Winter Tyres

Author
Discussion

NJP

Original Poster:

119 posts

255 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
Hi All
My tamora is going to be my daily drive over the winter. I have a set of both 16" and 18" spiders for it so I'm thinking of using the 16s to mount some proper winter tyres to make the car a touch more manageable!

Does anyone have any recommendations or advice? Past experiences?

Thanks in advance!

Getsis

1,537 posts

215 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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CONTINENTAL
ContiWinterContact TS 830 P

db484bhpv8

8,655 posts

219 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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I have recently fitted Uniroyal Rainsport 3's that cam highly recommended. Only done a few miles on them at the correct pressure (the fitters put 34lb in them originally!).
First impressions in the dry are very good. I expect them to be very safe come the heavy rain.

db484bhpv8

8,655 posts

219 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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jev

384 posts

259 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
That is exactly what I've done.

Can't recall the precise tyres I've got (I think they are Pirelli) but they are great in the cold and wet. They are in my brothers shed - will have a look next time I'm there. No hurry - they don't work if its over 7 degrees (rubber is too soft).


TheRainMaker

6,306 posts

241 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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I have Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3's on the Cerb.

Really good in the wet as well as ice etc etc smile

Sevenman

740 posts

191 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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For winter use, any proper winter tyre from a good manufacturer will make a massive difference. Not a multiseason tyre which you don't need as you have separate wheels for summer tyres.

They still work above 7c, but not as well as a good normal tyre.

I normally put winters on in November and off in March. Cold and wet weather, the difference may be hard to feel, but get them on snow and it can be dramatic.

I think it would be worth it. We may have another mild winter, but if it is bad they could prove valuable.

dvs_dave

8,581 posts

224 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
Getsis said:
CONTINENTAL
ContiWinterContact TS 830 P
+1 excellent on my Tuscan. Although only used them for a season and 2000 miles. PM me if you want to buy some hardly used 235/40R18 TS830's as I don't have a need for them these days.

NiceCupOfTea

25,280 posts

250 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Nothing to add other than clap for driving a TVR through the winter!

Would love to do that with the S but I reckon the chassis would fizz like an alka seltzer!

nawarne

3,088 posts

259 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
I do some collection/delivery driving for the local Ferrari/Maserati dealership.

One of the technicians had a car on the lift (California, I think) and pointed out the condition of the rear tyres. On the inside shoulder they were down to the bracing/carcass. They were winter tyres - BUT - had not been swapped back to the usual P-Zero's for the summer.

A reminder that winter tyres will suffer if used in warmer 'seasons'.
Nick

J12KJR

2,860 posts

242 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
nawarne said:
I do some collection/delivery driving for the local Ferrari/Maserati dealership.

One of the technicians had a car on the lift (California, I think) and pointed out the condition of the rear tyres. On the inside shoulder they were down to the bracing/carcass. They were winter tyres - BUT - had not been swapped back to the usual P-Zero's for the summer.

A reminder that winter tyres will suffer if used in warmer 'seasons'.
Nick
While winter tyres aren't at their optimum when the temperature warms up being shot on the inner edge would point to some poor geo set up as the main cause.

so called

9,074 posts

208 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Getsis said:
CONTINENTAL
ContiWinterContact TS 830 P
+ 2 but on my CLS
I've got 19" for the summer and 17" with winter Conti's for the cold days.
Tuscan stets on summers and only goes out in the winter when weather allows.

jev

384 posts

259 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Over 7 degrees they are far too soft and its a little like driving on jelly. It's quite unnerving.

Below this they are amazing. They are not just for snow. I recall a particular long motorway drive in the pouring rain where the stability was night and day above my summer tyres.

Thread creep but one thing that did occur to me was whether the improvement was also due to 16" wheels and whether these are a betr bet for the Tamora all year round.

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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I run Nokian WR A3s on my Jag in winter. I'll buy those again.

I'm not sure I'd want a daily driver in winter without proper winter tyres again. It's not just a case of being careful - it's the ability to avoid other peoples' misjudgements too. The first time you can brake when someone overshoots a T-junction in to your path, they've paid for themselves in the hassle they've averted.

tivver500

369 posts

269 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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+1 for Nokian tyres (made in Finland so they should know a bit about winter).
Ordered from mytyres.co.uk and delivered to my door in two days - from Germany.
Have had winters on last few cars and wouldn't be without them now - and we live in Somerset!!!

nawarne

3,088 posts

259 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
J12KJR said:
nawarne said:
I do some collection/delivery driving for the local Ferrari/Maserati dealership.

One of the technicians had a car on the lift (California, I think) and pointed out the condition of the rear tyres. On the inside shoulder they were down to the bracing/carcass. They were winter tyres - BUT - had not been swapped back to the usual P-Zero's for the summer.

A reminder that winter tyres will suffer if used in warmer 'seasons'.
Nick
While winter tyres aren't at their optimum when the temperature warms up being shot on the inner edge would point to some poor geo set up as the main cause.
Agreed, and possibly the car in question had previous track time - so aggressive heat cycling for the compound. I'd also say that for both rears to wear in a similar area may or may not point to geo. I know that each car is fully aligned on completion of a major service.

Just thought I should add a cautionary note :-).
Nick

madbadger

11,555 posts

243 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
Watch out for the front spoiler acting like a snow plough.


madbadger

11,555 posts

243 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
madbadger said:
Watch out for the front spoiler acting like a snow plough.

J12KJR

2,860 posts

242 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
nawarne said:
J12KJR said:
nawarne said:
I do some collection/delivery driving for the local Ferrari/Maserati dealership.

One of the technicians had a car on the lift (California, I think) and pointed out the condition of the rear tyres. On the inside shoulder they were down to the bracing/carcass. They were winter tyres - BUT - had not been swapped back to the usual P-Zero's for the summer.

A reminder that winter tyres will suffer if used in warmer 'seasons'.
Nick
While winter tyres aren't at their optimum when the temperature warms up being shot on the inner edge would point to some poor geo set up as the main cause.
Agreed, and possibly the car in question had previous track time - so aggressive heat cycling for the compound. I'd also say that for both rears to wear in a similar area may or may not point to geo. I know that each car is fully aligned on completion of a major service.

Just thought I should add a cautionary note :-).
Nick
Cautionary note noted Nick smile It should also be noted that the same applies for summer tyres used when the temperature is low which will wear quicker as they are not designed to be used in low temperatures.
Too many people don't bother checking their tyres often enough Whether the wear you saw was down to poor tyre choice or bad geo it should still have been picked up before it reached the state you describe unless the owner had decided to lunch the tyres with a bout of drifting as it was going for service (unlikely for the owner of a Cali I think)
Too much reliance on the nanny state aids telling people when there is a problem these days.

JRH63

166 posts

121 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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I used to live in Russia..... Biggest selling winter tyres are Nokians.
I used them over 4 winters, truly amazing.