicating, anyone with me? 
I'd keep the Golf, but just want the Impreza parked up somewhere, lol. :party:
I get that!
I had a WRX 2 winters ago and drove 48 miles just to go and play in 6" of snow and some ice. I had Nokian winters on it and it was monumental  :jumpmove:
We came home from my sisters in Horsham to Havant in Hampshire at 11-30pm as it was starting to snow heavily. I then informed my wife I was going back to 'play' and I re-arrived home at about 3-30am. Best fun ever, had the roads to myself.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: flashp on September 06, 2013, 11:39:25 pm
Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks
Same size. And don't be tempted to fit them only to the front as some do. That's an accident waiting to happen.
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: JoeDarKa on September 07, 2013, 05:21:06 am
If you get a cheap set of wheels then it keeps your summer ones fresh, away from all tha horrible salt
Title: Re: Re: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: torque777 on September 07, 2013, 06:37:37 am
Can't understand for the life of me people who slag off winter tyres. 1: They're not snow tires, 2: yes they're more expensive but some facts to counteract these 2 points - 1: Summer tyres wear quicker than winter tyres in colder temps, so by taking them off and storing them until the summer you're not putting any wear on them. 2: Peace of mind that you'll never get stuck in an emergency.

This says it all really


Don't get me wrong I wasn't slagging winter tyres off at all ..I think they are great ..just checking if he really needed them for where he was driving I've used them just on front for extra grip and been fine like that ...also ive not got stuck on top brand summers with good tread ...but I do think winters have there place

sent using my own fingers
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Frodo-anni on September 07, 2013, 11:34:42 am
Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks

Unless your changing your rim size then stick with what you have.

Or buy some other rims ie 17" monza's then you can get a 225/45/17 tyre only sligthly cheaper on rubber, but you have the alloy cost aswell.

I have just bought some 18" monza's for this year to run as winters instead of changing tyres each year.
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Eccie on September 07, 2013, 11:38:17 am
Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks

I bought some used 17" wheels off here & put winter tyres on them, I just swap them over come the cold weather.

Think of it this way, your buying peace of mind if the roads are cold, icy or covered with snow. If your north of birmingham or Manchester and you can afford it - do it

Mine where also much, much better on the greasy autumn roads in the lakes, with leaves everywhere
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Scottymon on September 07, 2013, 03:26:54 pm
Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215
Thanks

They recommend a MAXIMUM of +/- 2.5% difference

http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator

225/40/18 to 215/45/18 is better than to 225/45/18 :happy2:

.

Seems so early to be talking winter tyres but I'll need two at some point but don't know whether to go for:

Toyo Snowprox S953 in for £100 delivered, thought that was a very good price.
Goodyear Ultragrip Performance 2's for £125 delivered. (these were outstanding on the snow and come above the Conti's for snow performance)
Goodyear Ultragrip 8 Performance for £130 delivered... newer than above... and impressed with Goodyear tyres, AS2's and the above. (Probably go wtih these)
Continental Winter Contacts 830P (can't find the 850 in this dimension) most expensive at £137 ea delivered.

Quite tempted by the Toyo's as I could almost get a third tyre over the cost of two conti's... anyone tried them?  Probably go with the UG8P's though.

What's quite interesting is that the winter tyre tests at 225/40/18 rate the Goodyears above all others, even the Continentals.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2012-Auto-Bild-Sports-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm


Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Ess_Three on September 07, 2013, 11:14:01 pm
Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks

The VW approved size is (I think) 205/55/16, which will still clear GT/GTI brakes. My old man runs this size on his winter wheels/tyres...but it looks a bit, er...odd.

I stick to 225/40/18s for both summer and winter wheels & tyres and manage to get about just fine.
There has never need a time where I've got stuck and he manages to get through...so basically, in my view, the size/width of winter tyre makes far less of a difference than the actual move to winter tyres in the first place.
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: simonp on September 08, 2013, 02:24:07 am
What's quite interesting is that the winter tyre tests at 225/40/18 rate the Goodyears above all others, even the Continentals.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2012-Auto-Bild-Sports-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm

Errr, there isn't a Continental tyre featured in that test!
Title: Re: Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres
Post by: Scottymon on September 08, 2013, 07:41:47 am
Wasn't good enough, lol.
All said and done I reckon the difference would be hard to tell against the top 3 or so premium winter boots... Still think the GY have slightly better results on snow though and continental being the better all rounder.

Having used the UG's last year on a longish journey on completely snow covered roads, with heavy snow fall too, the only problem that was presenting itself the higher we got was ground clearance.

Time to get the Landy out with aggressive A/T's :party: Golf did very well though. :happy2: