When do you put your winter tyres on.

[steve_earwig]

They've got good reviews on both Tyre Test & Total Tyre Guide (the ones I look at first). Made in The Netherlands apparently.

[lozz]

Thanks for the links

[KozmoNaut]

Basically, you can't go completely wrong with the major brands for winter tyres. Continental and Michelin always seem to be at the top of the heap, but Goodyear, Vredestein, Firestone, Dunlop and Nokian always seem to be right on their tails, and are cheaper to buy.

All I've heard about Pirelli winter tyres is to stay away though. They make great summer performance tyres, not so good winter tyres. Flip that around for Nokian, they make great winter tyres, but mediocre summer tyres at best.

[lozz]

cheers.

ah well there on now so she say's. x4 @ 304 quid fitted/balanced & free wash/mini valet thrown in. = baked beans for me

[Welly]

Lozz, I forgot to say, but I nearly sh*t myself the first time I took a corner with the Winter's on - be careful as they need a bit more steering input and the car will feel a bit squidgy.

[lozz]

Cheers Welly..
ihad a drive out in it last night.. no difference realy.. just alitle bit more road noise.
she don't drive it fast so shouid be safe enough

[grasmere59]

I've got Goodyear Ultragrip 7+'s and they'll be going on tomorrow with my tatty set of Hoggars.

[mjb]

Picking myself up a set of part-worn (7mm) Continental's at the weekend. Fairly new model too, so they haven't spent 7 years rotting in a shed

Any idea how much it'll cost for me to get them fit and balanced? I'll be looking for a 2nd set of alloys for my summer tyres over xmas so I don't have to fork out for re-fitting again...

Actually, they're all-weather tyres, not summer tyres. Wouldn't want summer tyres in this country...

[lozz]

ipay around 8 quid a corner.
that's new valve. and balancing excl disposal of tyre

best to shop round as some will try and fleece you.

[Welly]

I've just spent £99.00 getting 4 x Tyres mounted and a "Hunters" 4-wheel alignment but the car feels really planted now.

[DaiRees]

I put mine on today, which was probably a week late really.

Looking forward to finding out what they're like.

[steve_earwig]

Croatia just changed the law on this, this is from the HAK (Croatian AA) website:

Winter equipment in Croatia from 15:11. to 15.4. In Croatia is winter equipment required in winter DIONIC public road 15 studenoga tekuće godine 15 travnja iduće godine. The mandatory use of winter equipment relations to fresh types of motor vehicles bez matter what the weather condition uvjete i Kolník, izuzev vehicles Armed cleanliness of the Republic of Croatia.

Translation courtesy of Google

Before it was "if there's snow/ice on the road you must have chains/winter tyres on or you're nicked" to "from November 15 to April 15th the next year you must have winter tyres on/snow chains at the ready regardless of the weather or road conditions. Or you're nicked." Which is kind of a good thing as the idiots here often don't think about it until they get up in the morning and there's snow everywhere and then there's chaos at the tyre fitter's. Or, they give it no thought until they're sliding into a big heap of cars on the motorway Then I guess there'll just be one massive queue at the tyre fitter's on November 14th...

[Welly]

That sounds like a better ruling to me, crazy to leave it as "only if it snows" like you say. Is there a strong market for second-hand tyres there?

[steve_earwig]

Don't think so, I've not seen any at any tyre fitter's, there's a few in the free ads but I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

[oldcol]

Well living in East Anglia we never get the sort of snow scenes you see in Scotland, Northern England etc and in over 45 years of driving in all weathers have managed fine without M&S tyres. I do currently have 4 season tyres on the 406 though.

PS: Never had an accident.


Cars:
03 Peugeot 406hdi110 estate 74k
04 BMW 330D Touring (estate) 82k