Can you mix winter tyres

[CarbonBlackM5]

I am looking to put one pair on the front and a pair from a different manf on the rear. I know this is OK with all weather tyres but does it matter with winter tyres?

[GreigM]

Same principals apply - its not optimal, but there's no reason why you can't.

[Prof Prolapse]

Dear god no. You'll kill everybody unless you have the most expensive (and therefore best) tyres fitted at all times.

[Snowboy]

GreigM said:

Same principals apply - its not optimal, but there's no reason why you can't.

This.

The only thing I'd be wary of is one set with siping and one without as they would perform quite differently.

[Aizle]

Mixing winter tyres?!

You'd be better off on summers.

[torquespeak]

GreigM said:

...its not optimal....

+1

The context is key here of course. I'd imagine you could probably buy a pair of supposedly 'winter tyres' from a manufacturer you've never heard of in a land far, far away that could actually perform worse than premium summer tyres from a top brand.

Mixing pairs of winter tyres (and for the sake of argument let's say 'winter tyres' in this context means "highly siped, with the three peak symbol") in theory is no different from mixing pairs of summer tyres. Ideally you have the same brand and model of tyre on every corner, but ultimately it's a choice.

My personal advice to anyone is always to buy the very best set of tyres that you can afford. They're the only thing connecting you with the road surface, so the question is: what's that worth to you?

[Prof Prolapse]

torquespeak said:

They're the only thing connecting you with the road surface, so the question is: what's that worth to you?

and "how much money do you want to piss away on tyres you don't need unless you live North of the border?"

[BriC175]

Prof Prolapse said:

Dear god no. You'll kill everybody unless you have the most expensive (and therefore best) tyres fitted at all times.

+1

[torquespeak]

Prof Prolapse said:

and "how much money do you want to piss away on tyres you don't need unless you live North of the border?"

Are you talking about decent tyres generally, or winter tyres?

[Prof Prolapse]

torquespeak said:

Prof Prolapse said:

and "how much money do you want to piss away on tyres you don't need unless you live North of the border?"

Are you talking about decent tyres generally, or winter tyres?

To be honest I'm just taking the piss. Mostly out of those vocal pistonheaders who insist that every car should have winter tyres, snow tyres, and summer tyres.

It's horses for courses IMO.

[loko]

i,ve just stuck 2 winters on the front of my work pug and left the normal ones on the back, ebay bargain at £30 the pair with 6mm on

[Mr2Mike]

loko said:

i,ve just stuck 2 winters on the front of my work pug and left the normal ones on the back, ebay bargain at £30 the pair with 6mm on

That really isn't a very clever idea.

[GreigM]

Mr2Mike said:

That really isn't a very clever idea.

Unless you like lift-off oversteer

[Snowboy]

Mr2Mike said:

loko said:

i,ve just stuck 2 winters on the front of my work pug and left the normal ones on the back, ebay bargain at £30 the pair with 6mm on

That really isn't a very clever idea.

To be fair, if the chap is on a bit of a tight budget and has no option but to drive in all winter conditions then Winter Tyres on the front of the FWD car aren't all that bad – so long as the brain is well engaged before driving and there's aren't any big hills.

In a perfect world we'd all be able to afford decent tyres for the different seasons.
But, sometimes we just have to make the best of what we have.

If I was only putting two winters onto the front though, I'd wait until much deeper winter when the snow and ice was due before fitting them.
I'd prefer to have even grip on the wheels right up until the point I needed the winter tyres.

[Kevin VRs]

Prof Prolapse said:

and "how much money do you want to piss away on tyres you don't need unless you live North of the border?"

How is it pissing away money? Winter tyres last as long as summer/all-season. You are still driving the same number of miles so tyre wear is the same, you are just spreading it over two sets instead of one. The only time it gets more expensive is if you do not 'use up' the tyres before they have degraded due to age.

As far as your comment about north of the border goes I will use winter tyres if the average temperature for the time of day I am driving is less than 7C. Since I mostly drive between 06:30 - 08:30 and 17:30 - 22:00 it is usually below 7C between end November and early April. Therefore winter tyres are a benefit.

[Prof Prolapse]

Read my second post.

[Snowboy]

It appears that Mr Prof Prolapse was getting in some pre-emptive sarcasm against those with strong views on tyres.

[Frances The Mute]

When you consider the differing grip coefficients of a winter tyre compared to a summer tyre, you would be pretty daft to mix them.

[Kevin VRs]

Prof Prolapse said:

Read my second post.

Don't you mean third post?

[CarbonBlackM5]

I have brought a pair of Vredestein Winter tyres with the view to buying a matching pair of new ones. However, they are £170 odd each and for a lot less I can get a pair of Bridgestone M&S.

Yes I am being tight but cant see the point in spending a huge amount of money when they are going on a second set of 18" wheels.