I've never had a car before that is just over a year old and already a Classic!
Now, I've already written on this forum about changing my car on to Michelin Pilot Sports early in it's life. Those of you with 21" wheels look away now, because after 20,000 miles they still have 4-5mm of tread left all round. Not only that, they completely transformed the car in a way I have not experienced with any other tyre swap on a road car. I rate handling and grip to be at least the equal of the 21" tyres. Steering feel and traction (you can use full power from low speeds and very rarely activate the traction control) are much better than the 21" tyres.
Scandinavians will tell you that the order of priority is winter tyres first, then four wheel drive. Sounds good to me as 4WD is not an option.
I tried to get winter tyres last year and found that neither Pirelli or Michelin had any available. This year I started out earlier and still no luck! My local Kwik-Fit quoted me £1,470.00 for Michelins and then found Michelin UK hadn't got any anyway.
I really fancied the Michelins after my good experience with the Pilots, so I resolved the problem by ordering from internet tyre providers mytyres.com. They import from their Hanover warehouse and two weeks later a set of four Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 245/45 R19 102W XL were delivered to my door. They have fitting partners in the UK and my nearest was Micheldever Tyres.
Total cost: £837.60 tyres plus £60.00 fitting, so £897.60 including VAT.
You can see these have two mighty grooves in the tread to shift water as well as curved sipes to gain traction in snow. Down here in the soft South it's still 10 -12 degrees, so I haven't been able to test them, plus they are not scrubbed in at less than 100 miles. All I can really comment on so far is that they are as quiet as my summer tyres and ride as well at medium and high speeds. The low speed ride is slightly less smooth but still fine.
I'll report again once we have had some weather.
Has anybody else got any experience of winter tyres in the UK with their car?
Now, I've already written on this forum about changing my car on to Michelin Pilot Sports early in it's life. Those of you with 21" wheels look away now, because after 20,000 miles they still have 4-5mm of tread left all round. Not only that, they completely transformed the car in a way I have not experienced with any other tyre swap on a road car. I rate handling and grip to be at least the equal of the 21" tyres. Steering feel and traction (you can use full power from low speeds and very rarely activate the traction control) are much better than the 21" tyres.
Scandinavians will tell you that the order of priority is winter tyres first, then four wheel drive. Sounds good to me as 4WD is not an option.
I tried to get winter tyres last year and found that neither Pirelli or Michelin had any available. This year I started out earlier and still no luck! My local Kwik-Fit quoted me £1,470.00 for Michelins and then found Michelin UK hadn't got any anyway.
I really fancied the Michelins after my good experience with the Pilots, so I resolved the problem by ordering from internet tyre providers mytyres.com. They import from their Hanover warehouse and two weeks later a set of four Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 245/45 R19 102W XL were delivered to my door. They have fitting partners in the UK and my nearest was Micheldever Tyres.
Total cost: £837.60 tyres plus £60.00 fitting, so £897.60 including VAT.
You can see these have two mighty grooves in the tread to shift water as well as curved sipes to gain traction in snow. Down here in the soft South it's still 10 -12 degrees, so I haven't been able to test them, plus they are not scrubbed in at less than 100 miles. All I can really comment on so far is that they are as quiet as my summer tyres and ride as well at medium and high speeds. The low speed ride is slightly less smooth but still fine.
I'll report again once we have had some weather.
Has anybody else got any experience of winter tyres in the UK with their car?
