Winter Tyre Advice

OK, sorry if this has been done before, but I could not find anything in a search.

I will be driving to Germany, Austria and possibly Italy this winter. Now as a matter of course, I would need to get some chains. Problem is, my particular set up on my car means I am going to have to purchase another set of wheels to do this (I have an Audi Avant on 18" rims and chains will not fit).

So, I may as well set myself up with a second set of rims complete with winter tyres ready for me to use each winter so that I am ready for the bad weather we now seem to be getting on a regular basis here in the UK.

I am seeking opinions from people who have experience of winter tyres as to which ones you would recommend please.

Currently I am looking at the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D, The Michelin Pilot Alpin or the BF Goodrich G-Force Winter. The BFG has the ability to add studs, has anyone tried these?

Any info welcome. Thanks in advance.

I have the Toyo winter tyre and it's magic.

Also try tyre socks, they're so much easier than bothering with chains and work an absolute treat. (if you're worried carry both)This guy http://www.davidgreenbank.co.uk/ stocks loads of them, is a great help and will post out.

Thanks Dazzler, I am aware of socks and know people who have used them.

They are Ok in certain conditions, but as I have stated, I cannot fit chains to my current wheels, so I need to buy another set of smaller ones. I will simply keep these for winter use with winter tyres fitted permanently.

Socks are certainly very convenient to fit if the conditions suit.

Shame someone cannot make a tyre with retractable studs, that would be brilliant :)

So, I may as well set myself up with a second set of rims complete with winter tyres ready for me to use each winter so that I am ready for the bad weather we now seem to be getting on a regular basis here in the UK.

This is standard practice here. I have a set of 215/55R17s on alloy rims for summer and a set of 215/60R16s on steel rims for winter (it's very easy to hit a kerb in snowy conditions). Some people fit narrower tyres for better traction in snow.

Every year the Austrian, German and Swiss automobile clubs conduct winter tyre tests in Ulrichen, just up the road from where I live. The results are published in October. Last year's results can be found at the bottom of this page: http://www.adac.de/infotestrat/adac-im-einsatz/motorwelt/Winterreifen-Test.aspx?ComponentId=41827&SourcePageId=8427 .The performance of any particular brand seems to vary a bit according to size, but as you can see, Dunlop and Michelin make some of the best. Not many people use studded tyres (I think they are mainly used in Scandinavia) as there are speed restrictions and in Germany their use is only allowed within 15km of the Austrian border. They are also very noisy.

Hi

I had an Audi with either 18 or 19" alloys. I used a set of Maggi Traks. http://www.maggigroup.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Valxer.woa/wa/page?path=maggi it may be worth looking there before investing in a set of tyres. However, they are expensive, but worked fantastically on our low profile Alloys (R18/235/**).

Many thanks SwingBeep, I will run that site through a translator when I have a moment free at work :)

Pagey66, interesting. Audi were very specific that there were no products suitable for my car. It is an A4 Avant Quattro (B7 chassis - 07 year) with 235/45/18 tyres on the 18" RS Alloys.

What model were you using those Maggi's on please, I may well contact the company and see what they say.

Although to be honest, I am also quite liking the idea of a second wheel setup for winter, so I can avoid some of the issues we have had here in the UK for the last two winters.

Hi,

Should be no need for snow chains these days. Lived in Norway for three years and never used or even saw a set once. Good winter tyres (without studs) will do the trick. Of course if you know some hidden, remote skiing and need some help clearing the road let us all know.

Hi,

Continental ContiCrossContacts ( might be under a different name this year or newer model ) , Nokian GR2 or Vredstein winter rubber are some of the best about...

Will be fitting a set of Continental winter/snow rubber for this winter here in the UK, as they are designed to perform at temps below +7 degrees C in snow , ice and wet conditions.

All the best

jon.