235/55/18 is my current choice and spot on; Have run 255/55/18 many moons ago, they look superb, but there are too many downsides for me.
All Season Vs Summer & Winters?
- Thread starter Paynewright
- Start date
I've just bought some Mich CliamteX SUV (255/45/20) for my Volvo XC40 AWD T5 Polestar which by my standards is a fast car, haven't fitted them yet as I need to refurbish/repair a wheel. The tyres cost a lot due to the sizing, around (£900 for 4). I can't help but think I should have considered a winter tyre for this car, as it really doesn't have any duties other than tarmac; but in Lincolnshire we don't get much snow or ice, and it's pretty flat.
But our Vel 4 motion (with diff-lock) spends many of its weekends in muddy (or not) fields (during non-covid times) and having a directional M&S tyre in summer is very useful. Infact the Vel is pretty bloody good on wet grass/mud. I have pulled so many caravans/motorhomes of waterlogged pitches etc. So for my use, a standard road summer tyre destroys the utility that my Vel has with 4 motion, and given even with 204bhp, my Vel just can't utilise the extra dry grip summer tyres give. Also in standing water my Nokians are amazing and I think would massively outperform most summer tyres regardless of temperature.
So for me it's 100% M&S tyres all year round and having 3PMSN is also great for winter. In fact the Nokian Weatherproofs are a match for many full winters (in the milder UK temperatures).
Having said all that I would certainly like to try some 225/65/17 Pirelli Scorpion AT+, but for now, I just prefer an 18" wheel.
I guess we all have different uses/utilities for our vans.
My Caravel, is an Executive 4Motion plus diff lock also. Its one of the later ones off the line just at the end before the 6.1.
It was a cancelled order and had most of the things that I wanted. All except hill decent, which for me is quite important. I told the dealer that I had seen the advice on this forum about the relative ease of fitting. He seamed up for having it retrofitted by them. The sales guy went along with me up to the point that I had paid up a while later. Then told they would not do it and that it would invalidate my warranty anyway! I was furious but what could I do. I had even been contacted by another dealership to say the had one with hill decent and all the other things too. This just added salt into my already smarting wounds!
I have Michelin Cross climate On a Yeti 170 4Motion, they are very good all year.. Obviously not quite a good in snow as a pure winter tyre. They do well enough across wet grass but a pure out and out quality winter tyre would do better. Interestingly the first version of this tyre was better I felt. It had more malleable rubber and was certain more grippy than its second reincarnation. They changed the silicon compound for better longevity.
All season are improving each year and can be just as good in snow as some of the lesser brands, of pure winter tyres. I believe the name of tyre category, is becoming slightly a little bit of a misnomer. Some of the continental winter tyres are reputably very good all year as well. Other manufacturers are quite close behind. Continental have had very good review in a number of category for years now.
I am becoming to be of a mind, that unless we can trial all tyres our selves and build up a self data base for our own particular needs and situation the we are reliant of review. Reviews open up a whole can of worms. Are they believable, are the tester, credible have they been compromised by a tyre manufacturer? So we listen to what writers say on the many forum. What really are their experiences, what are there expectations how do they drive, why listen to one persons advice over conflicting advice from another?
Years ago before winter tyres became popular. I used to use Colway remould rally tyres. They where road legal and e marked. Available in a number of compounds, hard, medium, soft, etc and various trad patterns. They had phenomenal grip what ever the weather and excellent off road but did not have very good longevity. They where however very cheap! Absolutely great for minor country roads, tracks, fields and driving up verges and banks to negate obstacles on the road. I regretted it bitterly when they went bust and became unavailable. They were not suitable for fast motorway or autobahn thrashing but as long as that was understood they were excellent. The remould tyre was completely misunderstood and mistrusted by the average car driver, a little like diesel once was and they did not thrive. The majority of commercial trucks relied on them and yes we still see shredded tyres along motorway verges. However, considering the numbers and the incredible mileages its a very small percentage.
I find it a little confusing when looking up BFGoodridge AT2. I think all have M&S and the peaks markings designating suitability for winter roads, yet however, many of them are designated summer tyres and only a few as all season? I know that a few years ago they were called summer tyres and then had a composition change. Some outlet call certain sizes of BFGoodridge all season, while another outlet refers to them as summer tyres. Ether I am missing something subtle or some outlets are still selling older stock or just do dot understand the markings on the tyres themselves?
I'm a very long way from an expert in any of this stuff but I have always understood that the compounds used in 'pure winter' tyres were only ever designed for colder temperatures (below 7°C) so I don't know how they could be of any use throughout the whole year. Also, from a personal point of view, the times that they could be used at all during the winter here in the relatively mild SW England are pretty rare nowadays and that's where All Seasons really come into there own.
Yes, you are correct about the +7 and silicone but all season tyres use that as well. All season are acceptable for use as winter tyres if they have the relevant markings. It is just that the tyres are more specialised now and this sub group all season well really they are just winter tyres but slightly less specialised mainly because the compounds are slightly less extreme. One manufacturers all season might be better than some other manufacturers last years winter tyre. The progress in tyre manufacturing is very, very competitive right now. Every year a new marker is planted. Last years top tyres may be not this years. It all compromise of design and technology but certain leading manufacturers have it down to a "T" I have used both winter and all season all year and just like very other driver from the past use summer tyres in the winter because winter tyres where not available then. Tyres have improved tremendously over the years. Of course if ones driving stile is thrashing about then one must consider the possibility of cooking the tyres but it is quite easy to cook any tyre if one has a mind to do so. All I am saying is the identity between the quality winter and all season is becoming blared. Of course a summer tyre is ulimatly better when pushed than a winter in the heat of summer it will ultimatly stop faster when up to temperature and contrary is also true. Until that is when the snow is on the ground or, and the roads become icy. Years ago tyres where narrower, had more tread and went any where any time. However cars were far more simple and had less power. People generally just drove very much slower. I might also add we had a lot more snow then too.
Not in my experience, generally my journey times are longer now than they were 20 years ago, partly due to far more lower speed limits and cameras . I actually believe people do drive much slower now, (often because they're texting somebody at the same time). There are certainly many more cars on the road than there were, adding to congestion and further slowing traffic down.
I suppose it may be down to where one is driving and what sort of roads.
People texting while is deplorable. I have witnessed the most crazy antics and it just appears to have become more and more prevalent. Its not just one sector of society. I never text anyone even when stationary or at home. This here is the only form of text I write is here other than a very rare email. Before I joined here, which was yesterday, I would either talk face to face or ring them up. What is so important that someone has a need to text while driving one wonders. I know people who text, though I must add not while driving, most of what they say, when I ask, is just absolute piffle. I surprised their thumbs don't just drop off with all the exertion.
It was me driving simple lift off as front axle grip was good
225/65 R17 BFG AT K02 fit perfect
