OP
OP
Brian WH
MB Enthusiast
Shude said:
Actually it is nearly the same price that I recently paid for two Continental Premium Contacts. They are £130 each and I got them for £115 each.
Anyway I have found out that the two tyres I have been quoted are a special rate because the chap wants to shift them as he only has 4 left. I think they are the same ones that Jimmy got quoted £100 for, but I need to check that, as they are £112 from mytyres co.uk, see above. Jimmy's price was good and if mine is better well I may just go for them.
I am waiting to firm up which speed rating they are as I need to keep the V rate as now to be safe. I will let you all know soon what is happening.
WINTRAC V XL
Safety at High Speeds
The Wintrac V XL has been specially developed by Vredestein for those who enjoy driving at high speeds in the winter. Maximum safety is guaranteed by the
application of thermo-elastic Hard Silica Solution III in the tread compound.
In practice, the Wintrac V XL offers exceptional driving stability and improved
braking performance. An ultra-quiet and comfortable winter tyre, it is the ideal choice for drivers of premium car models who wish to get the most from their vehicle, even when temperatures fall below 7°C. Cars fitted with "V" summer tyres are equally suitable for the "V" winter variety. The loadcapacity of a "V" rated tyre is reduced at speeds exceeding 130 mp/h. Replacing "W", "Y" and "ZR" summer tyres with "V" winter tyres can lead to insufficient load capacity. That is why the Wintrac V is available in the XL (extra load) version.
Features Benefits
Thermo-elastic Hard Silica Solution III in the tread compound.
Higher safety levels:
o Enhanced course stability
o Improved braking at higher speeds
o Superb performance at temperatures
below 7°C.
Off-Centre Directional Profile with sipes technology
Ultra-quiet and comfortable winter tyre for the premium car market
Excellent self-cleaning properties
Tread: Broad shoulder tread blocks with canted edges
Maximum grip on wet and icy surfaces, also
during sudden braking or steering manoeuvres
"V" speed symbol
Suitable for speeds up to 149 mp/h
All sizes available in Extra Load (XL) version
The tyres have an increased load capacity
Available in 16", 17" and 18"
Offers cars that sporty look
Tread design and sidewall engraving
A stylish looking winter tyre that adds
to the car's appearance
WINTRAC V XL
Rim diameter 55 Series 50 Series 45 Series 40 Series
16 225/55 R 16 99 V XL
205/55 R 16 94 V XL
17 225/55 R 17 101 V XL 205/50 R 17 93 V XL 235/45 R 17 97 V XL
225/45 R 17 94 V XL
18 235/40 R 18 95 V XL
225/40 R 18 92 V XL
Attachments
Last edited:
Satch
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2003
- Messages
- 3,508
- Location
- Surrey
- Car
- S211 E320Cdi Avantgarde Estate & Toyota Land Cruiser
Brian WH said:So thats £262 for two excluding any discounts??
Should point out it is not great to mix summer & winter tyres and illegal in some countries.
Compounds behave very differently at low temperatures so if winters are on the back only of a RWD car you may have drive grip and think all is well, but have much less steering and braking grip. (Same goes for chains fitted to rears only, so it puzzles me that it is not possible to fit chains to the front wheels on some vehicles)
Alas some may find that out at the very worst moment in time, such as whilst negotiating a snow covered bend.
Winter tyres are great but really a full set in needed. Chains are good as a standby measure because you can carry them around full time. Can be a pain
to fit but will keep you going even on summer tyres.
Really depends on you needs
.
I have different brands of tyres on mine right now, that's from a cheapo ex-fleet job I imagine. They're all the same size/rating etc but it's still not clever.
I will be happier with a full set of decent winter tyres on! Bring on the snow!
I will be happier with a full set of decent winter tyres on! Bring on the snow!
markalex73
New Member
Hi All,,,just been reading thru this section, and thought id add my little bit of input! Im going to be getting some winter tyres this winter, michelin pilot alpins im after. But i only want winter tyres because im driving all across the alps on my annual skiing jaunt for a few weeks after xmas. After last winter i learnt that you HAVE to winter tyres if youre in those kind of conditions. I was driving all thru the alps in my normal tyres, and they done surprisingly well, but there comes a point(usually after 1000m alt.!), where you just have to put snow chains on. In fact, even tho you may have winter tyres on,,it is law to put the chains on as well, in most alpine countries where it may be needed. Most people with their winter tyres wont bother, but if youre a brit, with 'normal' tyres,,its a matter of necessity, if you want to get up that hill! And if its dark and you have lowish profiles, then belive me, you dont want to be doing that, especially in -15 weather! And you also have to take them off when youre out of the snow, otherwise the links on the chains will break.
I used to live in Norway, and you have 2 sets of wheels out there. 1 set for normal use, the other for winter,(which is either studded, or winter tyres). And you have to use the winter set from november to april.
My conclusion is...If i wasnt going to plan on going away to severe snowy regions for skiing, i definitely wouldnt get any winter tyres, or even snow chains. Unless youre in an area guaranteed heavy snow. Its just not worth it in our country. IT may snow for half a day, then its gone the next morning usually. So 400 odd quid is a lot of cash for just that i think!....Hope i was some help!! byeee
))
I used to live in Norway, and you have 2 sets of wheels out there. 1 set for normal use, the other for winter,(which is either studded, or winter tyres). And you have to use the winter set from november to april.
My conclusion is...If i wasnt going to plan on going away to severe snowy regions for skiing, i definitely wouldnt get any winter tyres, or even snow chains. Unless youre in an area guaranteed heavy snow. Its just not worth it in our country. IT may snow for half a day, then its gone the next morning usually. So 400 odd quid is a lot of cash for just that i think!....Hope i was some help!! byeee
))
SimonsMerc
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2004
- Messages
- 1,147
- Location
- Sudbury, West London
- Car
- Merc S212 E350 CDI BlueEfficiency Sport 256bhp, Suzuki GSX-650F, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Dynamic
Anyone remember winter...hmm, must be a couple of years ago now, when London was totally blocked up because of some unexpected snow? People sleeping on the motorways and so on? Well...
I was coming back down from Peterborough that afternoon, on the A1(M). And boom, traffic. Everything stopped because of the snow. It was an absolute nightmare. After about 4 hours on the motorway, moving at a crawl, I got to an exit where there was a McDonalds. I pulled off the motorway, went into the McD's to get some hot food - and then pulled my snow chains out of the boot and put them on the rear wheels (at the time I drove a BMW 530D). I had the chains there mainly because I go over to Poland often - my wife's Polish, and I'm half Polish. Was just co-incidence that I was too lazy to take them out of the boot.
Well, with the chains it was a totally different story. I fired up the GPS, told it to avoid the motorway (which was so full there was no way to drive on it), and pulled out onto some small A and B roads. It was a lot of fun! Very slow - can't go over 30mph with the chains on, but then I didn't really -want- to go any faster in those conditions!
Had a couple of interesting escapes - once I went down a small B road that was going up a hill, narrow country lane with a high bank on each side and only space for one car. So the snow is getting heavier and I'm getting more and more nervous, and I see some lights in front of me. I stop and get out, and - there's a snow plow in front of me, and it can't get through cause it's stuck in the snow which is shoulder deep. I gave the guy what was left of my coffee, sat in the car, hit reverse, closed my eyes and hit the gas. The car reversed along the tracks it had previously left in the snow, and I got back far enough to get to a place I could actually turn around and go find another route.
I got home after a total of 14 hours (14 hours! from Peterborough to West London!). But without the chains, I'd have been spending the night on the A1(M), along with hundreds of other cars. Great things to have, just in case you need them. So I voted 'yes' on the poll!
-simon
I was coming back down from Peterborough that afternoon, on the A1(M). And boom, traffic. Everything stopped because of the snow. It was an absolute nightmare. After about 4 hours on the motorway, moving at a crawl, I got to an exit where there was a McDonalds. I pulled off the motorway, went into the McD's to get some hot food - and then pulled my snow chains out of the boot and put them on the rear wheels (at the time I drove a BMW 530D). I had the chains there mainly because I go over to Poland often - my wife's Polish, and I'm half Polish. Was just co-incidence that I was too lazy to take them out of the boot.
Well, with the chains it was a totally different story. I fired up the GPS, told it to avoid the motorway (which was so full there was no way to drive on it), and pulled out onto some small A and B roads. It was a lot of fun! Very slow - can't go over 30mph with the chains on, but then I didn't really -want- to go any faster in those conditions!
Had a couple of interesting escapes - once I went down a small B road that was going up a hill, narrow country lane with a high bank on each side and only space for one car. So the snow is getting heavier and I'm getting more and more nervous, and I see some lights in front of me. I stop and get out, and - there's a snow plow in front of me, and it can't get through cause it's stuck in the snow which is shoulder deep. I gave the guy what was left of my coffee, sat in the car, hit reverse, closed my eyes and hit the gas. The car reversed along the tracks it had previously left in the snow, and I got back far enough to get to a place I could actually turn around and go find another route.
I got home after a total of 14 hours (14 hours! from Peterborough to West London!). But without the chains, I'd have been spending the night on the A1(M), along with hundreds of other cars. Great things to have, just in case you need them. So I voted 'yes' on the poll!
-simon
OP
OP
Brian WH
MB Enthusiast
Just an update.
The tyres being offered were V XL rating and as such roughly half price. :bannana:
However I have thought long and hard about fitting just two Winter Tyres on the back only. As an engineer I can see no real problem with this providing they are the right speed, size and spec. The front tyres need to be good with plenty of thread, and all rounders, which I would have. It is obviously better to have Winter tyres all round, but at £564 including steel wheels I cannot justify them in this country. Although I go abroad often I have in the main been in the Summer/autumn and even in Switzerland in the mountains the snow is cleared before you can go up in the passes, and the need for winter tyres is therefore minimal.
Anyway in summary, I have decided that Snow Chains are not justified because of the buggeration factor of stopping to take them on and off etc. Two winter tyres could be justified but thinking back over the last 40 years I cound count on one hand when I would have needed them. I have always managed with sensible driving and experience with good sets of normal tyres.
So I'll put my money away for now until my present front set of tyres need changing in about 3/5000 miles. Then who knows if it is thick snow at the time I might reconsider.
Thanks for all your imput, it was a lively debate, with plenty of very sensible comments from all concerned.
The tyres being offered were V XL rating and as such roughly half price. :bannana:
However I have thought long and hard about fitting just two Winter Tyres on the back only. As an engineer I can see no real problem with this providing they are the right speed, size and spec. The front tyres need to be good with plenty of thread, and all rounders, which I would have. It is obviously better to have Winter tyres all round, but at £564 including steel wheels I cannot justify them in this country. Although I go abroad often I have in the main been in the Summer/autumn and even in Switzerland in the mountains the snow is cleared before you can go up in the passes, and the need for winter tyres is therefore minimal.
Anyway in summary, I have decided that Snow Chains are not justified because of the buggeration factor of stopping to take them on and off etc. Two winter tyres could be justified but thinking back over the last 40 years I cound count on one hand when I would have needed them. I have always managed with sensible driving and experience with good sets of normal tyres.
So I'll put my money away for now until my present front set of tyres need changing in about 3/5000 miles. Then who knows if it is thick snow at the time I might reconsider.
Thanks for all your imput, it was a lively debate, with plenty of very sensible comments from all concerned.
Apial
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 743
- Car
- 300ce-24 sportline
I would strongly advise you not to run with just 2 winter tyres. The handling characteristics of your car will be unbalanced on both dry roads and on snow/ice covered ones. The grip characteristics of the summer and winter tyres are completely different, not just a bit different.
From experience, I can say that with winter tyres on a snow packed road you will probably have the same stopping distance as indicated by the Highway Code., ie you will be thrown against the seat belt under braking, but with summer tyres you will just slide. Remember that it is your front tyres that do about 70% of the braking, so summer tyres on the front are not going to stop you very well even if you have winter tyres on the rear.
Have you asked MB about snow tyres for your car? My manual for my 300CE-24 says that on summer tyres I need Z rated tyres, but for winters it says I need only T rated, thats 118mph rating if my memory is correct. Why not save some money and only buy the speed rating that is required? Also are you buying the skinniest width tyres? This will give you better winter handling and make further cost savings.
All the months of winter tyre use will save the wear on your probably more expensive, higher speed rated, wider, summer ones. You will actually save money by using them, and even save fuel too.
After buying all your winter tyres you will probably still have the misfortune of becoming stuck. This is when you will need to get your snowchains out as a "get me out of jail" card. You will need to check in your manual if you may fit chains to your particular tyre size. On my car only the skinniest 195 width tyre is suitable for snowchain use as larger sizes foul the suspension.
Also some winter tyres should not be mixed on the same axle due to different grip characteristics. Michelin Pilot Alpin II should not be mixed with Michelin Pilot I as the former has 20% more grip than the latter.
If you do plan to buy your front tyres at a later date, then you could find that they are unavailable in the UK until the following autumn due to limited UK supplies and manufacturers allocation of supplies to the UK. This would mean you would then have to compromise and possibly buy different brands, which is not best practise. Another problem is when you puncture one tyre unrepairably. This can again cause problems due to unavailability. Buy 5 tyres to start with if you want a belts and braces approach.
I drive all winter on muddy roads that have poor water drainage. They then freeze over and turn into skating rinks for summer tyre drivers. The same happens when it snows. We have no road salting either. Farmers will clear the roads after a heavy fall of snow, but you will of course still not be back to tarmac, just flattened snow. With winter tyres it is a breeze to drive over the white stuff. The tyres just have amazing grip that would appear to defy the Laws of Phyics. You can drive at ludicrous speeds compared to your fellow summer tyre driven motorists. You need faith in your winter tyres, like being told you can now walk on water. I do not know what their limits are, but it exceeds my nerve, especially when you see cars loosing grip driving at 15mph!
When planning that winter trip to Switzerland, remember that some motorists who do not use winter tyres are being automatically being apportioned blame when involved in an accident becuse their cars do not stop effectively.
From experience, I can say that with winter tyres on a snow packed road you will probably have the same stopping distance as indicated by the Highway Code., ie you will be thrown against the seat belt under braking, but with summer tyres you will just slide. Remember that it is your front tyres that do about 70% of the braking, so summer tyres on the front are not going to stop you very well even if you have winter tyres on the rear.
Have you asked MB about snow tyres for your car? My manual for my 300CE-24 says that on summer tyres I need Z rated tyres, but for winters it says I need only T rated, thats 118mph rating if my memory is correct. Why not save some money and only buy the speed rating that is required? Also are you buying the skinniest width tyres? This will give you better winter handling and make further cost savings.
All the months of winter tyre use will save the wear on your probably more expensive, higher speed rated, wider, summer ones. You will actually save money by using them, and even save fuel too.
After buying all your winter tyres you will probably still have the misfortune of becoming stuck. This is when you will need to get your snowchains out as a "get me out of jail" card. You will need to check in your manual if you may fit chains to your particular tyre size. On my car only the skinniest 195 width tyre is suitable for snowchain use as larger sizes foul the suspension.
Also some winter tyres should not be mixed on the same axle due to different grip characteristics. Michelin Pilot Alpin II should not be mixed with Michelin Pilot I as the former has 20% more grip than the latter.
If you do plan to buy your front tyres at a later date, then you could find that they are unavailable in the UK until the following autumn due to limited UK supplies and manufacturers allocation of supplies to the UK. This would mean you would then have to compromise and possibly buy different brands, which is not best practise. Another problem is when you puncture one tyre unrepairably. This can again cause problems due to unavailability. Buy 5 tyres to start with if you want a belts and braces approach.
I drive all winter on muddy roads that have poor water drainage. They then freeze over and turn into skating rinks for summer tyre drivers. The same happens when it snows. We have no road salting either. Farmers will clear the roads after a heavy fall of snow, but you will of course still not be back to tarmac, just flattened snow. With winter tyres it is a breeze to drive over the white stuff. The tyres just have amazing grip that would appear to defy the Laws of Phyics. You can drive at ludicrous speeds compared to your fellow summer tyre driven motorists. You need faith in your winter tyres, like being told you can now walk on water. I do not know what their limits are, but it exceeds my nerve, especially when you see cars loosing grip driving at 15mph!
When planning that winter trip to Switzerland, remember that some motorists who do not use winter tyres are being automatically being apportioned blame when involved in an accident becuse their cars do not stop effectively.
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Last night I watched a short home made US video of a 211 E-class 4Matic demonstrating its grip and traction in an empty car park covered in approximately 4 - 6inches of snow.
You could hear the vehicle revving and the driver trying to make the vehicle slide. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. Yes there was some deviation from the very tight turning circle, but along with 4Matic and winter tyres this thing showed amazing grip.
In this part of the World the only place that gets snow is Dartmoor, and when it snows there, it usually remains for some considerable time and the only road that gets treated is the main through road across the moor. This vehicle although short on ground clearance showed excellent traction, and owners stated they are far superior to the SUV brigade. The 4Matic might be a good vehicle to own if I lived out on the moors. Do the Yorkshire Dales have similar weather?
Regards,
John
*****SUVs are the thing over here, but that is all you see in the ditches when it snows. A MB 4 matic is a totally different animal in the snow compared to a RWD Mercedes. I have had Audi Quattros for years and an all-wheel-drive car is hard to beat! Even in dry pavement they can accelerate and turn very nicely. Well worth the money to me! Most MBs here in Colorado are 4Matic.****
You could hear the vehicle revving and the driver trying to make the vehicle slide. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. Yes there was some deviation from the very tight turning circle, but along with 4Matic and winter tyres this thing showed amazing grip.
In this part of the World the only place that gets snow is Dartmoor, and when it snows there, it usually remains for some considerable time and the only road that gets treated is the main through road across the moor. This vehicle although short on ground clearance showed excellent traction, and owners stated they are far superior to the SUV brigade. The 4Matic might be a good vehicle to own if I lived out on the moors. Do the Yorkshire Dales have similar weather?
Regards,
John
*****SUVs are the thing over here, but that is all you see in the ditches when it snows. A MB 4 matic is a totally different animal in the snow compared to a RWD Mercedes. I have had Audi Quattros for years and an all-wheel-drive car is hard to beat! Even in dry pavement they can accelerate and turn very nicely. Well worth the money to me! Most MBs here in Colorado are 4Matic.****
here is are some interesting articles about snow tyres
http://www.snowtire.info/TireReviews/2004-Html/2004 Review.html
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/hl/nokian.htm
if you want steel wheels keep a look out on ebay. I picked up these on ebay
the other day for £50 and will be getting some Nokian WR winter tyres
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7936585585
http://www.snowtire.info/TireReviews/2004-Html/2004 Review.html
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/hl/nokian.htm
if you want steel wheels keep a look out on ebay. I picked up these on ebay
the other day for £50
and will be getting some Nokian WR winter tyreshttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7936585585
