When to put on winter tyres
Discussion
In the last couple of years I've usually put them on when the kids go back to school after the holidays but waiting an extra couple of weeks this year.
Will be dusting off my winter tyres this weekend ready to fit next weekend. Usually give them a good clean-up/ protection and inflate to leave for a week to check for any issues.
Have the winter/ studded tyres on my commuting bike already though and ready to use it from Monday.
Will be dusting off my winter tyres this weekend ready to fit next weekend. Usually give them a good clean-up/ protection and inflate to leave for a week to check for any issues.
Have the winter/ studded tyres on my commuting bike already though and ready to use it from Monday.
Mine are going on in the next couple of weeks, in advance of a trip to the Highlands where I have been caught out in snow at this time of year before.
If you are a sailor, it's a bit like deciding when to put a reef in - the time to do it is when you start to wonder if you should .............
If you are a sailor, it's a bit like deciding when to put a reef in - the time to do it is when you start to wonder if you should .............
s2kjock said:
If you are a sailor, it's a bit like deciding when to put a reef in - the time to do it is when you start to wonder if you should .............
I am originally from Austria, where winter tyres are mandatory from 1. November until 15. April, or if the weather deems necessary. Conditions in Scotland are more moderate most years, but as a guideline I would almost stick to it and say that before November until April you should run on the softer rubber.
From a safety point of view winter tyres are actually more suitable for most conditions. Assuming you don't want to actually race or anything. In Austria it is legal to drive winter tyres all year round, but due to the softer rubber, they will wear really quickly during the hot summer months.
I am just in the process of buying some smaller wheels and winter rubber for the 911 as its rwd so will be interesting in the slippier conditions.
Winter tyres are designed to work below 7 degrees iirc so once the average daily temp is at that level or below you would be fine to change. Above that and the oils in the winter rubber overheat and come out, giving the tyres a greasy surface which will be odd to drive on.
Winter tyres are designed to work below 7 degrees iirc so once the average daily temp is at that level or below you would be fine to change. Above that and the oils in the winter rubber overheat and come out, giving the tyres a greasy surface which will be odd to drive on.
Newro said:
I am originally from Austria, where winter tyres are mandatory from 1. November until 15. April, or if the weather deems necessary. Conditions in Scotland are more moderate most years, but as a guideline I would almost stick to it and say that before November until April you should run on the softer rubber.
From a safety point of view winter tyres are actually more suitable for most conditions. Assuming you don't want to actually race or anything. In Austria it is legal to drive winter tyres all year round, but due to the softer rubber, they will wear really quickly during the hot summer months.
James B said:
I am just in the process of buying some smaller wheels and winter rubber for the 911 as its rwd so will be interesting in the slippier conditions.
Winter tyres are designed to work below 7 degrees iirc so once the average daily temp is at that level or below you would be fine to change. Above that and the oils in the winter rubber overheat and come out, giving the tyres a greasy surface which will be odd to drive on.
I actually went for the same sizes in winters on the 911 (19") - grips very well indeed and just a little noisier and more lumpen feeling. A fully winterised 2wd 911 is a complete hoot in snow, with quite ridiculous traction, as long as you follow the "slow in" principle religiously, as turn-in understeer becomes - ah - significant - bags of cat litter in the boot help load the front end and are good for grip when scattered on the ground.. The big no-no is getting the back end moving on off-camber downhill bends...Winter tyres are designed to work below 7 degrees iirc so once the average daily temp is at that level or below you would be fine to change. Above that and the oils in the winter rubber overheat and come out, giving the tyres a greasy surface which will be odd to drive on.
Of course a modern 911 is hopeless after the snow gets more than about 4" deep - you'll have hours of fun digging packed, thawed and refrozen snow out of the radiators.
@hman @Technomad
In Austria, during the summer months, temperatures of 25C and well above are the norm. If you drive your winter tyres all year round you'll be lucky if you get two seasons out of them. In Scotland where it usually stays below 20C, it probably wouldn't be that bad.
@Hollowpockets
But on a slippery road, the odds look a lot better if I am on winter tyres! They effectively half the distance required. That is a good enough reason for me.
In Austria, during the summer months, temperatures of 25C and well above are the norm. If you drive your winter tyres all year round you'll be lucky if you get two seasons out of them. In Scotland where it usually stays below 20C, it probably wouldn't be that bad.
@Hollowpockets
Hollowpockets said:
Seems to be plenty winter tyre users here, I've never had a set, just drive to the conditions and have never been stuck or had any problems. That said, I'm never usually out of the city in winter.
I can keep a car on the road with decent summer tyres on ice and snow. But it is not about me, I share the road with other things. Lets assumes a deer jumps out in front of your car, as it has happened to me and many others, will I be able to stop in front of it? I'll might make it in time with summer tyres, I might not even if I am on winter tyres, it is playing the chances really. But on a slippery road, the odds look a lot better if I am on winter tyres! They effectively half the distance required. That is a good enough reason for me.
Edited by Newro on Thursday 30th October 11:55
Newro said:
I can keep a car on the road with decent summer tyres on ice and snow.
Would love to see you try with a 1-series on wide run-flats. Well, actually it'd stay on the road as you wouldn't get started on the simplest incline.My Cayenne has Winters all year round and they've been ace for 2 years now with loads still to go.
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