Winter tyres vol 2

[BritishRacinGrin]

Well you know what they say about Lotus;

Loads Of Toughness, Usually Substantial.

[Bill]

Arse, Marshalla, I guess the lorry driver didn't even notice.

[Dog Star]

Bill said:

I guess the lorry driver didn't even care

Fixed that for you.

[Dan Friel]

mad4amanda said:

Foppo said:

I'm surprised in 2014 drivers have to mess about with tyres swapping summer and winter.

Not surprised the majority of people don't bother.My cousin in the Netherlands uses all season tyres I believe a German tyre supposed to be the best.Isn't that the way to go?

Funny you should say that ; after 4 years use including 2 complete years my Toyo Snowproxes were down to 2.5 mm and felt really bad so I decided to try some all seasons with snowflake symbol. I went for std sized vredstein Quartrac which happen to be Dutch. Certainly compared to worn out winters they are brilliant in wet cold conditions, will wait and see how they do in the rest of the weathers.
I went for these because they are a compromise tyre for a compromise car , its the family run about an old Mercedes C class 220 cdi estate with an Auto box. It doesn't get caned to the limit I just wanted a tyre that would safely get us about in all conditions.
Will report back how they are in the summer and snow and Ice in time.

Have used Quartracs on the Panda 100HP for the last few months. Obviously not used in any proper "winter" conditions, so can't comment. In the wet they have been perfect, but you'd expect that from a decent set of new tyres. No difference from the Sportracs that I've been previously been using. However, in terms of dry handling they are miles behind the summer tyres. The change is significant and took a while to change driving habits, it's a big compromise (even in cold conditions). But they will stay on the car for the next few weeks. The main reason is that the roads are in a shocking condition and I want to keep the original wheels tucked up in the garage. Plus they will be fitted with Yoko AD08r's, and not quite ready for those yet...

[MG CHRIS]

My winters have been of since the start of February simply not needed them this winter. Looking forward to the warm weather to come sick of rain and grey sky's. Bring on warmth and blue sky's.

[Flibble]

jon- said:

Anyone still got winters on? It must be switch over point now, nothing below 5c on the 5 day forecast for north Herts.

Thinking I'll change them this weekend - double digit temps and dry weather forecast.

[GTIR]

Flibble said:

jon- said:

Anyone still got winters on? It must be switch over point now, nothing below 5c on the 5 day forecast for north Herts.

Thinking I'll change them this weekend - double digit temps and dry weather forecast.

Temps are below 5 at night and +10 in the day!

Mine are being changed over next week when my new summer tyres come in from tyreleder.

[ATM]

GTIR said:

Flibble said:

jon- said:

Anyone still got winters on? It must be switch over point now, nothing below 5c on the 5 day forecast for north Herts.

Thinking I'll change them this weekend - double digit temps and dry weather forecast.

Temps are below 5 at night and +10 in the day!

Mine are being changed over next week when my new summer tyres come in from tyreleder.

Just been out in my car and found the back end squirming around a lot more than usual with 11c showing on the display and slightly damp conditions. Maybe its time for the summer rubber.

[FBP1]

marshalla said:

To answer a few questions, according to the locals - *everyone* goes into that ditch.

Now, the good bit - it happened here (zoom out and go up and left a bit for the irony)

The "nice" thing, if there was one, was the sheer number of people who stopped to check that I was OK and offer assistance. Humanity ain't all bad.

I was just thinking - I'm sure I know that bend - its just like the one after the near 90 degree right hander by the tree before the open s bends and before the hump where the car goes light etc etc ... .

My Mother in law lives in Stoke Holy Cross just south of Norwich so I always take that road past Lotus when I get off / am heading back to, the London road.

It's got a nice flow to it and you regularly see Lotii "making progress" along it - probably testing suspension. I'll probably join you in the ditch one of these days as I usually press on there too

[jon-]

For those of you considering new summers, 50 tyre braking shootout followed by a full test of the top 15:

http://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2014-Auto-Bild-...

http://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2014-Auto-Bild-...

Auto Bild do really nice tyre tests.

Edited by jon- on Monday 4th January 22:58

[Flibble]

ATM said:

Just been out in my car and found the back end squirming around a lot more than usual with 11c showing on the display and slightly damp conditions. Maybe its time for the summer rubber.

1C on the way home tonight, time of day is making a big difference at the moment.

[Fox-]

Guess it might be time to take the winters off the Mini soon. Winter tyre wise the whole thing seemed like a massive waste of time and money, I'm really not sure there was any benefit at all of these tyres this winter. However it wasn't quite a waste because moving the car from the OEM 17's to winter 15's has shown how much the 17's ruin the ride and handling of the car, it's been a pleasure to drive on it's winter tyres.

[Patrick Bateman]

I'll be switching over next Friday. Commuting at 5/6am still sees the odd cold morning though.

[ED209]

Took my winters off yesterday, less than an hour after i took them off it was snowing! unbelievable

[ATM]

Flibble said:

ATM said:

Just been out in my car and found the back end squirming around a lot more than usual with 11c showing on the display and slightly damp conditions. Maybe its time for the summer rubber.

1C on the way home tonight, time of day is making a big difference at the moment.

I saw -0.5c this morning at 6am.

[RizzoTheRat]

I got sun burn yesterday. Forecast is looking like no frosty mornings for the next couple of weeks so it may be tine to change back, slightly worried about 18" alloys and the enormous potholes round here though.

[GTIR]

Had to do an emergency stop on the M25 (the two cars in front parted to avoid the car hitting the van in front) and luckily I left enough room in front, as I always do, and could focus on the car behind. I eased up a bit so he could stop.

It did quite well but I could defo feel the front tyres (winter) scrabbling under pressure.

[tenohfive]

RizzoTheRat said:

I got sun burn yesterday. Forecast is looking like no frosty mornings for the next couple of weeks so it may be tine to change back, slightly worried about 18" alloys and the enormous potholes round here though.

Netweather thinks otherwise.

[SkepticSteve]

OK who said winter was ovver??

Friday evening drove home from work in first a hail storm, which then turned into a sleet storm!
North Hampshire to Surrey and to say my summer tyres were "skitish" is an under statement.

This morning -2 on the way in to work and bits of black ice.

We have just had another hail storm here in Alton Hants!!

[McWigglebum4th]

SkepticSteve said:

OK who said winter was ovver??

Friday evening drove home from work in first a hail storm, which then turned into a sleet storm!
North Hampshire to Surrey and to say my summer tyres were "skitish" is an under statement.

This morning -2 on the way in to work and bits of black ice.

We have just had another hail storm here in Alton Hants!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-26678026