Tyres for winter

[fordsabroad]

I am considering taking my swift Rio 310 to Glencoe in December and would be using some single track roads.

I started to wonder if I would need winter or all weather tyres. I currently have a set of Continental CP tyres with plenty of life in them so do not wish to change unnecessarily. Speaking to my local tyre fitters the most cost effective tyre from a reliable manufacturer are TOYO Celsius Cargo at £160 each or Celsius Observe at £150 each.

The price difference is negligeable it is just which would be best or if I would be safe leaving my current tyres on. The Cargo has the 3 peak symbol which I believe means it is legal abroad in icy conditions - although I do not intend to travel out of the UK.
Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated.

 

[bigtwin]

Winter (3 peaks and snowflake) tyres offer superior performance in temperatures of 7 degrees C and below compared with summer/all season tyres. There are many places in the UK where you will encounter those temperatures during the autumn, winter and spring seasons.

Add snow into the mix and it really is a no-brainer to prioritise winter tyres over any other type.

Ian

 

[Lenny HB]

Those prices sound high..
We run Toyo Obseve Van a winter tyre all year round normally around £110 plus fitting.

 

[Simonnsj]

We have Michelin Cross Climate's on our Hymer - the are an All Season tyre with the 3 peak symbol so are more than suitable for winter use. We drove to Norway (Tromso) in February and encountered -25 degree driving conditions and -12 and below virtually every day and the tyres coped fantastically driving on compacted snow and ice. So from personal 'real life' experience I can wholeheartedly recommend these tyres.

 

[Rollingwheels]

Those prices sound high..
We run Toyo Obseve Van a winter tyre all year round normally around £110 plus fitting.

Similar here after your advice excellent tyres

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

Glencoe, winter.
I'd consider chains before tyres.
Any tyre will be as good as useless in a foot of snow.

 

[Simonnsj]

Winter (3 peaks and snowflake) tyres offer superior performance in temperatures of 7 degrees C and below compared with summer/all season tyres. There are many places in the UK where you will encounter those temperatures during the autumn, winter and spring seasons.

Add snow into the mix and it really is a no-brainer to prioritise winter tyres over any other type.

Ian

We managed to get to Tromso in Feb this year using Michelin Cross Climate tyres that are not a full winter tyre - we did use snow chains 4 times having covered 5500 miles so I would be happy to recommend them as we didn't have any problems. The tyres gave great grip and the main reason we had to use the snow chains was due to steep exits from campsites and getting stuck behind a very slow moving snow/ice clearing machine.

 

[bigtwin]

We managed to get to Tromso in Feb this year using Michelin Cross Climate tyres that are not a full winter tyre

Rightly or wrongly, it’s having the 3 Peaks and Snowflake symbol that I consider to represent whether or not a tyre is a winter tyre.

Ian

 

[Simonnsj]

Rightly or wrongly, it’s having the 3 Peaks and Snowflake symbol that I consider to represent whether or not a tyre is a winter tyre.

Ian

Yes I totally agree and the Michelin Cross Climate do hence why we chose it as it is acceptable in the EU as a winter tyre even though it is only rated down to -7.....but we had no problems so much so I did email Michelin to express what a great tyre it is (in our opinion).

 

[bigtree]

Glencoe, winter.
I'd consider chains before tyres.
Any tyre will be as good as useless in a foot of snow.

Glencoe hasn’t had much snow for the last few years in December.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

Glencoe hasn’t had much snow for the last few years in December.

Last up there maybe 25 years ago so assuming in December it can/will be bad.
You still can't beat chains though.
No good having the best winter tyres then finding you should have bought chains.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I am considering taking my swift Rio 310 to Glencoe in December and would be using some single track roads.

I started to wonder if I would need winter or all weather tyres. I currently have a set of Continental CP tyres with plenty of life in them so do not wish to change unnecessarily. Speaking to my local tyre fitters the most cost effective tyre from a reliable manufacturer are TOYO Celsius Cargo at £160 each or Celsius Observe at £150 each.

The price difference is negligeable it is just which would be best or if I would be safe leaving my current tyres on. The Cargo has the 3 peak symbol which I believe means it is legal abroad in icy conditions - although I do not intend to travel out of the UK.
Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated.

TOYO H09's Now "Observe" Switching From Michelin Agilis Alpin

As you may know from many of my numerous tyre posts and replies, I have always fitted Winter Tyres to all of our Motorhomes and vans. The last 3 Motorhomes, including the current one, have had Michelin Agilis Winter Tyres, as do my Sprinters. However, the prices of Michelin have rocketed (Paid...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Winter (3 peaks and snowflake) tyres offer superior performance in temperatures of 7 degrees C and below compared with summer/all season tyres. There are many places in the UK where you will encounter those temperatures during the autumn, winter and spring seasons.

Add snow into the mix and it really is a no-brainer to prioritise winter tyres over any other type.

Ian

Adding the 3PMSF is fairly recent addition to All-Season Tyres

Similar here after your advice excellent tyres

TOYO H09's Now "Observe" Switching From Michelin Agilis Alpin

As you may know from many of my numerous tyre posts and replies, I have always fitted Winter Tyres to all of our Motorhomes and vans. The last 3 Motorhomes, including the current one, have had Michelin Agilis Winter Tyres, as do my Sprinters. However, the prices of Michelin have rocketed (Paid...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Rightly or wrongly, it’s having the 3 Peaks and Snowflake symbol that I consider to represent whether or not a tyre is a winter tyre.

Ian

3PMSF Marking does not denote that it is a winter tyre. All-Season Tyres and Winter Tyres are different, as are summer Tyres.

Yes I totally agree and the Michelin Cross Climate do hence why we chose it as it is acceptable in the EU as a winter tyre even though it is only rated down to -7.....but we had no problems so much so I did email Michelin to express what a great tyre it is (in our opinion).

See my link re: Michelin X-Climate / Cross Climate German Manufactured car tyres.

Awful in the wet, let alone Snow.

They are now in our motorhome Garage having been replaced by Feu Vert in Spain. I am taking them back to the UK and I am in a battle with the supplier and Michelin.

Tyre Condition

Got a tyre that the van system says is under inflated. I tried to get it to 80psi using a petrol station air service but it wouldn’t beep. I also noticed some crazing on the tyre wall. Is this an MOT failure? See pic

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Simonnsj]

TOYO H09's Now "Observe" Switching From Michelin Agilis Alpin

As you may know from many of my numerous tyre posts and replies, I have always fitted Winter Tyres to all of our Motorhomes and vans. The last 3 Motorhomes, including the current one, have had Michelin Agilis Winter Tyres, as do my Sprinters. However, the prices of Michelin have rocketed (Paid...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Adding the 3PMSF is fairly recent addition to All-Season Tyres

TOYO H09's Now "Observe" Switching From Michelin Agilis Alpin

As you may know from many of my numerous tyre posts and replies, I have always fitted Winter Tyres to all of our Motorhomes and vans. The last 3 Motorhomes, including the current one, have had Michelin Agilis Winter Tyres, as do my Sprinters. However, the prices of Michelin have rocketed (Paid...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

3PMSF Marking does not denote that it is a winter tyre. All-Season Tyres and Winter Tyres are different, as are summer Tyres.

See my link re: Michelin X-Climate / Cross Climate German Manufactured car tyres.

Awful in the wet, let alone Snow.

They are now in our motorhome Garage having been replaced by Feu Vert in Spain. I am taking them back to the UK and I am in a battle with the supplier and Michelin.

Tyre Condition

Got a tyre that the van system says is under inflated. I tried to get it to 80psi using a petrol station air service but it wouldn’t beep. I also noticed some crazing on the tyre wall. Is this an MOT failure? See pic

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Wow - I can see why you are pursuing Michelin, so would I if our tyres were doing the same. I can only speak from my experience having them on our MH. We have had them for 18 months plus now and I haven't seen any signs of cracking. I have read some posts in the past where MH owners have complained the Agilis tyres were cracking on the sidewalls and that it seemed to be a common issue. I will keep an eye on ours as we have covered circa 10k miles with them todate.

 

[bigtree]

I took a punt with these when I uprated my payload, very happy with them so far and have done around 2500 miles on them. This is the cheapest place to buy them

 

[EuroTrotters]

Wow - I can see why you are pursuing Michelin, so would I if our tyres were doing the same. I can only speak from my experience having them on our MH. We have had them for 18 months plus now and I haven't seen any signs of cracking. I have read some posts in the past where MH owners have complained the Agilis tyres were cracking on the sidewalls and that it seemed to be a common issue. I will keep an eye on ours as we have covered circa 10k miles with them todate.

when I get them out of the Garage, I will take another photo of them deflated where you can see how bad the cracking is

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Simonnsj]

when I get them out of the Garage, I will take another photo of them deflated where you can see how bad the cracking is

It's not what I would expect from a premium brand. Our tyres were very expensive at nearly £250 each inc fitting but they are Camping Tyres which are always more expensive

 

[TinaLes]

I took a punt with these when I uprated my payload, very happy with them so far and have done around 2500 miles on them. This is the cheapest place to buy them View attachment 830755

Thanks for posting, do you know if The AW8 refers to the number of ply in the tyre wall?
Another thing I have noticed these days is that there are apparently so many cars with different tyres on them, that in most cases you have to check whether the tyre brand is on their supply list, and if they are they have to be ordered with a deposit upfront. Let alone many suppliers don't accept our MH due to size etc, its a real pain sometimes.
LES

 

[bigtree]

Thanks for posting, do you know if The AW8 refers to the number of ply in the tyre wall?
Another thing I have noticed these days is that there are apparently so many cars with different tyres on them, that in most cases you have to check whether the tyre brand is on their supply list, and if they are they have to be ordered with a deposit upfront. Let alone many suppliers don't accept our MH due to size etc, its a real pain sometimes.
LES

I think they are 10 ply, will check later as we’re out having a drink.

 

[Dutch 68]

Last up there maybe 25 years ago so assuming in December it can/will be bad.
You still can't beat chains though.
No good having the best winter tyres then finding you should have bought chains.

Considering the value of your life and your equipment you should have both, just like every driver in any mountainous country would do, winter tyres should be compulsory by law in the UK too, and suffice 90% of the time, they really are fab, but sometimes you may need chains too, I never travel without both in winter, with all my vehicles.

 

[Garfields]

For Glencoe if you need more than four season tyres you will probably be stuck anyway as the police will have shut the snow gates.
I am an advocate of winter tyres and have posted this elsewhere in the past but for most of the uk most of the time four seasons are going to be up to the job.
If things do turn nasty weather wise and your are in the van you can always park up and beddown till the plougs clear things.
From past experience if you are on a main route and there is a dump if snow someone will end up blocking the road and you get stuck along with everyone else. Snow tyres, 4x4, chains you are still stuffed.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tacr2man]

re plys in sidewall , its now a ply rating rather than actual plies . its just another way of expressing load rating .

 

[treblid]

It is very confusing when people just say they had\have "Agilis" or just say "Crossclimates". There are different kinds of each.
Agilis just means it's part of Michelin's van range. Agilis Camping is specific for campers.
Crossclimates are all season tyres that come in many guises; car, SUV, van (Agilis Crossclimates) and specific for campers (Agilis Crossclimate Camping).

It would be more helpful if users could be more specific to what they are referring to.

 

[Simonnsj]

It is very confusing when people just say they had\have "Agilis" or just say "Crossclimates". There are different kinds of each.
Agilis just means it's part of Michelin's van range. Agilis Camping is specific for campers.
Crossclimates are all season tyres that come in many guises; car, SUV, van (Agilis Crossclimates) and specific for campers (Agilis Crossclimate Camping).

It would be more helpful if users could be more specific to what they are referring to.

Sorry - I should have clarified the tyres are Cross Climate Camping Tyres hence the price at nearly £250 per corner fitted maybe I get taken in by the marketing but I would only use Camping specific tyres purely because its the only part of the MH that is in contact with the road so would prefer not to take a chance.....and I couldn't find a full winter Camping rated tyre in the UK as they were all classed as All Season!

 

[bigtree]

Thanks for posting, do you know if The AW8 refers to the number of ply in the tyre wall?
Another thing I have noticed these days is that there are apparently so many cars with different tyres on them, that in most cases you have to check whether the tyre brand is on their supply list, and if they are they have to be ordered with a deposit upfront. Let alone many suppliers don't accept our MH due to size etc, its a real pain sometimes.
LES

Hi Les,
Sorry for the delay,they are 10 ply.