Winter or All Weather Tyres? Mixing with summer tyres?
Discussion
Ive read a few past threads and done my own research but im wondering what the straw pole on the topic in hand is.
Like many I find myself in the situation of needing two new tyres in the lead up to winter and wondering if now is a good time to invest in something a little more suited to cold, wet and snow. Ive got some freinds who live slightly in more remote areas that last year but in the main my usage is normal. Winter or all weathers certainly grip better in the cold and snow but it is worth the cost, partiuarly as most other cars will still be on summers.
Be thoughts are.
- How much is it worth it, for the cost, against the risk without.
- A set of tyres for my car is £200, which is fuor weeks fuel spending
- For £120, do i put them on a 2nd set of wheels, or pay the £40 to get them switched over
- Mixing winters and summers appears right out, certainly in winter, but also really in summer.
- But can I mix summers with all weathers, in winter, or in summer? (no in winter, yes in summer?)
Daniel
Like many I find myself in the situation of needing two new tyres in the lead up to winter and wondering if now is a good time to invest in something a little more suited to cold, wet and snow. Ive got some freinds who live slightly in more remote areas that last year but in the main my usage is normal. Winter or all weathers certainly grip better in the cold and snow but it is worth the cost, partiuarly as most other cars will still be on summers.
Be thoughts are.
- How much is it worth it, for the cost, against the risk without.
- A set of tyres for my car is £200, which is fuor weeks fuel spending
- For £120, do i put them on a 2nd set of wheels, or pay the £40 to get them switched over
- Mixing winters and summers appears right out, certainly in winter, but also really in summer.
- But can I mix summers with all weathers, in winter, or in summer? (no in winter, yes in summer?)
Daniel
Generally speaking, you're always better off keeping all 4 wheels the same.
Having 2 winter and 2 summer will be like having 2 new and 2 bald tyres.
Having 2 summer and 2 M+S/All season won't be as bad, but still not good.
The mixture will give you poor driving characteristics in all weathers, it's just change to whether it understeers of oversteeers (for want of a better description)
In an FWD car having winter on the front and summer on the back isn't too bad – but in very poor conditions the back end can slide about a lot.
Personally, I would drive with a mix.
It's not going to kill you instantly.
But, the point where it stops working is the point where you'll want it to work the most.
Having 2 winter and 2 summer will be like having 2 new and 2 bald tyres.
Having 2 summer and 2 M+S/All season won't be as bad, but still not good.
The mixture will give you poor driving characteristics in all weathers, it's just change to whether it understeers of oversteeers (for want of a better description)
In an FWD car having winter on the front and summer on the back isn't too bad – but in very poor conditions the back end can slide about a lot.
Personally, I would drive with a mix.
It's not going to kill you instantly.
But, the point where it stops working is the point where you'll want it to work the most.
Yep, I have similar questions... I run winters on my rwd, have done for years and enjoyed the handling. Yet some tyre geek tells me that I MUST HAVE a full set. I can't see the logic with RWD. The back is the end that wants to break loose, and the end that does the hard work. The front doesn't need mega grip all of the time if you are gentle. My fwd would be better with 4, rather than just the fronts, simple because it *may* try to oversteer... but surely anything is better than none? if it is legal to run ying-tong ditch finders at 1.6mm each end, then surely winters at the appropiate end would be better than nothing. Annoying isn't it? What happens if you crash while using snow chains or tyre socks only on your drive wheels? do these invalidate your insurance? It seems like it is legal to be dangerous and stuck, than to be mobile. The attitude on this sucks and is making the roads dangerous.
IMO RWD need the full set more than FWD as the two axles do different things.
Snow tyres on the back gives you movement, but not steering.
But, as you say, it's like driving on chains.
And it's not a massive problem if you drive slowly and carefully as one would in chains.
But, mixed tyre sets ay 70mph on the motorway is where it gets tricky.
Snow tyres on the back gives you movement, but not steering.
But, as you say, it's like driving on chains.
And it's not a massive problem if you drive slowly and carefully as one would in chains.
But, mixed tyre sets ay 70mph on the motorway is where it gets tricky.
Snowboy said:
IMO RWD need the full set more than FWD as the two axles do different things.
Snow tyres on the back gives you movement, but not steering.
But, as you say, it's like driving on chains.
And it's not a massive problem if you drive slowly and carefully as one would in chains.
But, mixed tyre sets ay 70mph on the motorway is where it gets tricky.
Is that a dry m-way, a rainy one, or a snowy one?Snow tyres on the back gives you movement, but not steering.
But, as you say, it's like driving on chains.
And it's not a massive problem if you drive slowly and carefully as one would in chains.
But, mixed tyre sets ay 70mph on the motorway is where it gets tricky.
I'd have thought RWD would have benign understeer (as i found), opposed to rapid oversteer on FWD if you are a bit hasty..
I'm really interested as i am about to change tyres on the Cooper. Currently both ends slip like mad and it gets stuck easily with only slight snow!!! the RWD just gets on with it's job and NEVER gets stuck. Also drives well on dry roads. Are your thoughts based on experience or theory? (not having a go if you are, btw).
A combination of experience and theory.
I've driven in lots of snow/winter conditions around snow resorts.
So I know the value of winter tyres (and snow tyres) in such conditions.
When I first had my first hilux it was very slippy in the dry.
It had snowtyres on, I changed 2 of the tyres that were getting low to regular M+S and it handled like a dog – I swapped the other 2 to M+S and it was fine.
I now keep a full set of 4 M+S and 4 snow which I switch when I need to.
I haven't driven with a mixed set for a long time now.
Note the difference between snow tyres with siping.
M+S/all weather tyres without siping.
The adverts aren't always clear, and sometimes the tyre marks have some overlap in branding.
I've driven in lots of snow/winter conditions around snow resorts.
So I know the value of winter tyres (and snow tyres) in such conditions.
When I first had my first hilux it was very slippy in the dry.
It had snowtyres on, I changed 2 of the tyres that were getting low to regular M+S and it handled like a dog – I swapped the other 2 to M+S and it was fine.
I now keep a full set of 4 M+S and 4 snow which I switch when I need to.
I haven't driven with a mixed set for a long time now.
Note the difference between snow tyres with siping.
M+S/all weather tyres without siping.
The adverts aren't always clear, and sometimes the tyre marks have some overlap in branding.
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