Winter tyres vol 2

[jon-]

Pica-Pica said:

jon- said:

bolidemichael said:

Excellent stuff guys, what a fascinating video.

So for the UK, summers for 7/10°C+ and CrossClimates for winter.

To me, where I live (just north of london), there's zero need for winters, the CrossClimate is the perfect winter tyre for most of the UK.

It's proven time and time again that is has snow performance matching "normal" all season tyres, so will get you moving should we have any snowfall, but the dry and wet performance is a considerable step ahead most of the all season tyres.

The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 is out this year, which should be interesting, and I think he next version of the Continental AllSeasonContact will also be one to watch.

The trouble is, all those tyres are directional. Vredestein Quatrac 5 are asymmetrical, and non-directional, so any wheel/tyre assembly can go on any corner (assuming a square set up), which makes moving tyres around a car and using a spare, much more useful.

I tested the QT5 against 9 other tyres, including a summer and the CrossClimate.

The GT5 is behind the CrossClimate in snow performance. Sadly I've not got to dry and wet yet as we were meant to be testing and filming last week, but I expect it to be behind for that too.

I guess if you live somewhere that gives you a number of punctures, then this is something worth considering, but for me it's no big deal, I'd rather the extra perforomance.

[anonymous-user]

Haven't really had any sort of a winter down here in the south this season!

[Speed addicted]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

Haven't really had any sort of a winter down here in the south this season!

Haven’t really had much of a winter near Aberdeen either!
The X-Drive 4 series with winter tyres does feel a little bit overkill this year.

I intended to fit all seasons but couldn’t get them for the rear tyres, now I’ve got a winter set of wheels that are about ready go into the garage and a summer set that I’ll need to replace the tyres on.
The car came with Saferich ditchfinders fitted. They’re properly worrying in the wet, 4wd and modest power means interesting braking characteristics and some serious wiggles while leaving roundabouts.

[GFWilliams]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

Haven't really had any sort of a winter down here in the south this season!

Indeed, my winter tyres got shredded, there were too many warm days!

[Drive Blind]

wheel swap back to the summers today



Iron Out doing its thing on the winters




I had fooled myself into thinking there wasn't that much difference between the tyres... 2 minutes on the summers easily proved how wrong I was. Steering so much more direct.

[NGRhodes]

Yes they are different, but you need to remember you are comparing lower profile with more wear to higher profile with less wear, so they will be a significant factor.

[21st Century Man]

I don't understand. Summer tyres in summer. Winter tyres in winter. All season like CC for all year around use. Why are some suggesting summer tyres in summer and CC in winter? If you're going to the trouble of changing over, why not a dedicated winter in winter? It sounds as daft to me as the reverse, using a winter in winter and CC for summer.

[Pica-Pica]

RicksAlfas said:

Pica-Pica said:

The trouble is, all those tyres are directional. Vredestein Quatrac 5 are asymmetrical, and non-directional, so any wheel/tyre assembly can go on any corner (assuming a square set up), which makes moving tyres around a car and using a spare, much more useful.

I don't think this troubles other people as much as it does you.

It does not trouble me in the slightest. That selection is for our convenience. I leave my 335d on summers all year round. My wife’s Fabia is on Quatrac 5s, so in the event of the unusual occasion, of snow, we are able to drive out in a suitably shod, inexpensive car. In coastal North Wales it is rain that is the issue. My wife does not drive her car anywhere near 80% of wet or dry capabilities, so test performances that achieve that extra 15% are not an issue. This is the set up for our two cars that suit us. The Fabia can accept a full size alloy spare in the spare wheel well, so any puncture my wife gets will not be changed by her, but by a breakdown agency, so after the wheel change, there will be no further need to re-fit a wheel/tyre to the affected corner. Our convenience, our circumstances, our choices, hence the choice of an asymmetric all-season for her car.

[to3m]

Went to change my tyres back today, but found one of them has a screw embedded in it, that I hadn't noticed before - so my winter tyres are staying on for now. Hardly seems worth getting this fixed when I'm currently driving 10 miles per week.

The handling was feeling a bit squidgy when I drove to the shops in today's 21°C heat though

[bolidemichael]

21st Century Man said:

I don't understand. Summer tyres in summer. Winter tyres in winter. All season like CC for all year around use. Why are some suggesting summer tyres in summer and CC in winter? If you're going to the trouble of changing over, why not a dedicated winter in winter? It sounds as daft to me as the reverse, using a winter in winter and CC for summer.

Carbon Sasquatch said:

bolidemichael said:

What's the thinking behind using CCs ostensibly as a winter tyre, rather than a dedicated winter tyre?

The value of CCs is that they're all-season tyres, so for this reason I'm curious as to the thinking of the last two posters.

There was this video a few pages back that might explain

https://youtu.be/bKtnczk8Mxk

(I run full winters but usually not in the UK)

Just to save you scrolling up the same page...

[Pica-Pica]

to3m said:

Went to change my tyres back today, but found one of them has a screw embedded in it, that I hadn't noticed before - so my winter tyres are staying on for now. Hardly seems worth getting this fixed when I'm currently driving 10 miles per week.

The handling was feeling a bit squidgy when I drove to the shops in today's 21°C heat though

Wait long enough and there may be some bargain top-brand tyres going, tyre shops will need some income.

[21st Century Man]

bolidemichael said:

21st Century Man said:

I don't understand. Summer tyres in summer. Winter tyres in winter. All season like CC for all year around use. Why are some suggesting summer tyres in summer and CC in winter? If you're going to the trouble of changing over, why not a dedicated winter in winter? It sounds as daft to me as the reverse, using a winter in winter and CC for summer.

Carbon Sasquatch said:

bolidemichael said:

What's the thinking behind using CCs ostensibly as a winter tyre, rather than a dedicated winter tyre?

The value of CCs is that they're all-season tyres, so for this reason I'm curious as to the thinking of the last two posters.

There was this video a few pages back that might explain

https://youtu.be/bKtnczk8Mxk

(I run full winters but usually not in the UK)

Just to save you scrolling up the same page...

Thanks and sorry, I went back looking for it too.

[bolidemichael]

21st Century Man said:

bolidemichael said:

21st Century Man said:

I don't understand. Summer tyres in summer. Winter tyres in winter. All season like CC for all year around use. Why are some suggesting summer tyres in summer and CC in winter? If you're going to the trouble of changing over, why not a dedicated winter in winter? It sounds as daft to me as the reverse, using a winter in winter and CC for summer.

Carbon Sasquatch said:

bolidemichael said:

What's the thinking behind using CCs ostensibly as a winter tyre, rather than a dedicated winter tyre?

The value of CCs is that they're all-season tyres, so for this reason I'm curious as to the thinking of the last two posters.

There was this video a few pages back that might explain

https://youtu.be/bKtnczk8Mxk

(I run full winters but usually not in the UK)

Just to save you scrolling up the same page...

Thanks and sorry, I went back looking for it too.

It's a great test and the chap is very thorough and concise. I'll have a look at the state of my winters when I swap them over. I think that I'll have one more year left with them then I'll look to do the same as he recommends.

[anonymous-user]

I used Vector4Seasons as my "winter" tyre this year, using entirely the logic espoused in the video that in the UK we rarely see true winter conditions. Given what a limp winter we had I feel vindicated!

[jon-]

bolidemichael said:

21st Century Man said:

bolidemichael said:

21st Century Man said:

I don't understand. Summer tyres in summer. Winter tyres in winter. All season like CC for all year around use. Why are some suggesting summer tyres in summer and CC in winter? If you're going to the trouble of changing over, why not a dedicated winter in winter? It sounds as daft to me as the reverse, using a winter in winter and CC for summer.

Carbon Sasquatch said:

bolidemichael said:

What's the thinking behind using CCs ostensibly as a winter tyre, rather than a dedicated winter tyre?

The value of CCs is that they're all-season tyres, so for this reason I'm curious as to the thinking of the last two posters.

There was this video a few pages back that might explain

https://youtu.be/bKtnczk8Mxk

(I run full winters but usually not in the UK)

Just to save you scrolling up the same page...

Thanks and sorry, I went back looking for it too.

It's a great test and the chap is very thorough and concise. I'll have a look at the state of my winters when I swap them over. I think that I'll have one more year left with them then I'll look to do the same as he recommends.

The short answer is this.

Winter tyres are designed have significant snow performance. Snow performance has a trade off, dry performance.

The majority of the UK winters are dry and wet, not snowy.

A "summer optimised" all season tyre has usable snow performance, and better dry performance than winter tyres, which means for the majority of the UK winter the all season tyre is the more optimum tyre to be on

That's my logic anyway, obviously that changes if you live in the scottish highlands.

[Speed addicted]

jon- said:

That's my logic anyway, obviously that changes if you live in the scottish highlands.

Or if you have a car with 255/40 18 on the back and can’t get all seasons to fit it!
Even living near Aberdeen cross climates would have been fine, certainly for this winter anyway.

[FiF]

jon- said:

bolidemichael said:

21st Century Man said:

bolidemichael said:

21st Century Man said:

I don't understand. Summer tyres in summer. Winter tyres in winter. All season like CC for all year around use. Why are some suggesting summer tyres in summer and CC in winter? If you're going to the trouble of changing over, why not a dedicated winter in winter? It sounds as daft to me as the reverse, using a winter in winter and CC for summer.

Carbon Sasquatch said:

bolidemichael said:

What's the thinking behind using CCs ostensibly as a winter tyre, rather than a dedicated winter tyre?

The value of CCs is that they're all-season tyres, so for this reason I'm curious as to the thinking of the last two posters.

There was this video a few pages back that might explain

https://youtu.be/bKtnczk8Mxk

(I run full winters but usually not in the UK)

Just to save you scrolling up the same page...

Thanks and sorry, I went back looking for it too.

It's a great test and the chap is very thorough and concise. I'll have a look at the state of my winters when I swap them over. I think that I'll have one more year left with them then I'll look to do the same as he recommends.

The short answer is this.

Winter tyres are designed have significant snow performance. Snow performance has a trade off, dry performance.

The majority of the UK winters are dry and wet, not snowy.

A "summer optimised" all season tyre has usable snow performance, and better dry performance than winter tyres, which means for the majority of the UK winter the all season tyre is the more optimum tyre to be on

That's my logic anyway, obviously that changes if you live in the scottish highlands.

Exactly, devil in the details, it all depends on particular circumstances. Rolling reminder, what may be viewed as the good solution for person A, might or might not be the best option for person B who lives 250 miles away, or 50 miles away or even right next door.

[Ninja59]

I need to swap my winters over I have not washed the car in about 7 weeks.

Lacking energy to do it really and it is not like I can use it all that much anyway so decided not to rush it and do other house projects whilst hunting for a new role amongst my furlough life!

But next week I shall, my summer wheels are ready to go and ensured to find all my tools which are spread around my study, garage or in the car itself.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

I decided to wash my car first - then I didn't need to wash the wheels - so kept the discs as dry as possible as it's likely standing there a while....

Clean summer wheels on and then wash the winters once off the car.

[NGRhodes]

jon- said:

bolidemichael said:

21st Century Man said:

bolidemichael said:

21st Century Man said:

I don't understand. Summer tyres in summer. Winter tyres in winter. All season like CC for all year around use. Why are some suggesting summer tyres in summer and CC in winter? If you're going to the trouble of changing over, why not a dedicated winter in winter? It sounds as daft to me as the reverse, using a winter in winter and CC for summer.

Carbon Sasquatch said:

bolidemichael said:

What's the thinking behind using CCs ostensibly as a winter tyre, rather than a dedicated winter tyre?

The value of CCs is that they're all-season tyres, so for this reason I'm curious as to the thinking of the last two posters.

There was this video a few pages back that might explain

https://youtu.be/bKtnczk8Mxk

(I run full winters but usually not in the UK)

Just to save you scrolling up the same page...

Thanks and sorry, I went back looking for it too.

It's a great test and the chap is very thorough and concise. I'll have a look at the state of my winters when I swap them over. I think that I'll have one more year left with them then I'll look to do the same as he recommends.

The short answer is this.

Winter tyres are designed have significant snow performance. Snow performance has a trade off, dry performance.

The majority of the UK winters are dry and wet, not snowy.

A "summer optimised" all season tyre has usable snow performance, and better dry performance than winter tyres, which means for the majority of the UK winter the all season tyre is the more optimum tyre to be on

That's my logic anyway, obviously that changes if you live in the scottish highlands.

Agree with that logic. As an extension in northern England (especially hilly areas) and need an everyday (rather than performance) tyre, a summer biased all-season is going to be the best tyre all year round due to amount wet cool days we get (outside of snow/frost conditions in the Winter months).