997 Winter Wheels
Discussion
Other than having to buy a spare set of rims and spending an hour changing wheels twice a year, they are a no cost option that may help save your car from becoming a wreck or even saving someone's life.
Our next door neighbour lost his 996 on a slip road onto the A1 a few years back when he applied a little too much throttle and spun out. Car was a write-off, fortunately no injuries except for pride.
Our next door neighbour lost his 996 on a slip road onto the A1 a few years back when he applied a little too much throttle and spun out. Car was a write-off, fortunately no injuries except for pride.
gsewell said:
Other than having to buy a spare set of rims and spending an hour changing wheels twice a year, they are a no cost option that may help save your car from becoming a wreck or even saving someone's life.
Our next door neighbour lost his 996 on a slip road onto the A1 a few years back when he applied a little too much throttle and spun out. Car was a write-off, fortunately no injuries except for pride.
This is a good point, over a few years tyre cost is the same... And Winter tyres aren't expensive either.Our next door neighbour lost his 996 on a slip road onto the A1 a few years back when he applied a little too much throttle and spun out. Car was a write-off, fortunately no injuries except for pride.
James44 said:
I was just suggesting that the populist view in this thread seems to be that winter tyres are a must, verging on essential. To which i'd disagree, though fully accept that they seem to offer better performance.
Not sure how much winter tyres help in the snow, I think someone said they aren't to be confused with snow tyres. But anyway, fortunately where we are there only a couple of days of snow a year. I guess in more northern parts its more often, perhaps up there people should have 3 sets of tyres for their cars?
J
All I can say to this is that you obviously haven't tried winter tyres and your opinion (like Ord's) is based on making do with summer tyres all year round. Once you experience the night and day difference in grip levels on a cold frosty morning or an inch of snow perhaps you won't be so dismissive of them. On the worst days, they make what would be a really sketchy drive into a total non-event but, as someone else pointed out, most cars are on summer tyres sliding around all over the place. On a more average wet winter day they just have more grip and more resistance to aquaplaning, both of which are always useful benefits. Not sure how much winter tyres help in the snow, I think someone said they aren't to be confused with snow tyres. But anyway, fortunately where we are there only a couple of days of snow a year. I guess in more northern parts its more often, perhaps up there people should have 3 sets of tyres for their cars?
J
Really, what is the point in commenting on something you've never even tried yourself? If you don't want to know about winter tyres then why are you even reading this thread? Nobody is bulls
tting you or trying to sell you something you don't need, winter tyres really do make an enormous difference to grip levels in adverse winter conditions. It's entirely up to you whether or not you take advantage of it. No need to have a fit. He does have relevant experience - driving over many winters without feeling that grip was a problem.
If you say to someone 'You don't have enough grip and just haven't noticed' some people will say 'Really?' and want to know more.
Stopping distance is the only thing that has struck me so far as a worthwhile benefit (given that I wouldn't drive the Porsche in snow whatever tyres I had, as I can't make other people use winters so would just be a target for someone else's accident).
If you say to someone 'You don't have enough grip and just haven't noticed' some people will say 'Really?' and want to know more.
Stopping distance is the only thing that has struck me so far as a worthwhile benefit (given that I wouldn't drive the Porsche in snow whatever tyres I had, as I can't make other people use winters so would just be a target for someone else's accident).
ORD said:
Stopping distance is the only thing that has struck me so far as a worthwhile benefit (given that I wouldn't drive the Porsche in snow whatever tyres I had, as I can't make other people use winters so would just be a target for someone else's accident).
I would have thought superior braking would be enough of a benefit on it's own to sway you, but it's certainly not the only one. Have you read that test I linked to yet? I agree about not driving my Porsche in snow because of the other idiots out on the road, but I do drive our everyday car in snow on winter tyres. It's just safer all round, as simple as that. I run winter tyres on the Porsche too, mainly for the extra grip in cold, damp weather. Makes a big difference too. But what would you know? You've never tried them.
As you can tell I get irritated by these sort of comments. It's why the UK is so s
t at coping with winter driving compared to most of Europe and North America. uktrailmonster said:
I would have thought superior braking would be enough of a benefit on it's own to sway you, but it's certainly not the only one. Have you read that test I linked to yet?
I agree about not driving my Porsche in snow because of the other idiots out on the road, but I do drive our everyday car in snow on winter tyres. It's just safer all round, as simple as that. I run winter tyres on the Porsche too, mainly for the extra grip in cold, damp weather. Makes a big difference too. But what would you know? You've never tried them.
As you can tell I get irritated by these sort of comments. It's why the UK is so st at coping with winter driving compared to most of Europe and North America.
Probably because our winters are barely any different from our summers!I agree about not driving my Porsche in snow because of the other idiots out on the road, but I do drive our everyday car in snow on winter tyres. It's just safer all round, as simple as that. I run winter tyres on the Porsche too, mainly for the extra grip in cold, damp weather. Makes a big difference too. But what would you know? You've never tried them.
As you can tell I get irritated by these sort of comments. It's why the UK is so s
t at coping with winter driving compared to most of Europe and North America. ORD said:
Probably because our winters are barely any different from our summers!
Yeah I've noticed a lot of frost and ice on the roads over the summer. I think it even snowed a couple of times too in June.I admit last winter was particularly mild, but still well worth having winter tyres.
uktrailmonster said:
All I can say to this is that you obviously haven't tried winter tyres and your opinion (like Ord's) is based on making do with summer tyres all year round. Once you experience the night and day difference in grip levels on a cold frosty morning or an inch of snow perhaps you won't be so dismissive of them. On the worst days, they make what would be a really sketchy drive into a total non-event but, as someone else pointed out, most cars are on summer tyres sliding around all over the place. On a more average wet winter day they just have more grip and more resistance to aquaplaning, both of which are always useful benefits.
Really, what is the point in commenting on something you've never even tried yourself? If you don't want to know about winter tyres then why are you even reading this thread? Nobody is bullstting you or trying to sell you something you don't need, winter tyres really do make an enormous difference to grip levels in adverse winter conditions. It's entirely up to you whether or not you take advantage of it.
I think I do want to know, that's why I said I'm following the thread ...Really, what is the point in commenting on something you've never even tried yourself? If you don't want to know about winter tyres then why are you even reading this thread? Nobody is bulls
tting you or trying to sell you something you don't need, winter tyres really do make an enormous difference to grip levels in adverse winter conditions. It's entirely up to you whether or not you take advantage of it. I've also heard the view from porsche drivers much experienced than me that have driven on both and goes 'unless you pushing it, there's not really that much difference'.
I'm afraid i'm not someone who blindly just follows the gospel. I've clearly not disputed the evidence that braking distances are shorter, grip in snow is better etc etc.
I've never felt a problem with grip levels in adverse weather conditions, even in our 997T. But I am curious as to what I'm supposedly missing. In all honestly I would like to try out the difference sometime.
J
ORD said:
Probably because our winters are barely any different from our summers!
Comments like this just make you seem a bit of a fool.Try this;
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/features/opinion/olli...
Edited by sidicks on Saturday 12th September 20:27
sidicks said:
ORD said:
Probably because our winters are barely any different from our summers!
Comments like this just make you seem a bit of a fool.Try this;
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/features/opinion/olli...
Edited by sidicks on Saturday 12th September 20:27
The article pretty much sums up my thinking.
James44 said:
I've also heard the view from porsche drivers much experienced than me that have driven on both and goes 'unless you pushing it, there's not really that much difference'.
Well if you believe that sort of crap, then there's not much point in debating it any further. Even my wife can tell the difference, it's that obvious!Gassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff