Winter Tyres

GreyEagle

Sunspots indicate colder winters. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sciencetoday/2011/0804/1224301812055.html

After reading this article in the Irish Times (today 4Aug), I have decided to order a set of winter tyres for the car for delivery/fitting in early November. But I have to do the research first.

If anyone out there has knowledge of sourcing winter tyres in Ireland, North or South, I would appreciate your comments. I’m looking for the best tyres for the Irish winter; snow and ice but lots of wet roads too. Someone already told me I would be better off with standard rims and 195-65R15s but did not say why.

I might even investigate a ‘bulk buy’ to get the best deal for Octavia owners but that would entail forming an Octavia Club. Any ideas welcome.

Mar4ix

metal wheels better use because snow doesnt build up on wheel, and less likely will cause wheel imbalance while driving, alloy wheels has big holes, where snow may build up, and cause wheel imbalance. also i presume alloy wheels getting oxidising all time in wet and salty environment.

eiretyres.com would do the job. prices there including delivery to Ireland.

GreyEagle

Mar4ix wrote: »

metal wheels better use because snow doesnt build up on wheel, and less likely will cause wheel imbalance while driving, alloy wheels has big holes, where snow may build up, and cause wheel imbalance. also i presume alloy wheels getting oxidising all time in wet and salty environment.

eiretyres.com would do the job. prices there including delivery to Ireland.

Thanks. your point about alloy wheels is interesting. Any info on optimum ratio for winter tyres?

tossy

Discount tyres (alloy-wheels.ie) in Blanchardstown are where i got my winter tyres they were cheaper than the on line places - best time to buy is now when winter tyres are at there cheapest.

flyguy

GreyEagle wrote: »

Thanks. your point about alloy wheels is interesting. Any info on optimum ratio for winter tyres?

Getting the best brand is probably more important than the size. The german AA (ADAC) do yearly wintertyre test:
http://www.adac.de/infotestrat/tests/reifen/winterreifen/2010_Winterreifen_Test_185_65_R15.aspx (in german but I guess you can read the result graph)
I'm surprised by Irish interest in winter tyres. I Live in Ireland now but I am not from here, I used to have 2 sets of wheels for my cars, one set for winter and one for summer. The main reasons people don't use alloys are price and salt. I did have an alloy winter set on my last car and it doesn't make any difference even through deep snow (but it looks much better:-). Now drive a 4x4 which has M+S tyres year round.
Interesting fact about wintertyres is they will be safer to drive on any time the temperature is below +7c (quite often in ireland) regardless of road conditions, the reason for this is the softer rubber compound of winter tyres providing more grip resulting in shorter stopping distance (summer tyres are harder and lose grip at lower temperatures).

GreyEagle

Thanks for all your responses.
I found http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk quite informative; I have Dunlop Sports on the car from new and find them good. Also, Dunlop seems to be well up there in comparison to other winter tyres. I’ll keep researching till I find what suits me best.