matt-c

I'm trying to resist doing anything to the car, and the LED lights (interior, exterior) and fog to brake lights type of thing don't really hold any appeal for me personally, one thing I have done, and think is one of the best mods you can do to the IS, is HID headlights. The IS' standard headlights are shocking - like two candles! The full beam is fantastic, and the fogs make a big difference when driving with dipped beam, but the dipped beam on it's own is abysmal. HID's on the other hand make the world of difference, and if like me you spend a fair bit of time driving through country lanes with no street lighting, they are one of the most worthwhile mods you can do. And for the price kits cost now (mine were under £20, although I did spend another tenner on different temp bulbs as mine were too blue, and looked a bit chavvy IMO) it's cheaper than getting standard replacement bulbs! Granted, I also spent a whopping £1.95 on a pair of LED sidelight bulbs, purely because the yellow colour of the standard bulbs didn't gel nicely with the whiter HID bulbs... I only use the fogs now as when on a motorway or fast A road, when it's not dark enough for headlights, as even with the LED bulbs in the sidelights, they aren't that strong. So the fogs come in useful there.

Thank you TigerFish - it's exactly that kind of educated, informed, and experienced opinion(s) that I base my thoughts on, and the reason I chose to buy a set myself.

I did make that decision. But that's not what I'm asking. I'm asking if you would say that, if winter tyres DO provide more grip, and DO get a car out of a situation it may well get stuck in if on summer tyres, then there they would actually be of benefit, and be a good idea? (ignoring the cost and storage factor, since it's my money and my storage space, not yours)

So would you say that, if winter tyres DO provide more grip, and DO get a car out of a situation it may well get stuck in if on summer tyres, then there they would actually be of benefit, and be a good idea? (ignoring the cost and storage factor, since it's my money and my storage space, not yours)

Sounds good, glad I could help :)

Got no problems with Audi - I really like (most of) them. A good friend of mine as a B5 S4, running around 500 or so ponies. Fully reinforced box sectioned subframe in it too, and it's a proper weapon! I prefer the B7 A4's myself though (one day I might get that B7 RS4 saloon!)

(part 2) Maybe that poster has sold his car, and has one with different sized wheels, so he is buying more for that size. Or maybe he is buying them for his wifes car. Did he specify any of that? Or are you making uneducated assumptions again? (I fear it's the latter, but surely no one would be such a fool as to do that?). But yes, you are partly right; winter tyres, with their softer silica compound, will wear quicker in the warmer summer months, than summer tyres, with their harder compounds. That's why it's advised to run them only in the months where it's beneficial to, I'd imagine. Oh, wait - that's what I said above! It's also something I've said a few times before. You must have learned that from reading my posts so accurately - well done you! :) I do have to ask (again), why are you concerned about the money I spend, and what on? I mean, we know you aren't going to buy them, so your concern over how much it costs to store them must be about me, and not you, right? Well, to put your mind at rest, it costs me nothing to store them, and it takes what, 15 or 20 mins to jack a car up, remove 4 wheels, fit 4 different ones, and lower it down? I don't know how busy you are, but I can afford that time one Sunday afternoon twice a year. Now lastly, can I just ask you about this; Because since you said that, you've made 4 more posts - all on this subject. I find that very confusing. Please explain it to me.

Correct. Never at any point have I said I have used them. In fact, at several points I've said I haven't. So did you just fabricate the part where you said I used them for a season, and my claim that without winter tyres I would have been stuck? Clearly, you did. I mentioned several times, including in answer to the statement you made about not believing the bunch (which is something you then went against and constantly quote) that I'm basing my thoughts on winter tyres on the testaments I've got from other drivers - those that have actually used winter tyres (you know, the people that have first hand experience with them, and because of that can make educated and informed opinions on their validity. Something you can't do) Oh, so you're quoting the bumph (the bumph you earlier told us not to believe, or pin testament to?). And you haven't actually used them yourself? So you don't have any first hand experience of them, so you can't make an informed opinion on their validity? As I've said before, strikes me as strange to be able to say with such certainty, as you are, that they don't work, don't do anything/add anything, when you've never had the experience of driving a car with them fitted. Would you please tell me how you can come to such a concrete conclusion, based on your levels of expertise, when you've never ever tried them yourself? I mean, I can't tell you that parachute jumping is good or bad, because I've never done it. I've seen pictures, read about it on experience websites, watched videos, and it looks really good. But I can't tell you it is, or isn't, because I haven't done it. Personally, I'm not into the whole tyre stretching thing, so I wouldn't be putting a 155 on a 7J rim. If you want to, be my guest. I can get into a pair of 28" waist jeans, but it's not comfortable, so I'd rather wear a size that fits better. Or don't you agree with that either? This year, roughly 44,000 so far. I do about 800 miles a week, give or take. Primarily, because 205/50 17 are more readily available. There are more listings for tyres in that size than in 215/45 17. And yes, they are narrower (by 10mm, well done for pointing that out, thank you), so as you say that will help too. As for the side walls, I'm not an expert, but I can't see the slightly difference in height (5.8mm by my calculations) having any adverse effect. Actually no, as I've pointed out several times, my opinion on winter tyres has been formed from speaking to, and listening to the testament of, drivers that have actually used them. Please, if you are going to try and quote me, at least get it right. I'm really interested to know what you are basing your opinion of "you don't need them" on - since you haven't actually used them? And please, I welcome you to my house, park up in my drive, and wait for the snow. If we get the same as we have done the past 4 or 5 years, I would be very interested in seeing how/if you manage to get out onto the main road. (I do find it amusing of you to present yourself as so foolish, to think you know anything about where I live - because, well simply, you don't. But then, coming from a man that can so vehemently say that he knows something doesn't work, without actually trying it himself, it doesn't surprise me) Actually no, my last post was 7:21 - your subsequent post was 7 mins after mine at 7:28 (and your last post was a full 17 mins after mine, at 7:38. I'm sure I've said before, if you're going to quote me, please get it right. Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe one day you can afford to have a place with enough space to store that amount of wheels and tyres. Maybe I won't have this car next year? Or maybe I might have changed wheels to 18's - those 17" tyres won't fit on 18's will they (or are you going to find me a cruise/craze/chav picture that disproves that?) If I do still have this car by next winter, which I fully intend to, then I will be keeping them In if I do, then they've worked out even cheaper! Because every year I keep and use them, you can divide the initial cost by (ie, £200 divided by one is £200, but divide it by 4, if I use them for 4 years, they work out to cost me only £50 a year! Bargain! Can't beat a bit of value for money eh! Not to mention that every time I use these tyres, I'm reducing the wear on the summer tyres I currently have fitted, so multiply that over 4 years, there's a saving in replacing those too, as they'll last longer. Double bonus!) As for who might buy them, might it not be someone that's looking to pick up a set earlier in the year, when the prices are likely to be lower, than at the tail end of the year when the prices will no doubt be higher (or don't you understand supply and demand either? I mean, christmas decorations are very cheap in January aren't they, but much more expensive in Oct/Nov/Dec. When would be the best time to buy those, do you think?)

You only just got that? Yes, that's quite obvious - the AA don't outfit several thousand vans with winter tyres. The outlay, fitting costs (twice a year per van) and storage costs would be more that the amount they lose by not being able to get to certain customers (plus they make up a lot of that with the huge increase in dead batteries at that time of year) Snow chains are provided, however are pretty pointless, in as far you can't drive on ploughed roads (and since motorway and major A roads make up probably 75% of my work driving, that's a high majority), and that in order to get snow chains on, you need to drive the vehicle onto them. Which wasn't possible last year when I got stuck in the foot of snow we had where I live, and needed a Defender to tow it out (along with 6 other people where I live, that all got stuck on the hill outside my house) So if winter tyres help me out (on my car) even once, and contribute to a better level of grip, even slightly, then I can't see the downside. Especially since I should be able to sell them for close to what I paid, provided I don't wear them much

Snow chains. Got provided free from work. Also, please highlight/quote the post where I've said I've used winter tyres for a season and claimed without them I would have got stuck. Thank you.

They look like they could be Speedline's, but they're probably a Japanese brand similar in design. Either way, I really like the white against the blue! Get a "Sports" grille on there to finish it off, and she's a real looker pal!

^ Point proven

One simple example is you thinking you have a supercharger

LOL @ "fights" on the internet! You do make me chuckle, thank you! :) As for "picking fights" with three people - yes I can see a pattern. All three display a severe level of foolishness. And I've never even hinted at being a guru on everything. Not in the slightest (or actually on anything - I wouldn't hold myself in such pretentious high esteem). If that's what you take from reading my posts, then more fool you. Again.

Good to know, specially since I've got a Halfords trade card ;)

Looks like I won that bet then...

The fact you spent a week "researching" just proves you want an argument for the sake of it, so in summary; You have never used winter tyres = you are not qualified. Regardless of years as an mot tester. I've eaten food my whole life, but I've never eaten cauliflower. So I'm not qualified to say cauliflower is rubbish. The rest of your post is all pointless drivel. Make friends with Noby76 - you two would get on like a house on fire - trading bumph stats day in day out. To address some other pointless points; - It is November and still mild. Hence why mine aren't on my car yet - Why are you still concerned with how much money I spend and what I spend it on? - If you don't want to spend your money on them that's fine. No one is telling you to. Lets see if you stick to your own claim of that being your last post on the subject. I'd bet you can't...

Nice effort. But IMO, not my cup of tea

I'd say you're living up to your screen name, but I'd just be repeating myself (and clearly to no avail)

Thank you, I didn't know that. How enlightening... (that was sarcasm btw, just in case it slipped by you)

Oh dear, you really do live up to your screen name don't you...

Noby does, atleast his signature says he has a TTE installed. He has an IS300 with a TTE bodykit on it, not a TTE supercharger (and correct me if I'm wrong someone please, the TTE developed supercharger kit only fits the 1G-FE in the IS200, and not the 2JZ-GE in the IS300)

I've noticed something very similar with my IS200. It seems perfectly happy to be in a high gear at low revs, and one thing I have to give it is you can be right down to 1000rpm in say 4th at a silly low speed, but it just pulls and pulls, with no complaints, no fuss, and no bogging. Actually very similar to my diesel Transit

Hey, I'm sorry if I annoyed anyone - I just don't humour fools is all. (BTW, krisby1 - who has a Supercharger on their car?)

If you already have an aftermarket system in there, you're far better off going for an aftermarket pair of 6x9's. The standard one's are nice, but they need more power. Also mine buzz a little bit. I was going to rip them out and put an aftermarket set in, until I asked and found out they are a PITA to wire in due to the two different speakers with two different connections and two different Ω ratings