New winter tyres- Feels like floating.. Normal?
Discussion
Recently swapped my tyres to 4x new Continental TS860 (supposedly the best of the best winter tyres there are from all the reviews...kinda have my doubts now..),
However the car now feels just damn weird to drive, feels like you are steering a boat,it has become less responsive, seems like there's now a small delay before you turn the steering wheel and the car doing something + taking turns with it feels just weird and a bit spongy..
The car before that (on some very old not so good summer tyres) drove perfectly fine, but now with these supposedely premium best of the best tyres it just feels like $hit.
Just wondering if this is normal with softer winter tyres or there's something wrong?
Certainly I haven't had this huuuge difference when swapping for winter tyres on other cars.
The tyres I bought were brand new and made before like 2weeks before they were delivered, kinda too fresh...
The car drives just fine in straight line, doesn't pulls to one side or other stuff you would expect from missaligned steering as well.
However the car now feels just damn weird to drive, feels like you are steering a boat,it has become less responsive, seems like there's now a small delay before you turn the steering wheel and the car doing something + taking turns with it feels just weird and a bit spongy..
The car before that (on some very old not so good summer tyres) drove perfectly fine, but now with these supposedely premium best of the best tyres it just feels like $hit.
Just wondering if this is normal with softer winter tyres or there's something wrong?
Certainly I haven't had this huuuge difference when swapping for winter tyres on other cars.
The tyres I bought were brand new and made before like 2weeks before they were delivered, kinda too fresh...
The car drives just fine in straight line, doesn't pulls to one side or other stuff you would expect from missaligned steering as well.
Yes, I found that too. All these people who say they drive just as well as summers are talking complete rubbish and must drive around at a snails pace not to notice the difference.
You only really need winters when there is snow or ice. The rest of the time I find my normal tyres (Michelin Pilot Super Sports) to be superior in every way. Including cold greasy roads.
Winters are a waste of time apart from the day or two of the year it actually snows or is actually icy in my opinion and yes I have tried various different sets on various different vehicles and come to the same conclusion!
You only really need winters when there is snow or ice. The rest of the time I find my normal tyres (Michelin Pilot Super Sports) to be superior in every way. Including cold greasy roads.
Winters are a waste of time apart from the day or two of the year it actually snows or is actually icy in my opinion and yes I have tried various different sets on various different vehicles and come to the same conclusion!
Welcome to 9mm of tread depth and sipes.
Even with all the block locking they use, you will feel block movement was more than a sparsely treaded summer tyre. Doubly so if you're coming from a UHP tyre like the Pilot Super Sport above.
Add a couple of extra PSI and they will bed in. For now, enjoy the extra comfort and safe in the knowledge in near-freezing wet conditions, you're safer.
Just be a little wary under dry braking.
Even with all the block locking they use, you will feel block movement was more than a sparsely treaded summer tyre. Doubly so if you're coming from a UHP tyre like the Pilot Super Sport above.
Add a couple of extra PSI and they will bed in. For now, enjoy the extra comfort and safe in the knowledge in near-freezing wet conditions, you're safer.
Just be a little wary under dry braking.
Alright well than I'm worrying for nothing, truth be told this if my first set of decent fresh winter tyres, in past I just got some part worn older stuff or some regular cheapo M+S which weren't so soft so probably these haven't worn down enough for them to feel just ''normal''
there's live ice almost all of the winter down where I live,specially the first few hundred meters where no salt-spreader comes so the only way to get out is to have a good tyres, when it's really bad 90% of my neighbourhood just doesn't drives anywhere as they simply can't get out so winter tyres are a must have for me...
there's live ice almost all of the winter down where I live,specially the first few hundred meters where no salt-spreader comes so the only way to get out is to have a good tyres, when it's really bad 90% of my neighbourhood just doesn't drives anywhere as they simply can't get out so winter tyres are a must have for me...
Increase the tire pressures.
My father in law, (sadly now passed away) used to be shocked that I say I can feel difference between cheap and quality summer tyres, never mind the difference I could feel with my winters.
He drove around a brand new 7 series, left his winter tyres on for a year, and he used to chuck that barge around b roads like it was a good cart.
My father in law, (sadly now passed away) used to be shocked that I say I can feel difference between cheap and quality summer tyres, never mind the difference I could feel with my winters.
He drove around a brand new 7 series, left his winter tyres on for a year, and he used to chuck that barge around b roads like it was a good cart.
Timbuktu said:
Yes, I found that too. All these people who say they drive just as well as summers are talking complete rubbish and must drive around at a snails pace not to notice the difference.
You only really need winters when there is snow or ice. The rest of the time I find my normal tyres (Michelin Pilot Super Sports) to be superior in every way. Including cold greasy roads.
Winters are a waste of time apart from the day or two of the year it actually snows or is actually icy in my opinion and yes I have tried various different sets on various different vehicles and come to the same conclusion!
Complete twaddle my friend. Your car WILL feel different, you have 8 to 9mm of tread, more movement in the tread blocks, totally different compounds etc. Once you get used to it, winter tyres feel completely normal. I'm calling b*llsh*t on your claim of having tried different sets, as everyone I know who runs winters, categorically state how massively superior they are to summer tyres on wet, creasy,cold winter roads, regardless of ice or snow. And of course on ice and snow they are simply amazing compared to summer tyres.You only really need winters when there is snow or ice. The rest of the time I find my normal tyres (Michelin Pilot Super Sports) to be superior in every way. Including cold greasy roads.
Winters are a waste of time apart from the day or two of the year it actually snows or is actually icy in my opinion and yes I have tried various different sets on various different vehicles and come to the same conclusion!
I run a 911, and it feels different on winters, a bit floaty and vague to start with, but once I "tune in" to them, I can drive plenty fast enough on any road on any condition without worrying about slipping off into the nearest ditch. Mine are going on this weekend.
Good choice of tyre O.P, we currently have TS850P SUV Contis on our Subarus and they're a terrific winter tyre. Your new ones will take 500 miles or so to 'scrub in' and in the current mild weather expect the overall ride to feel somewhat softer. However, when the cooler weather, surface water, snow and ice come along you will praise them without doubt.
I bought a full set of new winter tyres a couple of years ago (Nexen Winguard Sport - don't know how highly they are rated). After fitting them to my car, it did feel different. Felt a bit spongy to be honest.
However, after a couple of commutes, they felt absolutely fine. I don't know if the initial sponge feeling was because they were brand new and had to bed in, or if it was just me getting used to them. Soon forgot they were anything different though and they were indeed brilliant through the colder months.
However, after a couple of commutes, they felt absolutely fine. I don't know if the initial sponge feeling was because they were brand new and had to bed in, or if it was just me getting used to them. Soon forgot they were anything different though and they were indeed brilliant through the colder months.
Riley Blue said:
Don't they start to work below +7C? With the higher temperatures we've been having they're probably as squiggy as a very squiggy thing on St Squiggy's day.
Yes. I run 830ps on my Merc. Even with Bilstein B8s, the car feels somewhat inert and and soft. That changes a bit as temps drop, however. No winter tire is going to feel like a summer performance tire.
Riley Blue said:
Don't they start to work below +7C? With the higher temperatures we've been having they're probably as squiggy as a very squiggy thing on St Squiggy's day.
There is a transition between summer and winter compounds which means summer is less suited below 7°C, and winter above it, but it's not a sudden "cliff" of grip and ability. You'd be surprised how little extra wear you can have running them all-year round, because our average temps aren't that high.Winters will always be softer thanks to the sipes, so unless you wanted to have the tread blocks cut down you've got to work around it!
Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff