Winter tyres vol 2
Discussion
Turn7 said:
Stupid question that I guess I know the answer to, but will ask anyway....
Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?
We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.
I would put a set of all-seasons on the front. That would suit you until next spring and will help whether you sell or decide to keep, then in the latter case put all-seasons on the back in due course. Ideally the best tyres should be on the rear, but as long as the rear tread depths are more than 3mm deep. Our Fabia has Quatrac all-seasons on the fronts, and Continental 2s on the rear, and we are waiting for them to get nearer to 3mm then will go all-season all round.Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?
We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.
I have run Michelin Cross Climate + all year round for the last four years but have just bought a full set of winter tyres on new alloys for a bargain price on eBay. So this morning it was two degrees below freezing down my private road with some actual ice in a section where I have a water leak. I was able to test the braking (BMW 535d F10) on the Michelins and then on the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D run-flats.
The Dunlops have 7mm and the Michelins are just about road legal having passed the Mot last week but only just. The Dunlop's are seven years old though.
Sod all difference between them.
I suspect the Dunlops will not be better in actual snow so the snipes work. The CrossClimates are impressive and I recommend them.
The Dunlops have 7mm and the Michelins are just about road legal having passed the Mot last week but only just. The Dunlop's are seven years old though.
Sod all difference between them.
I suspect the Dunlops will not be better in actual snow so the snipes work. The CrossClimates are impressive and I recommend them.
Turn7 said:
coppice said:
Full set . Years ago , we tried winters on the front of my OH's 205. You navigated by the view from the side windows...
You say that like its a bad thing..... 
I have used winters since 1989 , long before they became such a thing , when we moved to a hamlet on the moors, accessed by steep single tracks . I have used premium winters -Michelin , Vredestein etc - and cheapos on fwd and 4wd cars . This is where I am supposed to say how very different they are , that cheap stuff is terrible etc but the reality is that , actually , they were all much of a muchness . All got me through deep snow with ease, all were night and day better than summer tyres . The differences between brands were only very noticeable by road noise and warmer weather grip- in spring when you were about to change back to summers
Agreed!
I've known proper rural boys and farmers who run any old crap in real winter, like snow... and it's basically the most aggressive tread the better and as you day, between brands there's not much to call it. An old Nova 1.0L on Kleber Snow tyres had remarkable levels of grip on snow covered tracks.
However, where the budget stuff / massive aggressive tread seems to go massively wrong is in frosty / wet / slushy / muddy on tarmac conditions and that's where the premium / modern winter stuff is far better than cheap stuff or mega aggressive tread. But for actual snow grip, there doesn't seem to be much in it but when do any of us drive in fresh snow for prolonged time? If so we'd be sticking studded tyres or snow chains on...
I do think we're very focussed in snow when it comes to winter tyres, when in reality it's probably a tiny percentage of winter conditions. Today for example, it snorwed yesterday for a bit, it's currently zero degrees but the roads are dry... my previous Ultragrip 8 just tote up in these conditions and their performance was pretty poor in the wet, something I also found with Nokian WR4.
Each to their own and to be honest, the only right answer is to drive in what you like it feel happiest with.
I've known proper rural boys and farmers who run any old crap in real winter, like snow... and it's basically the most aggressive tread the better and as you day, between brands there's not much to call it. An old Nova 1.0L on Kleber Snow tyres had remarkable levels of grip on snow covered tracks.
However, where the budget stuff / massive aggressive tread seems to go massively wrong is in frosty / wet / slushy / muddy on tarmac conditions and that's where the premium / modern winter stuff is far better than cheap stuff or mega aggressive tread. But for actual snow grip, there doesn't seem to be much in it but when do any of us drive in fresh snow for prolonged time? If so we'd be sticking studded tyres or snow chains on...
I do think we're very focussed in snow when it comes to winter tyres, when in reality it's probably a tiny percentage of winter conditions. Today for example, it snorwed yesterday for a bit, it's currently zero degrees but the roads are dry... my previous Ultragrip 8 just tote up in these conditions and their performance was pretty poor in the wet, something I also found with Nokian WR4.
Each to their own and to be honest, the only right answer is to drive in what you like it feel happiest with.
B'stard Child said:
F20CN16 said:
Turn7 said:
Stupid question that I guess I know the answer to, but will ask anyway....
Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?
We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.
Very bad idea… the rear will try to overtake the front on bends and braking.Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?
We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.
It's really not controllable even if you know what's coming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5aMnmekA38
Davie said:
Today for example, it snowed yesterday for a bit, it's currently zero degrees but the roads are dry... my previous Ultragrip 8 just tote up in these conditions and their performance was pretty poor in the wet, something I also found with Nokian WR4.
I'm late switching over as my winter alloys need a refurb (was planned for earlier this month until Covid interfered), so went out on the Summer PS4s this morning....and whilst I know the snow hadn't settled, it was still very-wet 1 degree conditions and I didn't really notice.
...so for me, winter tyres are as much about ice performance as snow...and they damn well better have good wet grip and braking.
Anyone know of any decent winter biased heavy duty tyres suitable for a Hilux?
It's got BF Goodrich All Terrains on just now and while they're almost unstoppable until you run out of ground clearance their on road snow performance isn't a patch on the proper Michelin winter tyres we have an an old Accord.
It's great fun if you're in the mood, in 2wd today with nothing in the back I felt like a Tokyo Drift King!
It's got BF Goodrich All Terrains on just now and while they're almost unstoppable until you run out of ground clearance their on road snow performance isn't a patch on the proper Michelin winter tyres we have an an old Accord.
It's great fun if you're in the mood, in 2wd today with nothing in the back I felt like a Tokyo Drift King!
Adrian E said:
bolidemichael said:
I can't see how temperatures are hovering for you in the SE... it's consistently around 4°C in SW London and winters are most certainly ON!
I don’t drive every day - was 8.5c yesterday when I went out. It’s taken 2 weeks for the wheels to be refurbished and tyres delivered. Comment was more how it’s clearly cold enough at each end of the day, but daytime temperature is still fluctuating around the 7c marker, so depends when you’re driving reallyThat's my reasoning, for determining a suitable changeover time.
Wills2 said:
Jdnatureboy said:
The people in a BMW X3 with X drive and summer tyres are probably still wondering why a Saab convertible was able to get up the hill they could only get 1/3 up. Well until I stopped at the top, got out and shouted "Winter Tyres" at them.
Partridge.jamiem555 said:
Ha ha, so true. I’ve been running winters on my cars since 2010. Highlights last few years have been overtaken a Range Rover Sport wheelspinning at 5 mph on a slight hill and an X5 doing the same through town. Just me in my Focus ST doing 30 mph on full winters!
Yeah, the smugness is great. Had few encounters where many get stuck on a particularly bad incline near where I live, the sheer shock on peoples faces when I rock up with no dramas in my fully winter tyred BMW 3 series...stop half way up, then start off again just because I can 
Childish I know....but fun, not got any winters on this year, working from home now if I want to, means I can just look out the window and decide what to on the day, just as well as there are some mad drivers out there who have no idea on the benefits of fitting winter rubber and the safety curtain it gives you. Good luck out there!
Speed addicted said:
vaud said:
Pica-Pica said:
Way back when, tyres were generally more all-seasonable.
Were they? I recall my parents being stuck in snow and cars slipping and sliding in the 80s, and that would have been an era of narrower, higher profile tyres.Then when you get to winter the unnecessary high performance tyres and huge wheels become an issue.
How many times do you see small low powered cars doing just fine in winter where more expensive things are struggling?
Low weight and narrow tyres!
I had a MK2 Granada on 185x14 tyres in the early 80s and it coped so much better with snow/ice than my 123d did on 205/60x17 tyres did in 2010 - but being run-flats with stiff sidewalls may not have helped!
Because of that 2010 experience I fit winters every year to my 3 Series'.
Wills2 said:
Jdnatureboy said:
The people in a BMW X3 with X drive and summer tyres are probably still wondering why a Saab convertible was able to get up the hill they could only get 1/3 up. Well until I stopped at the top, got out and shouted "Winter Tyres" at them.
Partridge.mclwanB said:
Vredestiens performed well but had an issue with the quatrac pros that 2 in short succession had subtle but terminal sidewall damage from no known impact damage after under 5000 miles each. Manufacturer of course said no defects at all after a song and dance to get them returned and assessed, would never buy or recommend Vredestien again! Have cross climates on other car and no issue in several years!
Though conversely, I've run Quatracs for 50k+ will no issues but the other cars on Cross Climates seem very puncture prone. Could just be unlucky but I think it shows there's no set rule here - what works for one may not work for another. Edited by mclwanB on Saturday 27th November 14:09
Not a massive fan of the Cross Climates truth being told, for their costs they don't seem significantly better and on snow / slush they wash out much quicker than the Quatracs. Had the Cross Climate shod car switching between understeer and oversteer on roundabouts and the like fairly easily and in highly scientific tests between the two, ie going in circles in the golf club car park... the Quatracs seem more planted when cornering.
However they're not as good when it's dry roads so again, it gets so granular based in tyre choice, car, usage, conditions that there's really no right or wring answer here. I've a mate runs summer performance tyres all year, another swears by snow biased winters and has been on them for weeks... we've just had our first snow flurry today.
757 said:
jamiem555 said:
Ha ha, so true. I’ve been running winters on my cars since 2010. Highlights last few years have been overtaken a Range Rover Sport wheelspinning at 5 mph on a slight hill and an X5 doing the same through town. Just me in my Focus ST doing 30 mph on full winters!
Yeah, the smugness is great. Had few encounters where many get stuck on a particularly bad incline near where I live, the sheer shock on peoples faces when I rock up with no dramas in my fully winter tyred BMW 3 series...stop half way up, then start off again just because I can Childish I know....but fun, not got any winters on this year, working from home now if I want to, means I can just look out the window and decide what to on the day, just as well as there are some mad drivers out there who have no idea on the benefits of fitting winter rubber and the safety curtain it gives you. Good luck out there!
Additionally, I'm surprised that it isn't a concessionary condition on car insurance that warrants a discount - having outlined the risks however... perhaps it's not quite as clear cut.
Davie said:
mclwanB said:
Vredestiens performed well but had an issue with the quatrac pros that 2 in short succession had subtle but terminal sidewall damage from no known impact damage after under 5000 miles each. Manufacturer of course said no defects at all after a song and dance to get them returned and assessed, would never buy or recommend Vredestien again! Have cross climates on other car and no issue in several years!
Though conversely, I've run Quatracs for 50k+ will no issues but the other cars on Cross Climates seem very puncture prone. Could just be unlucky but I think it shows there's no set rule here - what works for one may not work for another. Edited by mclwanB on Saturday 27th November 14:09
Not a massive fan of the Cross Climates truth being told, for their costs they don't seem significantly better and on snow / slush they wash out much quicker than the Quatracs. Had the Cross Climate shod car switching between understeer and oversteer on roundabouts and the like fairly easily and in highly scientific tests between the two, ie going in circles in the golf club car park... the Quatracs seem more planted when cornering.
However they're not as good when it's dry roads so again, it gets so granular based in tyre choice, car, usage, conditions that there's really no right or wring answer here. I've a mate runs summer performance tyres all year, another swears by snow biased winters and has been on them for weeks... we've just had our first snow flurry today.
jon- said:
B'stard Child said:
F20CN16 said:
Turn7 said:
Stupid question that I guess I know the answer to, but will ask anyway....
Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?
We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.
Very bad idea… the rear will try to overtake the front on bends and braking.Wife has an old Yaris, would a front only pair of Winters be worth doing, or does it need the full set ?
We are very close to swapping it out, but havnt yet decided with what, and if we could get through this winter on a pair it would buy us some thinking time.
It's really not controllable even if you know what's coming.
I've fitted Maxxis AP2 to the A2 and they're effective and cheap. We recently had a puncture and had to replace the tyre. I sourced a pair of AP3 and kept the good one (AP2) as a spare.
I'd agree that over the lifetime of the tyre they may prove a false economy when running to 2mm, but for us the mileage of 5,000 per annum means that they have good tread for years and the cheap replacement is a bonus too.
Edited by bolidemichael on Sunday 28th November 08:53
bolidemichael said:
-jon of this thread says that CCs are good for the UK climate which experiences lower temperatures in combination with more rain, as opposed to heavy snowfall. Personally I run full winters on the Merc as it'll go to Europe occasionally, but all seasons on the urban based A2.
I’m running full winters on my X3 and switching, all seasons all year round on the Mini which I have found to be absolutely brilliant in all weathers particularly the wet and cold that seems to be most of it The all seasons are the Goodyear Vectors and the Winters are Bridgestone Blizzaks
I can’t fault either though I’d be tempted to switch to all seasons for the X3 when I need a new set of summers
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