Tyres suitable for the Aviemore area
Discussion
As per the title, prepping a winter car (Polo, etc) for my son who has just moved to Aviemore.
Hibernating the vxr down south for the winter, but am unsure what type of tyre is best. Potentially driving locally, some exploring (weather permitting) and Inverness bound.
Car will be back south over the summer months but not used heavily.
All season or winter tyre?
Thanks in advance
Hibernating the vxr down south for the winter, but am unsure what type of tyre is best. Potentially driving locally, some exploring (weather permitting) and Inverness bound.
Car will be back south over the summer months but not used heavily.
All season or winter tyre?
Thanks in advance
Edited by TheTardis on Saturday 2nd September 23:35
Edited by TheTardis on Saturday 2nd September 23:37
I just happen to have in my garage 4 black steel wheels with proper winter tyres that were on my 2013 Seat Ibiza (should fit a Polo of similar vintage). Sold car in the spring, so now excess to requirements as don't fit the replacement car.
Wheels are 6J x 15 ET38 5x100 (std VAG fitment), tyres are Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 185/60R15 88T.
Work amazingly well in snow. I do a lot of winter hillwalking so often end up on snowy untreated back roads. Also good in generally wet cold winter roads, and I actually liked the look of the car on the black steel wheels with skinnier tyres. Downside is that you probably don't want to use all year as not optimised for dry/warm conditions and will wear out quicker than regular or 4 season tyres, therefore need storage space for 4 wheels.
I was waiting until next month to put them on Ebay, haven't thought about price but will be less than 4 new tyres. pm if interested, can transport to Aviemore area.
Wheels are 6J x 15 ET38 5x100 (std VAG fitment), tyres are Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 185/60R15 88T.
Work amazingly well in snow. I do a lot of winter hillwalking so often end up on snowy untreated back roads. Also good in generally wet cold winter roads, and I actually liked the look of the car on the black steel wheels with skinnier tyres. Downside is that you probably don't want to use all year as not optimised for dry/warm conditions and will wear out quicker than regular or 4 season tyres, therefore need storage space for 4 wheels.
I was waiting until next month to put them on Ebay, haven't thought about price but will be less than 4 new tyres. pm if interested, can transport to Aviemore area.
We live a couple of hours north of Aviemore and fit full winter tyres when the weather changes and winter arrives. We have two sets of wheels for our Landrover which makes this a relatively easy option.
If he has a Polo I would definitely consider full winters rather than all season.
If he has a Polo I would definitely consider full winters rather than all season.
Could argue this one till the cows come home but my opinion on the subject...
I've previously used Nokian winters, in winter... and then moved to all seasons, settling on Vredestein Quatracs for the past few years which I run all year and my unscientific observation is that the Nokians were no better in snow, not great on cold / wet roads and horrible when it was greasy. Given that winter up here can be mostly cold and wet rather than months of fresh powder, I'd be swaying towards decent all seasons. Fit and forget. Plus on a light weight, FWD Polo shod with good all seasons, if it got so bad that he couldn't keep going with that choice, I'd seriously be reconsidering if I wanted to be out there driving!
I've previously used Nokian winters, in winter... and then moved to all seasons, settling on Vredestein Quatracs for the past few years which I run all year and my unscientific observation is that the Nokians were no better in snow, not great on cold / wet roads and horrible when it was greasy. Given that winter up here can be mostly cold and wet rather than months of fresh powder, I'd be swaying towards decent all seasons. Fit and forget. Plus on a light weight, FWD Polo shod with good all seasons, if it got so bad that he couldn't keep going with that choice, I'd seriously be reconsidering if I wanted to be out there driving!
I've had Avon Ice Touring, Vredestein Snowtrac, Nokian all season(cannot remember what), Quatracs and have to say the quatracs were the best. Avons were poor.
I did run the quatracs through Dalbeattie forest rally stage at minus 15 on ice after 80 odd rally cars on an Octavia and they were bloomin good
I did run the quatracs through Dalbeattie forest rally stage at minus 15 on ice after 80 odd rally cars on an Octavia and they were bloomin good
gdr said:
I just happen to have in my garage 4 black steel wheels with proper winter tyres that were on my 2013 Seat Ibiza (should fit a Polo of similar vintage). Sold car in the spring, so now excess to requirements as don't fit the replacement car.
Wheels are 6J x 15 ET38 5x100 (std VAG fitment), tyres are Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 185/60R15 88T.
Work amazingly well in snow. I do a lot of winter hillwalking so often end up on snowy untreated back roads. Also good in generally wet cold winter roads, and I actually liked the look of the car on the black steel wheels with skinnier tyres. Downside is that you probably don't want to use all year as not optimised for dry/warm conditions and will wear out quicker than regular or 4 season tyres, therefore need storage space for 4 wheels.
I was waiting until next month to put them on Ebay, haven't thought about price but will be less than 4 new tyres. pm if interested, can transport to Aviemore area.
Just logged back in, thanks very much for the offer, Polo fell through so have a Fiesta now !Wheels are 6J x 15 ET38 5x100 (std VAG fitment), tyres are Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 185/60R15 88T.
Work amazingly well in snow. I do a lot of winter hillwalking so often end up on snowy untreated back roads. Also good in generally wet cold winter roads, and I actually liked the look of the car on the black steel wheels with skinnier tyres. Downside is that you probably don't want to use all year as not optimised for dry/warm conditions and will wear out quicker than regular or 4 season tyres, therefore need storage space for 4 wheels.
I was waiting until next month to put them on Ebay, haven't thought about price but will be less than 4 new tyres. pm if interested, can transport to Aviemore area.
I’m up on the eastern edge of the Cairngorms, and would recommend all seasons for regular road use. Winters are another chore on the list with little gain.
Corgarff dropped to -4 the night before last, and we had snow in May this year. For me the road conditions change really rapidly and are hugely varied so having the all year round reassurance was key.
I now have GY vectors on, and expected more road noise etc but they’re as quiet as the regular ‘summer’ Michelin’s I had on before. I like them a lot, and will be buying another set in the spring.
Corgarff dropped to -4 the night before last, and we had snow in May this year. For me the road conditions change really rapidly and are hugely varied so having the all year round reassurance was key.
I now have GY vectors on, and expected more road noise etc but they’re as quiet as the regular ‘summer’ Michelin’s I had on before. I like them a lot, and will be buying another set in the spring.
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