Winter tyres vol 2
Discussion
Smint said:
Swapping too early when the weather is not cold enough shows up how poor the winter set grip is on warm wet roads can be compared to the summers, cold morning hovering just about or around freezing the winters come into their own,
This is why I've switched to using all seasons over winter, they're better for 99% of the driving I do.Wow, that sparked a response. Thank you for the replies everyone.
To answer the "when do you change" question, I normally wait until the average temp for the following week is forecast to be less than 5 deg where I live. Most years this is November or December. Then I change back when the average temp is forecast to be above 10 deg C. This is normally March or April.
To answer the "when do you change" question, I normally wait until the average temp for the following week is forecast to be less than 5 deg where I live. Most years this is November or December. Then I change back when the average temp is forecast to be above 10 deg C. This is normally March or April.
ninepoint2 said:
I live in Scotland and never needed them in decades of driving in all weather
Have you ever tried them?In most areas of the UK I would recommend 4 season as being all that's needed, however, in Scotland, certainly in the highland area, winter tyres really are necessary if you want to get out and about safely.
ninepoint2 said:
I live in Scotland and never needed them in decades of driving in all weather
I also live in Scotland. Following a snowfall last year my neighbour tried for half an hour to get up the hill out our street. Failed. With all seasons I just drove straight out. They also made for a no drama trip home off nightshift when the roads hadn't been gritted or plowed after an overnight snowfall. Past several abandoned vehicles and allowing me to steer round a car that pulled out in front of me.
Granted, mostly they aren't needed. But when they they are.
irc said:
ninepoint2 said:
I live in Scotland and never needed them in decades of driving in all weather
I also live in Scotland. Following a snowfall last year my neighbour tried for half an hour to get up the hill out our street. Failed. With all seasons I just drove straight out. They also made for a no drama trip home off nightshift when the roads hadn't been gritted or plowed after an overnight snowfall. Past several abandoned vehicles and allowing me to steer round a car that pulled out in front of me.
Granted, mostly they aren't needed. But when they they are.
SAS Tom said:
I don’t really get why people still buy summer tyres when all seasons will suit them more of the time.
All seasons aren’t noticeably different in summer but much better in winter on most normal cars.
It's pretty annoying that you don't get a choice, or even have them fitted as standard, when the car is new. I wondered if it might be emissions related, but they're sometimes offered in other countries.All seasons aren’t noticeably different in summer but much better in winter on most normal cars.
OK, PHers need their max performance summer tyres as they drive everywhere at eight tenths, but for most people pottering around an All Season tyre makes perfect sense.
SAS Tom said:
I don’t really get why people still buy summer tyres when all seasons will suit them more of the time.
All seasons aren’t noticeably different in summer but much better in winter on most normal cars.
I do it for 2 reasons. All seasons aren’t noticeably different in summer but much better in winter on most normal cars.
1. To save the diamond cut alloys from the salt.
2. It came with good Continental Summer tyres that I didn't want to bin.
When I care less I might just drop to All-seasons all year round.
Sheepshanks said:
SAS Tom said:
I don’t really get why people still buy summer tyres when all seasons will suit them more of the time.
All seasons aren’t noticeably different in summer but much better in winter on most normal cars.
It's pretty annoying that you don't get a choice, or even have them fitted as standard, when the car is new. I wondered if it might be emissions related, but they're sometimes offered in other countries.All seasons aren’t noticeably different in summer but much better in winter on most normal cars.
OK, PHers need their max performance summer tyres as they drive everywhere at eight tenths, but for most people pottering around an All Season tyre makes perfect sense.
Sheepshanks said:
It's pretty annoying that you don't get a choice, or even have them fitted as standard, when the car is new. I wondered if it might be emissions related, but they're sometimes offered in other countries.
OK, PHers need their max performance summer tyres as they drive everywhere at eight tenths, but for most people pottering around an All Season tyre makes perfect sense.
They were An option on my last new car - Skoda Superb. £129 for the four. 17 inch wheels. OK, PHers need their max performance summer tyres as they drive everywhere at eight tenths, but for most people pottering around an All Season tyre makes perfect sense.
I wouldn't use anything else. I had an interesting side by side comparison a few years back when I drove my fwd Octavia to work including side roads with a few inches of fresh snow. At work I was driving a Skoda Scout which had 4wd. The Scout - on summer tyres - was OK at pulling away but far worse at braking and steering/cornering. As you would expect.
For an extra £40 or so a corner why wouldn't you.
irc said:
Sheepshanks said:
It's pretty annoying that you don't get a choice, or even have them fitted as standard, when the car is new. I wondered if it might be emissions related, but they're sometimes offered in other countries.
OK, PHers need their max performance summer tyres as they drive everywhere at eight tenths, but for most people pottering around an All Season tyre makes perfect sense.
They were An option on my last new car - Skoda Superb. £129 for the four. 17 inch wheels. OK, PHers need their max performance summer tyres as they drive everywhere at eight tenths, but for most people pottering around an All Season tyre makes perfect sense.
irc said:
I wouldn't use anything else. I had an interesting side by side comparison a few years back when I drove my fwd Octavia to work including side roads with a few inches of fresh snow. At work I was driving a Skoda Scout which had 4wd. The Scout - on summer tyres - was OK at pulling away but far worse at braking and steering/cornering. As you would expect.
I wonder if that's just a relative thing? We've just sold a Tiguan with 4Motion and had a set of full winter wheels and tyres. On its winter tyres on packed snow the Tiguan pulled away as it was on dry tarmac - quite remarkable.. However any sort of braking and the ABS went mental and on bends it was very easy to find the whole car sliding sideways.
Back in the noughties before i stopped driving car transporters i often carried new Fiats, what i noticed several times was Panda 4x4's all seemed to come on Continental winter tyres, whether winter or summer deliveries.
Can't imagine many buyers of these specifying and paying the upgrade cost for winter tyres, so assume they all or most came on such rubber...pleasantly surprised to see such quality tyres on such a reasonable priced car when many of the more prestigious brands were fitting various far eastern makes.
Can't imagine many buyers of these specifying and paying the upgrade cost for winter tyres, so assume they all or most came on such rubber...pleasantly surprised to see such quality tyres on such a reasonable priced car when many of the more prestigious brands were fitting various far eastern makes.
Smint said:
Back in the noughties before i stopped driving car transporters i often carried new Fiats, what i noticed several times was Panda 4x4's all seemed to come on Continental winter tyres, whether winter or summer deliveries.
Can't imagine many buyers of these specifying and paying the upgrade cost for winter tyres, so assume they all or most came on such rubber...pleasantly surprised to see such quality tyres on such a reasonable priced car when many of the more prestigious brands were fitting various far eastern makes.
That was the standard equipment - the M+S tyres - for all the Panda 4x4's.Can't imagine many buyers of these specifying and paying the upgrade cost for winter tyres, so assume they all or most came on such rubber...pleasantly surprised to see such quality tyres on such a reasonable priced car when many of the more prestigious brands were fitting various far eastern makes.
ST565NP said:
That was the standard equipment - the M+S tyres - for all the Panda 4x4's.
M&S not unusual agreed, but unique to see full winter tyres, can't recall a single new full size 4x4 that came on full winter rubber.Not knocking Fiat for fitting them, just the opposite, impressed.
ST565NP said:
Smint said:
Back in the noughties before i stopped driving car transporters i often carried new Fiats, what i noticed several times was Panda 4x4's all seemed to come on Continental winter tyres, whether winter or summer deliveries.
Can't imagine many buyers of these specifying and paying the upgrade cost for winter tyres, so assume they all or most came on such rubber...pleasantly surprised to see such quality tyres on such a reasonable priced car when many of the more prestigious brands were fitting various far eastern makes.
That was the standard equipment - the M+S tyres - for all the Panda 4x4's.Can't imagine many buyers of these specifying and paying the upgrade cost for winter tyres, so assume they all or most came on such rubber...pleasantly surprised to see such quality tyres on such a reasonable priced car when many of the more prestigious brands were fitting various far eastern makes.
From what I have seen most 'proper' SUVs come with 4 season tyres, certainly the more off-road biases versions. This does not include crossovers. For the avoidance of doubt a crossover is an SUV shape without 4wd. For example my new Duster 4wd came with 4 season tyres, the 2wd versions do not. Our Jeep Renegade 4wd came with 4 season, lower specs do not. My Cherokee 4wd also has 4 season.
Did a bit of advance scouting given we've changed our family bus since the winter. Slightly annoying that having to go for W rated to avoid invalidating the insurance reduces the range in our sizes quite dramatically. Ideally wanted to look at getting Hankook i*cept based on test reviews but they only go up to 149mph. Looks like its gonna have to be Conti TS860's at nearly a grand a set. Having different sizes front/rear does throw up some anomalous specs that won't do both sizes. Still it's a 4-year investment so £250/year and I should get something back for the wheels/Vredesteins we had for the F-Pace.
I put my winter tyres and wheels on my van today. Not expecting any snow yet (haven’t had much sun either!) but I did hit a boulder at the roadside and now have a massive egg on one of my summer tyres.
The wheels need a refurb and I don’t like the tyres that are fitted so it’s handy having two sets of wheels.
The wheels need a refurb and I don’t like the tyres that are fitted so it’s handy having two sets of wheels.
The time has come to get some new tyres on my wife’s Ford Kuga awd, it’s currently got Michelin cross climates on but they are starting to perish a bit now despite having decent tread and only being three years old. Plus the fact that a tyre sensor has packed up so we get warning lights and bongs every time we go in the car.
Bridgestone have just brought these out
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/Bridgestone-Tu...
The have just topped auto bilds tyre test and national tyres have got 15% off a set of four currently which makes them a fair bit cheap that cross climate 2s or Goodyears. New tyre sensors arrive any day and then I’m getting it booked in.
I did want to get the wheels refurbished too but I haven’t been able to find any suitable wheels to put on while mine get done.
Bridgestone have just brought these out
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/Bridgestone-Tu...
The have just topped auto bilds tyre test and national tyres have got 15% off a set of four currently which makes them a fair bit cheap that cross climate 2s or Goodyears. New tyre sensors arrive any day and then I’m getting it booked in.
I did want to get the wheels refurbished too but I haven’t been able to find any suitable wheels to put on while mine get done.
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