Member Since: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Oxon
Posts: 708
18" road tyre recommendations - English summer and wint
I've searched and read and searched again, and I still can't make up my mind...
What I want is a set of Grabber AT2s, ultimately because they look the part without being too silly for a lot of road use
What I need is tyres suitable for 20k a year, mostly on motorways and dual carriageways, that'll still cope with the vagaries of the English weather and Oxfordshire B roads.
Let's be honest, I'm not exactly taxing the off road ability of the D3: a typical weekday is a 105 mile round trip, of which 100 is A34/M4, while weekends see regular 30 mile trips over Oxfordshire's B roads. The Scorpions still have 3-4mm across the width at over 25k, and have generally been superb come rain or shine (mostly rain!) The only time I have been less than happy was in the winter, when I felt they were a bit lacking on icy roads, and in my heart of hearts, I doubt the AT2s would be much better here, and would likely be worse in the wet on the fast B roads.
I'm starting to think that heading for KwikFit now, while the 25% off Pirellis offer is still running, is probably the most sensible plan for my summer needs. This would probably do me for winter too, but a second set of wheels with something like the Wintracs that get so highly rated here is also an option (depends on winter holiday plans I guess!).
Thoughts, anyone?
Cheers
Martin
22nd Aug 2009 8:44 am
748scratcher
Member Since: 19 May 2008
Location: Brough
Posts: 214
Afternoon Martin,
I'm running Pirelli ATR's, done around 9k on them, still got about 8mm of tread left, good grip and feel on the tarmac, quiet on motorways, no difference on fuel consuption, performed well when i went to Tong, lot better than the Scorpion Zero's they replaced, as kwick fit are offering 25% off they will be around the same price as the Wintracs
22nd Aug 2009 4:47 pm
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
Take a look at the Grabber UHP as well, very good tyre and much cheaper than pirellis even allowing for the 25% discount I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
22nd Aug 2009 10:37 pm
Lady Muck
Member Since: 19 Feb 2009
Location: La La Land
Posts: 389
748scratcher wrote:
kwick fit are offering 25% off they will be around the same price as the Wintracs
From the prices I've seen even with 25% off, ATRs still ALOT more than Wintracs!
Would have to be 50% off to compare
25th Aug 2009 12:11 pm
bigdave Site Sponsor
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 9870
Hi MartinR,
Yep I was in exactly the same boat 20-25k per year mainly motorway.
However I wanted AT'2 to look good and to pull the tintent out of a muddy field or two.
Went for the grabbers and despite a vvv small ammount of low speed road noise they still return 31mpg on a run to dorset yesterday, and they should last around 40k.
vvv happy with them;
And they look the dogs! All things shipping, storage, transport. UK and worldwide.
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: Oldham
Posts: 1112
i have been running wintrac's summer and winter and currently have 24k on them with i would say around another 8-12k left grip is very good in the dry and superb in the wet and snow Tintenter
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25th Aug 2009 1:21 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15264
There is always the Cooper Zeon LTZ available in 18" & 20"
This is designed as a Sport/AT tyre.
I run the 20's and find no noticable extra road noise over my Grabber UHP's.
They also perform very well off road.
One tyre for all eventualities.
Plenty in here
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic32452.html
pic of Rich's 18's
Click image to enlarge
...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
25th Aug 2009 1:22 pm
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Michelin Latitude Tour's are as dull as they come, good for 40K, look a bit weedy, but are great motorway cruisers. Mine got bit harsh towards the end of their life. They met a premature death at about 43K with a puncture. Weren't great in the snow. Sidewall got scuffed easily. D3 electronic black magic took care of most stuff in muddy fields.
Swapped to AT2s, nearly half the price. Look the business. Way more able around the muddy fields near us. Tiny drop in MPG, but it won't be more than the difference in price over their life. A friend has had over 40K out of them on his Navara (whatever that is).
Very pleased. Wouldn't go back. Tiny bit of road noise, but it's more reassuring than anything else.
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25th Aug 2009 1:29 pm
Lady Muck
Member Since: 19 Feb 2009
Location: La La Land
Posts: 389
Four wintracs 255/55R 19 for £450.
25th Aug 2009 1:39 pm
MartinR
Member Since: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Oxon
Posts: 708
Thanks for all the advice. Just back from another 600 mile week and the Scorpions really have to go soon (probably not helped by the prat in the wrong lane on a roundabout today - that certainly gave the ABS etc something to think about!) Still torn though:
Wintracs
+ grip in wet and ice
- lesser off road perf (than AT2)
? summer use (should we ever get one!)
Answer might be AT2s for now and see what they're like in the wet...
Cheers
Martin
31st Aug 2009 3:59 pm
Womble
Member Since: 07 Jul 2007
Location: Derby
Posts: 32
It may be irrelevant, but for what it's worth I've just replaced the Pirelli's with Kumho KL51 All in set of four came in under £400
They do have a road bias but from what i can read thay get some really good reviews, maybe this would be tha way to go with a cheap set of 17 in for offroad playing?
31st Aug 2009 6:32 pm
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
The General Grabber UHP's i mentioned before are only £101.30 inc VAT at camskill at the moment, make sure you buy replacements before the vat goes back up to 17.5%, theres no point paying the taxman unneccessarily I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
31st Aug 2009 6:44 pm
Lady Muck
Member Since: 19 Feb 2009
Location: La La Land
Posts: 389
I chose the Wintracs, but if they did AT2s in a 19" size I would have got them.
I had some on my Defender and they were probably the best all round tyre you could want.
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