Colin Lambert said:
I am intrigued as to why you put Cross Climates on steel wheels for the winter.
If you are worried about the winter, why did you not simply put Cross Climates on the Triglavs?
The hint is in Michelin's name
CROSS CLIMATE.
Road test have proved that they perform brilliantly winter or summer. That is what they were designed for.
Quite a few good reasons really, and you are missing the point of a 2nd set of steels for winter:
They don't do them in the right size for the 19" Triglavs anyway, or didn't the last time I checked.
The nearest size they do are about twice the price per tyre than the recommended 17" version for steelies. You also have the option of fitting chains if you fancy heading off up the Alps. Can't do that on any other size that 17".
If I spend 4-5 months of the year on tyres that cost half the price I am saving quite a bit of money on replacing expensive tyres.
I handed back my Octavia 3 with over 50k on the clock and it was still on the original 18" summer tyres with 3mm of tread left. The 16" winters had about 5mm on - so I had spent £350 on tyres and £240 on steel wheels to cover 50k miles. I then sold the used winters and steels for £200, so I only spent £390 on tyres for 50k miles. An OEM low profile tyre was about £160 and I would have needed at least 4, if not 6, so I saved £250 minimum on tyres, plus was safer in the winter and had diamond cut anthracite alloys that still looked near perfect when I handed it back.
In wet slushy or snowy conditions a narrower profile tyre is better in terms of reduced aquaplaning and increased grip on slush and snow.
If I do lose it on a slippy bit and hit a kerb it is only a cheap steelie that gets a ding, not a £300 alloy and £180-£200 tyre.
The Cross Climates are not as good as a summer tyre in hot dry conditions, and time will yet tell, but I expect them to wear faster in the summer than summer tyres. They haven't been around long enough for evidence either way on this, regardless of reviews in magazines.
Taking tyres on and off alloys twice a year is a good way to get dings and marks on the alloys no matter how good your tyre fitter is.
You are right though, I would go with Cross Climates as OEM and run them all year round if I could (especially up north in t'hills where it rains more than average) as it would save a lot of hassle - but what do I do with the 4 Hankooks that come from the factory? And they are best part of £200 a tyre in 19's so is still pricey. If only you could choose your tyres from the factory .........
You also have the added bonus of looking like an umarked police car on the motorway (especially if you have a white Skoda) and everyone gets out of your way, or you can earn some extra spends at the weekend as a taxi. Bonus.