Continental Winter Contacts

The Mad Rapper · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:16

We had these fitted to our Passat Estate 3 weeks ago, total cost was around £570. I thought I'd post some thoughts, make of them what you will.

We drove up to rural Northumberland on Friday, so it was a very good opportunity to test their effectiveness. Simply put, they are excellent. Huge levels of grip; we breezed up hills that cars with standard tyres just didn't have a hope of getting up. On dual carriage ways, the grip and sure-footedness meant I could confidently drive in the snow covered fast lane, no slippage at all.

The weather around our cottage in Rothbury was very cold, -12.5C at 4 PM yesterday, and not much warmer today. Lots of tight country lanes, lots of corners and no heart-stopping moments at all.

The only caveat I'd add is that I didn't have the chance to test them in deep snow, probably 8-10 inches or so was the most we encountered. I don't think they are infallible, but so far, so good!

The Summer tyres are in the garage, waiting for Spring.

mjt · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:22

TS810 or 830?
16"?

Clarkey · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:24

confidentially drive?

The Mad Rapper · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:25

Clarkey said:
confidentially drive?

Scuzi · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:26

8-10 inches is pretty deep snow for a Passat to drive through. I'm impressed if these tyres got you through that much snow!

The Mad Rapper · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:31

mjt said:
TS810 or 830?
16"?

235/45/17 TS830

Dandle · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:33

The TS810s on my wifes Golf have been great they will slip if you push it but they quickly recover. I was demonstrating emergency stops to my dad yesterday and he couldn't believe the grip. Had one occasion so far where ive needed to stop quick due to a young lad sliding out of a car park and stopped in plenty of time.

My car is useless in this weather so I've been using the Golf for all driving including work.

The Mad Rapper · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:33

Scuzi said:
8-10 inches is pretty deep snow for a Passat to drive through. I'm impressed if these tyres got you through that much snow!

I know. So was I. Especially with our 2 year old and 9 week old in the car - it would have been a nightmare had we got stuck. That depth was the exception rather than the norm though - there was a lot of snow on the road from Rothbury to our cottage on Sunday evening and very little traffic. Typically, it was half that everywhere else - 3 or 4 inches.

[TW]Fox · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:33

Nearly 600 quid for 4 17 inch tyres. Crikey, not cheap these things are they :eek:

The Mad Rapper · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:38

[TW]Fox;18051247 said:
Nearly 600 quid for 4 17 inch tyres. Crikey, not cheap these things are they

No. I am hoping to get 2 - 3 winters out of them though, and on that basis the cost doesn't seem so unreasonable.

mjt · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:38

[TW]Fox;18051247 said:
Nearly 600 quid for 4 17 inch tyres. Crikey, not cheap these things are they

When I had to replace 2 in Norway they cost me £200 each. Not cool.

If you don't do a lot of miles, they can see you through two or even three seasons.

-edit, beaten

Using twisted logic you could argue that it makes your summer tyres last longer too, so the initial outlay isn't as bad as it seems.
Winter tyres really are epic in snow though, even with a RWD auto..

Dandle · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:39

[TW]Fox;18051247 said:
Nearly 600 quid for 4 17 inch tyres. Crikey, not cheap these things are they

The retail for them is £118 each so normally they would be slightly cheaper online. Anytime past Nov though and retailers start to push the price up. The ones on my wifes Golf were less than £80 each retail.

EDIT: My mistake scrub that 235/45-17 are 190 each retail.

Dangerous Dave · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:44

[TW]Fox;18051247 said:
Nearly 600 quid for 4 17 inch tyres. Crikey, not cheap these things are they

The tyre places have been taking advantage prices have went up about 50% since October for winter tyres.

You do however have to remember winter tyres overall cost very little extra as you are not putting wear on your summer tyres (4 CS3s in that size will cost you £470 ish fitted).

[TW]Fox · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:45

Dangerous Dave said:
You do however have to remember winter tyres overall cost very little extra as you are not putting wear on your summer tyres (4 CS3s in that size will cost you £470 ish fitted).

Bit of a red herring that mind, I mean most of us are not hooning around knocking thousands of miles of rubber off our summer tyres in this sort of weather, it's probably quite kind on tyre wear

Dangerous Dave · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:50

[TW]Fox;18051368 said:
Bit of a red herring that mind, I mean most of us are not hooning around knocking thousands of miles of rubber off our summer tyres in this sort of weather, it's probably quite kind on tyre wear

Not when you are wheel spinning about I got an impressive amount of smoke getting up my drive after I lost the rag with the gently gently approach

I always thought that summer rubber hardens up in the winter so wears quicker not sure if that is true though.

[TW]Fox · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:59

Surely its softness that increases wear, hence why soft Eagle F1's last 30 miles and super rock hard chinese ditchfinders last 50k miles.

Gibbo · 21 Dec 2010 at 23:01

I have to say I love the Michelins, their grip in the sub zero temperatures in dry, wet and snow are just vastly superior to the best summer tyres I've ever tried. A big big thumbs on as on dry/wet winter days I can drive like its a summers day.

When it does snow I can take the snow covered lanes on roundabouts, dual carriage ways and basically not get stuck in traffic or I can just take all the un-treated back roads and leave everyone else to get stuck in traffic on the very slow moving main roads.

So Michelins get a huge thumgs up.

Dangerous Dave · 21 Dec 2010 at 23:09

[TW]Fox;18051481 said:
Surely its softness that increases wear, hence why soft Eagle F1's last 30 miles and super rock hard chinese ditchfinders last 50k miles.

I don't know I just remember reading a quote somewhere saying that summer tyres wear quicker in cold weather maybe on a tyre suppliers advert or similair.

EDIT not sure if this was where I read it initally however a quick google advises summer tyres wear 40% more in winter compared to winter tyres. As I say no idea if this is true.

http://www.bluebellbmw.co.uk/parts/own.html?id=606

james.miller · 21 Dec 2010 at 23:13

Dangerous Dave said:
Not when you are wheel spinning about I got an impressive amount of smoke getting up my drive after I lost the rag with the gently gently approach

I always thought that summer rubber hardens up in the winter so wears quicker not sure if that is true though.

my summer tyres are like plastic in sub zero temps. i couldnt move my damn car yesterday when the ****ing bmw 3 series parked in front of me moved off like it was a summers day. I mean, that's just insulting lol.

[TW]Fox · 21 Dec 2010 at 23:21

Dangerous Dave said:
EDIT not sure if this was where I read it initally however a quick google advises summer tyres wear 40% more in winter compared to winter tyres. As I say no idea if this is true.

http://www.bluebellbmw.co.uk/parts/own.html?id=606

Don't buy it, sorry. It even explains in summer that winter tyres wear out because of the soft compound, yet suddenly summer tyres wear out in winter even though apparently the compound hardens?

I doubt you leave much rubber on the tarmac in the winter months when it's wet or you are doing 10mph along a snowy road compared to booting it down sliproads and off roundabouts in the height of summer frankly