I used Dunlop 3D last year on my FL1 and was so impressed that I have got another set on spare rims for my FL2 ready for this year.

Did you get to use the Dunlops in any snowy/icy conditions ?

We had about 3 weeks of snow/slush and they come into their own the first morning of snow as I pulled 3 cars back onto the road. Its not all about snow and ice, when temperatures drop below about 7C winter tyres start to become more effective with better braking and handling than summer tyres.

Pretty much any dedicated winter tyre will far outperform an "all weather" (NOT approved here for winter use!) or summer tyre.

There are a few extra benifits to spending a little more on the better brands, and it is worth reading how the different types of winter tyre work so that you can best work out what you are looking for.

More expensive tyres will have typically 2 different compounds, a stiffer core, and a softer tread. The sidewalls are better engineered to resist punctures from sharp frozen slush or sliding into granite kerbs, and the slits in the tread pattern will be stepped to improve dry road handling.

Ask yourself what kind of weather conditions you are most likely to drive in - A tyre with a lot of contact rubber will typically be better on ice, but worse on slush for example, and a tyre with large evacuation groves that cleans slush and can trap snow (snow on snow gives better traction than rubber on snow) will be the opposite : )

Tyres should not have a square profile when you look at them from the front, if they do, what happens is that you get trapped in the ruts, making changing lane, or avoiding obstacles a problem.

Finally, do not exclude the idea of running the winter tyre all year, if you can only have one set of wheels, the benefits of having a winter tyre in the winter, far outweigh the "disabilities" of running one in the summer.

Have wintracs fitted to swmbos FL2 used them last year and she was impressed with them except on compacted slush (ice) but then laws of physics does come into it, it's nearly a two ton vehicle and anything that size on ice will slide.

There has been a lot of debate over on the disco3 site about the wintrac some say very good some say mid range but in the end it's your choice, budget availability etc.

Heard good reviews on the Avon ranger and the Goodyear ultra grip it's all about the sips to get traction and grip, I am about to change my Pirelli ATRs for some GG ATs before the winter sets in on my D3. Pop over to the disco3 forum and have a read should keep you entertained for the night

Hope it helps

Brilliant feedback thanks guys

I have 4 Vredestien Wintrac Extreme 4's & have to say my experience with an Auto in the snow and ice last yeah was fab !
The previous year i did have a big slide on the factory fitted Wranglers in the snow.
So on the Wintracs the difference was like chalk and cheese and we did almost the length of the M4 in the snow when we were the only vehicle on it and it was deep ! did over 400 miles in deep snow and ice without a single slide or even the ABS coming on. I had total confidence and it was brill. even towed a BMW X5 up a very steep hill that was just compact ice ! X5 wasnt going anywhere on its stupid huge fat tyres
The difference with Winter tyres is as much again as going from 2WD to 4WD

My vote goes to Vredenstien Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !

That's pretty much what I was wanting to hear about the vredesteins, thank you.

Another positive experience with the Vred extreme 4's here.
Site sponsor AJS fitted mine on a snowy day in November last year, and they performed flawlessly last winter, getting me over the south downs roads that had been shut for days because of deep snow. They got me through with ease where the snow depth was well over half way up the wheels. The water dispersal in the rain is very impressive too.

One negative point to be aware of - You can get to work when everyone else gets the day off to go sledging with the kids, but this is balanced with a certain smug satisfaction I suppose. _________________
Gone - 2010 Rimini XS

I use Nokian WR G2 SUV which are M&S and Mountain Snowflake marked.

The reason for this is explained by Nokian themselves on their FAQ that the tyre is a true winter tyre which can be used all year round, see below.

I do use these all year round and they are fine. In winter conditions you have to drive quite outrageously in order to get them to unstick. The only time one can detect that they are inferior to full on dedicated winter tyres which cannot be used all year round is on smooth polished ice when, whilst they still have far better grip than all terrains a back to back drive against another shows they have marginally less grip.

But what does grip on smooth polished ice other than spikes.

This slight downside to my mind is more than offset by their good performance on good clear roads in both wet and dry.

About 17k miles into the current set and still 7-8mm of tread depth.

Quote:

Extract from Nokian FAQ,
What does "All Weather" tire really mean?
Nokian invented the All Weather tire category with the introduction of the WR/WRG2. Designed as a winter tire first, this tire can be used year-round and still provides class leading winter grip. Further, unlike other winter tires it will not be damaged if driven during the summer months.

Are the Nokian WRG2/WRG2 SUVs Winter tires or All Season tires?
We refer to them as All Weather tires, not All Season tires. Whereas All Season tires are best suited for spring, summer, and fall and can handle some winter conditions, the WRG2 and WRG2 SUV are true winter tires that can also be used during the rest of the year. This differs from winter-specific tires that should not be driven in the warmer months due to excessive treadwear.

I have been running 17" Wintracs for the past three winters and they have performed without fault including running across the Pennines on minor roads most weeks. Mine will be going back on soon but looks like it will be their last outing (due to tread wear). They have been that good that I intend to replace them with the same tyre.

How many miles have you got out of them?

I don't keep records but would estimate they have will have done around 30k when I call it a day with them in spring. They won't be down to the legal limit but I am fussy about tyres and like a minimum of around 4mm.

I also use Nokian WR G2 SUV tires. I have more than 15.000KM with these tires, last winter and summer, and I still have more than half of the tread. Excellent tires in my opinion, with excellent grip on wet, slush, ice and snow and with a decent price. In my gallery I have a picture with these tires fitted on 16'' steel wheels.

Last edited by atlas on 19th Oct 2013 1:44 pm. Edited 1 time in total

I had a set of Vredstiens on my FL2 auto for the last two winter seasons and even used them over a full year in between.

I cannot fault them even with low tread, just over 3mm, last they had go to for last winter which was the worst winter I have know on the Pennnines for over 38years. I live up a 1 in 3 hill and only had to walk a couple of times when the drifts were over six feet high.

Of course and vehicle/tyre combination has its limits and although it is fun to 'try them in near impossible conditions' I have to be sensible as the FL2 is my only vehicle and I use it for my work.

I must have got over 25k miles out of my last set of winter tyres but I to am fussy about tread depth so they came off at around 3mm.

New set yet to be ordered.