Pair of snow chains ok, pair of winter tyres not?
Discussion
I think because winter tyres are to be driven on all winter at proper speeds, whereas snow chains are only to be used to claw your way through actual snow at very low speeds, whereupon they are to be removed again once you reach tarmac.
Winter tyres should maintain the car's handling balance and braking distribution. Snow chains have a single use and can't be fitted for normal driving around.
Winter tyres should maintain the car's handling balance and braking distribution. Snow chains have a single use and can't be fitted for normal driving around.
As said above, chains are used for low speeds (I believe they are restricted to 20 or 30mph) for short distances, while winter tyres are used at normal speeds all winter.
Imagine slicks on the front and regular tyres on the rear in the wet, the steering won't be anywhere near what it should be, and swapping them around will cause you spinning, this is what would happen with winters and summers mixed.
Imagine slicks on the front and regular tyres on the rear in the wet, the steering won't be anywhere near what it should be, and swapping them around will cause you spinning, this is what would happen with winters and summers mixed.
HertsBiker said:
I am a fan of winter tyres, there, admitted it.
Am trying to work out why every vendor is happy to sell me a pair of chains for the drive axle, yet the tyre bods only want to sell me a set of four?
Provided the speed is kept down, surely two of either is okay?
They can't ensure the speed will be kept down.Am trying to work out why every vendor is happy to sell me a pair of chains for the drive axle, yet the tyre bods only want to sell me a set of four?
Provided the speed is kept down, surely two of either is okay?
Even at sensible speeds with summers on one end (say, the rear) and winters on the front, the grip balance would make the car want to travel like a dart flying backward under violent conditions (eg. panic stop, or black ice).
^ This. Chains are usually only used at very slow speed. At higher speeds, having one axle grip the road less than the other leads to dynamic instability issues. In an FWD car, you risk your car spinning round until it faces backwards on a slightly quicker/cambered corner. In an RWD car you understeer badly. Both are a bad idea.
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