Winter tyres - advice for a newbie.
Discussion
This is going to be my first Porsche winter. I've already noticed the handling difference on a cold night and thinking I ought to invest in some winter tyres. I will only venture out a couple of times a week in the winter and not in snow (I am up a steep hill). Do I get winter tyres only or try and locate some pre-owned wheels and tyres? Do I have to put Michelins on or can anyone recommend good winter tyres for a Cayman S? Comments appreciated.
Suggest you find a set of good used 18" Cayman S wheels and get the correct sized N spec winter tyres fitted (look in the handbook). Either ebay or the big Porsche independent spares outfits will sell wheels.
Some of the bigger tyre depots will look after your summer wheels at a cost.
Hope this helps.
SS7
Some of the bigger tyre depots will look after your summer wheels at a cost.
Hope this helps.
SS7
Try www.mytyres.co.uk for winter steels or porsche if you require Porsche alloys as well - they are not too badly priced.
Alternatively if not really using in snow or for a temporary measure, snow socks are very good http://www.autosock.co.uk/
Personally I would not bother if not driving in snow/ice and I am not sure how good winter tyres are in a wide format. I am also surrounded by 1:5 hills and i break out my winter tyre Clad golf when the snow and ice hits us - it has no problem going down as well as up in compacted snow but the tyres are relatively narrow at 195.
Alternatively if not really using in snow or for a temporary measure, snow socks are very good http://www.autosock.co.uk/
Personally I would not bother if not driving in snow/ice and I am not sure how good winter tyres are in a wide format. I am also surrounded by 1:5 hills and i break out my winter tyre Clad golf when the snow and ice hits us - it has no problem going down as well as up in compacted snow but the tyres are relatively narrow at 195.
RichB said:
Do nothing and drive appropriately. Ask yourself, how on Earth did we all survive before the tyre and wheel manufacturers hit on this gravy train? 
The gravy train that's a legal requirement in many parts of Europe?And the gravy train that would have stopped huge parts of the UK from grinding to a halt after a brief flurry of snow each winter for the last few years.
RichB said:
Yep that's the one. As I say gravy train but ho hum... It's never bothered me and I've driven loads of rwd cars up hill and down dale for 40 years. Must have been the odd hard winter or two in that time, no? Just my view based on my experience.
Problem is, just as little as 10-15 years ago, most cars on the road would be running on tyres no wider than 195 wide or lower than 60 profile. I recall my Escort, which was nigh on top of the range in 1990, was on 155/70 tyres - so we had few issues with tyres cutting into snow.These days, where you'd be lucky to find any family hatch or bigger running on less than a 205 and 55 profile, they're too wide to cut through snow and cause all kinds of issues. Add to this traction control systems which leave you stranded if you don't know how to / are too scared to switch them off and winter tyres suddenly become a very sensible idea.
Chapter and verse here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Agree with previous poster over sizes, though I swear the winters have got worse. When I bought winters for the fandango wide wheeled fiesta diesel, I put the same size as the spare 165/70 rather than the 205s low profiles. The insurance were happy and car handled very well in the full on snow.
Agree with previous poster over sizes, though I swear the winters have got worse. When I bought winters for the fandango wide wheeled fiesta diesel, I put the same size as the spare 165/70 rather than the 205s low profiles. The insurance were happy and car handled very well in the full on snow.
RichB said:
Do nothing and drive appropriately. Ask yourself, how on Earth did we all survive before the tyre and wheel manufacturers hit on this gravy train?
This isnt fantastic advice. If you havent ever used Winter tyres, you arent in a very good position to comment, and if you have, you wouldnt have posted this terrible advice.RichB said:
Do nothing and drive appropriately. Ask yourself, how on Earth did we all survive before the tyre and wheel manufacturers hit on this gravy train?
That will be why most of Europe keeps rolling in the winter and in the UK we grind to a halt then, with pretty much the first flake ?RichB said:
Do nothing and drive appropriately. Ask yourself, how on Earth did we all survive before the tyre and wheel manufacturers hit on this gravy train?
Are you still running cross-plys, or did you realise that, as time moves on, tyre technology improves and more grip/control becomes available to you?"Jenson, we know it's raining but we want you to stay on slicks - just drive appropriately"
These winter tyre threads are always the same. There are three types of posters;
Those of us who have used them and will continue to do so.(I live in Czech Republic where they are both legally and practically necessary)
Those who have never used them, but are considering or have decided to use them but are after advice.
Those who have never used them and scoff at the very notion.
There is a glaringly obvious group missing. Those who have used them and will not use them again. Why is that?
My own experience is that in a great number of winter circumstances they are not absolutely necessary (maybe moreso in the UK). But when conditions are difficult they make the difference between getting stuck and getting to my destination. However, and pertinent to the OP, during the winter months when the sky is clear and the roads are dry but the temperature is around 0 or lower the winter tyres allow me to enjoy a spirited drive in the country much better, faster and safer than if I was still using summer tyres.
They really are about much more that not getting stuck in the snow. It's akin to putting good sports tyres on in summer as opposed to LingLong ditchfinders.
Those of us who have used them and will continue to do so.(I live in Czech Republic where they are both legally and practically necessary)
Those who have never used them, but are considering or have decided to use them but are after advice.
Those who have never used them and scoff at the very notion.
There is a glaringly obvious group missing. Those who have used them and will not use them again. Why is that?
My own experience is that in a great number of winter circumstances they are not absolutely necessary (maybe moreso in the UK). But when conditions are difficult they make the difference between getting stuck and getting to my destination. However, and pertinent to the OP, during the winter months when the sky is clear and the roads are dry but the temperature is around 0 or lower the winter tyres allow me to enjoy a spirited drive in the country much better, faster and safer than if I was still using summer tyres.
They really are about much more that not getting stuck in the snow. It's akin to putting good sports tyres on in summer as opposed to LingLong ditchfinders.
If studs are legal in your country and there is ice, get them. I would try to find skinnier tires and do MOT to approve them. Wide tires are usually bad choice for winter driving as they tend to rise over the snow rather than cut in and bite. Manufacturers do not seem to get this some reasons and spec winter tires almost as wide as summer tires.
Note that following tires might not have speed rating high enough for crazy speeds but I do not know if MOT cares.
Some scores from latest test:
Studded winter tires
1 Continental ContiIceContact 107
2 GoodYear UltraGrip Ice Arctic 106
3 Dunlop Ice Touch 102
4 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 100
5 Gislaved Nord Frost 5 99
6 Hankook Winter iPike RS2 86
7 Nordman 4 84
8 Agi Sarek 2 79
9 BF Goodrich g-Force Stud 77
Non studded tires Auto Bild 2012:
1 Continental ContiVikingContact 5 108
2 Michelin X-Ice XI3 103
3 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R 99
4 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 88
5 Toyo Observe Gsi-5 80
Note that following tires might not have speed rating high enough for crazy speeds but I do not know if MOT cares.
Some scores from latest test:
Studded winter tires
1 Continental ContiIceContact 107
2 GoodYear UltraGrip Ice Arctic 106
3 Dunlop Ice Touch 102
4 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 100
5 Gislaved Nord Frost 5 99
6 Hankook Winter iPike RS2 86
7 Nordman 4 84
8 Agi Sarek 2 79
9 BF Goodrich g-Force Stud 77
Non studded tires Auto Bild 2012:
1 Continental ContiVikingContact 5 108
2 Michelin X-Ice XI3 103
3 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R 99
4 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 88
5 Toyo Observe Gsi-5 80
Edited by Raitzi on Tuesday 23 October 08:33
vetrof said:
These winter tyre threads are always the same. There are three types of posters;
Those of us who have used them and will continue to do so.(I live in Czech Republic where they are both legally and practically necessary)
Those who have never used them, but are considering or have decided to use them but are after advice.
Those who have never used them and scoff at the very notion.
There is a glaringly obvious group missing. Those who have used them and will not use them again. Why is that?
Couldn't agree more with these statements! To the OP, I can recommend Vredestein Wintracs- have had them on my 996 C4S for 5 winters. Rears are 265s, rather than 295s. They are not N-rated, but I don't feel this makes any difference. They are a bit noisier than summer tyres, but make a huge difference once the temperature drops below 7C. I use my 996 to go into the mountains for skiing, and have never had a problem in the snow (OK, so 4WD probably helps too!).Those of us who have used them and will continue to do so.(I live in Czech Republic where they are both legally and practically necessary)
Those who have never used them, but are considering or have decided to use them but are after advice.
Those who have never used them and scoff at the very notion.
There is a glaringly obvious group missing. Those who have used them and will not use them again. Why is that?
GC8 said:
If you havent ever used Winter tyres, you arent in a very good position to comment, and if you have, you wouldnt have posted this terrible advice.
Ah but contrary to that I have driven in snow numerous times and never had a problem so I do feel I am in a position to give my viewpoint. As for it being "terrible" don't make me laugh 
But if people have spent money on winter tyres and suitable rims then of course they will be in the pro-camp. However with 40 years driving experience I do feel my thoughts are valid and having driven in places like Finland and Sweden I have experience studded tyres and frankly they are totally different from the ones being promoted here as 'winter tyres'. Each to their own but don't simply jump to criticise alternative advice. vetrof said:
My own experience is that in a great number of winter circumstances they are not absolutely necessary (maybe moreso in the UK). But when conditions are difficult they make the difference between getting stuck and getting to my destination. However, and pertinent to the OP, during the winter months when the sky is clear and the roads are dry but the temperature is around 0 or lower the winter tyres allow me to enjoy a spirited drive in the country much better, faster and safer than if I was still using summer tyres. They really are about much more that not getting stuck in the snow. It's akin to putting good sports tyres on in summer as opposed to LingLong ditchfinders.
First thoughtful comments... Although I often take my Griff out on those clear cold days in winter and have not experienced issues with grip. Perhaps I let them warm a little before blasting it? Dunno... but at least you didn't tell me my advice will kill the OP
monthefish said:
Are you still running cross-plys, or did you realise that, as time moves on, tyre technology improves and more grip/control becomes available to you?
"Jenson, we know it's raining but we want you to stay on slicks - just drive appropriately"
Hilarious but true, I do run crosssplys on the Aston "Jenson, we know it's raining but we want you to stay on slicks - just drive appropriately"
What you probably don't know is that compared to radials they give a very progressive break away meaning I can four wheel drift it on corners... if I so choose
RichB said:
First thoughtful comments...
Although I often take my Griff out on those clear cold days in winter and have not experienced issues with grip. Perhaps I let them warm a little before blasting it? Dunno... but at least you didn't tell me my advice will kill the OP
I was very careful to qualify my comment in regard to absolute necessity, especially in the UK. Although I often take my Griff out on those clear cold days in winter and have not experienced issues with grip. Perhaps I let them warm a little before blasting it? Dunno... but at least you didn't tell me my advice will kill the OP
My mid winter blasts can often start in ideal conditions, but they can and do deteriorate quickly.
I think that it is important that people understand that winter tyres are not a magic fix for difficult winter driving and that, as always, common sense and good practice are very important. But they do perform better than summer tyres, in my experience, when there is no obvious need for them. Wet conditions just above 0 is when the difference is most marked.
As for the cost issue, my Continental TSxxx (can't remember exactly model) are not budget tyres but still only cost 100 euros per corner. A fair bit cheaper then my Pirelli PZero summer tyres.
Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 23 October 09:09
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