Winter tyre time

[Zod]

The tyre pressure light has been coming on since the weekend with the lights for the fronts lit(in that oh so well placed indicator display). Low temperatures are clearly causing lowered pressure readings.

The temperature read 5 degrees this morning (before the usual engine-caused increas to a balmy 25 degrees), so I gave the throttle a prod on a bend on a quiet road to see what I could provoke. The effect was impressive. Those P-Zero Corsas really don't grip in the cold.

[AMDBSNick]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=111...

[George H]

5 degrees this morning? Roasting! It was 0.5 when I set off, had to de-ice my car too which was a pain.

[Arjxh56]

I was just thinking about my winter tyres and this thread popped to the top of the board..Spooky!

I am considering putting my winter tyres on my 'new' wheels rather than swapping the wheels over to the standard ones. I dont particularly like the look of the old wheels now i have had the pleasure of my new ones

Should i trust my local tyre shop to put them on without breaking the tyre pressure sensors for less than £30 all in ...or should i pay the AM dealer price of £150?

[Slarti]

Time to lock away my db9v for the winter it seems and spend more time in my gas powered landy (with winter tyres on that). Do people really run their Astons throughout winter? Isn't all that power being pushed to 4 wheels touching icy roads a tad dangerous?

[v8woollie]

Slarti said:

Time to lock away my db9v for the winter it seems and spend more time in my gas powered landy (with winter tyres on that). Do people really run their Astons throughout winter? Isn't all that power being pushed to 4 wheels touching icy roads a tad dangerous?

Why not? Obviously not a good idea to go out in show or icy conditions, but those glorious sunny and crisp winter days when the roads are clear would be a shame to waste.

[Arjxh56]

Crispy cold but gloriously sunny and still winter mornings can be awesome... most of my hobbies are fair weather outdoor types and some of the best days can be had during winter.

[Jockman]

Slarti said:

..... Do people really run their Astons throughout winter?

It's my Christmas prezzie to myself

[897sma]

Mine are going on this weekend

[thetees]

897sma said:

Mine are going on this weekend

What make/model are they Steve?
(I'm just looking around now to buy some - could do with a recommendation)

[AMDBSNick]

I have no option at the moment and I'm loving it. For sure you need to take it easy at times but given our stunning summer it's great to get out in the sunshine

[897sma]

Hi Tony,

They are pirelli sottozero AM fitment, the cheapest I found were from oponeo.co.uk. £316 rears £276 fronts

Edited by 897sma on Monday 5th November 19:21

[Retman]

thetees said:

897sma said:

Mine are going on this weekend

What make/model are they Steve?
(I'm just looking around now to buy some - could do with a recommendation)

Pirelli Sottozero

[897sma]

Retman said:

Pirelli Sottozero

Have you got them on yours Andrew?

[Retman]

897sma said:

Retman said:

Pirelli Sottozero

Have you got them on yours Andrew?

Put them on the BMW 530GT - a big car with an even bigger backside - last winter and did about 8k on them. Didn't notice much difference in cold, dry conditions but noticeably better in cold, wet and WAY better when it was frosty or on the few days we had snow. A bit in the sticks here and gritting can be hit and miss like anywhere. Starting in the next few weeks on the drive to work I will literally see a car at least every other week in a hedge bottom - not joking. Think a lot of the time it's people chancing a drive home from the odd village pub that hasn't closed down, bit frosty, car ends up in the hedge, they leg it home then get a farmer with a tractor to pull it out next morning. Our village pub is still open.

[krisdelta]

Only car, used every day - except Snow

[thetees]

897sma said:

Hi Tony,

They are pirelli sottozero AM fitment, the cheapest I found were from oponeo.co.uk. £316 rears £276 fronts

Cheers.
I cant find them anywhere chearper either. Unless someone else has...

[Dingle Dell]

FWIW

My other half and I both have a variety of E36 BMW. Two years ago, we decided to get winter tyres for both cars after not being able to get off the drive for two weeks the previous year.

In the name of experimentation, I bought a 'premium' brand winter tyre for my other halfs car that had come top in some tyre tests (Vredestein), while I fitted some cheap chinese winter tyres that were less than half price.

When the snow came, we were both able to drive off the drive-way, straight through 6 inches of snow. I drove both cars back to back in the snow and though the Avon's had slightly better feel, the chinese specials were fine. Okay, they weren't so great in normal dry conditions, but they weren't as bad as you may think.

I'm not saying buy cheap chinese tyres (especially not for your Aston), but your infinitely better off with any winter tyre over a conventional tyre when it gets slippery. Food for thought for the 2nd cars!

Edited by Dingle Dell on Tuesday 6th November 13:49

[Arjxh56]

I am considering putting my winter tyres on my 'new' wheels rather than just swapping the wheels over to the standard ones with the winter tyres. I dont particularly like the look of the old wheels now i have had the pleasure of my new ones

Should i trust my local tyre shop to put them on my new wheels without breaking the tyre pressure sensors or knackering the wheels (£30 all in)... or should i pay the AM dealer price of £150 to put the tyres on?

Its then another £150 or £30 in spring to swap back again.. with the same risk of tyre pressure sensors getting broken.

How often do the sensors get broken when swapping tyres? And does it harm the tyres to be stretched and swapped around twice a year?

[Retman]

Arjxh56 said:

I am considering putting my winter tyres on my 'new' wheels rather than just swapping the wheels over to the standard ones with the winter tyres. I dont particularly like the look of the old wheels now i have had the pleasure of my new ones

Should i trust my local tyre shop to put them on my new wheels without breaking the tyre pressure sensors or knackering the wheels (£30 all in)... or should i pay the AM dealer price of £150 to put the tyres on?

Its then another £150 or £30 in spring to swap back again.. with the same risk of tyre pressure sensors getting broken.

How often do the sensors get broken when swapping tyres? And does it harm the tyres to be stretched and swapped around twice a year?

Had a couple of tyres swapped at a non AM dealer and it went fine but definitely remember to tell them it has sensors before they start. I think the biggest risk is a gouged alloy when they start to lever off the old tyre. Don't think there is an issue with harming the tyres, though the whole process does look a bit brutal - I find it's best not to look whilst it's happening.