Snow Chains

[Shude]

Shude is seriously considering winter wheels and tyres so is Brian and so am I, any more thinking about it?

I can see the possibility of a group buy, have I mentioned I can get cracking deals on Vredestein tyres through a mate as long as they are for personal use, I will have a word and see if he considers 12 or so wheels a problem.

The only thing holding me back is the wheels, we need a source of MB steel wheels and trims (other than ebay!).

Antony/Bloodmoon has told me to buy 8 winter tyres if I get some because he wants some for himself as well! He and I have the same 16" oem alloys, we'd need 205/55/16 and at least V rated tyres.

If we really want steels, I could have a word with the stealership and see how much discount I'd get off 12-16-20 wheels, but I'm sure somewhere else would be cheaper. Can't you talk to the manufacturers Jimmy, tell them you're thinking of moving into wheels as well and you need 20 wheels to try out!

I found these in the catalogue for the W211 E320 CDI:

A2114000102 : DISC WHEEL 7.5 x 16 H2 ET 42 : EUR 76.92
A2194000002 : DISC WHEEL 4J x 17 H2 ET 34 : EUR 76.54

Brian would need the different offset steels probably. Sorry, but 17" STEELS? They're pathetically narrow, but 17"? . Also, what is a 219? Not a chassis type I recognise!

 

[Brian WH]

W219 is the new CLS I think mate.

 

[Shude]

W219 is the new CLS I think mate.

Ahh of course. So maybe the CLS will be shipped with a 17" steel spare

 

[glojo]

Am I correct in saying that 'narrow' wheels\tyres are better for driving on snow?

All my driving expertise is 'slightly' rusty, and would welcome any more up to date input.

Regards to you all,
John

 

[Shude]

Am I correct in saying that 'narrow' wheels\tyres are better for driving on snow?

Yes. Imagine snow shoes, they help prevent people sinking into the snow because they increase the size of the footprint and therefore the pressure on the surface of the snow is a lot less. With cars you want to dig into the snow to get grip, so a smaller footprint will increase that effect.

 

[Brian WH]

Ahh of course. So maybe the CLS will be shipped with a 17" steel spare

My spare wheel is A211 4012502 & 4J x 17 H2 ET34.

 

[jimmy]

I dont know of any wheel manufacturers, we would need to stick with MB because of insurance? Also the tyre would have to have the correct speed rating for the vehicle even if you dont intend to go fast, it's not just the top speed that the speed rating is for, its also for the cornering and handling ability. You need the high rated tyres otherwise the insurance co will moan again!

Are there different tyres for winter and snow or a certain general purpose winter tyre? What are the disadvantages of winter tyres? There must be some or we would all have them.

What is the verdict on the Vredesteins, as that is the brand I can get a deal on or Fulda (made by Goodyear) how do the prices compare?

 

[Brian WH]

A search on mytyres revealled the following prices.

There was more choice if the speed was reduced. The size is for my car.

Goodyear***
Winter tyres EAGLE ULTRA GRIP GW-3
225/55 R16 95V With mytyres.co.uk only £ 104,90


Pirelli***
Winter tyres W 240 Snowsport
225/55 R16 95V With mytyres.co.uk only £ 123,40


Continental***
Winter tyres WinterContact TS 790 V
225/55 R16 99V XL mit Felgenrippe runout, With mytyres.co.uk only £ 135,50


Vredestein***
Winter tyres WINTRAC
225/55 R16 99V XL With mytyres.co.uk only £ 111,70


Continental***
Winter tyres WinterContact TS 810 S
225/55 R16 99V XL in preparation, With mytyres.co.uk only £ 141,30

 

[glojo]

What a pity insurance companies do not offer a discount for drivers that take this very sensible precaution when driving in atrocious conditions.

Good luck to you all,
John

 

[GrahamC230K]

How much snow do you guys actually drive through?

Serious question, I appreciate it may be more than the chance 1 day a year I experience in my area.

How much of this is actual, compacted snow covering the whole road?

The way I see it, you need to have high percentage of you winter driving being on snow to consider any of this.

I think if I had winter tyres fitted I think I would be more likely to have an accident due to degraded dry performance than I would be using my regular tyres in ice/snow. If I do go out in ice or snow then I drive so very very carefully and the biggest threat is anyone else on the road not doing the same.

So IF it snows, I''l either have to stay in or take it very very slowly, risking getting stuck or use of some old netting/carpet etc to get going.

If your IF it snows is WHEN it snows, then I appreciate your choice is different.

I think some very high performance tyres are poor in cold temperatures (Bridgestone SO-2's spring to mind), but otherwise comparing regular tyres and snow tyres I doubt handle much differently on a frozen or frosted road (not any actual snow).

I went out today and on cold, damp greasy B-roads I saw my ASR light flash changing from 2nd -3rd under brisk acceleration. In these conditions I would stil rather have my F1's than something designed for gripping in settled snow.

I would check your insurance carefully. I don't think UK insurance companies will be familiar with the practice of fitting seasonal tyres.

I would say you would be foolish to use a different size, speed or weight rating of tyre without the consent of your insurer.

Suffer an accident on the motorway in the dry, due to poorer stopping than if you had regular tyres and they would quite rightly potentially void your claim - I think the chances of a discount are slim!

 

[jimmy]

Graham, I have been thinking about this all afternoon, that is why I asked what the disadvantages of winter tyres are. If they are really that poor for 'normal' driving then I agree with you to stick to regular performance tyres. I was thinking of having a set of steel wheels with winter tyres that I could swap over if the forecast was for lots of snow.

But I am in the fortunate position to have the use of a works van whenever I want and that is what I use to drive to and from work on a daily basis. I live out in the sticks a bit but am only a mile from a main road, the trouble is the country road I live off is one of the last to get gritted in the area and I live at the bottom of a hill. If we need to go anywhere in bad weather we could always take the Golf, being FWD it should be better.

I was originally thinking that if I could get kitted out with 4 steel wheels and a set of winter tyres for ~£200 then it was worth doing. I sometimes get a bit carried along with the flow and get carried away..............any one want a Remus exhaust???

 

[fuzzer]

il reply to this thread once ive picked myself up off the floor

 

[Shude]

I suspect the downside to winter tyres is that they're noisier than all-seaons and that they probably wear faster due to a different compound of rubber.

 

[jimmy]

I got some prices as promised on Vredestein Wintrac winter tyres, Brian they only do your size in what they call 'Extra Load' tyres, not sure what that means.

225/55 R16 V £100 each
205/55 R16 V £ 96 each

These prices are for supply only, including VAT. They would be delivered to me and we would have to sort out distribution.

If there were an order for 20 or more tyres (mixed) we could get another couple of pounds off each tyre.

I think its a bit too dear for me, by the time I have found some wheels too but the offer is there.

 

[Shude]

I'm waiting for a price back from blackcircles, they don't even list winter tyres on their website but they might sell them.

The Pirelli 240 Snowsport tyres sound pretty cool!

http://www.pirelli.co.uk/en_GB/tyres/catalog/tyre_category.jhtml?catid=UK_WSI&productid=2235

* Ideal for sporty and medium/high powered saloon cars
* Top traction and braking on snow, excellent aquaplaning resistance
* Superior handling performance on dry and wet roads
* Optimum driving comfort and electrical conductivity
* 100% silica compound with pirelli cap& base technology
* Available in a wide range of sizes. Also in v-rated
* Snowflake marking (cool! )

 

[Shude]

I think its a bit too dear for me, by the time I have found some wheels too but the offer is there.

I just checked and that's not a bad price for those tyres!

 

[jimmy]

I just checked and that's not a bad price for those tyres!

It is a very good price, I can get good prices only on Vredesteins though. Even if it costs £20 carriage per set from me to another MBClub member that is still cheaper than anywhere else I can find.

 

[Brian WH]

My usual supplier has quoted me £69.95 + VAT = £82.20 for: -

Vredestein Winter tyres WINTRAC 225/55/16. Fitted and balanced.

SelectaTyre Ltd.

He is now trying to source me some MB steel wheels cheap.

Shude - Can you find out how much my steel wheels should be please from your dealer. - Thanks.

 

[Shude]

Shude - Can you find out how much my steel wheels should be please from your dealer. - Thanks.

Those 16" beasts will be expensive, I will call the stealership this afternoon but I would expect the wheels to be about £55 each.

Could try a breaker too I suppose but your obscure w211 wheels will be tricky to get, not only are w211s with steel wheels rare, but I think the steels are for winter tyres only etc and therefore there'll be NONE in the UK

 

[Brian WH]

Those 16" beasts will be expensive, I will call the stealership this afternoon but I would expect the wheels to be about £55 each.

Could try a breaker too I suppose but your obscure w211 wheels will be tricky to get, not only are w211s with steel wheels rare, but I think the steels are for winter tyres only etc and therefore there'll be NONE in the UK

Thanks mate, just rung my local dealer, very helpful. Steel wheels new part number is B66472168 and are £48.79 incl VAT and 6 available. He however didn't see the need for winter tyres and couldn't recommend any.

So thats £262 for two excluding any discounts??