Just fit winter tyres to the drive wheels?

[Daaaveee]

Not a good idea at all, you'll either have colossal oversteer or understeer... unless you have AWD

[oldcynic]

hora said:

Economical madness or ok? Obviously exact same measurements as the non-drive standard tyres at the back.

Absolutely fine. Make sure you fit slicks to the other wheels though for maximum benefit.

[Kozy]

Try it. Make sure you insurance is all in check first though.

I'd imagine this is less dangerous on a RWD than a FWD.

Edited by Kozy on Friday 26th November 12:01

[kambites]

I suppose it's OK for driving in the kind of conditions where you only crawl along at around walking pace (after all, it's no different to snow chains, really). I don't think I'd recommend it for driving at significant speed though, you'd get some interesting handling characteristics.

[edc]

Maybe you could try one on each axle on opposing corners

[LuS1fer]

So far, no-one seems to have any experience to answer the question.

As far as I can deduce, winter tyres work and grip better in the snow and the main problem in snow is traction so I'm struggling to see the problem provided they are not left on when it's not "winter" (though again I have no evidence of this amazingly different handling any more than fitting different brands of tyre).

[GreigM]

Daaaveee said:

Not a good idea at all, you'll either have colossal oversteer or understeer... unless you have AWD

colossal may be an over-exaggeration

[Mr Will]

LuS1fer said:

So far, no-one seems to have any experience to answer the question.

As far as I can deduce, winter tyres work and grip better in the snow and the main problem in snow is traction so I'm struggling to see the problem provided they are not left on when it's not "winter" (though again I have no evidence of this amazingly different handling any more than fitting different brands of tyre).

Not being able to stop in snow causes more accidents than not being able to set off in snow.

[Oakey]

LuS1fer said:

So far, no-one seems to have any experience to answer the question.

As far as I can deduce, winter tyres work and grip better in the snow and the main problem in snow is traction so I'm struggling to see the problem provided they are not left on when it's not "winter" (though again I have no evidence of this amazingly different handling any more than fitting different brands of tyre).

Surely, in the case of RWD anyway, you'd have some realy grippy tyres that could propel you through the snow at a decent speed.. and the front tyres would be useless and slide all over the place the moment you tried to take a corner?

[Complex]

The biggest danger lies with fitting them to the front of an FWD car; you take a corner, the front grips significantly more than the back due to weight and winter tyres, the back then swings round due to having a fraction of the the front tyres' grip.

Unless of course you feel confident in applying the correct steering and throttle inputs to correct this.

[Ocean]

You tube search and it will tell you.

Shocking video of a test of exactly this.

It is absolutely not the thing to do. Really dangerous. The braking test was frightening.

If you do do it, make sure you get someone to video you for us to have a watch!

Ocean

[Mr Gearchange]

You will experience massive oversteer - especially lift off - on cold damp roundabouts.

It will be a good laugh at pedestrian speeds - but is really not advisable.

[LuS1fer]

Oakey said:

LuS1fer said:

So far, no-one seems to have any experience to answer the question.

As far as I can deduce, winter tyres work and grip better in the snow and the main problem in snow is traction so I'm struggling to see the problem provided they are not left on when it's not "winter" (though again I have no evidence of this amazingly different handling any more than fitting different brands of tyre).

Surely, in the case of RWD anyway, you'd have some realy grippy tyres that could propel you through the snow at a decent speed.. and the front tyres would be useless and slide all over the place the moment you tried to take a corner?

True but I was thinking more of a scenario where there is snow on the road so speed would not be a factor and the front would be more of a rudder. See the point though but most tyres can retain some semblance of ability in the snow.

[sleep envy]

hora said:

Economical madness or ok? Obviously exact same measurements as the non-drive standard tyres at the back.

you shouldn't have any problems at all

please ensure your camera is fully charged and recording before you venture off

[BoRED S2upid]

Was the OP seriously considering this?

I think its a great idea film the outcome and post a link here.

[rallycross]

We use winter tyres on the front during winter as quite high up where my mum lives and often get snow, both are fwd, (puma, polo) and never had any problems about just running them on the front, just helps not getting stuck as its quite remote here so you cant risk being stuck.

We've also used studded tyres on the front when it was really bad and that was incredible how much grip they found, even on icey snow.

The gritters treat our roads only once all main routes have been cleared so we get long periods of snow covered roads, and in that situation you are not going quickly you are litteraly just trying to get through that section before you come to the gritted/treated surfaces.

Have been doing this for years and its not been a problem like some people above have made it out to be, and we get a lot more snow than typical uk roads due to the location/height. The guys in the tyre shop who supply the winter tyres do the same for other customers so its not just us doing it.

Edited by rallycross on Friday 26th November 13:05

[LuS1fer]

hora said:

Im leaving this thread up as evidence of what sleep deprivation does to you over 3months/small baby in the house

Pah, wait until you reach 3 partners/wives and 26 years of sleep deprivation (oldest 26, youngest 18m)

[selwonk]

Ocean said:

You tube search and it will tell you.

Shocking video of a test of exactly this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cBSWEhimdA

[matchmaker]

My experience of it is that it is OK. I fitted them to the front of my FWD car for traction. When driving in snow I'm not going to corner or brake hard.

[Munter]

matchmaker said:

My experience of it is that it is OK. I fitted them to the front of my FWD car for traction. When driving in snow I'm not going to corner or brake hard.

You're not intending to.

Mind you I'm not intending to have a crash either so I don't actually need insurance...

You don't actually know what other road users will force you to do, and knowingly impairing your ability to control the vehicle is a tricky stance to take.

Say you are approaching a T junction where you'll have to give way. No problems you've planned to slow gently to a stop. Then one of the parked cars starts to pull away from the kirb in front of you. If you don't brake hard you'll crash in to them. So you brake hard, the back wheels start to overtake the front and smack into a parked car. You've now hit an "innocent" persons car rather than the guilty party. That's a claim against you, as the guilty party will flock off in to the distance unaffected.