J & J McIndoe Subaru Garage, A89, Broxburn

[dark]

Have driven past it for years but didn't know they specialised with Subaru's!

It's tucked down a small road behind the new Dobbie's Garden Centre.

Has anyone ever used them?

http://a89mot.co.uk/

Cheers, Mark

[neill54]

Nope never used them either cause didn't know they done subarus either I drive past there twice a day too D'oh I'll maybe have a wee look need a couple of things done too

Neil

[mystery machine]

I never even knew there was a Scooby garage in Bollocksburn!

[gus the bus]

They did a lot of work on Iain (Blue Dragons) car a few years back so probably now think they are subaru "specialists"

They werent cheap is all I'm saying

[mikeyb13]

Nope never used them either cause didn't know they done subarus either I drive past there twice a day too D'oh I'll maybe have a wee look need a couple of things done too

Neil

Do you have no memory at all? Check you pm's

[wrxmania]

I'd be much more likely to use Extreme Motorsport in Whitburn, who actually do specialise in Subaru and Mitsubishi, and have the gear for it!

[wrxcook]

Mcindoe's does do alot of subarus the machanics drive and race them but as stated they are very expensive, saying that I wouldn't recomend extreme either don't rate them at all

[mystery machine]

wrxcook – you don't work at the Falkirk Wheelhouse Restaurant by any chance?

Just asking because I think one of the chefs there drives a WR Blue Newage WRX (Blob, I think).

[neill54]

Sorry mikey I'm daft just remembered that there!!!

Neil

[mystery machine]

You like the RE070s, Mark?

[dark]

Thanks for all the feedback on McIndoe's.

Certainly not enough positive views to consider using instead of Nobles, Extreme, SWM or any of the other know specialists.

I'm a bit surprised that that haven't appeared on here!

You like the RE070s, Mark?

RE070s are great tyres; just not when it's very cold or the roads are greasy! Amazing grip & feel in the dry & wet.

In spring / summer I think they are hard to beat although I can understand why some people don't like the very stiff sidewalls or the tramlining when they get worn.

This winter I've tried full winter tyres; both Cooper Weather Master Snow and Nankang Snow SV. Both are 'budget' brands but are impressive on cold, wet roads. In the snow both were amazing, especially on slush & compressed snow. You could brake & steer with almost complete confidence. Overall I preferred the Nankangs, they felt more like a normal tyre. The Coopers have a very soft sidewall (225/45/17/91H rating) which makes for a nice ride but limited steering feel with a tendency to understeer even in the dry.

Cheers, Mark

[mystery machine]

Cheers Mark.

I had RE070s fitted a few weeks back and I am loving them in the dry. Like you I've found them to be a bit slitherty on damp roads when they're cold, so I've bought a spare set of wheels for winter (no rubber yet). During winter I don't take the car out on snow or slush, only on damp or dry roads. Therefore, I'm trying to decide between a full winter tyre and a more wet-oriented summer tyre for winter use...

What were you previously running during winter? How did you find that those tyres compared with the full winters on cold dry or cold damp roads?

Thanks

[dark]

For winter I had an old set of RE040s which were the original fitment. The fronts were down to ~3mm and they were terrible! As soon as the temp dropped they became rock hard! Not recommended!

For winter use even in the dry you really want a tyre with more silica that operates at lower temperatures. It's only if you're driving on slush & snow that a full winter tyre with all the extra sipes cut into it really becomes effective. Full winter tyres have the mud & snow (M+S) marking to show they are approved.

The Mytyres website let you sort by summer / winter / cold weather / all season tyres which is useful for comparison. In general any winter specific tyre, even budget ones, are going to be so much better than a summer tyre once the temperatures drop and the roads become greasy.

When looking at winter tyres you can consider a H speed rating (max 130mph) and I would tend towards an XL load rating which usually have stiffer sidewalls. The Coopers I bought are a 91H and feel quite soft whereas the Nankangs are a 93V XL and feel great! For winter use I would buy the Nankangs again for £80 each, I don't see the point of paying almost double for a 'premium' brand.

Apart from www.mytyres.co.uk (ship from Germany very quickly!) it's worth looking at www.clickontyres.com and www.camskill.co.uk

Cheers, Mark

[mystery machine]

Cheers Mark

I reckon it's going to be a tough call between a "more winter friendly than a RE070" summer tyre and a full winter tyre. It seems that a lot of folks have had similar experiences to yourself, that winter tyres outperform summer tyres in any type of cold weather. On the other hand, I've read at least one internet magazine winter tyre test which found that, although the winter tyres' performance way surpassed that of the summer tyres in snow, the summer tyres still offered more mechanical grip in cold dry conditions than the winter tyres. Hmmmmm...

...and those sipes may be handy for driving on snow and ice, but surely all that extra movement in the tread isn't going to benefit handling much on a dry road? Dang – if only someone made a tyre with RE070 tread and a high silica content!

Still not convinced that winter tyres are for me, TBH – but am willing to be!

Thanks also for the tip about load ratings, and the mytyres link!