Winter Tires for 17" alloys

[rhino-wayne]

Hi all,

Bongo is in need of new tires very soon...so just wondering what you folks are using/recommend/warn against..etc
Shall I go for "winter" tires?? or just standard?
Something that won't annoy the Bank manager....(AKA my co-pilot!)

Currently have 225-45-R17


Thx

[francophile1947]

Depends on what you are going to be doing. Winter tyres are much safer on ice, but decent all-weather tyres are fine for most circumstances. Cheap summer tyres are useless on ice and compacted snow, as I found out by experience
By the way, your current tyres are just over 4% too small, so your speedo and odometer will under-read. 225/50 or 215/55 would be better.

[rhino-wayne]

Depends on what you are going to be doing. Winter tyres are much safer on ice, but decent all-weather tyres are fine for most circumstances. Cheap summer tyres are useless on ice and compacted snow, as I found out by experience
By the way, your current tyres are just over 4% too small, so your speedo and odometer will under-read. 225/50 or 215/55 would be better.

Thanks francophile1947
Yes well I guess here in Bristol it is never going to get too cold/icy, so may see what i can get for "all weather tyres"
(I had my first driving lessons in Hokkaido, Bongo-land, -20'c for 4 months, sheet ice roads, blizards ....not quite the same as a UK "Whiteout" LOL )

My current tyres (fitted by previous owner ) are Achilles ATR Sport 225/45 ZR17 94w XL & Yes they have always looked abit small to me, good to have that confirmed! They seem to be developing small cracks even at 38psi...just dont seem fit for the Bongo's weight
225/50 or 215/55 would be better. So folks change of question...any suggestions on a all-weather tyre 225/50/17 or 215/55/17

[scanner]

Some of us use Vredestein Quatrac tyres all year round and I for one wouldn't use anything else from now on.

http://www.vredestein.co.uk/Banden_Band ... dgroepID=3

Winter/all season tyres are less "unsuitable" in summer than summer tyres are in the winter and I reckon we get far more winter than summer anyway.

They aren't cheap - but as those 4 small patches of rubber are all that keep you (and your banker) on the road, how cheap does you banker value her life?

[buntytw26]

My qashqai just got new winter tyres, vredestein wintrac extreme 4. I had snowtrac 3 on the polo and was just about the only person at work last year that didn't struggle to work.

For 215/60/17 I was £135 per corner from tyremen.

[rhino-wayne]

thanks for the replies folks,

Vredestein certainly look good ....expensive but good....any more suggestions out there folks?...

sizes ! now I getting confused! 225/50 or 215/55 or 215/60 how do these 3 sizes effect the speedo etc?

thx

[sdsk]

Try a calculator like this:

http://www.alloywheels.com/tyrecalc.asp

[scanner]

Vredestein certainly look good ....expensive but good....any more suggestions out there folks?...

How much do you value your life? I think it's mainly the size that is making your choice expensive winter tyres in 225/50-17 seem to start at around £130 each whoever makes them.

Try searching for either Avon or Cooper "Ice" tyres they are the same company and guess what? "Made in Britain" but just checked and "not in that size" seems to be the answer.

Try getting 4 standard steels and some 215/65-15s that brings the price down to under £100 each if you buy 4.

http://www.event-tyres.co.uk/tyre-searc ... nge=2&tt=W

[helen&tony]

Hi
I use all-season tyres all year...we get temperatures over 40 C in summer, and winter is down to minus 20 to minus 25.The extreme temperatures in the minus range are only for a few weeks, and in that period I don't drive...the drivers here are dreadful...so I either go by taxi, and let them buy winter tyres, or stay in.
All season tyres are more than adequate to minus 10, and after that, grip tails off...How many times will you encounter minus 10 in England??? co-incidentally, diesel fuel "Waxes", or precipitates at temperatures of minus 8 / 9, and unless the diesel you have is a GOOD winter diesel, air-chill can "freeze" the diesel in the bottom of the tank, if you are close to home...further away, the engine heat from the under tray CAN warm the fuel tank...but it's "iffy"....I have experienced this a few times here....
So....are winter tyres useful in England???....waste of money...buy GOOD all-seasons....Scotland is another matter...might be worth it
All-seasons in snow?....I have NO problems whatsoever...Switzerland, Northern Italy in snow...no worries....ALSO, remember, that in many countries, snow -chains are mandatory, so why buy winter tyres...sure as hell, the police will insist on chains, even if you have super-duper tyres...the law's the law
One good thing about snow tyres :....more profit for the company making them, and selling them in England
mmmm....you never know, they might start plugging them in Africa (just in case )
Cheers
Helen

[scanner]

That all depends on just how "all-season" the tyres really are not all makers design them and use the right rubber compound for true low temperature use. Few if any "all-season" tyres still work well at as low as -10c, or even below +7c.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/re ... -tyres.htm

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/winterAllSeason.dos

I play safe and use proper "snowflake" rated tyres, they WILL work at low temps and in my experience continue to work just as well in our 2 or 3 days of summer.

If you want to see the difference between "all-season" and "winter" watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEMH10Z4s
and this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y

99% of the time the difference doesn't matter, it's the 1% of the time you are heading for the scenery that you'll wish you'd had the other ones fitted.

They only need to let you down once to NOT be worth it.

[rhino-wayne]

Thanks folks for all your input,links etc , gave me plenty to think about! nothing like a crash course on vehicle tyres!

thx sdsk, really enjoyed having fun with the calculator...best I've seen on line, nice n clear & all the required info.. ............................

Try a calculator like this:

http://www.alloywheels.com/tyrecalc.asp

...so I've been bongoing along at 67.22mph not 70 mph no wonder that BMW was up my butt!

[rhino-wayne]

Well the conclusion

Well, gave myself a crash course on Tyres/Tires, thought about my driving.. ...Almost daily, plenty of winter driving on "B" roads & "unclassified" roads My budget and.....


Removed my (part worn - unknown history..) Budget Achilles ATR Sport 225/45 ZR17 94w XL (1 being MOT fail.. (worn edge) & remainder being close! )

& replaced them with part worn Bridgestone Winter Blizzak Tyres 225 55 17 101V with 5-6mm of tread. The profile & load rating has improved the ride....and driving along the M5 on a dark, dark night in heavy rain, I was a happy Bongonaut.

.........................