Writing about the
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons given
87% (205-60-15-)
Driving on
a combination of roads for 7000
average miles
Goodyear Vector 4Season M+S
- I have just returned from a 6000KM Christmas / New Year trip from St Malo in France, across Europe, through Sweden, Finland and Norway, and back to St Malo on all conditions from +14C to -18C, dry roads, freezing slush, fresh snow, pack ice, rain, the lot.
This is our second long trip on these tires, the previous journey being last year January, over the Alps in to Austria.
We have Goodyear Vector 4Season 205/60/15 on an Octavia 4x4 and I totally recommend these tires.
Although there are tires that might offer more grip specifically in the dry, or the snow, these feel consistent on all conditions, and allowed us to travel with confidence everywhere.
On the Autobahn we travelled at 150KPH (95MPH) with no problems, and cruised generally at around 120KPH (75MPH).
We were surprised in Finland that when it snowed heavily many of the local cars fitted with ice tires struggled for grip, and coming through Helsinki a lot of locals were sliding around where we were not.
When we really pushed it on a slushy motorway ramp and forced a slide, handling remained predictable, and it was easy to maintain control.
By the time we got through Lillehammer my wife was overtaking snow plows! Driving on salted snow we could easily maintain 110KPH (65MPH)
Fuel consumption was only slightly affected, Dropping from 5.6L/100KM (51MPG) to 5.7L/100KM (49MPG).
In summer the handling is slightly softer than normal summer tires, but again predictable and easy to control. I do put the summer wheels back on the car in April/May, but only because we have those wheels anyway.
On cold wet British winter roads the Vectors far outperform our summer tires, so I make sure I change back once the temperature is in to single figures, but like I say, I would be happy to stay on the Vectors all year 'round.
If I knew I would only be travelling on winter roads I would probably get the Ultragrip, but with varied conditions the Vector 4Season really does everything.