Replacement Wheels and Winter Tyres

[jerkmoans]

Now I have the thing reasonably clean, it's time to start planning ahead for my winter capers.

To have a chance of remaining alive, these will require a set of winter tyres.

Now, with apologies if these are moronic questions - rest assured they are ones I need answers to:

(1) is it better simply to change tyres, or keep a second set of wheels for your winters?

(2) if so, do you need the same size wheels? I've got 19" alloys at the moment. If I replace with (apparently more common) 18"s, presumably it would mess up the tachometer and speedo?! Is there a workaround, or is it better to stay with the same size??

(3) any ideas for a decent source of a second set of wheels? If I go down this route they'll be for hard long drives in the depths of winter so I'm not too fussed about aesthetics. Would rather spend the cash on the tyres!

(4) anyone recommend any particular tyres??

Thanks for looking: as ever, all advice gratefully received...

 

[Chrisbassett]

I think it's the outer circumference of the tyre that matters for the tachometer/speedo/trip computer, not the inner rim/tyre circumference. You would need quite low-profile winter tyres on a 19" rim, maybe better with standard 18" wheels? I don't know for sure, just a guess. I'm sure someone will know more.

 

[mjheathcote]

The 18" and 19" wheels have the same rolling (near enough) circumference for the 19" wheels have a lower profile tyre.
Much easier, and more sensible, to have winter tyres on 18" wheels.

 

[jerkmoans]

Of course! Hadn't thought about outer circumference and profile... D'oh!

Right. So I need a set of manked-up 18 inches...

 

[drewf]

As others have already said, it's the rolling radius that matters, not particularly the rim size.

I'd go with 18" winter tyres, merely because they are cheaper (usually) than 19".
We have winter tyres on spare rims for all our cars, except the QP... Why? Well, I can't imagine it being ideal to drive in the snow, when I've a couple of Cayennes, an Audi quattro and a Golf at my disposal. And most people don't fit winter tyres, so you risk having them slide into your pride and joy. Plenty of places will now store your tyres for £50 a year, so consider whether the cost of rims plus needing to have your own storage space for them all year (all year, as when you swap them, the summer tyres need their space!), is worth not just having a tyre fitter change them in Spring and Winter. For me, I'd rather have the rims available to me, as I can swap them a couple of times if necessary - the winter tyres aren't very good when the temperature starts to rise. They are very good however when it's cold, regardless of snow on the roads.

We spend most of the season out in St Gervais/Megeve, so I know exactly the road conditions you are likely to experience in Chamonix. Put it this way - I have NEVER had to put the chains on a car. On that point though, you will still need to have chains even with winter tyres (it's compulsory), and they must fit. Local police will certainly force a Maserati to fit chains if required, particularly one on UK plates, and watch you do it. You really need to check clearance on the tyres for any chains - I suspect they will have to be very low profile links.

Tyres?
I've used Vredestein, ContiWinterContact, Pirelli SnowControl, Toyo somethingorother (on my Cayenne Turbo), Nankang (yes, Nankang) SV2 on various recent cars. Verdict? Not a lot between them, but a massive improvement on summer tyres. Such a difference that I would rather drive a Maser on winter tyres, than a Range Rover on summer tyres.

Hope that helps,

D.

 

[davy83]

As others have already said, it's the rolling radius that matters, not particularly the rim size.

I'd go with 18" winter tyres, merely because they are cheaper (usually) than 19".
We have winter tyres on spare rims for all our cars, except the QP... Why? Well, I can't imagine it being ideal to drive in the snow, when I've a couple of Cayennes, an Audi quattro and a Golf at my disposal. And most people don't fit winter tyres, so you risk having them slide into your pride and joy. Plenty of places will now store your tyres for £50 a year, so consider whether the cost of rims plus needing to have your own storage space for them all year (all year, as when you swap them, the summer tyres need their space!), is worth not just having a tyre fitter change them in Spring and Winter. For me, I'd rather have the rims available to me, as I can swap them a couple of times if necessary - the winter tyres aren't very good when the temperature starts to rise. They are very good however when it's cold, regardless of snow on the roads.

We spend most of the season out in St Gervais/Megeve, so I know exactly the road conditions you are likely to experience in Chamonix. Put it this way - I have NEVER had to put the chains on a car. On that point though, you will still need to have chains even with winter tyres (it's compulsory), and they must fit. Local police will certainly force a Maserati to fit chains if required, particularly one on UK plates, and watch you do it. You really need to check clearance on the tyres for any chains - I suspect they will have to be very low profile links.

Tyres?
I've used Vredestein, ContiWinterContact, Pirelli SnowControl, Toyo somethingorother (on my Cayenne Turbo), Nankang (yes, Nankang) SV2 on various recent cars. Verdict? Not a lot between them, but a massive improvement on summer tyres. Such a difference that I would rather drive a Maser on winter tyres, than a Range Rover on summer tyres.

Hope that helps,

D.

The best winter tyres I have ever run (not on the Maser, in the garage is my answer to snow!) are Goodyear ultragrip, these are unbelievable in the snow and on ice. if you can get the size I would definitely recommend them,

 

[chippiepilot]

For me I use Vredestein Wintrac Extreme on the 3200 and these have worked well and have been a decent price, shop around but I found camskill to be best on price. I also have pewag sportmatic snow chains which are pretty quick and simple to fit and are designed for our kind of vehicles, like drew I have never had to use the chains when in Switzerland or here in our "extreme" winter of a couple of years ago
[video=youtube;fbgqBWLQtRA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbgqBWLQtRA[/video]

 

[Parisien]

They do work....worth the investment if the maser daily driver and you're certain of cold weather


P

 

[jerkmoans]

Very, very helpful stuff: thanks one and all - and the tip re les flics and the snow chains duly noted

Interesting St Gervais connection Drewf: have been out in Les Houches, bang next door, for a long weekend for the last 4 or 5 years on the trot. Back next January for more fun n games...

 

[drewf]

Excellent! Not very fond of Les Houches personally - prefer Les Contamines, St G and Megeve. Better food... ;-)

 

[jerkmoans]

Ta for the insider knowledge... I must say that Les Vielles Luges halfway back to base in Les H is about my favourite place on earth for lunch when the planets align, the sun's out, and I've had the wit to pre-book ( and shepherd the motley crew down there at about the right time).

Also found this steak place down a red run off the back of the mountain run by a charming Argentinian lady, where the slabs of meat were about the size of my own head. Happy days

 

[drewf]

Ta for the insider knowledge... I must say that Les Vielles Luges halfway back to base in Les H is about my favourite place on earth for lunch when the planets align, the sun's out, and I've had the wit to pre-book ( and shepherd the motley crew down there at about the right time).

Also found this steak place down a red run off the back of the mountain run by a charming Argentinian lady, where the slabs of meat were about the size of my own head. Happy days

Aha! Louisa's place! I *may* have been....

 

[jerkmoans]

Aha! Louisa's place! I *may* have been....

Small world! Just the place to fill up on steak, salsa verde and Malbec before a blast down the Kandahar...

 

[drewf]

When are you planning on being there? I feel a steak coming on...

 

[jerkmoans]

When are you planning on being there? I feel a steak coming on...

End of Jan: precise date tba, as its akin to herding cats with this crew of rogues & vagabonds, and I have to factor in a jaunt to Cervinia with Mrs Moans and the minor Moanses at the start of Jan... It's all go!

 

[drewf]

Let me know nearer the time - might be able to sort out some crossing of paths...

I like Cervinia, particularly on the Swiss side, where a friend of mine remarked on how efficient the Swiss were, providing tubes of sun-cream on the tables outside the mountain restaurant, and before I could stop him, promptly picked up the tube clearly marked 'Senf' before smearing it over his face. In true boys-trip form, we supplied the appropriate soothing comments and hardly laughed at all.

 

[jerkmoans]

Let me know nearer the time - might be able to sort out some crossing of paths...

I like Cervinia, particularly on the Swiss side, where a friend of mine remarked on how efficient the Swiss were, providing tubes of sun-cream on the tables outside the mountain restaurant, and before I could stop him, promptly picked up the tube clearly marked 'Senf' before smearing it over his face. In true boys-trip form, we supplied the appropriate soothing comments and hardly laughed at all.

Hahaaaa!! Nary a ribald comment, and suitable massaging of a fragile ego, I'll warrant.

Yeah: first went to Cervinia this January and liked it v much - have JUST wired over the deposit for hotel in Jan and nailed flights to Torino on sleazyjet... Just need to sort transfers and it's game on for early Jan. Will of course advise if/when we get traction on the Cham/Les H thing later that month...

Now I'd better do some work to pay for it all! Have a good 'un.

 

[TridentTested]

Local police will certainly force a Maserati to fit chains if required, particularly one on UK plates, and watch you do it.

Had this happen to me once, coincidently on the way to Les Gets. It really p'ed off the driver of the car I was in because he had just shelled out on new winter rubber on each corner but the boys-in-blue were having none of it. We had to get down on our hands and knees in six inches of fresh snow, in the dark, and skin our knuckles for them.

But it has only happened the once and I've been visiting those parts since 1979.

Winter tyres are amazing. I've taken great pleasure driving my battered old 2WD Peugeot 205 up the steep hill from Montroc to Le Tour (on winter tyres) passing stranded Touregs with all four wheels spinning.

 

[TridentTested]

Ta for the insider knowledge... I must say that Les Vielles Luges halfway back to base in Les H is about my favourite place on earth for lunch when the planets align, the sun's out, and I've had the wit to pre-book ( and shepherd the motley crew down there at about the right time).

A firm favourite of mine too. Much better than the sub-standard dross Compagnie du Mont Blanc dish up in the other stations. My (French) other half reckons they do the best Vin Chaud she's ever had.

Another good left field eatery is the Chalet Refuge du Lognan - well worth putting its number in your phone. The off-piste run though the forest to get to it is fun too, and when you're too full to ski on an easy escape onto the Pierre a Ric piste is available.

 

[TridentTested]

Excellent! Not very fond of Les Houches personally - prefer Les Contamines, St G and Megeve. Better food... ;-)

What's lovely about Contamines is the typical clientele there is the unadventurous family type. In Cham whenever there is fresh snow unless you are in the first bin up you haven't a chance of putting down fresh tracks. Even if you get the first bin you often find the pisteurs have taken all the best lines.

In Contamines you can have all the lovely fresh stuff to yourself.