Tyres

[A1exp]

I'll be due to change the front tyres on my Audi and I wondered what other people used?

I drive a lot of country lanes plus I live in N. Yorkshire and it seems to be regularly cold and icy so something slightly less "sporty" with slightly more grip might not be a bad idea.

I don't rate the Bridgestones that I've got on now, any offers?

[ScottyUK]

Sporty normally means grippy. i.e. softer compound giving more grip but wearing out quicker.



"Cups" being the obvious exception to the rule

[A1exp]

Sorry, wasn't massively clear.

By sporty I meant the tread-pattern rather than the compound.

The bridgestones I have at the moment are almost like slicks and I could do with a slightly more aggressive tread pattern to deal with the water and crud that lies on my roads all winter.

Also not massively impressed with the wear rate but I could probably live with it if the alternative was taking a massive performance hit.

There must be a tyre that gives good grip and doesn't need replacing every 12k...

[kodkod.84]

Continental Sport Contact 3 or Dunlop Sport Maxx TT were recommended to me- have a very good tread pattern against aquaplaning, went with the Dunlops in the end, impressed so far- nowhere near as much wheelspin as the old Avons the car had on.

[ScottyUK]

I've heard the Conti3's are pretty good. I hated the 2's so I'm hoping the reports are right as Audi often fit them at the factory.

I love the Goodyear F1'GSD3's but I'm not sure they're made any more. Great in the wet that's for sure.

[robtt09]

I live in North Yorkshire and understand your problemGet Vredstein winter tyres.They are about the same price as Continentals etc but work brilliantly in cold wet and, more importantly,snow! I have them on my wife,s Mini all year and they are fine in the summer too.In fact the owner of my local tyre depot does the same on his Bmw .Once you have them you will never go back to the "summer tyres" we get as original equipment on our cars.The Vreds really start to work in the wet and under 3 degrees.

[Frenchman]

I just had a set of Uniroyal rainsport 2 fitted, 225/40/18 fantastic tyre in the wet, loads of grip, nice and quiet as well.

Frenchman

[onemanparty]

When I have my A4 I used Dunlop Sport Maxx GT = A bit the expensive side but fantastic grip

[A1exp]

I live in North Yorkshire and understand your problemGet Vredstein winter tyres.They are about the same price as Continentals etc but work brilliantly in cold wet and, more importantly,snow! I have them on my wife,s Mini all year and they are fine in the summer too.In fact the owner of my local tyre depot does the same on his Bmw .Once you have them you will never go back to the "summer tyres" we get as original equipment on our cars.The Vreds really start to work in the wet and under 3 degrees.

What we need is a poll function so I can get a feel for what people are using.

How do the winter tyres perform in the summer?

What's the wear on them like?

Only been in N. Yorks a few months but it seems pretty damp so far so performance in the wet is a pretty big factor.

Presumably there must be some trade-off or we'd all be doing it!

Anybody tried some "all-season" tyres that are supposed to be good all-rounders?

Not really got space to store a set of tyres so whatever I pick will need to be an all-season tyre.

[robtt09]

Where abouts in N.Yorks are you? From personal experience,I cannot find any differences in wear,noise or anyhting else between all weahter tyres and summer tyres which are fitted to UK cars .Try a google search on winter tyre tests and you will find various articles on the subject.