Need a new set of tyres for my daily driver - Mk3 mondeo estate - 205/50/17
We're due our first child in January so I'd like something thats safe through poor weather. Not keen on dedicated winter tyres though.
I'm also not fussed about 'sports' grip or handling, just something very capable in crap weather.
My two trusted local places get good(ish) prices and recommend Kumho and Cooper but I don't have a preference myself...
Any recommendations?
TIA
I don't understand why you say you want to be safe but don't want to buy the tyres that are safest...
Have a look at this review before you decide not to buy winter tyres
Winter vs normal tyre test
uniroyal rainsport. will be going on my daily soon.
So are there any regs saying that you have to fit winter tyres as a set of 4?
If not surely if you fit winter tyres to just the front wheels (of a front wheel drive car say) surely you have the old scenario same as radial front
crossply rear, which was illegal due to the fact that numpties can't handle oversteer!, it would start & stop ok, but handling could prove
interesting!
Other than that, that video is an emphatic reason why we probably ought to make it illegal to drive in snow without winter tyres as they do in Austria
& Germany!
quote:
Originally posted by Fizzer Not keen on dedicated winter tyres...snip... just something very capable in crap weather.
have a look here, its covers everything tyres
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/
Meanwhile, I have a healthy disregard for what anybody who is selling something says about its performance. I always think they are just after a
profit for some strange reason.
obviously a few good people out there, but not many...
Uniroyal stuff does do well in the wet though, otherwise conti's seem good.
Get a set of budgets for the summer on your 17" alloys. If you don't have the money right now you've got a good 4-5 months during which
you'll be in "cold weather" so you can save up for these.
For now, get a prefitted set of 16" or better yet 15" 195-width winter tyres on a set of steels (assuming they'll clear your calipers -
I'm assuming Mk3 Mondeo's didn't come with a 17" minimum fitment!).
The winters will last you at least a few years, and a lot of budget tyres are actually quite decent in the dry/warm weather and will also last
absolutely ages due to their rock solid compound. (I've just done 45k on my Arrowspeeds on the Micra, and that's with spirited driving and
an autosolo event!)
I would certainly not suggest driving this winter on budget summer tyres if you have (a very valid) safety concern/factor.
Thanks for all the advice so far guys. I seem to have pushed a few buttons, but just to explain...
I am aware that proper winter tyres are amazing in the snow, however I also know that there are some really good All Weather tyres out there,
and that's what I'm interested in. I don't want outstanding summer performance, it's a mondy estate fgs... 
Anyhow, thanks to the link that Mookaloid sent, these seem to be the best bet for all season tyres:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/259459/hankook_optimo_4s.html
Their review:
Our pick of the all-season tyres, but it was close, with only the Optimo’s wet performance giving it victory over Vredestein. Both tyres make a
good case for all-season patterns, as they beat their winter rivals in dry braking, and were near the top on the handling track.
Winter patterns had the edge on the white stuff, but the Hankook and Vredestein were close, and miles ahead of the summer alternative. The Optimo
struggled to get on terms around the Skanska track, where it had less grip than the Vredestein, and was two seconds behind its rival. It also needed
almost three more metres to stop on snow when compared to the winning winter tyre. The temperature dependent wet tests suited it better, with second
in braking and fourth for handling.
The Hankook also performed well in the wet and dry tests, although rolling resistance was a letdown. So this is a compromise tyre during both seasonal
extremes, but some will consider it to be a compromise worth making at this price.
Our verdict
The all-season tyre to go for, with relatively small compromises in winter and summer use.
Anyone used them...?
Russbost - putting slippy tyres on the back sounds like suicide tbh...
..except they don't seem to make them in 17"...
the problem here is your wheel size which will affect your choice
i have just recently got a pair of Kleber Quadraxer all season tyres fitted to my daily and they are fantastic so far can't wait to test them out
in the snow.
the only size they offer in 17" is 225/45/17
only all season tyres i could find listed for your size was Pirelli P 6 Four Seasons 205/50 R17 90H XL
Update,
it seems that because it's a bit late in the year to be buying all season tyres, they are mostly out of stock everywhere. In particular, the
Vredestein Quatrac 3 which is highly regarded (and fits my wheels).
So, after phoning and emailing quite a few tyre suppliers, I called Vredestein UK and spoke to a nice lady called Tracy who explained that most tyre
stockists are now gearing up for summer tyres and there weren't really any quatrac 3's left anywahere in the UK. She then arranged to IMPORT
SOME TYRES from the continent, just for me...
I couldn't believe it, but the deal is done and they are arriving later next week...
Just goes to show; don't ask, don't get...
quote:
Originally posted by Fizzer
Update,
it seems that because it's a bit late in the year to be buying all season tyres, they are mostly out of stock everywhere. In particular, the Vredestein Quatrac 3 which is highly regarded (and fits my wheels).
So, after phoning and emailing quite a few tyre suppliers, I called Vredestein UK and spoke to a nice lady called Tracy who explained that most tyre stockists are now gearing up for summer tyres and there weren't really any quatrac 3's left anywahere in the UK. She then arranged to IMPORT SOME TYRES from the continent, just for me...
I couldn't believe it, but the deal is done and they are arriving later next week...
Just goes to show; don't ask, don't get...
Update,
the tyres arrived a few days later than expected but at least they did arrive 
Have done approximately 500 miles on them since new so still early days.
They are slightly noisier and harder feeling than the cheap crap I had on before, which is odd as they are supposed to remain soft in cooler temps.
In the dry they are a little vaguer but not excessively so.
However, in the wet they are simply outstanding. It's a heavy car so pulling out of junctions in the wet used to result in wheelspin -
everywhere... I haven't done any braking tests yet but I can only imagine that they will be excellent at that too. Accellerating out of
roundabouts and sharp turns is much sharper/faster - less understeer.
No snow yet... :p
downsides:
seem to get quite warm on long runs, very smelly in the first few days but that's calmed down a bit now. Also fuel consumption has gone up by 1 -
2 mpg