It's getting cold.. winter or all-season tyres?
Discussion
Hello all,
I've only ever used summer tyres but am feeling adventurous and considering some better tyres for the colder months. I've just picked up a GT86 and will have a spare set of alloys sitting in the shed.
The price of premium winter tyres probably makes them not worth it for me (as we only get a week maybe a year of bad snow). So i'm wondering if decent all-season tyres are capable of giving you all (or more?) that the winter tyres do in the cold/slippery months?
I'd be willing to sacrifice snow performance (e.g. work from home!) for that bad week or two, for the sake of paying a lot less for an all season tyre, as long as it was equivalent or close in cold non-snow conditions.
Any thoughts or recommendations? (based on actual experience please)
Thanks!
I've only ever used summer tyres but am feeling adventurous and considering some better tyres for the colder months. I've just picked up a GT86 and will have a spare set of alloys sitting in the shed.
The price of premium winter tyres probably makes them not worth it for me (as we only get a week maybe a year of bad snow). So i'm wondering if decent all-season tyres are capable of giving you all (or more?) that the winter tyres do in the cold/slippery months?
I'd be willing to sacrifice snow performance (e.g. work from home!) for that bad week or two, for the sake of paying a lot less for an all season tyre, as long as it was equivalent or close in cold non-snow conditions.
Any thoughts or recommendations? (based on actual experience please)
Thanks!
A winter-biased all season tyre like the Vredestein Quatrac 3 is an excellent year-round solution for ordinary cars. We had them on our old Impreza (non-turbo) and I've fitted them to a relative's Astra, and they've been great for providing acceptable performance in winter conditions and perfectly decent the rest of the year round.
Personally, though, I would not fit them to a car bought specifically for sporting handling or high performance, I would go for separate winter tyres. It needn't cost you any more in the long run, as you are not wearing out one set of tyres when you are using the other.
Personally, though, I would not fit them to a car bought specifically for sporting handling or high performance, I would go for separate winter tyres. It needn't cost you any more in the long run, as you are not wearing out one set of tyres when you are using the other.
I've got a spare set of alloys for my 993 with full-on Nokian winter tyres.
I now look forward to snow and the car handles really well with them in cold weather. In warmer temps, they seem to feel a bit more squidgy but I don't dislike this.
Appropriate winter tyres definitely recommended.
I now look forward to snow and the car handles really well with them in cold weather. In warmer temps, they seem to feel a bit more squidgy but I don't dislike this.
Appropriate winter tyres definitely recommended.
pi_sjo said:
Hello all,
I've only ever used summer tyres but am feeling adventurous and considering some better tyres for the colder months. I've just picked up a GT86 and will have a spare set of alloys sitting in the shed.
The price of premium winter tyres probably makes them not worth it for me (as we only get a week maybe a year of bad snow). So i'm wondering if decent all-season tyres are capable of giving you all (or more?) that the winter tyres do in the cold/slippery months?
I'd be willing to sacrifice snow performance (e.g. work from home!) for that bad week or two, for the sake of paying a lot less for an all season tyre, as long as it was equivalent or close in cold non-snow conditions.
Any thoughts or recommendations? (based on actual experience please)
Thanks!
Where are you in the UK? And what sort of temps have you seen? So far I've only seen one day lower than 5 degrees. All others have been above 10 degrees.I've only ever used summer tyres but am feeling adventurous and considering some better tyres for the colder months. I've just picked up a GT86 and will have a spare set of alloys sitting in the shed.
The price of premium winter tyres probably makes them not worth it for me (as we only get a week maybe a year of bad snow). So i'm wondering if decent all-season tyres are capable of giving you all (or more?) that the winter tyres do in the cold/slippery months?
I'd be willing to sacrifice snow performance (e.g. work from home!) for that bad week or two, for the sake of paying a lot less for an all season tyre, as long as it was equivalent or close in cold non-snow conditions.
Any thoughts or recommendations? (based on actual experience please)
Thanks!
Winter tyres only start to offer more ability below 7 degree C, although it's not a straight cut off that they'll be a million times better than summer tyres when it's 6 degrees out. Its a more gradual transition.
In really cold temps or when it's frosty, icy or snowy out a winter tyre will make huge differences. But in all honesty how many days do you think this will be an issue and will you have to drive on those occasions?
All season tyres are a compromise. So they'll work less well overall, but over a greater range of conditions. They are either the BEST or the WORST of both depending on your viewpoint.
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