Winter tyres vol 2
Discussion
I live in London, but the folks live up north. Every year without fail I get caught up in the snow and stuck at various points.
When I got my car earlier this year it had winters on, which quickly went in the shed. So last month I picked up a cheap set of alloys, refurbed them and whacked the winters back on. Perfect timing as my summers were leaking pressure badly, and the car was in the garage for a load of work anyway.
Don't think it's dropped below 10 degrees since I fitted them, and doesn't look to be doing so. Slightly paranoid about several hours on the motorway with winters on when it's so warm outside ... can't be good?!
When I got my car earlier this year it had winters on, which quickly went in the shed. So last month I picked up a cheap set of alloys, refurbed them and whacked the winters back on. Perfect timing as my summers were leaking pressure badly, and the car was in the garage for a load of work anyway.
Don't think it's dropped below 10 degrees since I fitted them, and doesn't look to be doing so. Slightly paranoid about several hours on the motorway with winters on when it's so warm outside ... can't be good?!
Calza said:
I live in London, but the folks live up north. Every year without fail I get caught up in the snow and stuck at various points.
When I got my car earlier this year it had winters on, which quickly went in the shed. So last month I picked up a cheap set of alloys, refurbed them and whacked the winters back on. Perfect timing as my summers were leaking pressure badly, and the car was in the garage for a load of work anyway.
Don't think it's dropped below 10 degrees since I fitted them, and doesn't look to be doing so. Slightly paranoid about several hours on the motorway with winters on when it's so warm outside ... can't be good?!
I kept my winters on all summer in 2014 - they're still fine. No noticeable increase to fuel consumption, no noticeable reduction in handling (although it is a family barge rather than a sports car so it's not like I hoon it around), loads of grip still left for when I go to the Alps again this winter.When I got my car earlier this year it had winters on, which quickly went in the shed. So last month I picked up a cheap set of alloys, refurbed them and whacked the winters back on. Perfect timing as my summers were leaking pressure badly, and the car was in the garage for a load of work anyway.
Don't think it's dropped below 10 degrees since I fitted them, and doesn't look to be doing so. Slightly paranoid about several hours on the motorway with winters on when it's so warm outside ... can't be good?!
It might be that they need replacing after 5 years because the compound deteriorates, but you'd have to do very low mileage not to be needing to replace after 5 years anyway?
Zigster said:
It might be that they need replacing after 5 years because the compound deteriorates, but you'd have to do very low mileage not to be needing to replace after 5 years anyway?
Precisely, this 5 year thing is like the 7 degree thing. It's not a defined and fery clear line in sand and it all depends. Someone who does low mileage and generally low speeds, the heat cycles and wear will be very different from a long distance commuter road warrior.That's before we even get the issue that Nordic tyres are much more prone to this effect.
SlimJim16v said:
Farlig said:
nickfrog said:
I think you ladies are judging me by your own standards. I am not too bothered about richer/smarter, just wanted to help as a few years back I bought winters that were 5 years old as I didn't realise that the high silica content of winter compound meant that their life expectancy was about 5 years irrespective of mileage. Needless to say, they offered less traction than my summers. I am sure it won't be the case though. Apologies if I have hurt anyone's feelings by being altruist, it's easily done on PH. Quite a few susceptible egos here it would seem.
I'll lend you some support old chap - I've been living in Norway now for 18 years and the general consensus here is bin them after three seasons, four at a push.. They are very soft tyres, and the heat cycling kills them. They will go off and you will notice a marked drop off in winter performance. Now, if they're unused, and been shelved / stored properly then I'm out of my 'hands on personal experience' zone and cannot comment 
SlimJim16v said:
...maybe they'll get too hot being used in the summer and be borked?
[rant mode]I have done it a few times and to all those posting here saying "I have left my winter tyres on all year and they're fine" then I cry b0llixx!! I have said it before - these are very soft tyres (rightly so for max grip in cold weather) and the heat cycling f
ks them. Driving all summer will totally fk them - if you think not, then you haven't tried using them in the slippy stuff yet... Try that, then fit a new set of winters, compare, then come back and tell us what you think...When I first came to Norway & was reeling over the cost of living here (takes a few years) I left the winter tyres on a couple of times at the end of their life - summer driving on them was always dodgy, but in a s
tty old passat I didn't care too much.The last time I did this was summer 2013 a) because we'd moved across the country and my summer wheels were still locked away in storage; b) the tyres were finished anyway and c) for a laugh, 'cause I'd not done it in many years. In the dry they were very easy and progressive to slide around meaning I could have superb fun at lower speeds. However in the wet, they were absolutely f
king lethal - literally, not joking - like driving in icy conditions. There was plenty of meat left, but the heat cycling had turned them into stone & I will not do this again. Ok I had been pushing them hard in the dry but it highlights what happens...Given, in Norway we do get much colder winter weather, and because everyone uses winter tyres there's less focus on using salt here. The roads are often left to pack down / spread chukkies on (especially side roads) so we get much more opportunity to drive on slippy stuff. This leads to a high focus on winter tyres, how well they grip, how they feel - there's a whole plethora of arguments for and against studded tyres. The local equivalent of the AA (NAF) do annual pre-season testing of all the new winter tyres and make their recommendations...
I guess what I'm ranting on about is that over 18 years I've tried a bunch of different winter tyres from the cheapest to the most expensive, I have run them through summers and not: High quality (expensive) winter tyres, when new, make a massive difference in grip and confidence. On good winter tyres you can almost forget you're driving in slippy conditions instead of teetering around like a granny...
Now I can afford to, I replace our cars' winter tyres every 3-4 years and I do not buy cheap - Usually Nokian Hakkapeliiitta or Continental Viking Contacts.. This year though I'm trying Pirelli Ice Zeros on my car & so far pretty I'm pretty impressed (apart from sheet / black ice where you need studs in any case..)!
[/rant mode]
Edited by Farlig on Friday 18th December 10:21
Farlig said:
Now I can afford to, I replace our cars' winter tyres every 3-4 years and I do not buy cheap - Usually Nokian Hakkapeliiitta or Continental Viking Contacts..
Scandinavian tyres are a different compound than us softies get. I don't doubt for a minute what you are saying is correct for Hakkas and Vikings, but they are not the same as the Alpins, Ultragrips and what have you that are fitted in the UK. They are much more like an all season tyre, and running them year round - whilst not ideal - will not change them into molten blobs like yours will go.
TBH I wish it was more wintry, I prefer more defined seasons... .f1nn said:
Update: Pzeros working absolutely fine. Not been stuck once, no need to send help.
Same here. MPSS are perfect for the current temperature. It is entirely possible that it won't be any colder in the UK ever again but quite unlikely. I have found that weather can be variable, week on week, year on year. You like this thread and winter tyres topics in general it would seem.Calza said:
I live in London, but the folks live up north. Every year without fail I get caught up in the snow and stuck at various points.
When I got my car earlier this year it had winters on, which quickly went in the shed. So last month I picked up a cheap set of alloys, refurbed them and whacked the winters back on. Perfect timing as my summers were leaking pressure badly, and the car was in the garage for a load of work anyway.
Don't think it's dropped below 10 degrees since I fitted them, and doesn't look to be doing so. Slightly paranoid about several hours on the motorway with winters on when it's so warm outside ... can't be good?!
Eh?!When I got my car earlier this year it had winters on, which quickly went in the shed. So last month I picked up a cheap set of alloys, refurbed them and whacked the winters back on. Perfect timing as my summers were leaking pressure badly, and the car was in the garage for a load of work anyway.
Don't think it's dropped below 10 degrees since I fitted them, and doesn't look to be doing so. Slightly paranoid about several hours on the motorway with winters on when it's so warm outside ... can't be good?!
RicksAlfas said:
Scandinavian tyres are a different compound than us softies get. I don't doubt for a minute what you are saying is correct for Hakkas and Vikings, but they are not the same as the Alpins, Ultragrips and what have you that are fitted in the UK. They are much more like an all season tyre, and running them year round - whilst not ideal - will not change them into molten blobs like yours will go.
Now that's a valid point I hadn't considered I do recall the sales blurb waffling on about "made for Scandi climates" etc..
However, I would maintain that in order not to f
k the compound, or perhaps better put, to keep the tyres in the best possible condition ofr grip, use them only in cold conditions 
Farlig said:
Now that's a valid point I hadn't considered
I do recall the sales blurb waffling on about "made for Scandi climates" etc..
However, I would maintain that in order not to fk the compound, or perhaps better put, to keep the tyres in the best possible condition ofr grip, use them only in cold conditions
I find zig zagging down the road through the puddles is the best thing to do. I do recall the sales blurb waffling on about "made for Scandi climates" etc..
However, I would maintain that in order not to f
k the compound, or perhaps better put, to keep the tyres in the best possible condition ofr grip, use them only in cold conditions Also I find it's good to do a lot of reversing so it unwinds the tread.
If you can reverse through a puddle, well that's the best thing of all!
SlimJim16v said:
OK, I've quoted the relevant part again - "They are very soft tyres, and the heat cycling kills them."
I know this is the UK, but maybe they'll get too hot being used in the summer and be borked?
As already discussed and raised elsewhere there's a difference between Nordic market tyres and those aimed at Central European markets. There's a reason for that and people choose accordingly. Indeed many people in the south of Sweden, eg Skåne region, who regularly head off into Germany will use products aimed at the European market eg Nokian WR** rather than Hakka's. I know this is the UK, but maybe they'll get too hot being used in the summer and be borked?
But these days with the newer products alongside the older established types eg Quatrac * there's no longer a good reason to run proper winters all year round imo, no good reason even with European winters. The slight exception to that used to be those which were designed to work more like all seasons, eg WRG2'S, basically having traded snow and ice ability for better dry and wet clear road performance. Nevertheless although they worked all year round, you can still deteĺct a drop in winter performance after a summer's use. Not a massive drop to cause issues in my experience, but detectable. Nordic pattern, then it's an issue, definitely, indeed, having used cars equipped with Nordic pattern in UK when visiting, you can use them but they are clearly out of comfort zone.
Going to be interesting to see if the Weatherproofs that have just replaced the WRG2's react in the same way.
Just for the record, over a quarter of a million miles over 20 years on various types of winter and cold weather tyres, Nordic studded, Nordic studless, European studless, and All weathers, in Scandinavia, mostly SE and DK, but including N and FI. Also many miles in DE, NL, CZ, CH, AT besides of course UK.
Zigster said:
I kept my winters on all summer in 2014 - they're still fine. No noticeable increase to fuel consumption, no noticeable reduction in handling (although it is a family barge rather than a sports car so it's not like I hoon it around), loads of grip still left for when I go to the Alps again this winter.
It might be that they need replacing after 5 years because the compound deteriorates, but you'd have to do very low mileage not to be needing to replace after 5 years anyway?
Good to know!It might be that they need replacing after 5 years because the compound deteriorates, but you'd have to do very low mileage not to be needing to replace after 5 years anyway?
Patrick Bateman said:
Calza said:
I live in London, but the folks live up north. Every year without fail I get caught up in the snow and stuck at various points.
When I got my car earlier this year it had winters on, which quickly went in the shed. So last month I picked up a cheap set of alloys, refurbed them and whacked the winters back on. Perfect timing as my summers were leaking pressure badly, and the car was in the garage for a load of work anyway.
Don't think it's dropped below 10 degrees since I fitted them, and doesn't look to be doing so. Slightly paranoid about several hours on the motorway with winters on when it's so warm outside ... can't be good?!
Eh?!When I got my car earlier this year it had winters on, which quickly went in the shed. So last month I picked up a cheap set of alloys, refurbed them and whacked the winters back on. Perfect timing as my summers were leaking pressure badly, and the car was in the garage for a load of work anyway.
Don't think it's dropped below 10 degrees since I fitted them, and doesn't look to be doing so. Slightly paranoid about several hours on the motorway with winters on when it's so warm outside ... can't be good?!
Calza said:
I was on the understanding winter tyres performed better under 7 degrees, so I was simply guessing at at 14 degrees they are going to perform worse? The likelihood of anything happening is slim, but you never know when an emergency stop may be required or similar. I've also took the assumption it increases wear - not suggesting I'm going to be trundling home with 1mm of tread, but i'll still be covering over 1000 miles so it'll take an extra chunk out of the life (in my mind anyway).
I have run my winters all year, they have done 48k miles so far and still have useful tread left. This myth that they will melt away above 7C is just that.I saw 36C on my car this summer, and guess what, they were just fine. I am running Continentals by the way.
Monkeylegend said:
I have run my winters all year, they have done 48k miles so far and still have useful tread left. This myth that they will melt away above 7C is just that.
I saw 36C on my car this summer, and guess what, they were just fine. I am running Continentals by the way.
If you're running tyres like that all year round then when they need changing it may be worth considering the new breed of All-Season / Cross-Climate tyres. They could be a better compromise for you than a pure winter tyre. I saw 36C on my car this summer, and guess what, they were just fine. I am running Continentals by the way.
Edit:
For example
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/928...
http://www.evo.co.uk/features/15600/michelin-cross...
Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Friday 18th December 16:43
ClockworkCupcake said:
Monkeylegend said:
I have run my winters all year, they have done 48k miles so far and still have useful tread left. This myth that they will melt away above 7C is just that.
I saw 36C on my car this summer, and guess what, they were just fine. I am running Continentals by the way.
If you're running tyres like that all year round then when they need changing it will be worth looking at the new breed of All-Season / Cross-Season tyres. They could be a better compromise for you than a pure winter tyre. I saw 36C on my car this summer, and guess what, they were just fine. I am running Continentals by the way.
I will look at all seasons when I do get round to changing them, assuming I still have the same car.
I've been on winters for about 1500 miles now. Tbh I can't tell any difference from the Pirelli P7s summer tyres, except it's more comfortable as the winters aren't run flats.
My All4 Countryman was pretty solid in the winter last year on summers, only the braking was really affected. Only reason I really changed was that going to be spending a bit of the winter in the highlands this winter. Initially I was worried that snow would stop plans, now I'm worried that I won't see much of snow at all!
My All4 Countryman was pretty solid in the winter last year on summers, only the braking was really affected. Only reason I really changed was that going to be spending a bit of the winter in the highlands this winter. Initially I was worried that snow would stop plans, now I'm worried that I won't see much of snow at all!
Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff