winter tyres for freelander - worth it?
Discussion
Ok it doesn't snow that much down south, but the last 3 winters have produced a dump or two of snow that kept us stranded for a week at a time. This is annoying when your daughter is at school and you can't there to pick her up!
So last winter I bought the missus a 2006 Freelander 1 Sport. Of course, it didn't snow after that. (before someone asks, it being a Sport wasn't a criterion, it was the only FL1 the dealer had in). Anyway, due to 18" rims this affects things like tyre availability and not being able to use snow chains. Although chains would be a PITA as every journey is a mix of cleared and uncleared roads.
On the back it has some M+S Contis with lots of tread left, probably 4x4 Contacts but I'll double check. On the front are Falkens that need replacing rather soon.
Now for the numpty questions about 4x4 tyres.
M+S = mud + snow? First point of confusion: if these are marked M+S why do tyre websites categorise the 4x4 Contacts as summer tyres?
Is it worth bothering with a set of full monty winter tyres? If so, are there any problems with leaving them on all year round, other than tyre wear in summer? Or better to swap them over and store in a shed for the summer?
Or, are there any all-round tyres that will cope with a few inches of snow now and then? And if so, is the 4x4 Contact one of them, or is there something better.. I read good things about A/T tyres, especially General Grabbers, but they don't come in 235/50/R18
Offroadage is so far limited to hooning about in our field. There might be some green laning at some point with my bro and his RRS although TBH, I don't see the point.
What I do know is, if changing only 2 tyres, to put the newer/larger ones on the back.
TIA,
a confused munky
So last winter I bought the missus a 2006 Freelander 1 Sport. Of course, it didn't snow after that. (before someone asks, it being a Sport wasn't a criterion, it was the only FL1 the dealer had in). Anyway, due to 18" rims this affects things like tyre availability and not being able to use snow chains. Although chains would be a PITA as every journey is a mix of cleared and uncleared roads.
On the back it has some M+S Contis with lots of tread left, probably 4x4 Contacts but I'll double check. On the front are Falkens that need replacing rather soon.
Now for the numpty questions about 4x4 tyres.
M+S = mud + snow? First point of confusion: if these are marked M+S why do tyre websites categorise the 4x4 Contacts as summer tyres?
Is it worth bothering with a set of full monty winter tyres? If so, are there any problems with leaving them on all year round, other than tyre wear in summer? Or better to swap them over and store in a shed for the summer?
Or, are there any all-round tyres that will cope with a few inches of snow now and then? And if so, is the 4x4 Contact one of them, or is there something better.. I read good things about A/T tyres, especially General Grabbers, but they don't come in 235/50/R18
Offroadage is so far limited to hooning about in our field. There might be some green laning at some point with my bro and his RRS although TBH, I don't see the point.
What I do know is, if changing only 2 tyres, to put the newer/larger ones on the back.
TIA,
a confused munky
thanks, I did look for Generals but couldn't find them in 235/50R18s. I think I'll get two Conti M+S to match the rears and see how it gets on if there is any snow.. if inadequate then can always try something more hardcore next winter. The manual recommends 'all season' tyres, and since the Contis are standard fit then presumably Land Rover considers them to be an all season tyre.
It's a freelander with a viscous centre diff (think yoghurt pot stirrer) whatever you do make sure they are the same actual size, I mean actual as in nearly identical. Different makes of the same listed size often are NOT similar diameters.
With odd size tyres you'll fry the yoghurt pot in a few thousand miles, if it is'nt already. Easy way to tall is if the tyre knobbles have worn castlated a sort of angled sawtooth wear to them. At least if so it'll have proper'ish 4wd with a fried viscous.
In answer to your question yes winters will make a huge difference especially to its stopping ability.
With odd size tyres you'll fry the yoghurt pot in a few thousand miles, if it is'nt already. Easy way to tall is if the tyre knobbles have worn castlated a sort of angled sawtooth wear to them. At least if so it'll have proper'ish 4wd with a fried viscous.
In answer to your question yes winters will make a huge difference especially to its stopping ability.
M+S does mean mud and snow, the tyres are generally all season tyres,
Pirelli do the scorpion str which is supposed to be a decent tyre, even with 28s your freeby will still be good in the snow, just drive to the conditions, don't slam on the brakes and use HDC on the worst hills.
I've 17s on mine and I get no issues if I drive to the conditions.
Pirelli do the scorpion str which is supposed to be a decent tyre, even with 28s your freeby will still be good in the snow, just drive to the conditions, don't slam on the brakes and use HDC on the worst hills.
I've 17s on mine and I get no issues if I drive to the conditions.
munky said:
On the back it has some M+S Contis with lots of tread left, probably 4x4 Contacts but I'll double check. On the front are Falkens that need replacing rather soon.
On a Freelander you really want to be running identical tyres front and rear. Different makes, tread and even wear levels are very bad for the 4x4 system.So bad that it can really break stuff so that many remove the rear prop making them 2wd only (you might want to check).
munky said:
Is it worth bothering with a set of full monty winter tyres? If so, are there any problems with leaving them on all year round, other than tyre wear in summer?
This depends, if you don't go hooning round the corners then you'll probably be ok, you'll tear a set of winter tyres up in no time in the summer if you do this.On my Mum's Freelander we run some Avon Ice Touring ST tyres all year round. They are fine and work quite well in all conditions, so long as you aren't a hooligan on dry warm tarmac.
Based on another PH thread on the topic of VCUs, I thought that the big no-no was larger diameter (or less worn) tyres on the fronts than the rears, and that larger (less worns) on the rears was reaonably ok? Presumably the fronts wear faster than rears on these cars, so unless swapping fronts & rears daily you'll always have some mismatch?
I was planning to put the rears on the front, and get new (identical) ones for the rear. Otherwise I'll have to bin 2 tyres that have a LOT of tread left.
I'll see if I can dig out the other thread but meanwhile what's the first symptoms of a failed VCU or IRD? It was the previous owner that put a different brand on the fronts; where poss I try to stick to the same all round. As far as I can tell though, on wet grass the fronts seem to spin slightly before the 4wd kicks in, so I'm guessing nothing has failed so far
ta!
I was planning to put the rears on the front, and get new (identical) ones for the rear. Otherwise I'll have to bin 2 tyres that have a LOT of tread left.
I'll see if I can dig out the other thread but meanwhile what's the first symptoms of a failed VCU or IRD? It was the previous owner that put a different brand on the fronts; where poss I try to stick to the same all round. As far as I can tell though, on wet grass the fronts seem to spin slightly before the 4wd kicks in, so I'm guessing nothing has failed so far
ta!
cptsideways said:
Castellated tyre wear is the obvious giveaway
thanks, ok, certainly no sign of that.here was one of the threads mentioning different sizes being ok(ish) if larger (more tread) is on the rear:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
another here http://forum.landrovernet.com/archive/index.php/t-...
to save you searching:
willo
22nd Sep 2011, 13:34
Read through this thread and can't remember having seen the warning, in case of buying just two tyres, to put the newest (biggest diameter) in the back.
another here: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=70177
I also read somewhere that this issue was resolved (or at least improved) on later FL1s.. anyone else heard this?
I run Conti WinterContact 4x4 on spare 17s on my Freelander. I have previously run Wintrac Extremes.
I go to the Scottish Highlands and Alps often.
My regular summer wheels are 19s M&S rated Goodyear Wrangler HP(from new OEM) and they coped well with a few inches of snow (and the kind of stuff lowland England got last year) but didn't cut it in the properly deep stuff or icy stuff at all. There is a big difference with dedicated winter tyres - I have only got stuck once and the snow was perhaps 2 feet and level - certainly the front of the car was pushing it.
My opinion is that a Freelander on M&S tyres would be fine in lowland UK outside of mountainous areas in Wales, Peak District and particuarly Scottish Highlands / ski areas etc. If you're up in these parts, winter tyres are a good gain.
I certainly wouldn't mix winters on one axle and regular on the other - you are very likely to spin IMO.
I go to the Scottish Highlands and Alps often.
My regular summer wheels are 19s M&S rated Goodyear Wrangler HP(from new OEM) and they coped well with a few inches of snow (and the kind of stuff lowland England got last year) but didn't cut it in the properly deep stuff or icy stuff at all. There is a big difference with dedicated winter tyres - I have only got stuck once and the snow was perhaps 2 feet and level - certainly the front of the car was pushing it.
My opinion is that a Freelander on M&S tyres would be fine in lowland UK outside of mountainous areas in Wales, Peak District and particuarly Scottish Highlands / ski areas etc. If you're up in these parts, winter tyres are a good gain.
I certainly wouldn't mix winters on one axle and regular on the other - you are very likely to spin IMO.
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