Winter tyres vol 2

[jon-]

jshell said:

jon- said:

RizzoTheRat said:

jshell said:

jon- said:

RizzoTheRat said:

Well I was quite impressed with the ContiVikingContacts on the hire car this afternoon on fresh snow which isn't usually too bad but it was a bloody steep hill. No idea where they sit kin Contis range as Google just turns up loads of sites in Norwegian.

They're a nordic winter, not really suitable for the UK.

Well they're used on the Southerly West coast of Norway which is the same weather as Glasgow, so they might just be OK!

Don't be put off by Nordics, they're fine for the UK! My old Merc ran Nokian Hakkapelitta s nearly all year round in Scotland.

I used them from 0 degrees on icy patches to about 12 degrees on both dry and soaking wet roads, coped well with everything. Must admit I'd previously assumed a Nordic tyre would be optimised for snow but they seemed a good all rounder.

The benefit of European winters is they can be used at the warmer temperatures we get in the UK without /too much/ compromise.

Nordics really don't compare in those conditions, and given the last couple of winters, I really wouldn't recommend nordic winter tyres for anywhere south of Aberdeen.

You got any links or info to support that assertion? Last winter half of Norway was tooling about on Nordics in up to 18degC and there wasn't endless carnage or people changing tyres every 5 minutes.

Nokian, who do Nordic compounds say that you can run their tyres all year round - even through summer. Why do you say they are unsuitable for the UK?

Plenty of personal testing comparing nordic to european winters, plus being on the receiving end of a few technical presentations about the differences between the two.

I'd be surprised if Nokian recommend their full nordic winters to be run year round (I'm happy to be proven wrong), I know their WR range can be, but Nokian even call those all season tyres in nordic climates (and winter tyres here)

It's about getting the correct balance. Yes, you could run nordic winters year round, much like you could run ditch finder budget tyres year round, but we're all posting in this thread as we want the BEST balance of compromises for the UK climate. Nordic winter tyres are certainly NOT that. They will work brilliantly the couple of days we get snow, but will probably be out performed by summer tyres at +3c in the dry / wet.

[exceed]

I'm holding out for as long as possible, got some nice fat winter Pirelli SottoZero's ready to go on!

[Trtj]

Lols.

Snow socks for when it snows. Normal tyres with good amount of tread for the standing water on the motorway.

[Catatafish]

Trtj said:

Lols.

Snow socks for when it snows. Normal tyres with good amount of tread for the standing water on the motorway.

I don't bother with winter tyres in the Uk because driving god, obviously, but insurance here can get a bit iffy if the tyre is deemed to influence the crash. I am surprised UK insurers have not cottoned on to the fact that they could stick two fingers up to many claims in wintery conditions.

[notalways]

Catatafish said:

I don't bother with winter tyres in the Uk because driving god, obviously, but insurance here can get a bit iffy if the tyre is deemed to influence the crash. I am surprised UK insurers have not cottoned on to the fact that they could stick two fingers up to many claims in wintery conditions.

I would have thought it is very unlikely that any insurance company would be able to avoid a claim because someone was using 'normal' tyres in winter.

[Elroy Blue]

Trtj said:

Lols.

Snow socks for when it snows. Normal tyres with good amount of tread for the standing water on the motorway.

I bought snow socks a few years ago. Absolute pain in the proverbial trying to fit them to a car with 18" alloys and little arch clearance. You also can't use them when it's slushy as they wear out the instant they hit tarmac. Constantly getting covered in crap as I did the on-off-on-off routine. Gave up on them eventually.

[madbadger]

Elroy Blue said:

Trtj said:

Lols.

Snow socks for when it snows. Normal tyres with good amount of tread for the standing water on the motorway.

I bought snow socks a few years ago. Absolute pain in the proverbial trying to fit them to a car with 18" alloys and little arch clearance. You also can't use them when it's slushy as they wear out the instant they hit tarmac. Constantly getting covered in crap as I did the on-off-on-off routine. Gave up on them eventually.

Exactly. No idea why people think this is a better option than just changing all four wheels over twice a year.

I have just done the wifes Mini and it too less than 30 minutes, and it was done in the sunshine in my lunch break, so I could take my time and get changed and have a wash afterwards. I takes most of that time to fit and remove socks for one journey and you generally have to do it in the snow and while it is dark.

[Convert]

Nankang SV2's on the wifes A2.

3rd year we've had them on.


We live off a pretty steep hill, and 2 years ago the wifes Audi got up it with no drama. All the RR sports got stuck at the bottom.

As for snow socks, I've got a pair and used them a couple of times to get out of trouble. A real pain to fit, got soaked and frozen both times.

Bought a P38 for this year, with 255/60 R18 General grabber AT2's.

[Theoldman]

Well lads, there are a set of Boxster wheels with winter tyres (rear are a bit worn) in the shed awaiting a new home as I traded the Boxster for that new C1. yes realy!!

So looking on MyTyres it would be £525 for a set of alloys and winter tyres, and so nearly ordered them.

But last week a contractor chap at work, turned up and was selling his Nissan Terrano 4X4 for £2k.

Really good condition with new Avon Ranger TSE tyres on it, so I am set for the winter now.
Somewhere in the garage is a set of snow chains I had for my A8 years back, so better chuck them in the boot as well???

Go on say I am over doing it a bit!!

[blueST]

Other than My Tyres, where else can I look for complete winter wheel and tyre packages with tyres mounted, balanced and delivered. Anyone else with keen prices?

Most UK alloy wheel retailers offer this but the prices are never anything like as good as My Tyres in my experience.

[Trtj]

madbadger said:

Exactly. No idea why people think this is a better option than just changing all four wheels over twice a year.

I have just done the wifes Mini and it too less than 30 minutes, and it was done in the sunshine in my lunch break, so I could take my time and get changed and have a wash afterwards. I takes most of that time to fit and remove socks for one journey and you generally have to do it in the snow and while it is dark.

Cost.

I will simply not pay nearly 800 quid for a decent snow tyre for each corner of my car(s). If I had a polo with dinky 14" rims and I did over 10k miles a winter I may consider the cost. But for now I'd rather take the miniscule risk and waste my own money on something far more exciting and worse for me.

[SEAN 46]

Trtj said:

madbadger said:

Exactly. No idea why people think this is a better option than just changing all four wheels over twice a year.

I have just done the wifes Mini and it too less than 30 minutes, and it was done in the sunshine in my lunch break, so I could take my time and get changed and have a wash afterwards. I takes most of that time to fit and remove socks for one journey and you generally have to do it in the snow and while it is dark.

Cost.

I will simply not pay nearly 800 quid for a decent snow tyre for each corner of my car(s). If I had a polo with dinky 14" rims and I did over 10k miles a winter I may consider the cost. But for now I'd rather take the miniscule risk and waste my own money on something far more exciting and worse for me.

Hooker? lol!

[andyps]

Trtj said:

Cost.

I will simply not pay nearly 800 quid for a decent snow tyre for each corner of my car(s). If I had a polo with dinky 14" rims and I did over 10k miles a winter I may consider the cost. But for now I'd rather take the miniscule risk and waste my own money on something far more exciting and worse for me.

You are missing the point though that there is no real extra cost - how much would the decent non-snow tyres cost? If you are driving the car it is wearing out the tyres it has on it so while using the winter tyres the others don't wear. And wheels can be very cheap, I got a set for my XK8 for £100, much less for my Fiat Coupe and the wheels I got for my wife's Berlingo were literally a couple of quid each. I'm just about to spend a fortune on some wheels for the Freelander my wife now has - £150 including some good summer tyres which can be stored until the current ones need replacing. I can't afford to not be able to get to work (self employed) or put too much risk on a no claims bonus so happy to accept the cost of an extra set of wheels which will last the life of the car in my possession - maybe £30 a year, excluding resale value. And giving up 30 minutes per car to change them in November and back again in spring isn't too much of an issue.

[Mave]

mrf said:

Depending on the crack, and where it is in the wheel, it is possible to have them welded. Done properly the weld should be stronger than the surrounding metal and dressed properly, virtually unnoticeable

How do you get welded material to be stronger than the original material, especially if it's forged?

[Sleepers]

blueST said:

Other than My Tyres, where else can I look for complete winter wheel and tyre packages with tyres mounted, balanced and delivered. Anyone else with keen prices?

Most UK alloy wheel retailers offer this but the prices are never anything like as good as My Tyres in my experience.

After much surfing I bought the steel wheels/winter tyres combo for the wife's Golf from MyTyres. Sitting in the garage until needed.

Absolutely no complaints about quality, price, delivery etc...

Very happy

PS Had some cashback on the credit card so cost just under £200, Nokian as well!

[Sleepers]

notalways said:

Catatafish said:

I don't bother with winter tyres in the Uk because driving god, obviously, but insurance here can get a bit iffy if the tyre is deemed to influence the crash. I am surprised UK insurers have not cottoned on to the fact that they could stick two fingers up to many claims in wintery conditions.

I would have thought it is very unlikely that any insurance company would be able to avoid a claim because someone was using 'normal' tyres in winter.

That argument is lost on me as Churchill [our current insurer] stipulates that you inform them when winters are fitted/removed...

Cheers

[Fox-]

Sleepers said:

That argument is lost on me as Churchill [our current insurer] stipulates that you inform them when winters are fitted/removed...

Cheers

Nowhere in your policy does it mandate the fitting of winter tyres - nowhere in UK law does it mandate the fitting of winter tyres - therefore an insurer is not going to refuse to payout on a claim because you've not got winter tyres. It's pretty much that simple. In some other countries (Countries who actually get a winter and dont need to sit on PH pretending winter tyres revolutionised a 4c commute in the dry) the reason why not having winter tyres might lead to insurance issues is because the law dictates they must be fitted.

[Dannbodge]

Can't believe I left my winters at my parents last weekend, thinking I wouldn't need them for another month.

Then the weather goes st and I want them on

[Foppo]

Germany and Austria you can be fined for not having wintertyres.

Agree about the U.K.Wintertyres not compulsory does not affect insurance.

[Sleepers]

Fox- said:

Sleepers said:

That argument is lost on me as Churchill [our current insurer] stipulates that you inform them when winters are fitted/removed...

Cheers

Nowhere in your policy does it mandate the fitting of winter tyres - nowhere in UK law does it mandate the fitting of winter tyres - therefore an insurer is not going to refuse to payout on a claim because you've not got winter tyres. It's pretty much that simple. In some other countries (Countries who actually get a winter and dont need to sit on PH pretending winter tyres revolutionised a 4c commute in the dry) the reason why not having winter tyres might lead to insurance issues is because the law dictates they must be fitted.

Sorry, did not understand a word of your reply?

PS It's quite simple... IF you fit winters, Churchill require you tell them. Axa, for example, don't. I'm just complying with the policy terms so whether they pay out or not yada yada yada is neither here nor there...

PPS we do get a winter up in rural Scotland. Although last year was mild[ish] that was far from the norm.

PPS This is my first car with winters as for the last 20 odd years I've been driving 4x4s with all seasons. The wife's car has been getting winters for the last four years since living rural. Why - for the small cost I can't be arsed getting stuck. When I was younger with more time on my hands it was fun getting stuck but what with a busy family life...