HELP, can't find winter tyres

zuzutje

We are looking to buy winter tyres for a citroen C3 size 185/60 R15

First we called First Stop in Blackpool Cork, they where very short, NO WE DONT DO WINTER TYRES! So next stop RedTag in Thogher, a friendly voice on the phone told me they could order this, so we went by and spoke to a not so friendly lad? he was also very short NO WE DONT DO WINTER TYRES! Strange don't you think?
I Called Southern Tyres Blackpool, also the said, NO WE DONT DO WINTER TYRES!

So the story continues with a few more calls and no luck.

I wonder, don't they like to do business?
A few even said to me, Ireland don't need winter tyres. But I think the are misinformed, you don,t need snow to make good use of these tyres!

So please anyone, Help me find a Friendly tyre dealer.

Kind regards, Vincent...

slimjimmc

It's far from strange when dealers say NO WE DONT DO WINTER TYRES!, there's little consumer demand for them even still.

You can buy your tyres online and get them fitted. Check here for fitters in your area.

Matt Simis

Auto Depot do them and have branches around the country.

slimjimmc

Matt Simis wrote: »

Auto Depot do them and have branches around the country.

I'd hardly consider a total of 3 branches as branches around the country, especially when all 3 are in the Dublin area: Tallaght & Walkinstown and Kill Co. Kildare.
http://www.autodepot.ie/contact-us/

Matt Simis

slimjimmc wrote: »

I'd hardly consider a total of 3 branches as branches around the country, especially when all 3 are in the Dublin area: Tallaght & Walkinstown and Kill Co. Kildare.
http://www.autodepot.ie/contact-us/

That is true.. :P
Still, closer to home than ordering from the UK. They mentioned something about a new depot soon too that I thought might be further afield.

CiniO

zuzutje wrote: »

So please anyone, Help me find a Friendly tyre dealer.
..

Sorry maid, but that species is extinct.

Nonoperational

Do we actually need winter tyres here? Arn't they for temperatures near 0 and below? A premium tyre will handle wet roads very well which is what we usualy get here.

CiniO

gpf101 wrote: »

Do we actually need winter tyres here? Arn't they for temperatures near 0 and below? A premium tyre will handle wet roads very well which is what we usualy get here.

Tyre industry marketing guys say, that winter tyres start to be better than summer tyres when temperature falls below 7 degrees Celcius.

Independent test though show, that summer tyres get better grip then winter tyres on clear surface (dry or wet) even in much lower temperatures then 0 degrees.

One thing is obvious - on snow, ice or mud, winter tyres are great.
For just cruising around on dry or wet tarmac - winter tyres is a waste of money.

That's my opinion.
Hence I was using winter tyres for over 10 years, and I know how they behave in different conditions.

tweedledee

Winter tyres are being pushed by tyre companies so you buy them.Winter tyres are used a lot in North America,Scandanavia,Russia etc where its freezing for six months of the year.A good quality or better,a high quality rain tyre or all season tyre will do in Ireland.Even last year it was icey and cold for less than a month.It rains a lot more than it snows in Ireland.Also a tyre that can handle ice might not perform that good on snow.Google tyre websites,tyre reviews and spend an hour reading up and take some notes.You might save a lot of cash.If you have the money to buy a spare set of tyres then go ahead but in a country where it rains a lot more than it ices,well its up to you.Winter tyres are awful,rubbish on dry roads and wet roads and they have a very short lifespan.:)

AugustusMinimus

zuzutje wrote: »

We are looking to buy winter tyres for a citroen C3 size 185/60 R15

First we called First Stop in Blackpool Cork, they where very short, NO WE DONT DO WINTER TYRES! So next stop RedTag in Thogher, a friendly voice on the phone told me they could order this, so we went by and spoke to a not so friendly lad? he was also very short NO WE DONT DO WINTER TYRES! Strange don't you think?
I Called Southern Tyres Blackpool, also the said, NO WE DONT DO WINTER TYRES!

So the story continues with a few more calls and no luck.

I wonder, don't they like to do business?
A few even said to me, Ireland don't need winter tyres. But I think the are misinformed, you don,t need snow to make good use of these tyres!

So please anyone, Help me find a Friendly tyre dealer.

Kind regards, Vincent...

I find Alan Tyres in Glanmire to be very good. Friendly too.

Also try Hanover Tyres there in front of the Elyssian Tower. Fairly big set and should have them.

delito

www.camskill.co.uk
http://www.eiretyres.com/

waste of money imho

delito

tweedledee wrote: »

Winter tyres are being pushed by tyre companies so you buy them.Winter tyres are used a lot in North America,Scandanavia,Russia etc where its freezing for six months of the year.A good quality or better,a high quality rain tyre or all season tyre will do in Ireland.Even last year it was icey and cold for less than a month.It rains a lot more than it snows in Ireland.Also a tyre that can handle ice might not perform that good on snow.Google tyre websites,tyre reviews and spend an hour reading up and take some notes.You might save a lot of cash.If you have the money to buy a spare set of tyres then go ahead but in a country where it rains a lot more than it ices,well its up to you.Winter tyres are awful,rubbish on dry roads and wet roads and they have a very short lifespan.:)

Spot on.

T-Maxx

Winter tyres = waste of money if you live in Ireland

tweedledee

try Goodyear Hydragrip or Eagle F1's,,,,,,,Michelin PS2's or Sportrac3's by Vredestein,all excellent year round tyres with excellent wet grip.Some performed quite well on ice too V'reddys are great value tyres but GY and Michelin are high end,expensive rubber.:eek:

R.O.R

We managed to order them through Advance Pitstop head office. Taking around 10 days for them to come in and be distributed to the closest branch to the drivers.

One set (for an A4) is going to one of the Advance branches in Cork so they should be aware of them. Can't remember which branch they are going to though.

One of our European customers decided that their Irish drivers have to have Winters between November and the end of March.

irxschfp

What you are looking for is CWT (Cold Weather Tyres) Michelin make a full range for Car Van and 4x4. I know EARS in Mallow keep the main sizes in stock. (022-42050) The CWT Range bridge the gap between summer and full on snow tyres. Their ideal operating temperature is -5 to +7 C. They can be used all year round and offer superior grip on cold wet and muddy roads. Expect to pay about 10% more than standard summer tyres but they are well worth it on our crap roads.

More info on CWT,
http://www.atseuromaster.co.uk/retail-customers-cold-weather-tyres.htm

Good Luck.

MarkoC

T-Maxx wrote: »

Winter tyres = waste of money if you live in Ireland

It actually depends how you value your family and your own life.

Its below zero already today and i bet it will same bad in Dec and Jan, so i can see 3 dangerous months in wet Ireland wheres very high chance to get on ICE for which actually the witer tires ARE good !

You can use the same your own used tires easy for 3-4 years and you feel way safer on the road.

Its different story if you never had any experiences with ice, snow and winter tires.
I wouldnt say 200-300 euros for your safety is waste of money.

Sry for the comment, /me drove over 10 years in a country where winter tires are a MUST from 1 dec till 15th of march.

I bought last year so wannabe M+S tires, well, they are totally different to Nothern Europe M+S tires ...

As i found out how bad are Irish drivers when they see a bit more water and how nuts they go when they see ICE, i reccommende winter tires for at least 2 months period (dec-jan) and afetr that store them and save for the next winter, safety is something you cant measure by money which is actually very cheap option here.

ianobrien

OP, Try R&R tyres in Ballincollig.

Jerry or Owen there will set you straight.

I've no affiliation with them, besides knowing them through motorsport.

Matt Simis

gpf101 wrote: »

Do we actually need winter tyres here? Arn't they for temperatures near 0 and below? A premium tyre will handle wet roads very well which is what we usualy get here.

CiniO wrote: »

For just cruising around on dry or wet tarmac - winter tyres is a waste of money.
That's my opinion.
Hence I was using winter tyres for over 10 years, and I know how they behave in different conditions.

The ADAC disagrees completely with your assessment. Two cars, cold weather (not freezing) and wet surface (not ice) on a hill brake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncga6UxlHM

If its cold, the Rubber in Summer tires doesnt bite, its fairly straightforward.

tweedledee wrote: »

Winter tyres are being pushed by tyre companies so you buy them.Winter tyres are used a lot in North America,Scandanavia,Russia etc where its freezing for six months of the year.A good quality or better,a high quality rain tyre or all season tyre will do in Ireland.Even last year it was icey and cold for less than a month.It rains a lot more than it snows in Ireland.Also a tyre that can handle ice might not perform that good on snow.Google tyre websites,tyre reviews and spend an hour reading up and take some notes.You might save a lot of cash.If you have the money to buy a spare set of tyres then go ahead but in a country where it rains a lot more than it ices,well its up to you.Winter tyres are awful,rubbish on dry roads and wet roads and they have a very short lifespan.:)

What an old school answer.

1: In Ireland and UK, car drivers are asking for Winter tires, have seen zero marketing on Winters and no Tire sales outlet has suggested them, ever. So the idea they are being "pushed on us" is absolute bull. You dont happen to have a large stock of summers tyres to shift this winter by chance? Thats what been "pushed on" the motorist here, the "it will be grand" attitude of the domestic tire fitting industry.
2: Winter tyres are not used as much in NA as you would think, only a tiny percentage of drivers make the switch.
3: Summer tyres are hopeless in cold weather and IMO, All Seasons are not better enough in All Weather, jack of all trades.. etc.
4: I found Winters to be excellent on dry (even warm) roads and have not noticed a very short lifespan even using them through summer. We dont live in a country hot enough for this to happen.

BeardyGit

Matt Simis wrote: »

The ADAC disagrees completely with your assessment. Two cars, cold weather (not freezing) and wet surface (not ice) on a hill brake.
..........

All very well said Matt. This is the usual argument, usually made by pubtalk experts who have ZERO practical experience to back up the wild assertions they make.

Winter tyres are worth the investment if you're going to use your car regularly during the winter months. ANYONE who's driven their own car (a vehicle in which they can differentiate handling effect) on winter tyres will tell you there's a big difference between what's flogged to the masses here and what you'll get with a purpose designed tyre.

Enough with the guff, eh?

CiniO

RoverCraft wrote: »

All very well said Matt. This is the usual argument, usually made by pubtalk experts who have ZERO practical experience to back up the wild assertions they make.

Winter tyres are worth the investment if you're going to use your car regularly during the winter months. ANYONE who's driven their own car (a vehicle in which they can differentiate handling effect) on winter tyres will tell you there's a big difference between what's flogged to the masses here and what you'll get with a purpose designed tyre.

Enough with the guff, eh?

Just a simple question.
Why ADAC would say that summer tyres are better then winter tyres on clear surface (wet or dry) no matter of temperature.
That would be completely against their business, as they are making lot's of money from people who change tyres twice a season.
I'm sure they are also sponsored by tyres industry.

In my opinion, and in my experience - unless there is snow or mud on the road, winter tyres doesn't really make sense.

Matt Simis

Lol you are really grasping now.

CiniO wrote: »

Just a simple question.
Why ADAC would say that summer tyres are better then winter tyres on clear surface (wet or dry) no matter of temperature.

I have no idea what you are talking about. The video shows an ADAC tester stating the Winters were only better in cold weather and better on Ice, Water and Snow in said weather... Im not sure you actually even looked at the video or know anything about ADAC. If you mean why wouldnt they say that.. cos the test results from their own and others testing shows that Summer tires not operate correctly at low temps. The Tyre manufacturers all say the same too, but Im sure you also think thats a conspiracy.

CiniO wrote: »

That would be completely against their business, as they are making lot's of money from people who change tyres twice a season.

just how exactly are the ADAC making lots of money from people changing tires (which is the done thing anyhow in Germany)? By the way, even if one makes money from a recommendation they make it doesnt make that recommendation a lie or scam.

CiniO wrote: »

I'm sure they are also sponsored by tyres industry.

Oh well if you're sure, who needs any actual evidence when baseless accusations will do?



Why do you even bother trying to make the case that Summers are fine in all conditions we have here? Clearly you either have a vested interested in that viewpoint or have a completely closed mind as you obviously will never accept testimonials, test results, logic or even manufacturer product briefs.

CiniO

Matt Simis wrote: »

Lol you are really grasping now.


I have no idea what you are talking about. The video shows an ADAC tester stating the Winters were only better in cold weather and better on Ice, Water and Snow in said weather... Im not sure you actually even looked at the video or know anything about ADAC. If you mean why wouldnt they say that.. cos the test results from their own and others testing shows that Summer tires not operate correctly at low temps. The Tyre manufacturers all say the same too, but Im sure you also think thats a conspiracy.

ADAC is probably the biggest automobile association in Europe. It's obvious that people are going to trust their tests.
Do you think, that even if the real result were different, ADAC would put it into the public, considering how much tyre industry would loose?

Why do you even bother trying to make the case that Summers are fine in all conditions we have here? Clearly you either have a vested interested in that viewpoint or have a completely closed mind as you obviously will never accept testimonials, test results, logic or even manufacturer product briefs.

I never said Summer tyres are fine in all conditions we have in Ireland.
I'm only trying to say, that winter tyres are better than summer tyres on snow and mud. Ice probably as well.
But they are not better then summers on dry or wet surface.
Now just think how much do you drive on snow, and how much do you drive on tarmac (dry or wet) during the winter, and you will know if you need winter tyres or not.

PS. I don't really give a hell about test results, as I can see results myself. I don't need a test provided by company X, saying that their product is 200% better then others. I don't have any reason to believe it.
I just can buy product X, and then see myself it it's better.
It's all about using the brain and doing what you know is good. And not about listening to all marketing...

MarkoC

I will eat my hat if CiniO had ever ever any winter tires on hes car

Such a stupid statements, cant believe what im reading here ...

CiniO

MarkoC wrote: »

I will eat my hat if CiniO had ever ever any winter tires on hes car

Such a stupid statements, cant believe what im reading here ...

Go for it

I am using winter tyres every single winter since 2001, which is when I got my first car.

I think you guys don't really understand what I'm trying to say.
I'm absolutely not against winter tyres.
I'm just against the tyre industy marketing, which is trying to tell us, that whenever temperatures start to go below 7 degrees, it's time to put winter tyres.
That's a pure lie, as f.e. in 2 degrees on wet surface (on dry even more) summer tyres will have better grip then winter tyres.

Matt Simis

CiniO wrote: »

I'm just against the tyre industy marketing, which is trying to tell us, that whenever temperatures start to go below 7 degrees, it's time to put winter tyres.
That's a pure lie, as f.e. in 2 degrees on wet surface (on dry even more) summer tyres will have better grip then winter tyres.

Well Im using Summers and Winters here and my experience backs up the many test results available. If you choose not to believe, so be it, Im not so much a cynic to disbelieve all the official and independent testing and the people conducting them.

Stinicker

Can anyone recommend a particular make of winter tyre? I can get fitted locally no problem so would order online and have the shipped. How much would I be looking at per corner?

MarkoC

CiniO wrote: »

I am using winter tyres every single winter since 2001, which is when I got my first car..

Now short answer please:

Tomorrow morning: are winter tires better than summer tires ? And i mean in all over the country.

Cheers

Stinicker wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a particular make of winter tyre? I can get fitted locally no problem so would order online and have the shipped. How much would I be looking at per corner?

You will not go wrong with Nokian 's

If any chance go for Nokian Hakkapeliitta's

-Corkie-

Jesus no recession with some people here putting on winter tyres for a bit of frost..:rolleyes::rolleyes:.

If half of ye had some decent driving experience tyres would make dam all difference.

Edit: The op seems to be from Cork city... Oh god above and a fart of a Citroen as well...

GTE

-Corkie- wrote: »

If half of ye had some decent driving experience tyres would make dam all difference.

Are you being sarcastic?

-Corkie-

bbk wrote: »

Are you being sarcastic?

I dont do sarcastic.

MarkoC

All you need in Cork is a small shower and a night like tonight and nice sliding down from N Summerhill

With winter tires it wont happen.

Last winter they closed the roads insted of puting some salt on the roads, that was funny ...

GTE

-Corkie- wrote: »

I dont do sarcastic.

Grand stuff.

-Corkie-

MarkoC wrote: »

All you need in Cork is a small shower and a night like tonight and nice sliding down from N Summerhill

With winter tires it wont happen.

Last winter they closed the roads insted of puting some salt on the roads, that was funny ...

I can guarntee you that winter tyres wont make fcuk all difference in that situation. Anyway if they close the roads winter tyres wont be much good..;)

Stinicker

I consider winter tyres to be a good investment as I would get probably 5 years out of them as I would buy cheap rims for them and let it be simple swapover come winter. I have driven on Winter Tyres in Germany before with heavy snow and they made a huge difference and had I my usual car in that situation I would be sliding all over the place. I am not too sure about Germany but in places like Lithuania it's the law that you have winter tyres from November to March.

MarkoC

-Corkie- wrote: »

I can guarntee you that winter tyres wont make fcuk all difference in that situation. Anyway if they close the roads winter tyres wont be much good..;)

Hey, in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia they manage with that EVERY DAY and even in worse conditions, suddenly they dont work in Ireland ?
Trust me, i drove on winter tires about 10 years and i can guarantee you they DO WORK in the situation i explained in my previous post !

-Corkie-

MarkoC wrote: »

Hey, in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia they manage with that EVERY DAY and even in worse conditions, suddenly they dont work in Ireland ?
Trust me, i drove on winter tires about 10 years and i can quarantee you they DO WORK in the situation i explained in my previous post !

Yes I agree with you and Stincker 100%. I have being as far as Russia in heavy snow and they do work over there. What I am saying is we dont need them here for the amount of snow we get. Maybe for someone who does a lot of driving consider them but going back to the original op who drives a C3 and lives in a city. Waste of time and money imo.

slimjimmc

MarkoC wrote: »

Now short answer please:

Tomorrow morning: are winter tires better than summer tires ? And i mean in all over the country.

Cheers



You will not go wrong with Nokian 's

If any chance go for Nokian Hakkapeliitta's

Aren't they a studded tyre, and how would the studs fare once you get a bit of clear snow-free tarmac which could easily happen on Monday or Tuesday?

Matt Simis

-Corkie- wrote: »

Yes I agree with you and Stincker 100%. I have being as far as Russia in heavy snow and they do work over there. What I am saying is we dont need them here for the amount of snow we get.

The problem with that is that Winter tyres arent just for Snow, they are for Cold temps, no matter the weather. The depth of snow we do or dont get has nothing to do with anything.

GTE

Not all Winters tyres are good.
Not all Summer tyres are good.
Winter Tyres are not just Snow Tyres.
Winter tyres are for Winter conditions as a whole.

Good Winters will work good in the conditions Cinio says they dont. Bad winters will probably be bad.

Good Summers (not high performance ones for example) should work better then when the temperature goes down then bad ones.

Good Summers are out of their element in all the conditions I have driven or been driven though so far this weekend.

Although I am sure a good Summer tyre can take a dry or wet cold road with no slush or snow I believe if you really needed them in a high risk heavy braking situation or swerve you would simply be worse off then the person in the good Winters. This is simply because of the temperature range in my opinion.

The Summer will still broadly have the same water dispersing characteristics no matter what the temperature and still provide a level of grip that is usable if you take it easy to moderate (at a push). It is not difficult to go in a straight line.

It is my firm belief that if I had to step on the brakes hard in a good Summer tyre out on the M4 right now I would be so much worse off then if I had a good set of Winters on.

Summer tyres and Summer Tyres with ignorant drivers are threats on the roads.

MarkoC

slimjimmc wrote: »

Aren't they a studded tyre, and how would the studs fare once you get a bit of clear snow-free tarmac which could easily happen on Monday or Tuesday?

As far as i know they come with studs and without, customers choice.
Studs are defo NOT for Irish roads

Rockery Woman

Hi,

I live off the beaten track myself. Very interested in this thread. I dont drive a 4 wheel drive and missed a few days work last winter during the cold snap. One of my friends (he is Polish - my God do they have winters there!!!) asked me if I got my winter tyres yet. Told him we dont get them here as we usually have very mild winters.

I am seriously thinking of ordering a set of winter tyres for my car, (with cheap rims, as some ops suggested for an easy switch) they would last a few years. I drive a VW Golf and would need to drive about 20 miles each way on an un-gritted un-salted road to get to work and am too nervous to drive in the snow.

CiniO

MarkoC wrote: »

Now short answer please:

Tomorrow morning: are winter tires better than summer tires ? And i mean in all over the country.

Cheers

I don't know about whole country, but at my place it was seriously snowing this afternoon, then everything melted, and now froze down so there is probably big layer of ice on roads.
My wife will be coming back from work in about an hour, and I'm already scared as she doesn't have winter tyres fitted.
But to be honest, if she did have, I'd be scared as well, as tyres is one thing, and experience of driving on slippery roads is another thing. At the moment she doesn't have either of it.

So short answer to your question: YES.

slimjimmc

MarkoC wrote: »

As far as i know they come with studs and without, customers choice.
Studs are defo NOT for Irish roads

You are indeed correct
Hakkapeliitta 7 - studded
Hakkapeliitta R - unstudded

Thanks

Don't see them easily available online though.

CiniO

Matt Simis wrote: »

The problem with that is that Winter tyres arent just for Snow, they are for Cold temps, no matter the weather. The depth of snow we do or dont get has nothing to do with anything.

That's your opinion. As you already seen my opinion is completely opposite.
Who is right?
The only way to check it, is to make a test ourself.

feelites

camskills.co.uk


winter tyres its not a waste of money
its a great investment
for your safety and confidence


good luck to all of them who says else and drive on the snow/ice with summer/all season ones!

those should google yellow pages for some panel beaters!

-Corkie-

feelites wrote: »

camskills.co.uk


winter tyres its not a waste of money
its a great investment
for your safety and confidence


good luck to all of them who says else and drive on the snow/ice with summer/all season ones!

those should google yellow pages for some panel beaters/driving instructors.

Matt Simis

CiniO wrote: »

That's your opinion. As you already seen my opinion is completely opposite.
Who is right?
The only way to check it, is to make a test ourself.

Well, there arent clones of my cars about, but I was considering grabbing a few of the familys cars and testing things out. None of them have Winters, all Summers but one set of All Seasons. They are all newer than my cars though, so they benefit from better ESP/TC.

But even if I did some elaborate testing, there would be lots of obvious ways to argue against my results. Sounds fun though.

GTE

Matt Simis wrote: »

Well, there arent clones of my cars about, but I was considering grabbing a few of the familys cars and testing things out. None of them have Winters, all Summers but one set of All Seasons. They are all newer than my cars though, so they benefit from better ESP/TC.

But even if I did some elaborate testing, there would be lots of obvious ways to argue against my results. Sounds fun though.

What all season tyres are fitten on one of those cars?

Matt Simis

bbk wrote: »

What all season tyres are fitten on one of those cars?

Cant recall, but SUV type tyres fitted to a Mazda CX7. Its AWD, but strongly suspect its rubbish in the ice and snow.

zuzutje

Thanks to all for your information.

But I'm still convinced to buy winter tires. And the winter this year proves it.
I found some all seasons to fit on my small C3 in Cork. Yes even in Cork we could make good use of a good set. Found them by recommendation here online and a tyre centre has fitted them. The price was very good, but regret not to buy winter tires.

If you ask my opinion, those who say winter tires in ireland are a waste off money have to reconsider after this winter. It maybe the worst ever, but we all forget the last one, and even the 2008 winter. And more to come, or not???

And the idea of these kind of tires are just to sell more tires is not relevant, because you will only do the same mileage every year, maybe a little less with winter tires. So at the end the will not sell more.

Even the AA reported, winter tires are not needed in Ireland for the short time we could make good use of them.This was explained on a program on 3, They recommended lot of other stuff nicely presented on a table, for extreme weather, all those gadgets were even al together more expensive than a good set of winter tires. Cant understand the point of this.

Anyway, I could recommend everybody who cares about safety, a good set of winter tires.

Regards Vincent...