Winter Tyres

[DAVEVO9]

If you are thinking of getting some for this winter get some ordered.

If you leave it until Oct/Nov they will be hard to source.

_____________________________________

YouTube - Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice‏

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEM...eature=rela...

Really good video.. shows how good winter tyres are.

[N88]

So what are the advantages of winter tyres then? I'm considering some this year.

I assume its the fact they're better suited to the colder temperatures and wetter conditions?

[belleair302]

Different rubber compound better suited to colder weather and a better tread pattern. They seem to work best in temperatures below +8 C right down to some serious temperatures. Their wear rate is high and they are not much use in warm weather at speed. Change them in March back to a harder tyre.

[DAVEVO9]

N88 said:

So what are the advantages of winter tyres then? I'm considering some this year.

I assume its the fact they're better suited to the colder temperatures and wetter conditions?

Winter tyres are just that.. tyres to be used in the winter months where the temp gets to around 5 deg and below, not just snow.

The compound on a winter tyre has a lot more silica in it than a normal summer tyre so it stays soft when temps get below 5 deg and then below freezing..

On a summer tyre the compound of the tread gets very hard and therefore grip is lost.. If it is very cold and wet you will still have enough grip to drive normally until you have to brake hard, then your grip will be reduced..

On snow and ice you will have almost no grip at all..

Also the winter tyres have "sipes" built into the tread blocks which grip the road surface when it gets icy and snowy.

Most modern cars today have high grip low profile tyres which render them next to useless when we get the bad weather.

Too many people think they don't need winter tyres in the UK because, "we only have a few days snow each year" that is because they think winters tyres are "snow tyres"

[jon-]

DAVEVO9 said:

Too many people think they don't need winter tyres in the UK because, "we only have a few days snow each year" that is because they think winters tyres are "snow tyres"

- though I think perception is finally changing thanks to our last 2 winters. People might not fully understand winter tyres yet, but they're certainly talking about them more!

There's a few more reasons to consider winter tyres here

[FreeLitres]

This is a great video comparing winter vs summer tyres on a steep icy driveway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXuhfwY74b8

[jon-]

FreeLitres said:

This is a great video comparing winter vs summer tyres on a steep icy driveway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXuhfwY74b8

That video is brilliant

This is also worth a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCyiBoTxCao&fea...

[DAVEVO9]

FreeLitres said:

This is a great video comparing winter vs summer tyres on a steep icy driveway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXuhfwY74b8

Quality!

[IdiotRace]

I was looking around on mytyres the only thing is that all the tyres seem to only have a H speed rating, wheras my car needs at least a v rated tyre. Although mytyres says that you can use a lower speed index tyre if its a winter one, is that true? Purely for insurance reasons realy as i'm not going to be going that fast in the winter anyway.

Was looking at the nokian WRG2 as it comes in the correct staggered sizes which is a real pita. Also are there any decent outlets that sell winter tyres? mytyres and camskill seem to be the only ones i can find, the latter being a bit sparse on the sizes id need

[Larry Dickman]

FreeLitres said:

This is a great video comparing winter vs summer tyres on a steep icy driveway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXuhfwY74b8

But it doesn't compare tyres it compares different vehicles with different tyres. He should of put summer tyres on the Suburban after the winter tyres & also look at the different approach & speeds used between the Suburban & Range Rover, that was hardly an equal or scientific test.

Some vehicles are better in snow & icy conditions than others of similar design, example, I drove a Mini in the snow last winter which was crap, I also drove all over the country in the worst of the weather in my Astra van which was absolutely brilliant.

That video proves nothing & the only way it would of done is if he'd used the same vehicle with the same approach & speed with different weather tyres.

Edited by Larry Dickman on Tuesday 14th September 00:43

[HellDiver]

IdiotRace said:

I was looking around on mytyres the only thing is that all the tyres seem to only have a H speed rating, wheras my car needs at least a v rated tyre. Although mytyres says that you can use a lower speed index tyre if its a winter one, is that true? Purely for insurance reasons realy as i'm not going to be going that fast in the winter anyway.

The Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes I have are V rated. The Dunlops I have for the Mondeo are Q rated. 99mph. Safe enough, it barely does 99mph anyway.

[Leicesterdave]

My dad has just moved over to Sheffield from switzerland (...) and his motor has Michelin Alpin winter tyres all year. He intends to leave them on all year here too.
The wear rate is the same, the noise is the same etc etc.. Sometimes I find the internet folk to love creating paranoia. All this "it'll wear faster, it'll be noiser" is nonsense most of the time.
Most people would be hard pushed to notice anything different to a summer tyre. Except the winter tyre works well all year.
I'm getting some pirelli's snowsports in the next couple of weeks. Looking forward to this winter with no stress whatever the road conditions!

[HellDiver]

Leicesterdave said:

All this "it'll wear faster, it'll be noiser" is nonsense most of the time.
Most people would be hard pushed to notice anything different to a summer tyre. Except the winter tyre works well all year.

That's becasue they heard it when it was true, back in the 80s. Modern winters are probably better in the summer than last decade's high performance summers.

I got better grip, better handling out of the Vredestein winters than the Toyo T1R on my summer wheels. Much, much better.

[V88Dicky]

Guys, as an alternative to winter tyres, are snowsocks/autosocks worth considering?

They seem fairly straightforward to use and easy to fit;
http://www.autosock.co.uk/09/AutoSock_filmstrip-83...

Its just the missus has recently changed cars from a manual FWD four-pot to a auto RWD V8 and she's terrified of driving in the snow!

[HellDiver]

V88Dicky said:

Guys, as an alternative to winter tyres, are snowsocks/autosocks worth considering?

They're OK if you want to get through some deep snow. You lose the benefit of winter tyres the rest of the winter - you lose the enhanced ice and wet grip, and you also still have summer tyres which are rubbish below 7C.

It already getting towards the time for winters here - this morning it was 9C. Only 2C drop in temp in the mornings and it'll be winter tyre time. I'm planning on changing over in 4-6 weeks at a guess.

[V88Dicky]

HellDiver said:

V88Dicky said:

Guys, as an alternative to winter tyres, are snowsocks/autosocks worth considering?

They're OK if you want to get through some deep snow. You lose the benefit of winter tyres the rest of the winter - you lose the enhanced ice and wet grip, and you also still have summer tyres which are rubbish below 7C.

It already getting towards the time for winters here - this morning it was 9C. Only 2C drop in temp in the mornings and it'll be winter tyre time. I'm planning on changing over in 4-6 weeks at a guess.

Yeah, it was really just to get out of the estate when the snow comes down. It was pretty horrendous last winter and plenty of cars got stuck.

Oh, and there is snow and ice forecast for end of Sept/early Oct

[Leicesterdave]

Snowsocks are more trouble than they're worth imo- faffing about removing them all the time.

[Shaw Tarse]

Leicesterdave said:

Snowsocks are more trouble than they're worth imo- faffing about removing them all the time.

I have seen an Ambulance use them to get out of a snowy road.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Shaw Tarse said:

Leicesterdave said:

Snowsocks are more trouble than they're worth imo- faffing about removing them all the time.

I have seen an Ambulance use them to get out of a snowy road.

Not really quite easy to put on or take off. Bought from a decent supplier they come with gloves with long sleeves so you can keep your arms and hands clean.

[Ozzie Osmond]

IMO for 99% of the UK population winter tyres are an utter and complete waste of time. Just buy some decent tyres and use them all year round.

But at the end of the day it's your money.....