All season / winter tyre choice dilemma

I’m sure all that is true ... when temperatures are below 7°C.

Are you (various) doubting that an insurance assessor will fail to notice a vehicle being driven on inappropriate tyres? I think they will look for any opportunity to reduce a claim.

Andrew
 
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Recently fitted some Bridgestone Weather Control A005 all-seasons following research on 'tyre review' website.
All positive so far. Quiet, but I don't expect much noise from such a small tyre.

They test better than Michelin Cross Climates in wet & dry braking, but worse in snow and wear categories.
 
Hi all,

As it's relevant to this thread with some new all-season tyre test info, I thought I'd flag this post in my blog on my thoughts on the Michelin CrossClimate+ and the Continental AllSeasonContact, both of which would probably be under consideration to anyone interested in this thread.

Hope it helps.
 
Still riding Michelin Cross Action R15 X 185 X 65. Very comfortable, normal pressure, low noise, wear to confirmed in 6 years at 8000 km/year afte 1-1/2 years. Fuel consumption would be better on narrow summer tyres with more risk of kerb - wheel damage, but avoids the twice a year tire change, with second set storage cost and allows me to drive in Germany in the Winter. Still recommended.
 
Having recently changed from 195/55 R15 (Seat rims) to some worn 185/50 R16 (Audi)... just to get the 16" SE alloys, purely for cosmetic preference.... I'm now looking for some All Weather tyres. The change to a 185/50 R16 setup seems to have given my 1.4tdi more planted handling and an unexpected improvement in ride... slightly softer. So... whose tyres to go for, and what size? Cross Climates were my preferred option, only because I've used them on heavier vehicles and liked them, but they don't seem to be available as 185/50 R16. Hard ride seems to be a problem identified with them too. Am no boy racer, just an old fart with a slightly heavy right foot that has fallen in love with this sadly underestimated little car who wants the improved security provided by All Weathers.
In the past I've used All Weathers from Vredestein... which wore a little fast.... and Kleber... which were good (& now seems to be owned by Michelin), but never on a car anywhere near as light as the A2.
There is far too much tyre info and recommends on this forum for me ever to be able to make any sense of, so am inviting recommends.
 
Having recently changed from 195/55 R15 (Seat rims) to some worn 185/50 R16 (Audi)... just to get the 16" SE alloys, purely for cosmetic preference.... I'm now looking for some All Weather tyres. The change to a 185/50 R16 setup seems to have given my 1.4tdi more planted handling and an unexpected improvement in ride... slightly softer. So... whose tyres to go for, and what size? Cross Climates were my preferred option, only because I've used them on heavier vehicles and liked them, but they don't seem to be available as 185/50 R16. Hard ride seems to be a problem identified with them too. Am no boy racer, just an old fart with a slightly heavy right foot that has fallen in love with this sadly underestimated little car who wants the improved security provided by All Weathers.
In the past I've used All Weathers from Vredestein... which wore a little fast.... and Kleber... which were good (& now seems to be owned by Michelin), but never on a car anywhere near as light as the A2.
There is far too much tyre info and recommends on this forum for me ever to be able to make any sense of, so am inviting recommends.
I fitted Maxxis AP2 in 185 50 16 to my Tdi A2 just over a year ago, replacing 195 55 16s that I'd been using for the previous five years. The smaller tyre is a vast improvement. The car's gearing is better suited to the size, allowing 30 mph in 4th on longer flattish sections of road and allowing better acceleration when you need it. I haven't had an opportunity to see how they fare in snow but they have excellent grip on wet roads, even accelerating uphill away from roundabouts where there is frequently a build up of 'lost' rubber left by other cars. On the last set of tyres the traction control used to kick in in the same situation. They are the best all season tyres I've ever had and recommend them without hesitation. Prices vary online but around £58 each seems the lowest. Obviously you'll need to factor in fitting and balancing too.
 
I fitted Maxxis AP2 in 185 50 16 to my Tdi A2 just over a year ago, replacing 195 55 16s that I'd been using for the previous five years. The smaller tyre is a vast improvement. The car's gearing is better suited to the size, allowing 30 mph in 4th on longer flattish sections of road and allowing better acceleration when you need it. I haven't had an opportunity to see how they fare in snow but they have excellent grip on wet roads, even accelerating uphill away from roundabouts where there is frequently a build up of 'lost' rubber left by other cars. On the last set of tyres the traction control used to kick in in the same situation. They are the best all season tyres I've ever had and recommend them without hesitation. Prices vary online but around £58 each seems the lowest. Obviously you'll need to factor in fitting and balancing too.
That's very useful Jeff.... thanks. Of additional interest is that you also changed from a setup with larger circumference to smaller and like the current power responses the 185/50 R15 setup provides. My percentage change was much smaller, but (unless I'm over-imaginative) the beneficial change was still just about discernible. How do you find the load index at 81 (462kg) suits the car? Firm... soft... just right? How are they doing for wear?
 
Vredestein Quatrac 5 185/50R16 81H

Alcar 6664 6Jx16 ET35 5/100 57.1 steel rim

OEM part numbers are listed for the various 15" and 16" Audi A2 alloy rims on oemepc


The standard load index on a 195/55R15 tyre is 85 (515kg) and the standard load index on a 185/50R16 tyre is 81 (462kg). This means that you can inflate a 195/55R15 tyre about 3psi less than a 185/50R16 tyre. 195/55R15 tyres on 6J rims should give a softer ride than a 185/50R16 tyres on 6J rims...all other things being equal. If one tyre had rim protection, XL (eXtra Load), and a higher speed rating then that would make the ride harder than one without rim protection, XL, and a higher speed rating.

Vredestein Quatrac 5 195/55R15 85H

Fitting a 195/55R15 tyre to a narrower 5.5J rim would give more comfort than fitting it to a wider 6J rim.

Alcar 5.5Jx15 ET40 5/100 57.1 Steel Rim

VW 6Jx15 ET35 5/100 57.1 Steel Rim

Vredestein Quatrac 5 are rated at over 45,000 miles in the US.

195/55R15 and 185/50R16 tyres have about the same outside diameter, so will keep the gearing about the same.
 
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I am a fan of Vredestein tyres.

I had them on the project but I prefer to not use all weather tyres. They are better than summer tyres in the winter but are a bit of a compromise in the summer. (And wear very quickly in the warm dry weather).

Steve B
 
I am a fan of Vredestein tyres.

I had them on the project but I prefer to not use all weather tyres. They are better than summer tyres in the winter but are a bit of a compromise in the summer. (And wear very quickly in the warm dry weather).

Steve B

I use crossclimates honestly such an excellent tyre. It’s not an all season tyre, it’s classed as a summer tyre that can be used for snow apparently. Also the best tyre for UK winter temperatures as of a winter tyre in the uk it’s just not cold enough.

Tyre reviews did a good piece on this a while back



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I use crossclimates honestly such an excellent tyre. It’s not an all season tyre, it’s classed as a summer tyre that can be used for snow apparently. Also the best tyre for UK winter temperatures as of a winter tyre in the uk it’s just not cold enough.

Tyre reviews did a good piece on this a while back



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wrong video this is the one!!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
That's very useful Jeff.... thanks. Of additional interest is that you also changed from a setup with larger circumference to smaller and like the current power responses the 185/50 R15 setup provides. My percentage change was much smaller, but (unless I'm over-imaginative) the beneficial change was still just about discernible. How do you find the load index at 81 (462kg) suits the car? Firm... soft... just right? How are they doing for wear?
I don't drive many miles each year so the Maxxis have only done about 4,000 miles; they don't appear to have worn at all. I find the ride and handling is just right for me; I run them at the pressures listed on the fuel flap, usually just for two occupants. The bigger tyres they replaced didn't inspire as much confidence when cornering, probably because of the extra height in the sidewalls.
 
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