Winter tyres vol 2
Discussion
FiF said:
Due to changed circumstances I no longer run two sets in UK, but effectively run all seasons that are also M&S and 3PMS marked.
Also I don't use these to go faster but to give a better control window. Even though there have been many occasions when on full winters or the all seasons that it would have been possible to go faster, it makes sense to me to travel at the sort of pace that other traffic is expecting.
Being that these all seasons are on vehicles that are driven fairly gently any compromise outside the cold weather months is marginal.
I looked at all seasons but there were none in my size, I'm waiting for the new Cross thingy's (can't remember their name from Michelin) to be available in my size then that's all the tyre I'll probably need. I know a few that runs winters all year round but I drive a little enthusiastically for winter when it gets warm, they get a little spongy feeling, so it's personal choice and I happily pay for my requirements. Also I don't use these to go faster but to give a better control window. Even though there have been many occasions when on full winters or the all seasons that it would have been possible to go faster, it makes sense to me to travel at the sort of pace that other traffic is expecting.
Being that these all seasons are on vehicles that are driven fairly gently any compromise outside the cold weather months is marginal.
We are in a unique climate in the UK, I know a few folk from Poland and they are amazed at how warm it can be and the car windows freeze. I guess we just have more damp air than they do. I don't really remember defrosting the car when I lived in Germany although I remember clearing a lot of snow many times, tyres were never an issue.
tomjol said:
Get a grip.
ETA: The original claim is admittedly ambitious but your statement is ridiculous.
How is my statement ridiculous?ETA: The original claim is admittedly ambitious but your statement is ridiculous.
I simply believe that there is no way on earth you could say with any certainty that if all of the cars in the example were fitted with winter tyres the accidents would have been avoided.
There are simply to many factors involved.
f1nn said:
How is my statement ridiculous?
I simply believe that there is no way on earth you could say with any certainty that if all of the cars in the example were fitted with winter tyres the accidents would have been avoided.
There are simply to many factors involved.
Well I agree with that...I simply believe that there is no way on earth you could say with any certainty that if all of the cars in the example were fitted with winter tyres the accidents would have been avoided.
There are simply to many factors involved.
gizlaroc said:
There is a massive difference to stability and braking distance on them, I'm not saying none would have happened, but I bet some would have been avoided.
I can feel how twitchy my C320 was last week on Continental summers on the motorway, now on Dunlop Winter Sports and it is planted again. And that is just on standing water etc.
I'm on summers and standing water this past few days has been no issue (and I'm in the north west, we have a lot of standing water currently!)I can feel how twitchy my C320 was last week on Continental summers on the motorway, now on Dunlop Winter Sports and it is planted again. And that is just on standing water etc.
That said the temperature round here has been around 10C or higher, so it's not really cold enough for winter tyres.
Flibble said:
I'm on summers and standing water this past few days has been no issue (and I'm in the north west, we have a lot of standing water currently!)
That said the temperature round here has been around 10C or higher, so it's not really cold enough for winter tyres.
The amount of water on the motorway in places over the last couple of weeks has been terrible, never seen it quite so bad, suddenly hit one of the massive puddles (difficult to see in the dark) and you could feel the car squirm. The same journey with the winters on and it just glides through as if it was a bit wet. That said the temperature round here has been around 10C or higher, so it's not really cold enough for winter tyres.
Winter tyres needed?
No.
Do they make driving more relaxing in winter months?
Yep.
Can you justify the cost?
That's up to you.
jon- said:
V8A*ndy said:
PointnShoot said:
Just ordered a set of Goodyear Ultragrip Performance Gen 1 for my Audi TT Mk2 V6.
Tyres were needing replacing anyway and they get fitted Friday just in time for the arrival of Winter!
I've ordered these as well.Tyres were needing replacing anyway and they get fitted Friday just in time for the arrival of Winter!
I used to run the Ultragrip 8s and I thought they were great especially in deep snow and standing slushy water.
Looking forward to trying these out if they arrive on time. Snow forecast here for Saturday FFS.
Have not tried deep snow yet but they have had snow, ice and deep standing slushy water and they drive really well.
I am very impressed, especially after an emergency stop I had. I could actually feel them tearing into the tarmac @ 0c in the wet with total control thankfully.
The hill to my house was a doddle in the snow. If I get some deeper snow I'll report my findings.
Northernchimp said:
Any tips for a Fiesta ST (205/40r17)? ... I don't think 14s would clear the brakes, but are 15" Fiesta/Focus wheels with the same stud pattern likely to cause issues?
I would double check that 15s fit - I assumed they would fit my 115bhp Focus diesel - turned out 16" is the minimum size due to 300mm brakes.Any 5x108 will go over the studs - check the offset (ET) is correct. I doubt the Focus/Mondeo will be the same.
No idea why that posted twice...
But this
"Not a particular favourite solution of mine as the fit of the wheel on the spigot is part of the load bearing in the design"
Is incorrect. On hubcentric wheels, the spigot centres the wheel.
On lugcentric wheels, the lug bolts/nuts centre the wheel.
On both, the friction between the wheel mating face and the hub is what supports the weight of the wheel.
Yes it can still be dangerous to fit without spigot rings, because if you get the wheel just a little off centre... vibration in a circular motion can do dangerous things.
But this
"Not a particular favourite solution of mine as the fit of the wheel on the spigot is part of the load bearing in the design"
Is incorrect. On hubcentric wheels, the spigot centres the wheel.
On lugcentric wheels, the lug bolts/nuts centre the wheel.
On both, the friction between the wheel mating face and the hub is what supports the weight of the wheel.
Yes it can still be dangerous to fit without spigot rings, because if you get the wheel just a little off centre... vibration in a circular motion can do dangerous things.
gp3000000 said:
Northernchimp said:
Any tips for a Fiesta ST (205/40r17)? ... I don't think 14s would clear the brakes, but are 15" Fiesta/Focus wheels with the same stud pattern likely to cause issues?
I would double check that 15s fit - I assumed they would fit my 115bhp Focus diesel - turned out 16" is the minimum size due to 300mm brakes.Any 5x108 will go over the studs - check the offset (ET) is correct. I doubt the Focus/Mondeo will be the same.
gizlaroc said:
The amount of water on the motorway in places over the last couple of weeks has been terrible, never seen it quite so bad, suddenly hit one of the massive puddles (difficult to see in the dark) and you could feel the car squirm. The same journey with the winters on and it just glides through as if it was a bit wet.
Tread depth is more of a factor than winters vs summers there. If you go from worn summers to new winters then yes they will feel better in standing water. I recall my winters being somewhat worse than good summers in heavy rain on the motorway (winters has at least 6 mm tread, dunlop wintersports vs michelin pilot sports).Flibble said:
Tread depth is more of a factor than winters vs summers there. If you go from worn summers to new winters then yes they will feel better in standing water. I recall my winters being somewhat worse than good summers in heavy rain on the motorway (winters has at least 6 mm tread, dunlop wintersports vs michelin pilot sports).
The summers were almost new Conti Sport Contacts, the winters were Dunlop Winter Sports 3Ds that were on their 3rd year with around 5-6mm remaining. Which version of the Sottozero?
The 3's are the latest and greatest and are a good tyre. They're not very economical in warmer temps though - they melt. Grip is good whilst the tread remains.
The Snowproxes are towards the budget end (not budget, but cheaper) and wear really well used year round. Grip is adequate.
I'll have to let someone else comment on their snow performance, in two years I've barely seen any snow use out of either.
The 3's are the latest and greatest and are a good tyre. They're not very economical in warmer temps though - they melt. Grip is good whilst the tread remains.
The Snowproxes are towards the budget end (not budget, but cheaper) and wear really well used year round. Grip is adequate.
I'll have to let someone else comment on their snow performance, in two years I've barely seen any snow use out of either.
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