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All Winter Tyres Stuff

Snow Tyres

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Snow Tyres

Snow Tyres

A reader wonders if snow tires will help a Toyota Camry reach the top of a very steep hill.

Snow Tyres

In my opinion, the answer to this is a resounding YES. Hence, this type of pick-up truck do not grip the road very well at the best of times. As a result of owning  a Nissan Navarre, I lost the thing on a few occasions. Even in the summer on a wet road.

I fitted a set of winter tyres (snow tyres), and the truck was a different animal in summer and winter.

For this reason, snow tyres are not just for SUV vehicles?
Therefore, in my opinion, snow tyres and winter tyres are the same thing.

Because, in the past, we always associated snow tyres with being very heavy-tread tyres. Thus, they look more like today’s 4×4 tyres used for mud and slush. Especially on farms and in fields.

The new breed of winter tyres are far from this and have to combine good grip in bad weather along with the ability to drive down motorways.

In fact, I believe that these tyres were first developed in Germany for the drivers who could speed down the motorway‘s and then have to climb up mountains to get to the ski resorts in ice and snow. Usually in their BMW or Mercedes.

Snow Tyres
Snow Tyres


The old-fashioned snow tyre would be too noisy for this because of the lumpy, heavy tread pattern.

The car would also have been difficult to control with these heavy tyres fitted. Anybody with an old-fashioned 4×4 vehicle that is equipped with heavy-duty M&S tyres will tell you how bad the vehicle is to handle and the noise that these types of tyres make.

This is certainly no good for the modern car that needs to be driven at speed and still retain the safety aspects that a modern winter tyre will give them.
The ideal time to fit your car with winter tyres is from October to Easter, although the year before last gave us an exceptionally cold spell with heavy snowfall at the end of March.

In general, though, this is the best time period to fit your winter tyres (snow tyres), when the temperature begins to drop below 7 degrees.

snow tyres
Firestone winter tyres are now regarded as the old-fashioned type snow tyres used in the late 1960.
Although I am writing this article in early November

There are signs that we may be running out of certain-sized snow tyres, This is because winter tyre production is based on last year’s sales figures, and once a certain-sized tyre has sold out, that is it until next year.

Most tyres for winter use are pre-ordered by the countries that have to fit winter tyres by their countries laws, and that leaves the rest for the remainder of Europe to scrape over , including us here in the UK.


Bridgestone Tyres has set out a list of 16 good reasons to fit winter tyres and I thought it would make good reading for our customers and readers.

Snow Tyres
Snow Tyres
Snow Tyres

“1. Winter tyres perform better in winter conditions like frost, snow or ice-covered roads
2. Winter tyres have shorter braking distances, better grip and improved steering performance on snow- and ice-covered roads.
3. Winter tyres offer greater safety when travelling in winter conditions.
4. Summer tyres are simply not suitable for driving on snow or ice
5. In certain countries, driving on appropriate tyres in winter conditions is required by law and can be sanctioned if not followed.

6. These fines can be much higher if you disrupt traffic because your car has the wrong tyres.
7. Winter tyres are made using a special compound and tread pattern to make them more suited to cold weather.
8. Not even the most advanced car technology can compensate for tyres which are not suitable for the road conditions.
9. Modern winter tyres are just as comfortable and can be as quiet as summer tyres.
10. Winter tyres provide significantly higher levels of safety, even in highly changeable autumn weather.

11.At low temperatures, even when there is no snow, summer tyres become less efficient
12. Even 4×4 vehicles need winter tyres in snowy and icy conditions.
13. All-year tyres typically do not perform as well in winter conditions as winter tyres but are still more effective than summer tyres.
14. Statistically, in central Europe, if you add up all of the days where it was wet, icy, frosty or snowing, you have 185 days of winter weather each year.
15. Modern winter tyres cost more or less the same as summer tyres.
16. Fitting winter tyres saves you money because you aren’t using your summer tyres and are extending their lifespan”.
Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles.

Eric Roberts

zzz eric roberts
All Neutral Tyres Stuff

Vredestein Tyres made me sick

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Vredestein Tyres made me sick

Vredestein Tyres made me sick
Vredestein Tyres made me sick

Vredestein Tyres made me sick

Driving too fast-Vredestein Tyres made me sick?

I really mean physically sick; let me explain. It was back in 2006; Vredestein Tyres was going to launch a brand new product. The new tyre would fit the new popularity of SUV vehicles that were hitting the car market.
The 4X4 and SUV market was starting to become more popular amongst Europeans in most countries and was a growing favourite amongst women drivers. The extra height in the

vredestein tyres
Vredestein tyres are on test in the Austrian mountains

vehicles gave the drivers a better driving position, especially for the usually smaller female drivers, which, in my opinion, was one of the popular points of these cars.
The test vehicles came from the more up-market brands. Of course, such as BMW and Mercedes. Quickly, followed by a new Porsche SUV and a completely new type of Land Rover Discovery. Hence, with a much more streamlined and sexy shape, they were becoming popular with business-owner types of customers.

Vredestein Tyres could see the market gap

Vredestein Tyres was already established as a leader in the winter tyre market and could see that this growing class of vehicles was going to need winter tyres, especially in the countries that have to fit them by law, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. These cars were primarily made from original equipment shod with summer tyres.


The summer tyres were developed by the tyre manufacturers to provide these top-class cars with comfort and strength when cornering. Because of the large sizes of tyres that these vehicles were coming out in, some are now even larger with 23-inch wheels fitted. If the makeup and compound of the tyres were not right, then these tyres would be a very hard ride and uncomfortable on most vehicles, so the correct makeup of the tyres was very important.

Vredestein Tyres announces a new type of tyre

Vredestein Tyres had seen this problem arising and had developed a new type of tyre specifically for the SUV and 4X4 winter tyre market; the tyre would be the “Wintrac 4 Xtreme.”. The tyre was to be available in 16 different sizes and included some of the more exotic tyre sizes that fitted the more up-market models, including the new Porsche Cayenne.

vredestein tyres
Vredestein Wintrac 4 Xtreme tyres on test

Vredestein tyres was in those days a mid-range tyre manufacturer, but they always produced quality tyre products, and they were very excited about their new tyre.

The plan was to have a European-wide tyre dealer launch, and this was to be presented at a lakeside resort in Austria with extensive tyre testing in the mountains of Austria.

The whole adventure was kept secret to the last few days, and all the European tyre dealers were given different dates to attend the new tyre launched.

Countries were kept apart, and we would be in the United Kingdom to travel from Manchester to Saltsburg airport in Austria.
The whole thing had been kept a secret, partly because we knew it must have been something about tyres, and I must admit that we were a bit excited about what was coming.

Then, coaches took us to a nearby lakeside resort. Of course, they were known as the Schloss Fuschl Resort & Spa, Fuschlsee-Salzburg, and were told to meet at seven in the evening for drinks and a presentation.
Vredestein had certainly gone to town with all the preparations, and I was most impressed with the whole experience.

After checking into our room

We refreshed ourselves and were told to meet at a certain bar for pre-presentation drinks.

I guess there were probably a hundred dealers there from all over the UK and Ireland, and after drinks, we were funnelled into a conference hall to be seated for the presentation of what was to be the “Wintrac 4 Xtreme,” especially designed for the new generation of SUV and 4X4 vehicles.


Following an evening meal and a male soul singer from Holland, the presentation was in keeping with the rest of the excellent hospitality.

We were briefed that the following day we would all be taken in groups of four in different brand new vehicles that were kitted out with the new Wintrac tyres. This was to prove to us, the dealers, how good the product was.
The following day, we packed our bags and assembled outside the Hotel frontage, where we were given the number of the vehicle that we would be driving in. Professional drivers with experience driving in snow and mountains were operating all of the vehicles, which bore Vredestein logos.

My car was to be a brand new Land rover Discovery

the first one I had ever seen. We waited until all the cars were filled with tyre dealers, and the cars all set off in a convoy.
I must admit to feeling slightly nervous, not knowing what to expect. The vehicles split up into small groups, and we were climbing higher and higher until we reached the snow line.

We continued to go higher and higher, but now we were driving at speed on very narrow single roads with deep drops at one side.

I was now out of my comfort zone, as I am a poor passenger at the best of times . We eventually reached the summit, which I was told was a glazier.


After doing several wheelies on the glazier, I started to feel uncomfortable

But I was assured by the drive that we were perfectly safe, and he had been using these tyres for practice over the past 6 months. We then started to descend down the mountains, but we never lost the car once. I was most impressed with the tyres performance.

After reaching the forest line going down the mountain, the driver decided to demonstrate how good the tyres were on a mountain gravel track and started hurtling the Landover downhill at great speed before slamming on the brakes.

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

I could feel my stomach hurtling up to my mouth and threw up all over the brand new Land Rover, just missing my fellow passengers.
I did feel a little better after that, and the journey became more tranquil as we wound down the small roads of the foothills back towards our waiting coaches and then onto the airport for our return flight home.

It was, on the whole, a really well-planned new product launch by Vredestein tyres and it proved to be successful for Vredestein and future sales, but the one thing I learned is that I will never be a rally car driver?

Q&A Session on Vredestein Wintrac 4 Xtreme Tyres


Q: So, what is the story behind Vredestein Wintrac 4 Xtreme tyres?

A: All right, let’s plunge in! The Wintrac 4 Xtreme tyres are like the tyre equivalent of Sherlock Holmes: they’re smart, dependable, and ideal for the unpredictable British weather. They are specifically intended for winter circumstances, although they are also suitable for all-year use.

Q: Winter tyres, you say? Are they just for snowy days?

A: Not only for the snow! While they excel on icy roads, they also perform admirably in wet and dry conditions. Ideal for icy mornings in Halifax or a wet trip through the Lake District.

Q: How do these tyres differ from ordinary winter tyres?

A: It is all about design and technology. The Wintrac 4 Xtreme tyres have a distinctive tread pattern and a silica-based substance. This combination delivers great grip and handling, especially in the coldest weather. It’s like having the grip of a Yorkshire terrier on a lead—powerful and steady!

Q: Do they suit any cars?

A: Vredestein has done an excellent job catering to a wide variety of automobiles. Whether you have a little hatchback or a large SUV, a Wintrac 4 Xtreme tyre would most likely fit.

Q: How do they function in heavy rain and puddles?

A: Imagine driving through Manchester on a wet day; these tyres handle it well. They are meant to quickly disperse water, lowering the risk of aquaplaning. So you can drive with confidence even when the skies open up.

Q: Are these tyres suitable for environmentally conscious drivers?

A: They certainly are. The Wintrac 4 Xtreme tyres are designed to be fuel-efficient, so you’ll not only save money at the pump but also help the environment. It’s a win-win!

Q: What’s the lifespan of these tyres?

A: These tyres are long-lasting, much like a good cup of Yorkshire tea. They’re designed to last, so you won’t need to replace them every winter. It’s a good investment for your automobile.

Q: Finally, why should I choose these tyres for my next winter purchase?

A: If you want a durable, adaptable, and safe tyre for the British winter (and beyond), the Wintrac 4 Xtreme is an excellent choice. It’s like enveloping your automobile in a warm, protective coat, ready for whatever the elements hurl at it!

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