4200 winter tyres - V or W rated (plus which brand)?

[bigbob]

Well I am buying some this year. The 4200 comes with Y rated summer rubber but what about winter? Vredesteins are W rated but you cannot get them at the moment, Kwik Fit do Continental TS810 Sports but they are a V speed index and the fronts are MO (Mercedes Only) which worries me a bit.

The OEM Pirelli and Michelin struggle to come up with solutions on their websites and are V rated in any case. That brings me onto the Hankiik Icebear W300 which is V rated but is available at a few places and is well priced. Any thoughts?

PS I don't intend to go that fast so surely a V rating will be fine?

 

[Parisien]

...am sure can remember something about correct speed rating being as per handbook....even though none of us drive at 178mph...still have to have tyres rated to that speed.......

P

 

[lozcb]

Not up on winter tyres bigbob, v rating should be adequate tho , one shouldn't be going that fast in the wet or snow anyway , Vredstein are winter tyre specialists surprised there's non available



regards loz

 

[bigbob]

Ta. Strangely the handbook does not specify speed ratings for tyres and the OEM winter tyres - in so far as I can tell given that the models have changed - seem to be V rated.

 

[bigbob]

Looked in a bit more detail and Michelin (Pilot Alpin3, OEM PA1 or PA2?) make the fronts as a V or a W but do not make the rears at all and Pirelli (Winter 240 Snowsport whereas OEM was the 210) can supply both ends but on a V. Surely then a V rating for winter tyres is the recommended choice by Maserati?

 

[nfm]

Bob

Send a pm to Chippie Pilot (Andrew), he runs his on winter tyres and may be able to help

 

[chippiepilot]

bob, I run Vredesteins and I have found them to be very good not sure on the rating - don't think the 3200 manual lists a rating just a size for the winter tyres. I had to replace one of the fronts (not the fault of the tyre) and couldn't get anywhere who had stock - phoned up Vredestein direct who advised me when they would be due and earmarked one for me so McConnechys (who are an approved supplier & fitter or them) liaised with Vredestien from then on.
Not sure about the other choices - I remember when I was researching I found that there were very few available in the sizes that I needed Khumo/Vredestein/Pirelli from what I recall.
in addition there are snow chains available from Pewag which will be this years purchase, they even feature a 4200 in the instruction video!!
http://www.brindleychains.co.uk/products.asp?catid=77

[video=youtube;IfA0xUfH9uw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfA0xUfH9uw[/video]

 

[bigbob]

Thanks for the reply. Apparently Vrededsteins are not due in the country until Christmas. This explains why McConnechys have not replied to my email asking for a price.

The 4200 handbook does not list a speed rating either. The Vredesteins are W rated but there are a few V rated options so I will report back on what I buy. V is rated to 149 mph!

 

[lozcb]

Bigbob my hat goes off to you , if you can do 149mph in the wet or the snow


For what its worth , im also still waiting for a pair of 19" Vredsteins for the Gransport , none in the Country either, ive been told February once winter production has ceased , superb tyre tho i dont know whether i can hang on that long


regards loz

 

[bigbob]

149!

Shame about Vredestein as their winter tyre reads well but if they cannot supply why are they in the UK?

I am waiting on a set of Continental TS810 Sports. If the fronts are not 'Mercedes only' (some websites say they are, some that there is a choice of MO or normal) then I will have them. Otherwise its the Hankook Ice Bears.

I'm also getting cruise control fitted to my car as it will make it easy holding 50, 60, 70 mph etc in winter driving. Won't use it if there is ice or snow around though.

 

[dem maser]

what country are vredesteins from?? is it holland??

 

[bigbob]

Yes they are.

 

[dem maser]

very underestimated brand

 

[dem maser]

i have pirellis on mine and now just bought good year

 

[cowsurgeon]

Hi all,
I've spent the last 36hrs ringing around tyre places in the UK and you can't get the Vredestein's for love nor money at the moment - apparently they've made their quotas, and the last of their stock is being held in Europe as the demand for them there is greater, due to it being the law to have them on in winter in some places. This is what is was told you understand - it may all be b*ll*cks!
I was quoted £1187.60 for some continental winter tyres, to which I said a polite no, and have plumped for the Hankook ice bears - the rears from Camskill, and the fronts are coming from the continent to my local tyre guy, as no one else I could find online has any left (these are for the 3200 by the way, not sure if they're different specs for the 4200). In spite of a couple of choice reviews from a BMW site online, I still though i'd go with the Hankooks, as the chap from Camskill recommended them and said he'd had some good reports.
Will let you know how they fare...

 

[Parisien]

Its bizarre in a time of falling demand and low customer take up for lots of things, that they cant make more tyres when asked too!

I know there lots of economic issues and maybe politcs involved but I find it utterly incomprehensible!

We need to get a vredstein rep on here to explain.........!!!!!!!!!


P

 

[MAF260]

I had a similar conversation with the marketing director of Continental tyres a couple of weeks ago. Stocks of their winter tyres in the UK are extremely short and they are also running out in Europe due to heavy demand.

 

[lozcb]

I had a similar conversation with the marketing director of Continental tyres a couple of weeks ago. Stocks of their winter tyres in the UK are extremely short and they are also running out in Europe due to heavy demand.

Yeah went down this route 6 weeks ago after my blow out Vreddies were a no go then especially 19" for the GS , altho 3200/4200 were available then but in short supply so im not surprised, im a pretty loyal kind of guy when i find something i like , but not getting hold of something basic like tyres is getting me close to swapping allegiance , for two pins ive got a guy that has 4 brand spanking pirelli's p zero that i can have for £450 the 4 bargain i know but the fronts are fine at 240/35/19 but the rears are 295/30/19 and im still waiting for confirmation that they will stay on the rims 30mm fatter


regards loz

 

[dem maser]

have you all got vredesteins on??

 

[ENZ525]

have you all got vredesteins on??

P Zero Rosso on mine Dem...