Winter Tyres

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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.

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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.

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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"

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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!

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kentmotorcompany said:

Just ordered some Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes for my wife's car last night.

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

Guy called me this morning to say they wont be here until 1st week of Oct. Also they have not been able to order as many as they would like, and they have been taking orders for winter tyres since the end of August something they have not known before.

If I ordered mine early, as I don't expect they will get any cheaper in Nov/Dec.

I was looking at the same tyres..

When I phoned Camskil they also told me they would be coming into the UK end of this month.

I was also looking at the Nokian WRG2.

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kentmotorcompany said:

If we have a bad winter again, I think there will be a shortage of these.

I think a lot of people are becoming more aware of winter tyres, and tyre suppliers are only going to order what they are confident of selling, based on previous years sales.

Good point..

It's the normal motorist that should be made aware of them and the benefits they will give in the winter months.

You would think that people on this forum would be more clued up on them though?

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jon- said:

We're meant to be more clued up on what should be on the car but judging from some of the thread arguments I'm not sure we are

You get the same comments every year on here..

When we had the bad weather last year I was surprised none of the motoring organisations had anything to say about the use of winter tyres?

People just need to be educated that it's not just snow and ice conditions that warrant the use of winters.

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jon- said:

I'm fairly sure we're going to end up with a country shortage of winter tyres though.

I think you are right with regards to UK suppliers..

I have done my research a bit and found that they are made during the summer and are gen available from about the end of this month..

With the different laws in Europe though they are more available..

For example..

This company, over in France, if you look on their website, any tyres you see are available to order.

http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/

Good reviews on this site too.

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NorthernBoy said:

My car will go, stop, and corner better on its summer tyres this winter than yours will on its winter tyres

Edited by DAVEVO9 on Thursday 16th September 10:25

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Update on tyres..

I managed to get a set for my car from Bespoke Wheels at Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick

http://www.bespokewheels.co.uk/tyres.html

I have used them before over the last 4 yrs and highly recommend them..

I went for the Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme this time round. 235/45/17 XL. £140 a corner inc VAT/fitting.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Vredestein/Wintr...

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Audi A3 on the Wintrac's..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-wlkLddhDw

Anyone of here?

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GTIR said:

I saw a Range Rover sport not go round the corner very well, after sitting up my Arse in 3" or hard packed snow, and dive into a ditch. I just drove round as normal. (Winter Tyres of course)

I stopped made sure he was ok and got back into my car. After I'd stopped giggling I left.

My point being 4x4 with summer tyres have much less steering directional grip than rwd with winters.

Wasn't this one was it?

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corradoG60 said:

thanks, How budget can you go before my decent summer tyres will be better (in the damp and cold rather than proper snow, im sure in proper snow even the cheapest winters would be better)? im after a set of 195 50 15s or 205 50 15, i wouldnt touch a summer tyre thats £40 but i'll only have the winters on for a few months.

Edited by corradoG60 on Wednesday 6th October 21:27

I used this company last week for a set of winters for my Mums Sport ka.

3 days from Germany. Very good company to deal with.

If you see the tyres on the website they are in stock, the price you see is all inclusive of VAT and delivery.

A link might help.

http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/car-tyres-195-... reload another search selecting winter tyres and a load more will come up.

Edited by DAVEVO9 on Wednesday 6th October 21:48

Edited by DAVEVO9 on Wednesday 6th October 21:50

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corradoG60 said:

I think he selected that size for me

Correct.

The Sport ka size is 195/45/16.

Very limited choice in that size for a decent winter. I have gone 195/50/16.

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JM said:

MyTyres are cheaper. http://mytyres.co.uk

Edited by JM on Wednesday 6th October 22:32

If I had to buy a set for mine now in the Wintrac's

mytyres £157

Pneus £145

Prices are changing all the time though.

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175gt said:

Would be a great tyre to get but is £43 per corner more expensive than the budget tyres...

That's a bargain!

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GroundEffect said:

which is horrific for a tyre that'll be used for just a couple of months a year.

Winters should go on in November till March ideally.

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Time to put the winters on soon maybe? I know it's the "express" but we don't believe the BBC weather much do we?

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/277583

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CoolHands said:

haven't read the whole thread (obviously) but is it worth being a skin-flint and just putting winter tyres on the front (FWD car)? Let's face it the back don't do much expect trundle around after the fronts - who do all the work.

Of course if I was cornering like a rally driver it might matter, but for normal driving around town, it should be ok?

Bad idea.

Would you go onto an Ice skating rink with one skate on one foot and a slipper on the other?

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LMC said:

Had a feel of them before they went on the car, man they're as soft as ste! Obviously they will harden when the temp drops.

They shouldn't harden.. Winter tyres have a high silica content which stops them going hard in low temps.

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LMC said:

I thought they would get a bit harder when they reached their prime operating temp, whereas summer tyres get too hard.

Wait until it gets really cold then dig your thumb nail into them, you will be shocked as to how supple they remain.

Just for a laugh get one of the summer tyres that you have replaced and leave it outside when it gets well below freezing.. try the thumb nail test on both tyres.