Hi everyone, short rant from me. Wonder if others have had similar issues this winter.

 

Bought 4 x Avon WV7 Snow (Winter Tyre) 225/40 R18 V (92), and had them fitted to my MkII 3.6 4x4 on the 19th December (around £400 fitted from blackcircles.com).

 

Bought them for semi-decent ratings on blackcircles and a few other sites plus I figured it would be good to buy local as they are 'made in UK' according to label. Only really had wet days since fitting and wasn't impressed with grip in the wet. Been telling myself that their probably more geared towards snow and ice.  

 

Well it snowed quite a bit last night and I was wrong.

 

These tyres are terrible. I have had pure summer tyres that have had better grip in snow and ice than these.

 

Have checked tyre pressures twice just in case that was contributing; tyres are sitting at 2.3 bar as they should.

 

Anyone else?

 

Edited 17 January, 20197 yr by bfg_hightower

 Heard bad reports on the Avon from Taxis that got them fitted last year so stayed away from them.

I fitted 4 Michelin Crossclimates in July £380 for the four delivered and they are better than the Uniroyal Rainsport 3s I had on in the wet. quieter too and great in the dry.

Had one flurry of snow and they were great but nothing to test them only problem is I have had 2 pothole blowouts with them and they have went up considerably in price.

Last year I had continental winter 850S fitted and they were exceptional  

@bfg_hightower

Are you still near Inverurie?

Last night i came up the A96 then the A90 in the snow.

 

 

Funnily i have been using them in torrential rain on motorways, the Freezing Rain Episode while in Glasgow, and a few times on snow and on snow on ice and they have been good.

Like last night and this mornings light covering.

Happy with them 3,000 miles on, but i did just fit them until the end of the lease when the Ditch Finders will go back on.

 

But these are 215/60 R 16's

@2.3 bar checked at around 0*oC.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/459700-avon-wv7-snow

 

 

PS

Last Year i had Continental TS830 P fitted on another set of wheels and sold them in the spring for what i had bought them for.

 

Over the decades i have had many Winter or Snow tyres on different cars or van, 

For Small Cars / Tyres i really liked Avon Ice Touring so decided to give the Avon WV7 Snow a go this winter, and i am not disappointed.

If i was i would go fit something else.

No 'flashing' TC / ASR light so i have had no need to switch TC off.

But then it is only a 150 PS TDI with DSG.

 

Edited 17 January, 20197 yr by Skoffski

41 minutes ago, Skoffski said:

@bfg_hightower

Are you still near Inverurie?

Last night i came up the A96 then the A90 in the snow.

 

Yup! But no glamour of the A90 and A96 for my commute. It's all back-roads to work for me with low to minimal gritting done - so I try to be quite conscious of the tyre I choose.

 

Re: other stuff, turning right across traffic at like 20 mph, rear slid out. Happened again on the road at a particularly sharp bend.

 

As you termed it 'flashing' TC / ASR light: I had the whole way, anytime going up hill, sharp corner or whatever even-though I never got over 40mph and was consciously driving ultra conservatively. Breaking distance noticeably increased over my last set of pure winter tyres also.

 

A person could pick a fault in how little gritting was done ahead of the snow. But I am used to the conditions by now as well as the the car and these roads in general tend to get overlooked in favour of the bigger, busier roads.

 

Like I say - I am super unimpressed with the tyres. 

 

Regards their size, maybe its an unusual size for Avon (?no idea just a guess?) for the company and they are more geared up towards smaller wheels (mass market)? Anyhow, I will stick with them this season and then probably go back to Conti's or Michelin's for next winter if I can offload the Avons.

I'd probably be less critical if they had been cheaper. But £404 fitted for them was well within premium tyre prices.

I never paid half of that, but then i get tyres cheaply, and can fit what ever i want to. 

I will remember not too recommend the WV7 Snow in a big size having heard of your experience.

Edited 17 January, 20197 yr by Skoffski

Just now, Skoffski said:

I never paid half of that, but then i get tyres cheaply, and can fit what ever i want to.

 

Well la-di-dah!  I can change all the lighbulbs in my house without a ladder. Does that count? 

 

 

No because not playing who can pee the highest. Just pointing out i chose to try the tyres from past experience of Ice Tourers and not for 'Much Cheapness'.

Just embarrassed that i was saying how good the tyres well where not having tried wider ones.

 

I have used Michelin CrossClimate and would not recommend them for Scottish winters or serious Ice / snow. 

If just for being sure to get about when roads are ploughed and gritted or salted they are fine IMO.

Edited 17 January, 20197 yr by Skoffski

Thanks skoffski - just teasing you. 

 

I have never been great at sniffing out 'a deal' like that.

 

Thanks for heads up on Michelin CrossClimates.

Picked up a nail in my new NSF winter tyre. There goes the possibility of selling the full set this summer! 

 

I now have a Continental winter tyre and three Avons on the car. Anyone have experience with running a mix of tyres? Is it likely to affect any of the mechanical components (certainly has thrown off tracking and the varying levels of grip are noticeable).

 

 

How about getting a matching conti for the other side (to sell ass a set) and then sell the single avon for use on a spare or puncture replacement?  'Shirley' its easier selling a single rather than a set of 3.  Would solve the tracking etc.

Why didn't I think of that? Good call.

3 hours ago, bfg_hightower said:

Anyone have experience with running a mix of tyres?

Yes, and you've already described what mixing brands across an axle can be like.