I might call my insurer (Esure) and find out if anything changes with winter tyres or different rims before I decide on anything. Maybe some insurers aren't so understanding.

Here you go Phil, just follow this link and open the PDF link on the page: https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Products/Motor-insurance/Winter-tyres

Meanwhile, another interesting video:

I might call my insurer (Esure) and find out if anything changes with winter tyres or different rims before I decide on anything. Maybe some insurers aren't so understanding.

Please do, I'm with Esure too! :p

Check out the link above Nathan

Check out the link above Nathan

Ah!

Esure Car

Insurance

No - unless the

customer has or is

fitting alloy wheels

Sainsbury's say no need to inform them on that ABI list. I only phoned because of fitting different size wheels and yet they weren't bothered about that and just made a note of the tyre fitment.

So for Esure, buy a set of tyres to fit the ST wheels and no need to contact them. Buy a spare set of wheels and phone them and they may or may not care!

Got my winter tyres fitted yesterday, just in time looking at tonight's weather! Hadn't considered informing the insurance till I saw the posts on here, spoke to Hastings Direct they class as modifications bigger/wider tyres or non-standard wheels. As I've fitted 205/40/17's to the existing alloys they have just made a note on my policy that winter tyres have been fitted.

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So for Esure, buy a set of tyres to fit the ST wheels and no need to contact them. Buy a spare set of wheels and phone them and they may or may not care!

I've bought a set of 15" alloys to use as 17" winter tyres for ST are non-existent/extortionate

Indeed Nathan. The TS850's (16") that I bought for the ZS last year cost 'only' £360 all in. Alloys for the ST cost £100 (manky) then £140 to get them like they have just left the shop and in graphite now too. Can't complain at all.

I phoned Aviva, who both our cars are insured with, they said thanks for letting us know, there is no increase in premium. It's always best to let them know, stops them trying to get out of a claim.

Got my winter tyres fitted yesterday, just in time looking at tonight's weather! Hadn't considered informing the insurance till I saw the posts on here, spoke to Hastings Direct they class as modifications bigger/wider tyres or non-standard wheels. As I've fitted 205/40/17's to the existing alloys they have just made a note on my policy that winter tyres have been fitted.

Which tyres did you go for and how much did you pay? I'd be interested to hear what you think of them after you've had some time with them, although we'll have to see if it snows to get an idea of how good they are really.

Which tyres did you go for and how much did you pay? I'd be interested to hear what you think of them after you've had some time with them, although we'll have to see if it snows to get an idea of how good they are really.

Got these ones:-

http://www.nexentireusa.com/tires/winter/winguard-sport

Quoted me £68+vat each, that included valves/balancing & fitting.

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Those winguard tyres have a remarkably similar tread pattern to the Avon Ranger Ice which I had fitted to my Land Rover.

Shame they don't do these in the ST size: http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/car/ice-touring-st

Avon do offer good value for money and the one's I had for the Land Rover were superb.

Got these ones:-

http://www.nexentireusa.com/tires/winter/winguard-sport

Quoted me £68+vat each, that included valves/balancing & fitting.

Where did you get them from? I found them on etyres for £74.35 each including fitting. And what are they like in the dry (and wet if you've had any rain)

Where did you get them from? I found them on etyres for £74.35 each including fitting. And what are they like in the dry (and wet if you've had any rain)

I got them from a local tyre fitters (Holbrook Tyres & Exhausts,Sheffield), not something they normally stock but could get them from their suppliers.

The jury's still out on the handling, only driven them in the dry so far and as they had put 35psi in front and rears, the back end was bouncing all over!

I've adjusted the tyres to the correct pressures now so see how it goes tomorrow morning forecast temperatures of 2deg, may even be below freezing in places on my commute through deepest darkest Derbyshire!

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Did you choose those Nexens specifically or were they recommended to you? I haven't found many reviews but those I did find seem to say they are good on snow/ice for the price, and ok in the dry but not great.

Did you choose those Nexens specifically or were they recommended to you? I haven't found many reviews but those I did find seem to say they are good on snow/ice for the price, and ok in the dry but not great.

Didn't choose these specifically, was given 3 options for 205/40/17, budgets, Nexens or Continentals which would have been £600 the Nexens were half that price.

Drove OK this morning now with correct tyre pressures, just need some snow now to see how good/bad they are....

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Ok guys, had them fitted today and going to start a new topic with pictures. It will be up shortly...

Alloys IMO. I went for the manky one's off ebay and full refurb in graphite. Grand total £240 and are now as good as new because they were never cracked, just cosmetic damage.

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/63632-the-finished-product-winter-tyres-fitted/

They are highly rated and certainly good value. Auto Express rate them but as per my post in this topic, their review and scores over the last few years is very iffy: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/63563-auto-express-winter-tyre-test-5-11th-november-issue/

Worth searching online for reviews. I went for the Continental's which may be a little dearer but I can't say as I have researched them in that size.

Yep, either the TS850s, or the Nokians. Nokians apparently better on snow, but TS850s better in wet. Both are superlative though.

So many varying reviews on Google searches but the important thing is you are in good hands with either tyre. Auto express makes no sense because one year they criticise the Nokian in the snow but next year it's the clear winner. Same with the TS850.

I found this one from Evo: http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/290698/best_winter_tyres.html

Well make sure you enjoy LA! I went in August before hitting Vegas and San Francisco (and lots of places in between, including Grand Canyon). Ours was a coach tour holiday and I can't recommend it highly enough. Best holiday ever! (Far too hot in Palm Springs though lol).

One of my fave memories was the night we got seriously drunk in a small bar in Sonora! We packed the place out and had a right laugh with the locals. Some of the guys off our bus were from New Zealand and they could certainly put it away!

We are meeting up with some of our new friends at Christmas who were on the tour with us. Some live in Birmingham and the others are from Bedford. We are meeting at the Birmingham Christmas Market and will head down on the train. :D

Just to update on my thoughts of the ST on winter tyres after a first proper drive today, I'd say unusual.

Perfectly normal up to 50mph. At motorway speeds there is more play in the steering and it feels like running on knobbly off road tyres. Slight vibration through the steering wheel.

Never had that on the ZS so perhaps the smaller wheels and setup of the ST show it up.