[Heady]

Does anyone in the UK run winter tyres during winter?  I know that they are not mandated by law unlike some other European countries.

However, after being bitten back in March by going through a hedge while braking to miss a fox.  A contributory factor _may_ have been the temperature at the time of 3degC...  I'm very strongly looking at and considering running winter tyres during winter.

For anyone that does run winter tyres (in any country) - which ones do you recommend?

[diablo]

I had Michelin Cross Climates fitted before last Christmas. They aren't actually winter tyres but to run all year round.  They have the snowflake symbol on them.

I haven't tested them on snow or ice but on cold wet roads last winter I gave them some tests to see how well they worked - passed with flying colours. Over summer they have worked at least as well as my Hankooks - they seem better on bends I think.

Probably worth putting on the list - as changing tyres from summer to winter is rather a pain. 

[xiziz]

I ran a set of Nokian Hakkapelitta R2 on one of my previous cars, very happy with them but I recon they might be overkill for UK roads unless you regularly drive sub zero temps.

 All other winter tyres I've owned were/are studded, which I assume are banned. The Kumhos ive got now are horribly bad.

I think goodyear makes a good studless one to, called ultra grip ice or something, I hear a lot of people talking good about them.

[Asterix]

I have now Ultra Grip on mine and have had Continental, both are recommendable.

When I get my next car it will be new enough to have the bloody TPMS system, I believe I will buy a set of those Cross Climate tyres Diablo mention as it will save me a set of those expensive TPMS valves.

[Heady]

I've created a table with a selection of winter tyres ranked from best to worst based on the EU Tyre Label scores.

Anything with an E or F for Grip were not included.  Prices are from Blackcircles.com; the ranking works that the highest score gets 3, next gets 2, last gets 1.  So for example A=3,B=2,C=1.  This is then weighted - where I weigh wet grip the highest, then noise, then price, then fuel efficiency.  For noise & price the weight is 1/num so that a larger value is therefore, smaller.  The rankings for the different tyres are then the weighted scores multiplied together.

Using the ranking methodology described above the Top5 are:
1) Michelin Cross Climate
2) Nokian *WR D4
3) Dunlop Winter Sport 5
4) Continental *Winter Contact 
5) GoodYear *UltraGrip 9

(I tried including a HTML table created from excel but the forum didn't like it)

[eye30]

I just stay at home when the roads are bad!

[Dazzler]

Great work Heady, thanks..

[Heady]

I just stay at home when the roads are bad!

On a weekend that is possible.  Work days this might not be possible...

However, for me - this is about improving chances of the vehicle behaving even when conditions are cold or cold & wet.

However, after being bitten back in March by going through a hedge while braking to miss a fox.  A contributory factor _may_ have been the temperature at the time of 3degC...  I'm very strongly looking at and considering running winter tyres during winter.

That incident was with month old summer tyres!  I have no intention of a repeat and approx. ~£200 is a small price to pay to avoid dealing with insurance again.

[xiziz]

Great table,

One thing to keep in mind though, wet grip does not equal grip on ice/snow.

Many of the studless winter tyres that do best in the braking tests on ice/snow end up with E-F in wet grip.

So those days it might still be worth taking a snowday off, workday or not.

[Mike SX]

I had Michelin Cross Climates fitted before last Christmas. They aren't actually winter tyres but to run all year round.

Spoken at length to Michelin who state that these are not suitable for my i30 as they are only 'T' rated, the handbook, sticker on the driver door jamb and original Hankooks quote 'H'.
Although 'H' indicates a top speed of 130mph (vehicle cannot achieve this) and 'T' indicates 118mph.
Insurance could be void (downhill with a wind    )
If fitted, the fitting company should fit a 'T' sticker on the door jamb indicating the change, and the owner takes Insurance responsibility for the change.

[asathorny]

I had Michelin Cross Climates fitted before last Christmas. They aren't actually winter tyres but to run all year round.

Spoken at length to Michelin who state that these are not suitable for my i30 as they are only 'T' rated, the handbook, sticker on the driver door jamb and original Hankooks quote 'H'.
Although 'H' indicates a top speed of 130mph (vehicle cannot achieve this) and 'T' indicates 118mph.
Insurance could be void (downhill with a wind    )
If fitted, the fitting company should fit a 'T' sticker on the door jamb indicating the change, and the owner takes Insurance responsibility for the change.

Cripes I woz just about to buy a set <sigh>.  Wot now???   

[diablo]

The tyres fitted on my i30 are marked thus "MICHELIN CrossClimate 205/55 R16 94V Extra load" and I assume that the V is the speed rating - as in 149mph.

I don't often do more than 70 as the fuel consumption rockets. 

[asathorny]

The tyres fitted on my i30 are marked thus "MICHELIN CrossClimate 205/55 R16 94V Extra load" and I assume that the V is the speed rating - as in 149mph.

I don't often do more than 70 as the fuel consumption rockets. 

I am very easily confused, so, will these tyres invalidate my insurance or not?   

[CraigB]

The tyres fitted on my i30 are marked thus "MICHELIN CrossClimate 205/55 R16 94V Extra load" and I assume that the V is the speed rating - as in 149mph.

I don't often do more than 70 as the fuel consumption rockets. 

I am very easily confused, so, will these tyres invalidate my insurance or not?   

Unless you are/were doing over the tyres rated speed in an accident then I don't see how it could void the insurance.

[asathorny]

OK, sometime in the next week or three I will put some new clogs on my shiny red one 

[Mike SX]

I am very easily confused, so, will these tyres invalidate my insurance or not?   

In the 380SL I was warned (by Mercedes/Insurance Broker) not to fit tyres rated at a speed less than the published top speed, as I could have exceeded the (tyre speed) limit for a prolonged period at anytime (German Autobahn) and thus, unknowingly damage the tyres, which could subsequently develop into a failure.
I didn't fancy being involved in an accident in the Hyundai, whereupon some jobsworth looked to blame me for any reason.
You could check with your Insurance Company.

[Mike SX]

The tyres fitted on my i30 are marked thus "MICHELIN CrossClimate 205/55 R16 94V Extra load" and I assume that the V is the speed rating - as in 149mph.

My present tyres (as fitted new) are 185/65/R15 88H and I would like to keep to this - to avoid unnecessary, possible complications by changing.
A colleague of mine is an Expert Witness (Approved for UK Court Cases) for Vehicular Accidents, and has mentioned as much.
Tomas (Michelin Advisor) also stated these were "primarily for Winter use", I asked if they could be used in the Summer, and was told "up to you" make sure there is a 'T' sticker on the door jamb.

[CraigB]

I am very easily confused, so, will these tyres invalidate my insurance or not?   

In the 380SL I was warned (by Mercedes/Insurance Broker) not to fit tyres rated at a speed less than the published top speed, as I could have exceeded the (tyre speed) limit for a prolonged period at anytime (German Autobahn) and thus, unknowingly damage the tyres, which could subsequently develop into a failure.
I didn't fancy being involved in an accident in the Hyundai, whereupon some jobsworth looked to blame me for any reason.
You could check with your Insurance Company.

So being the i30 cant even do 118mph - 189kph the tyres are rated higher than the vehicles maximum speed which should mean they would be legal unless there is a pre-requisite that tyres must have a certain speed level above what the vehicle could achieve

[diablo]

My present tyres (as fitted new) are 185/65/R15 88H and I would like to keep to this - to avoid unnecessary, possible complications by changing.
A colleague of mine is an Expert Witness (Approved for UK Court Cases) for Vehicular Accidents, and has mentioned as much.
Tomas (Michelin Advisor) also stated these were "primarily for Winter use", I asked if they could be used in the Summer, and was told "up to you" make sure there is a 'T' sticker on the door jamb.

On checking I noticed that for your size the Crossclimates usually shown are T rated.

Though they seem to do them as a V as well.

Michelin CrossClimate + 185/65 R15 92V XL @ mytyres.co.uk

Okay the speed rating is higher than you are using now but I'd be surprised if that could be any sort of problem.

Michelin say they are fine in summer, indeed they wear better than some summer tyres.

But it is your car and your money. 

[Mike SX]

@ Diablo - thanks for that, V rated will suit the i30 just fine.
Seems that Michelin failed to offer me the correct tyre speed rating - wasted a complete morning.
I did wonder if Technical Sales were up to the job - maybe I should have translated my request into French, as it was obvious Tomas found it difficult to understand. Michelins "Chat" system was useless, even their feedback questions were confusing - "On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is excellent, how happy satisfied were you"?
2nd Question "On a scale of 1-5, where 1 is excellent, how well did the advisor help you"?
But there again, why offer information - if they cannot speak or understand a UK based enquirer.

[asathorny]

So, finally, I am OK so long as I stress V rated ???   !!! 

I am going for a lie down now 

[Asterix]

I have wondered about that sticker advising H rated (210 km/h) tyres when the max speed for my i30 is 187 or something. At least it's less than 190 km/h which would make a T rated (190 km/h) tyre sufficient.

The law requires tyres rated at minimum the top speed of the car, that's it.

[ibrokeit]

So, finally, I am OK so long as I stress V rated ???   !!! 

I am going for a lie down now 

Yup because, logically , H is between U (which comes after T) and V!      I also notice that 'O' and 'X' are missing from the letters used which otherwise (excepting H) are from J-Z - mostly in order.   T=190; U=200; H=210; V=240;  (All speeds in kmh)

As for why it is like that I am assuming something like originally there wasn't an H and the speed steps went 190, 200, 240 (T, U, V) then there was a need (for whatever reason) for a 210.

[Surferdude]

So, finally, I am OK so long as I stress V rated ???   !!! 

I am going for a lie down now 

Yup because, logically , H is between U (which comes after T) and V!      I also notice that 'O' and 'X' are missing from the letters used which otherwise (excepting H) are from J-Z - mostly in order.   T=190; U=200; H=210; V=240;  (All speeds in kmh)

As for why it is like that I am assuming something like originally there wasn't an H and the speed steps went 190, 200, 240 (T, U, V) then there was a need (for whatever reason) for a 210.

Maybe in the US or Europe, but when I joined the tyre industry in 1975 in Australia, we only had "S", "H" and "V".

[Mike SX]

At 24,800 miles, replaced all 185/65/R15 (88H) on alloys, with Michelin Cross Climates 185/65/R15 (92V)balanced, Nitrogen Inflated, all 4 at 38 psi, cost £295.96.
Not noticed any interior noise reduction, yet.

[asathorny]

I got my Cross climates fitted yesterday I mentioned the letters and the guy said they only do V rated now???

Running at 36 all round...   As above, I have not had chance to assess them yet. 

[Mike SX]

I got my Cross climates fitted yesterday I mentioned the letters and the guy said they only do V rated now???

No, T rated are available, and are approx. £11.00 cheaper each (in this size).
I asked for V rate to be fitted, and (whilst they were being changed) also asked if they would have fitted T rate, the Receptionist replied "You would had to have signed a disclaimer. V rate is correct for your i30. Cross Climates are not available for H rating, so you need to go up one rating, not down".

[asathorny]

They just had enough for my order before they ran out, they guy said they're selling well 

Right am off our now for a cooked breakfast but as I pass TWO speed money raising cameras I shall be driving like and old man (oh that's right, I am an old man)

I would like my own personal speed money raiser outside my house, the idiots go like f*** down my street I could make a bloody fortune, like the council do 

[The Gonz]

Rig up a fake camera post complete with signage. The council may even do that on request!

[Dazzler]

Rig up a fake camera post complete with signage. The council may even do that on request!

Good idea Gonz...