Buying winter tyres... Be quick!!

[Iffee22]

Hi Guys

After struggling rather being stand still at my driveway with my CLK when it snowed last year, I had to get winter tyres this winter. After searching for a month for the tyre prices and different brands I had decided to get Hankook W300 in 225/45-17. But when it came to ordering the prices had started to get higher and the best price for four tyres I found was £450 fitted. Then by chance I came across tyretraders.com and found Perelli Sottozero 210 (Mercedes Original) for £496 delivered which is about £120 cheaper than other suppliers on the internet. They are in Walsall, had tyres in stock and since I live in Walsall picked them up myself. My local garage agreed to put them on for £35. I am very happy with the deal and hope the winter goes smoothly on perfect winter tyres. I am putting up the message for other people if they are looking for good tyres especially MO at this price.
Have good hunting.

 

[Ronnie]

Key manufacturers of winter tyres have ceased production allocations for the UK.

Current stockpiles once sold, that's it, so if you have ambitions for winter tyres this year be quick.

Very small numbers are "allocated" for the UK market...these consist of pre-winter orders placed prior to the winter season.....
After that there is no allocation by country.....the manufacturers then sell on an order by order basis and the destination country does not come into it....e.g. Continental do not hold any winter tyre stock in the UK, all orders are direct delivery ex Germany, Bridgestone (not sure if policy has changed this year) do not supply winter tyres to the UK even to account holders...

 

[Smatt]

Rang Camskills today- they said they will not have any more all season tyres until Feb! They said that it was because in European countries, it is law to have winter tyres, hence they are reserved for those countries, whereas there is no such protection here....

 

[mufc4ever]

New Contiwintercontact TS830's

Just bought these today from my local Kwik Fit. Toyota Auris 1.33 VVTI tyres 205/55/16.

Cost including fitting was £360. As previous posters mentioned no storage bags included so will pop back tomorrow and argue the toss.

Last winter this car was hopeless in the snow/ice so hoping these new winter tyres make a difference. Last year bought some Michelin composite snow chains for the front tyres so I now should be good to go in all weather conditions!

The snow chains are fiddley to put on and only work below 30mph and certainly don't like normal road services. Whilst expensive I thought these new tyres would be better on different road conditions.

Drove home with them on in the driving rain and when I braked at the end of the slip road I couldn't believe the traction I got. Everything in the back seat shot forward even on mild braking! Will have to get used to that.

I live at the top of a hill, on an unadopted road so in winter these tyres should ensure I can get to work. Last year missed over 5 days work due to car not being able able to get off my road eventhough the main road, about three-quarters of a mile away was clear!!

Here's hoping!
:bannana:

 

[Iain]

Costco still had plenty of the larger 16 17 & 18" Alpins when I went to the Croydon branch last saturday.

 

[BTB 500]

Drove home with them on in the driving rain and when I braked at the end of the slip road I couldn't believe the traction I got. Everything in the back seat shot forward even on mild braking! Will have to get used to that.

Psychological, I think! Unless you're saying your standard tyres are so bad that they'd have skidded under the same mild braking?

Up to the point where the wheels lock up the tyres don't come into it. It's all down to the brakes (which don't change when you fit winter tyres).

 

[Sp!ke]

Not so with ABS as you wont lock up the wheels.

The coefficiant of friction on a cold wet surface will likely be higher with these tyres compared to his old ones though hence the sudden stop.

I've found that even when you do start to lose grip with winter tryres, the SIPS in the tread make it a very slow and progressive slip. When summer tyres let go in the wet, they tend to let go properly.

 

[kth286]

Psychological,

Up to the point where the wheels lock up the tyres don't come into it. It's all down to the brakes (which don't change when you fit winter tyres).

????????????????????????????????????????- hardly !

 

[Sp!ke]

????????????????????????????????????????- hardly !

Dont worry, BTB500 just can't get his head around the whole winter tyre debate, its been a running battle for a couple of years now.

I think the only way to convince him is for a road trip up to the scottish highlands in February.

He can drive his SL with summer tyres and I'll drive my SL with winter tyres and we'll see who gets stranded first. :bannana:

 

[Splodge]

Have really struggled to get some winter rubber for my '82 230ce. According to local tyre dealer 195/70/14's are an unusual size anyway. Will be moving house in the next couple of weeks to the top of a hill in deepest darkest Shropshire and if we're in for a winter like last year I'll be in trouble. Might invest in some autosocks as a backup - anyone tried them or can recommend where to get some tyres in the above size?

 

[Shude]

Have really struggled to get some winter rubber for my '82 230ce. According to local tyre dealer 195/70/14's are an unusual size anyway. Will be moving house in the next couple of weeks to the top of a hill in deepest darkest Shropshire and if we're in for a winter like last year I'll be in trouble. Might invest in some autosocks as a backup - anyone tried them or can recommend where to get some tyres in the above size?

I'd be considering steels with some more common-sized tyres on them if it were me. autosocks are probably great but do you fancy kneeling in the snow fitting them and then removing them as soon as you see black stuff again?

 

[Splodge]

I'd be considering steels with some more common-sized tyres on them if it were me. autosocks are probably great but do you fancy kneeling in the snow fitting them and then removing them as soon as you see black stuff again?

They are steels (alloys now in garage until spring) - local tyre place suggested going to more common sizes as well which I may have to yet. Autosocks don't sound like much fun fitting and removing but would prefer to get home than abandon my baby!

 

[Sp!ke]

Have really struggled to get some winter rubber for my '82 230ce. According to local tyre dealer 195/70/14's are an unusual size anyway. Will be moving house in the next couple of weeks to the top of a hill in deepest darkest Shropshire and if we're in for a winter like last year I'll be in trouble. Might invest in some autosocks as a backup - anyone tried them or can recommend where to get some tyres in the above size?

Lots of choice with those sizes at MYtyres

 

[wemorgan]

Have really struggled to get some winter rubber for my '82 230ce. According to local tyre dealer 195/70/14's are an unusual size anyway.

According to: Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 3 of 4

185/65/R15 have a similar rolling radius.

Autoreifen online @ ReifenDirekt.de: Winterreifen, Sommerreifen, Pkw-Reifen und Reifenhandel show a wide selection of winter tyres in that size for ~£50.

HTH

 

[BTB 500]

Not so with ABS as you wont lock up the wheels.

Hang on, we're talking about MILD braking on a wet (not icy) road. Unless you're talking about slicks, ABS doesn't come into it.

 

[BTB 500]

Dont worry, BTB500 just can't get his head around the whole winter tyre debate, its been a running battle for a couple of years now.

I think the only way to convince him is for a road trip up to the scottish highlands in February.

He can drive his SL with summer tyres and I'll drive my SL with winter tyres and we'll see who gets stranded first. :bannana:

Actually ... I'm looking at winter tyres at the moment as we might be taking the Vito over to the South of Germany in February.

But for driving on slightly damp roads at 7 degrees in the UK? Nope.

 

[wemorgan]

But for driving on slightly damp roads at 7 degrees in the UK? Nope.

If that was 100% guaranteed to be the worst we faced in the UK, then I'd sure you'd have many in agreement.

With caution it is also possible to drive in worst conditions on summer tyres, but as the conditions worsen so does the risk. If it's affordable to minimise that risk, then why not?

For myself, I'm self employed, so not arriving for work costs me money, so I see the tyres as an insurance policy.

Anyway, it's clear tyre choices are personal so each to their own

 

[wheels-inmotion]

I feel many in the UK are unfamiliar driving in conditions experienced over the last two winters. If these conditions return this winter then winter tyres offer better "snow traction" without debate. For traction on ice you need chains.

Problem we have in the south is the snow, albeit debilitating is not long lived, and since chains are illegal in slush or dry roads their not really an option.

Just my two penneth worth.

 

[Sp!ke]

... but non studded winter tyres remarkably work well on ice too in my experience.

 

[mufc4ever]

Psychological, I think! Unless you're saying your standard tyres are so bad that they'd have skidded under the same mild braking?

Up to the point where the wheels lock up the tyres don't come into it. It's all down to the brakes (which don't change when you fit winter tyres).

My standard tyres are dunlop sports and even at low speeds in the wet traction is an isue in winter. Wirh full lock on, tight turn and at 5 mph the summer tyres "squeal" to get traction whilst the winter tyres just glide through. Same at the bottom of my hill.

TBH the braking was just way more better so as I'd only changed the tyres this must be the reason.
:bannana: