Winter tyre advice for fiesta please

[LittleMissSunshine]

My old car had winter tyres and to be honest were brilliant in the deep snow and wet weather we get up ont moor top.

My tyres are 195/45 R16

Quick google yielded these results:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=winte ... 24&bih=672" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any thoughts on the best tyres to order? Am debating whether to get steel rims and just swap over - wonder if this is a better long term solution.

Your advice is gratefully received.

Thanks

Helen

[Thorgills]

Winter tyres? It's nearly summer!

[fairwynds]

Winter tyres are a different, softer compound as I understand it. So they would be best fitted just for when its proper cold, rather than leave on all year round. So maybe get yourself a set of steel wheels from a breakers and fit your winters on them... then change wheels in the spring? Store any tyres sensibly though - ie: not in sunlight etc...

[LittleMissSunshine]

I have rung all breakers in area and all 15 inch rims gone.

It is a pain flipping one off and one on but have storage space and this is what I did with my old tyres on my previous car.

Just wondered on type as price difference is huge!

[AdrianC]

I have rung all breakers in area and all 15 inch rims gone.

Can't think why... <grin>

Last tyres I had fitted were £15 each, including valve/balance. Twice a year - not to mention the hassle factor and potential for the chimps mucking up the bead on the tyres or edge of the rims, it's gotta be well worth buying a cheap set of used rims.

Best run-down of what's available for what price I've come across is Camskill.

[mm289]

Go for winter tyres on a spare set of rims. TBH swapping will take you (Dr B) about 1 hr to do both front wheels, chuck the removed ones in a corner of the garage and enjoy having tyres that work all winter

I did it on the wifes FWD Fiat last year and they are brill, not just when it snows but right through the winter - much better grip in deep water and when it is cold. The transition point for summer to winter tyres in terms of performance is ambient temp of about 6 degrees or below. I chuck these on in December and run them though to March'ish and it really makes a huge difference.

Then when the snow does arrive we are the only thing moving other than 4WD's - definitely the way to go.

Getting a decent selection of winter tyres after October is a real problem - UK stocks tend to sell out quickly as they are not that popular. Have a look on http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/ they are a French outfit but prices include delivery to the UK. Because Europe has a much bigger market for winter tyres there stocks are much larger and I could get the tyres I needed straight away.

Then just took them to my local tyre fitter who will charge £5-£10 per rim to fit.

HTH

MM

[LittleMissSunshine]

Cheers chaps, one last question - the fella at northeastern tyres said 15 inch rims but the tyres on are 195/45 R16 - will 15 inch rims be ok?

Will try to get some rims from somewhere and then get tyres ordered ASAP then go for swapping as needed.

Until then, shovel and bouncing out of snow drifts like today !! (alone I'd like to add )

[AdrianC]

Cheers chaps, one last question - the fella at northeastern tyres said 15 inch rims but the tyres on are 195/45 R16 - will 15 inch rims be ok?

16" were almost certainly an option or just part of that trim level, with the "need" for tyres as low as 45 profile really just cosmetic. If you have a look at the tyre pressure sticker on the car, it'll almost certainly give a few different sizes which Ford have approved for that particular mechanical setup.

As MM said - winter tyres come into their own below about 5degC. They're a little harsher ride (although if you go down from 45s on 16" rims to 15" with higher profile, that'll probably not be an issue), and economy will go down a bit compared to modern low rolling resistance summer tyres, but even on cold dry tarmac, the grip's better. On snow & ice, there's just no comparison.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Thanks Adrian, I agree - I had them on my last car (Yaris) and can feel the difference and want it sorting ASAP.

Great advice - thanks

[mm289]

LOL, '45s in the snow, must be laughs all the way, great work just getting of the drive on those

As per Adrian's comments - no probs with 15's I would have thought, should be listed in the handbook

MM

[LittleMissSunshine]

Don't say that! Got to get out and back on them tomorrow



Will get sorted as soon as I can.

[Titus A Duxass]

Go for a set of Vredestein Wintrac, I have them on my Yaris (on a set of steels).
At the moment we have 8 cm of snow on the roads and them cope brilliantly (35 km commute).

They are quite open cut so when the temp goes over 7c they'll wear out quickly.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Thanks - am going to ring today if I get chance. The thaw should be coming by the weekend (hopefully!).

[jeffj]

One last tip.

When it snows stay at home?