Its At This Moment.....

[chriscroft]

Anyone had any experience of these all seasons? Get good reviews

Nokian Weatherproof SUV 255/55 R18 109V XL - mytyres.co.uk

I'm Weatherproof SUV 235/60/17 which is about 3.5% oversized (lifts the van by about 11mm)
You can get them 235/55/18, and I think that's a perfect size imo.
255/55/18 are 7.5 % oversized (lift the van by 25mm - over standard 235/55/17)
It is a biggish decision imo to go that big; yo will notice a drop in performance because of the up gearing
Is your suspension standard? standard height?
If your wheels are standard ET off set, you will probably need spacers 15mm front; 25mm rear to reduce/stop rubbing.
They look brilliant imo, but you need to understand the implications. I would want a 204 with a revo remap, to counter the drop in performance; but I like a pokey van.
I've run 255/55/18 on my T5, and I'm not sure I would choose to again; but there are others on this forum that run this size of tyre (often AT's on 16'/17" wheels), and are more than happy. I think manual gear boxes handle the performance implications better (you change gear when you want); or if DSG you may want the programme altering slightly for the change points.
As for the tyres...... well they are absolutely brilliant, the Michelins Climate Cross are slightly better in summer, but its a van not a hot hatch. When it comes to standing water/cold weather/snow/ice imo they are better for UK use than winters, because they work very well (for an all-season) on the warmer dryer days. They last for 40k miles with 3mm still left.
Even If If I wanted to spend £250 a corner, on rubber; for the van I would still choose the Nokians use them all year round and at £120 a corner they are the deal of the century. Plus they work well off road.

 

[chriscroft]

Spot on there.
The problem is some 4x4 owners presume they are 'invincible' in all conditions, when it reality many of them are running 19, 20 and even 21" wheels that might look cool, but often clad in general use summer tyres.
I've just put full on winters on my wife's Mini, and the difference in the cold greasy mornings is night and day, and we are not even into winter yet!
I also spend a lot of time and money at my local tyre shop, and hear the same phrase all the time '"just fit what ever is the cheapest" regardless of season, conditions, load ratings or speed ratings.
People put very little thought into the part of the vehicle that actually keeps you in contact with the road surface, and I have no sympathy for those that end up falling off the road because of ignorance.

I live in the countryside, and I have to say that come the snow many Land Rover Disco owners seem to take their brains out, and drive even faster; nearly all of them with summer rubber on; well its a Landy 4WD unstoppable....really....

 

[Davenjo]

I live in the countryside, and I have to say that come the snow many Land Rover Disco owners seem to take their brains out, and drive even faster; nearly all of them with summer rubber on; well its a Landy 4WD unstoppable....really....

I'll let you know how I get on with my first winter in the Disco Sport with 20" Continental Cross Contact LX Sports on Hopefully, coming to it from my Defender, I have an appreciation of the limitations and awareness of the fact that if things do go wrong the car's weight is going to take a lot more stopping than a normal car. Slow as you can - fast as you need to!

 

[Loz]

The Mini has a slightly annoying size 205/45/17 so not available in some variants, We're in the SW so historically on 1 week of proper snow but Mrs Loz does leave for work between 5-6am so regular -x deg starts.
My Current thoughts are;
Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S @£113pc
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P @ £147pc
Bridgestone Blizzak LM32 @104pc
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 Performance @~£110pc

Considered but can't have
Continental WinterContact TS 860 - NOT Available in our size
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 - NOT Available in our size

I think I'll go for the Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S as we have had them twice before and they are from Tyremen in Hull who have always given us a good price

 

[Tourershine]

The Mini has a slightly annoying size 205/45/17 so not available in some variants, We're in the SW so historically on 1 week of proper snow but Mrs Loz does leave for work between 5-6am so regular -x deg starts.
My Current thoughts are;
Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S @£113pc
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P @ £147pc
Bridgestone Blizzak LM32 @104pc
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 Performance @~£110pc

Considered but can't have
Continental WinterContact TS 860 - NOT Available in our size
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 - NOT Available in our size

I think I'll go for the Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S as we have had them twice before and they are from Tyremen in Hull who have always given us a good price

Our Mini has a set of Jinyu Winter pro in that exact size. I know they are not one of the premium brands, but genuinely they are fantastic. No more wheel spin on the greasy surfaces, and the colder it gets, the better they seem to perform. They were around £60 a tyre fitted.
We knew the current Mini was going to be replaced shortly, so she wanted winters, but not daft expensive ones, but she loves these things so much, they are coming off and being swapped back for the summer tyres when the new car arrives, and she wants these put straight on her new Mini.

 

[Loz]

This is our new one..


We love it!

 

[Tourershine]

Is that Emerald Grey @Loz ?

We've ordered Emerald, but my dealer didn't have the colour in stock because it's a new colour. As you will know, the BMW computer generated images show the colour in something different to real pictures, so we were a little unsure, but ordered it anyway.

 

[Loz]

Is that Emerald Grey @Loz ?

Yes it is

 

[Tourershine]

Yes it is

I'm rather glad about that. It looks far better in your photo, than it does on the Mini configurator.

 

[chriscroft]

I'll let you know how I get on with my first winter in the Disco Sport with 20" Continental Cross Contact LX Sports on Hopefully, coming to it from my Defender, I have an appreciation of the limitations and awareness of the fact that if things do go wrong the car's weight is going to take a lot more stopping than a normal car. Slow as you can - fast as you need to!

Oh Disco Sport owners are far more sensible than Disco owners imo Your conti's are summer rubber aren't they?

 

[chriscroft]

The Mini has a slightly annoying size 205/45/17 so not available in some variants, We're in the SW so historically on puts on his wellingtons CK week of proper snow but Mrs Loz does leave for work between 5-6am so regular -x deg starts.
My Current thoughts are;
Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S @£113pc
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P @ £147pc
Bridgestone Blizzak LM32 @104pc
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 Performance @~£110pc I do not will tidy up Rory was in boots was the right now your question paste

Considered but can't have
Continental WinterContact TS 860 - NOT Available in our size
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 - NOT Available in our size okay so those are tracked gingerbread house just to

I think I'll go for the Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S as we have had them twice before and they are from Tyremen in Hull who have always given us a good price

We've recently changed car Volvo xc40 First Edition; it came with 20" wheels - no choice; I don't normally do tyres that low in profile. So I want to change the summer rubber for All-Seasons, and run them all year but 245/45/20 is very limited in range, looking at Michelin Cross climate SUV, nearly £250 a corner???? Bloody Expensive
Given it's a fast(ish) little SUV (0-60 6.1secs) I am wondering whether I will miss the Pirelli P Zero's in summer????
I would like to buy some Volvo 18" wheels and fit 235/60/18's All-Seasons; but the volvo wheels are damned expensive as well.
Maybe get some 245/45/20 Michelins, then put the Pirellis back on, if the michelins aren't so good in summer..... I need to get round to doing something,

 

[Davenjo]

Oh Disco Sport owners are far more sensible than Disco owners imo Your conti's are summer rubber aren't they?

Lol. Yep - they are marked with M+S but I don’t have high hopes for them if we get a lot of snow and ice. Did think about getting something else but for the miles they will do in snow (neither of us work anymore so no more early morning starts, etc., that can’t be avoided) it’s probably not worth it. I’ll see how they are driven sensibly and make a decision if I have to.

 

[Larry G]

I stuck a set on my wife's Mini a few weeks ago. This is the first time she's had full winters on, and she absolutely loves them for confidence in this weather.

I stuck a set on my wife's Mini a few weeks ago. This is the first time she's had full winters on, and she absolutely loves them for confidence in this weather.

Just put a full set on mine, and like her car, they seem far more comfortable than my summers. I'm assuming the tyre compounds are a lot softer, but it's instantly noticeable.

Just put a full set on mine, and like her car, they seem far more comfortable than my summers. I'm assuming the tyre compounds are a lot softer, but it's instantly noticeable.

My daughter had a mini AWD Standard tyres, wouldn't get her out of her drive
.

 

[dennismo]

I'm Weatherproof SUV 235/60/17 which is about 3.5% oversized (lifts the van by about 11mm)
You can get them 235/55/18, and I think that's a perfect size imo.
255/55/18 are 7.5 % oversized (lift the van by 25mm - over standard 235/55/17)
It is a biggish decision imo to go that big; yo will notice a drop in performance because of the up gearing
Is your suspension standard? standard height?
If your wheels are standard ET off set, you will probably need spacers 15mm front; 25mm rear to reduce/stop rubbing.
They look brilliant imo, but you need to understand the implications. I would want a 204 with a revo remap, to counter the drop in performance; but I like a pokey van.
I've run 255/55/18 on my T5, and I'm not sure I would choose to again; but there are others on this forum that run this size of tyre (often AT's on 16'/17" wheels), and are more than happy. I think manual gear boxes handle the performance implications better (you change gear when you want); or if DSG you may want the programme altering slightly for the change points.
As for the tyres...... well they are absolutely brilliant, the Michelins Climate Cross are slightly better in summer, but its a van not a hot hatch. When it comes to standing water/cold weather/snow/ice imo they are better for UK use than winters, because they work very well (for an all-season) on the warmer dryer days. They last for 40k miles with 3mm still left.
Even If If I wanted to spend £250 a corner, on rubber; for the van I would still choose the Nokians use them all year round and at £120 a corner they are the deal of the century. Plus they work well off road.

@chriscroft - As I'm in a T30, any reason not to go with the standard Nokians (i.e. not SUV) which I can get in the correct size (235/55/17 103) for my van... Or would you still suggest the SUV version (235 / 60/ 17)? I'm already running 20s on summer wheels, so already have a 5% oversize at the moment... so 3.5% is better than that. But actually thinking that I might stick with the 17s and sell the 20s... as I think that the ride will be so much better on the 17s that I won't want to go back (hence looking to buy All Seasons rather than standard winters)...

 

[chriscroft]

It was explained to me; that the manufacturer when designing and testing the tyre, has slightly different expectation/performance criteria for a car tyre v an SUV tyre;.
Testing a car tyre against road biased use; but the SUV may be expected to have some level of off-road specific attributes such as; resistance to side wall damage/cutting; tread resistance to chipping; a slightly more open tread for M&S use etc etc: Also a stiffer side wall to check the higher centre of gravity when cornering during road use etc etc.
But if your van use is similar to a cars i.e tarmac use; then I can't see any reason why a car tyre particularly with a 103XL (XL= ability to carry high loads continuously/permanently) would suit your needs; but sometimes the side walls of a car tyre can feel too soft when driving enthusiastically.
The only reason to go over sized when a OEM size is available; is aesthetics or increased ground clearance; but if you are use to looking at tyres which are +5%; then going back to OEM sizes, may look woefully under rubbered.
I would go 235/60/17 if the stance of the van is important to you. I also feel that a van has more in common with an SUV than it does a car, in terms of tyre design/testing.

 

[Teesix]

Spot on there.
The problem is some 4x4 owners presume they are 'invincible' in all conditions, when it reality many of them are running 19, 20 and even 21" wheels that might look cool, but often clad in general use summer tyres.
I've just put full on winters on my wife's Mini, and the difference in the cold greasy mornings is night and day, and we are not even into winter yet!
I also spend a lot of time and money at my local tyre shop, and hear the same phrase all the time '"just fit what ever is the cheapest" regardless of season, conditions, load ratings or speed ratings.
People put very little thought into the part of the vehicle that actually keeps you in contact with the road surface, and I have no sympathy for those that end up falling off the road because of ignorance.

Just to add to this. I've seen quite a few 4x4s in ditches when it's been snowing.

What a lot of people don't seem to realise is that the car is only a 4x4 when you've got your foot planted on the accelerator. As soon as a lot of people hit snow or ice the instant reaction is to lift off the throttle but, that means the car is now coasting and has actually turned into a zero x zero wheel drive vehicle. For the grippy bit to work you have to stay on the throttle when the car slides and that can be counter intuitive for a lot of people.

Bear this in mind you 4Motion peeps.