Winter tyres, to bother or not ?

[Bill]

Even then there is no blanket answer. Some people might need them in the south, depending on personal circumstances. Some people in the north might not.

Given this I do find the vehemence of some people's replies odd.

Personally I'd rather trade a bit of dry braking ability, when I'm least likely to need it, for better wet and cold weather performance.

[Kateg28]

St John Smythe said:

Kateg28 said:

I do not understand.

Winter Tyres are better in Winter and this is a fact. Whether you would see the benefit or not is possibly up for debate as in the UK are winters are not like Canada or Central Europe but maybe the one time you need it is the one time it may save your life. I would try to have the best tyre I could for that particular occasion. Cannot change tyres each day but can for the seasons.

We put Winter tyres on both our cars as my OH pretty much needs to get to work, and he swaps between both cars.

The maths seems to make sense as we are only ever using one set of tyres on each car and we are fortunate enough to be able to store them.

Certainly in the far North and Scotland they make sense and I lived up there I'd have a set. However, I live in Hertfordshire and they would be a waste of money (and time) tbh.

We also live in Hertfordshire and we do not see them as a waste of money as we pay for 2 sets of tyres for each car but they last twice as long. I have seen some nasty accidents over the years even in relatively mild Hertfordshire and just maybe the superior grip might have helped. (I have seen -12 a few times when out driving so it does get below freezing).

The time is nothing, the tyre man comes and picks the car up (with tyres in the back) and then brings it back with the tyres swapped. The only effort it takes us is moving the spare tyres between garage and car when we do the swap.

[anonymous-user]

Kateg28 said:

St John Smythe said:

Kateg28 said:

I do not understand.

Winter Tyres are better in Winter and this is a fact. Whether you would see the benefit or not is possibly up for debate as in the UK are winters are not like Canada or Central Europe but maybe the one time you need it is the one time it may save your life. I would try to have the best tyre I could for that particular occasion. Cannot change tyres each day but can for the seasons.

We put Winter tyres on both our cars as my OH pretty much needs to get to work, and he swaps between both cars.

The maths seems to make sense as we are only ever using one set of tyres on each car and we are fortunate enough to be able to store them.

Certainly in the far North and Scotland they make sense and I lived up there I'd have a set. However, I live in Hertfordshire and they would be a waste of money (and time) tbh.

We also live in Hertfordshire and we do not see them as a waste of money as we pay for 2 sets of tyres for each car but they last twice as long. I have seen some nasty accidents over the years even in relatively mild Hertfordshire and just maybe the superior grip might have helped. (I have seen -12 a few times when out driving so it does get below freezing).

The time is nothing, the tyre man comes and picks the car up (with tyres in the back) and then brings it back with the tyres swapped. The only effort it takes us is moving the spare tyres between garage and car when we do the swap.

Maybe you live in the lesser known 'Alpine' region of Herts then?

[McSam]

Hugo a Gogo said:

McSam said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

how many spin off the road or slide into the car in frnt at the lights because their winter tyres lost grip in the summer?

Plenty of people.

I still doubt it very much

the vast majority of people go nowhere near the limits in dry conditions
in winter, the limits are so much closer, everyone is near or over them

And you told me off for selective quoting. Here's what I actually said:

McSam said:

Plenty of people. It's not specifically about winter tyres being used in summer, it's about the number of accidents which would have been avoided if you'd fitted a better tyre. The data you presented above shows it - warm dry conditions, 60mph stopping distance of 120ft on summers, 155ft on winters. I said it's unreasonable to call using winters all year round "just as safe" as using the correct tyres for the conditions. Plainly, that statement is correct.

But it seems in a roundabout kind of way, you now agree that it's not sensible to use winters all year, just a more sensible option than summers all year.

[Hugo a Gogo]

Plenty of people. Full stop. Next sentence

and it's not that I now agree about winters all year not being the very best idea, it's what I've said all along

not even that in fact, just that lots of people do, quite reasonably, believe it to be OK

[andrewparker]

My first two seasons with winter tyres on my Golf GTI (put on November through the March) were fantastic, but we had prolonged periods of snow and the car was perfectly useable most of the time. The benefit the past two years has been negligible, and in fact gave worse performance in wet conditions.

I certainly won't be rushing to stick them on this year.

[goldblum]

Hugo a Gogo said:

Plenty of people. Full stop. Next sentence

and it's not that I now agree about winters all year not being the very best idea, it's what I've said all along

not even that in fact, just that lots of people do, quite reasonably, believe it to be OK

Depends on the type of driver IMO. Summers bring you to a halt quicker in summer, are generally less noisy, cost less (good summers cost less than good winters) and if you enjoy your driving the car handles better on summers. However if you drive like an old dear the whole year round you probably won't notice the difference between summers or winters. So it's 50/50.

[arfur]

arfur said:

If it helps, I've had Winters to go on the cars for years ... always buy part worns in the summer from ebay or suchlike.

Currently have 255/35/19 winters on the Audi .. cost for 4 with 5mm on them was 200 quid - And they are premium brands.

No point in buying them new ... far too expensive

Oh, and if anyone wants a FREE set of 205/55/16 Runflat Vred Wintracs (off a 1 Series so will fit a Mini as well) I have a set you can HAVE. They will last this winter ... about 4mm on them. Collect Henley

Blimey ... can't even give a set of winters away ... Thought they would be gone by now !

[Vanin]

Long thread and it has probably been mentioned before but surely the "all season" tyres are the best compromise. They are much closer generally to snow tyres and even out perform them in these tests
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2013-Auto-Bil...

We run a set of Pirelli Scorpions all season on a 4x4 and have never felt the need for anything else in mid UK conditions.

The normal scenario is a fall of snow. This obviously varies but there comes a point where ground clearance comes into the equation. Also with most fresh snow there is not much of a problem taking it steady. Same with slightly compacted snow.
Taking it steady means that if there is a prang it is just an irritating body shop job rather than an injury.
The trouble starts in our intermediate conditions around freezing point where it thaws and then freezes herd overnight.
The next morning the roads can be sheet ice and I am not sure that Winter tyres will help on that. Even if they do then normally the sun comes out and the roads dry and you find yourself driving at normal speeds on your Winter tyres perhaps on a motorway at 70 mph. You then may be unlucky to come across the caterpillar effect and the cars braking like mad in front of you and it is then when you find that your Winter tyres take another five metres to stop (according to a test I saw) This difference could well be the difference between continuing the journey to your destination or to a hospital.

[JimmyTheHand]

gazza285 said:

I've managed 25 years of driving without winter tyres on and I'm not about to change.

I have managed longer and snow hasn't stopped me - However the OEM Dunlop SP Sport Maxx on the current car were by far the worse I can recall in snow so I have a set to go on car (but only because they were being sold cheapish by someone I know) - it wouldn't surprise me to find BMW went specifically looking for the worse on snow to sell their winter tyres options.

[rambo19]

My 2 penneth worth.......

I'm 45, past my test at 17, my 1st 5-6 cars were RWD, cortinas/granadas/capri.
Ive lived through some quite bad winters and have never got stuck without winter tyres.
I can understand if you live in a rural/semi rural area you may need winter tyres.

The 1 thing that worries me about winter tyres is that they may give the driver a false sense of security.

[jon-]

Vanin said:

Long thread and it has probably been mentioned before but surely the "all season" tyres are the best compromise. They are much closer generally to snow tyres and even out perform them in these tests
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2013-Auto-Bil...

We run a set of Pirelli Scorpions all season on a 4x4 and have never felt the need for anything else in mid UK conditions.

The normal scenario is a fall of snow. This obviously varies but there comes a point where ground clearance comes into the equation. Also with most fresh snow there is not much of a problem taking it steady. Same with slightly compacted snow.
Taking it steady means that if there is a prang it is just an irritating body shop job rather than an injury.
The trouble starts in our intermediate conditions around freezing point where it thaws and then freezes herd overnight.
The next morning the roads can be sheet ice and I am not sure that Winter tyres will help on that. Even if they do then normally the sun comes out and the roads dry and you find yourself driving at normal speeds on your Winter tyres perhaps on a motorway at 70 mph. You then may be unlucky to come across the caterpillar effect and the cars braking like mad in front of you and it is then when you find that your Winter tyres take another five metres to stop (according to a test I saw) This difference could well be the difference between continuing the journey to your destination or to a hospital.

If you look at the 2014 winter tyre guide on tyrereviews (latest article) you'll see I agree

[mwstewart]

I run Conti Sport Contact on my daily and I'm more than happy with the all weather/season performance. The other cars have more performance oriented tyres but don't get used in the wet or in the winter.

[nickfrog]

Refreshing thread. 2 years ago you would be lynched for daring to suggest that you will survive a drive on summers at 6.9 degrees.

But now, hey, much more balanced views. That's a couple of normal winters for you.

I haven't used my winters for 2 years now (Supersports are so grippy down to 1/2 deg) so the rubber has perished as they 5 year old or so...

Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 26th November 23:50

[Digby]

JimmyTheHand said:

gazza285 said:

I've managed 25 years of driving without winter tyres on and I'm not about to change.

I have managed longer and snow hasn't stopped me

Same here, but I have had to avoid certain areas in the past after dozens of failed attempts to get through, have crept along many times with my heart in my mouth all the way and have had no choice but to sit in hours of traffic because I knew specific shortcuts would be utterly pointless to attempt.

I don't use Winter tyres because I am afraid of getting stuck, I use them because it's such an amazing experience and I can go places where I would otherwise get stuck.Going up a lethal hill past abandoned 4x4's and then driving back down with the car behaving as though the road is almost dry, is something to behold.

I don't "need" them, but the difference driving on them compared to regular tyres is night and day and is something everyone should experience at least once imho.

[Hugo a Gogo]

arfur said:

arfur said:

If it helps, I've had Winters to go on the cars for years ... always buy part worns in the summer from ebay or suchlike.

Currently have 255/35/19 winters on the Audi .. cost for 4 with 5mm on them was 200 quid - And they are premium brands.

No point in buying them new ... far too expensive

Oh, and if anyone wants a FREE set of 205/55/16 Runflat Vred Wintracs (off a 1 Series so will fit a Mini as well) I have a set you can HAVE. They will last this winter ... about 4mm on them. Collect Henley

Blimey ... can't even give a set of winters away ... Thought they would be gone by now !

4mm is not far from worn out as far as winter ability goes, maybe 3mm

waste of time paying for them to be fitted in my opinion, suppose if you weren't doing many miles it might be worthwhile

[arfur]

Hugo a Gogo said:

arfur said:

arfur said:

If it helps, I've had Winters to go on the cars for years ... always buy part worns in the summer from ebay or suchlike.

Currently have 255/35/19 winters on the Audi .. cost for 4 with 5mm on them was 200 quid - And they are premium brands.

No point in buying them new ... far too expensive

Oh, and if anyone wants a FREE set of 205/55/16 Runflat Vred Wintracs (off a 1 Series so will fit a Mini as well) I have a set you can HAVE. They will last this winter ... about 4mm on them. Collect Henley

Blimey ... can't even give a set of winters away ... Thought they would be gone by now !

4mm is not far from worn out as far as winter ability goes, maybe 3mm

waste of time paying for them to be fitted in my opinion, suppose if you weren't doing many miles it might be worthwhile

Agree, as long as not doing many miles - hence giving them away ... ie round town etc then worth it. But at 4mm still better than summers if it actually gets snow/icy ! Local Eastern Euro Carwash also does tyres ... fitted and balanced with a free inside/out for 60 quid

Anyhow, looks like they will not be cluttering my garage much longer ... :-)

[Bill]

This has run its course and we don't need more winter tyre threads.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...