keelerad 256 Report post Posted November 1, 2013 Auto Express have a review here. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/66645/winter-tyres-test-reviews-and-prices-2013 Funny that they did the test at Nokians proving ground in Finland and guess what came first ? It mentions that they also took a set of summer tyres "We also used our test-winning summer tyre in this size as a comparison to see the advantage winter rubber has in slippery conditions." but I can't find any comparison to the summer rubber in the article? Anyone find it ? Alec Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted November 4, 2013 Well having woken up to see frost outside this morning I switched my wheels at lunchtime while it was dry. Took the opportunity to rotate them, so back left now front right etc. Measured the tread depth and there's 5 mm on the front and about 7 on the rears now (cause of the swap) so this second winter will probably see them off. Not really worried though as getting 2 winters out of a set works out at £150 a winter, they went on at 4750 and came off at about 10k, so 5250 miles (including a day on track at Blyton on Feb14th) seems to have half used them, so you might get 12,000 out of a set with more careful treatment, which if you don't do that many (less than 4000?) winter miles might mean you could get 3 winters out of them. Need to get up the enthusiasm now to give the OEM alloys a good clean before I put them into their Blue Peter box of straw for their winter hibernation along with the tortoise (and no I don't actually have a Freda) Alec Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted November 4, 2013 Isn't it a better idea to have more tread on the front wheels than the rear? I know the rear drives the car but when it comes to steering and braking, its all about the fronts right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sideways? 33 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 Isn't it a better idea to have more tread on the front wheels than the rear? I know the rear drives the car but when it comes to steering and braking, its all about the fronts right?No, because understeer is safer than oversteer and trying to avoid whatever you're about to hit is better than just jamming the brakes on and hoping to stop in time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 I can understand that understeering is easier to control but if you're trying to avoid something, surely you'd want the grip at the front to actually manoeuvre around something, rather than being unable to steer out the way due to understeering? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShinyBRZ 16 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 I'd always prefer steering control to rear traction. You've got half a chance if you've got any understanding of car control. For most commuters, understeer's probably a better bet as you don't want them spinning off all the time. Very often if it all starts to go wrong a bit of understeer will just scrub the speed off and grip will come back to them without any realisation of what's just happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sideways? 33 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 I can understand that understeering is easier to control but if you're trying to avoid something, surely you'd want the grip at the front to actually manoeuvre around something, rather than being unable to steer out the way due to understeering?Yes, to a certain extent, but, if you're on the brakes and swing the steering violently to avoid something and the loaded front bites hard, the unloaded rear doesn't and you spin you have no further options other than hoping the impact doesn't hurt too much...! I'd always prefer steering control to rear traction. You've got half a chance if you've got any understanding of car control. For most commuters, understeer's probably a better bet as you don't want them spinning off all the time. Very often if it all starts to go wrong a bit of understeer will just scrub the speed off and grip will come back to them without any realisation of what's just happened.And this is also correct, if you know what you're doing you have more of a chance to do the right thing - i.e. not making massive panic inputs to steering and brakes... However, the majority of people will do the wrong thing (unintentionally, because they either panic or actually don't know what the right thing to do is...) and end up in trouble, hence why all modern cars are set to understeer by default - you can largely drive around understeer but it requires a lot more skill to drive a car that naturally oversteers without any deliberate provocation... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sideways? 33 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 Oh and that Panda doesn't have winters fitted Alec I think it is fitted with Nankang All-Terrain Tyres but I can't quite read the sidewalls in the video Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 Right cleaned my OEMs at lunchtime and when I went to get my one wash bucket, I found where I had put my centre cap stickers (took the wash bucket to JAE, didn't use it, put stickers in it in the boot, haven't washed the car since ) So as I was cleaning the wheels, popped the centre caps out and put on my 86 stickers I got from Pascal in Holland, ready to go back in next Spring. I think they are actually black and silver so will match the car. I bought some black and red ones as well, in case I wanted a contrasting colour but decided these would look better ... and before all you BRZers start up yes I do know they have Subaru on the back ! Alec Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted November 6, 2013 This is what my Scoobie Alloys look like, Gold with Silver, Classy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rob275 1817 Report post Posted November 6, 2013 Currently on my standard wheels again no winter tyres yet, think i'll enjoy going round every corner sideways for a bit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special K 442 Report post Posted November 6, 2013 Looking at the Nokian WR D3 (recommended above) I'm a bit shocked that 225/45/R17's are £104 each..! that's as much as F1 Eagles... Spec K Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted November 6, 2013 Yeah, I too was looking at the Nokian stuff, Auto Express rate them while other sites don't really rate them as highly.....plus the ones I've found where the A3 ones, not D3....not 100% sure what the difference is but the A3 are more performance so better in the dry I think......but looks like I won't be needing winter tyres as I can nab my sister's Honda Jazz when it's bad as she's shooting off to Austria for Ski season......I hope anyways.....otherwise I'll borrow one of my cousin's cars Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted November 6, 2013 Thats one of the reasons that drove me to the 16's along with keeping my OEMs salt free Alec Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 Just found this vid we took of Ross (forpster) in his RX-8 in the snow in the car-park at work in 2010 (My old T-Sport bottom of screen at the beginning) Ok he was playing to the crowd a bit, but this can happen to you as well without the right tyres, do you want to look like a pillock and have to drive like a granny? 1 Sideways? reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 Arh.....thought he was guna drift around that lil island Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 Between 0 and 1 C this morning with about an inch of snow coming over the A537 this morning Eee by gum, it's grim ooop North, Ecky Thump ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special K 442 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 I can get the Nokian WR D3's in 225/50/17 aspect - won't make a lot of difference compared to 225/45/17 aspect, will it? Spec K Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deacon 1357 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 I'd recommend the Nokian A3's over the D3's - they're the higher performance tyre. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 They'll be a bit bigger, see http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=225&aspect=45&diameter=17&wheelwidth=7&offset=42&width2=225&aspect2=50&diameter2=17&wheelwidth2=7&offset2=42#content So at 30mph your speedo will read a bit low (28.97mph), but you already are a bit low and compared to OEM http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=215&aspect=45&diameter=17&wheelwidth=7&offset=42&width2=225&aspect2=50&diameter2=17&wheelwidth2=7&offset2=42#content so at a real 30 you will see 28.56 on the speedo, but as speedos in this country tend to read high you will probably be about right, best way to check is to use a GPS reading from a TomTom or your phone Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rab 60 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 I'd recommend the Nokian A3's over the D3's - they're the higher performance tyre. I thought the tread pattern on the D3 looked better suited to slush & snow, I'm about to commit to buying a set of these this week, it was either these or GY Ultragrip 8/Ice+. Not much in it in terms of price. Hmmmm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
will300 812 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 I thought the tread pattern on the D3 looked better suited to slush & snow, I'm about to commit to buying a set of these this week, it was either these or GY Ultragrip 8/Ice+. Not much in it in terms of price. Hmmmm Interesting I've gone for the GY Ultragrip 8. Me and Deacon can do a comparison after I have mine fitted tomorrow. 1 Rab reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rab 60 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 Anyone got an opinion on which type of tread pattern is best to go for: A3's: http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?s_p=Nokian-WR-A3-205_55-R16-91H&details=Ordern&typ=D-117064&cart_id=52770637.110.31947&ranzahl=4&Breite=205&Herst=Nokian&Quer=55&Felge=16&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=20&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=Wi&m_s=3&x_tyre_for=PKWWi&rsmFahrzeugart=PKW or D3's: http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?s_p=Nokian-WR-D3-205_55-R16-91H&details=Ordern&typ=D-117063&cart_id=52770637.110.31947&ranzahl=4&Breite=205&Herst=Nokian&Quer=55&Felge=16&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=20&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=Wi&m_s=3&x_tyre_for=PKWWi&rsmFahrzeugart=PKW Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deacon 1357 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 I thought the tread pattern on the D3 looked better suited to slush & snow, I'm about to commit to buying a set of these this week, it was either these or GY Ultragrip 8/Ice+. Not much in it in terms of price. Hmmmm If you have a look on tyre reviews (http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Nokian/) they class the d3 as high performance and the a3 as ultra high performance which is also what the Nokian site seems to suggest. I ran the a3's on my scirocco and they were awesome. When we had lots of snow last year I went to a local pub car park with about a foot of untouched snow purposely to see what they could do. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the car stuck! That was front wheel drive I know but if they could deal with a foot of snow and not get stuck I figure they should be good enough to keep me going in the '86 through the winter! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deacon 1357 Report post Posted November 19, 2013 Interesting I've gone for the GY Ultragrip 8. Me and Deacon can do a comparison after I have mine fitted tomorrow. Sounds like a plan! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
