Winter tyres for North Scandinavia (Arctic circle)
Discussion
I'm currently in the UK driving a Nissan Pathfinder but leave in a weeks time to travel around Europe and will first head north to above the Arctic Circle in Norway and Sweden. We are going in the Nissan plus will have a trailer. I originally thought we would get a 2nd set of studded tyres for the north drive as I drove a swedish car on those last winter and they were great, but it's not very practical for us to have 2 sets of wheels so I've now thought a new set of winter tyres would see us through most of the next 4mths and the drive back down and into Eastern Europe etc.
question: which tyres to go for that will suit a 4x4 plus trailer in extreme winter conditions. I've been offered Yokohama and Vredistien but googling it the Nokian look better. It's a big cost plus I want to feel safe with the trailer so I'm looking for some advice.
Also, should we have chains as well seeing as we've not gone for studded? The trailer has winter tyres on but not sure if chains on that are necessary.
Thanks!
question: which tyres to go for that will suit a 4x4 plus trailer in extreme winter conditions. I've been offered Yokohama and Vredistien but googling it the Nokian look better. It's a big cost plus I want to feel safe with the trailer so I'm looking for some advice.
Also, should we have chains as well seeing as we've not gone for studded? The trailer has winter tyres on but not sure if chains on that are necessary.
Thanks!
Nokian score consistently well in tests, so they'd be my choice.
That said, without wishing to sound rude, you'd have to be certifiable to even contemplate not going down the studded route. People use them for a reason, especially in the north where things can get very hairy rather hastily.
Worst case scenario - buy some cheapish 2nd hand tyres for the drive over, fit studded tyres in the south of Sweden/Norway and dump the old ones there, then pull the studs out as you reach Poland/Germany.
That said, without wishing to sound rude, you'd have to be certifiable to even contemplate not going down the studded route. People use them for a reason, especially in the north where things can get very hairy rather hastily.
Worst case scenario - buy some cheapish 2nd hand tyres for the drive over, fit studded tyres in the south of Sweden/Norway and dump the old ones there, then pull the studs out as you reach Poland/Germany.
I can't specifically comment on Norway, but it would be illegal to drive on none studded tyres in Iceland in the winter. On the basis that Denmark, Norway and Iceland share many laws and that you will be driving considerably further north than Iceland you may have no choice in the matter.
Definitely one to check out before you leave. And as above, i wouldn't want to drive to the arctic circle on winter tyres in a 2 ton truck towing a trailer.
Sounds like a fun trip.
Definitely one to check out before you leave. And as above, i wouldn't want to drive to the arctic circle on winter tyres in a 2 ton truck towing a trailer.
Sounds like a fun trip.
Pulling the studs out isn't perhaps the ideal solution, but a solution none the less - primarily a quick and dirty (and cheap) way for generations of Swedes to stretch a bit more life out of their tyres as summer comes along. It's also the penalty for being caught with studded tyres in Germany, so shouldn't see you too much trouble with the law.
Speaking of the law, I don't think studs are actually mandatory in any part of Scandinavia (except Iceland as per above). More specifically:
'Studded tires are permitted in Sweden (1/10-15/4), Denmark (1/11-15/4), Finland (1/11-Easter Monday), Estonia (15/10-31/3), Latvia (1/10-30/4), Lithuania (1/11-10/4) and the UK.
In southern Norway, studded tires are allowed 1/11-Sunday after Easter. In the northern provinces of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark they are allowed 15/10-1/5. Should you want to drive on studded tires in central Oslo and Bergen, a piggdekksgebyr fee will be levied.'
As an aside, 98% of people in Norrbotten use studded tyres. They can't be wrong!
Speaking of the law, I don't think studs are actually mandatory in any part of Scandinavia (except Iceland as per above). More specifically:
'Studded tires are permitted in Sweden (1/10-15/4), Denmark (1/11-15/4), Finland (1/11-Easter Monday), Estonia (15/10-31/3), Latvia (1/10-30/4), Lithuania (1/11-10/4) and the UK.
In southern Norway, studded tires are allowed 1/11-Sunday after Easter. In the northern provinces of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark they are allowed 15/10-1/5. Should you want to drive on studded tires in central Oslo and Bergen, a piggdekksgebyr fee will be levied.'
As an aside, 98% of people in Norrbotten use studded tyres. They can't be wrong!
Teej1976 said:
Yes should be a fun trip, taking our kids too ??
It would be great if you could update this thread after your trip with how it all went and what you got up to. We do a fair bit of travelling in Iceland and took the kids camping for 2 weeks in the North Western fjords a few years ago which they loved - driving them to the arctic circle would be great fun and something we'd definitely consider.We're on Twitter @NewNomads2015. Will start posting next week once we set off! Iceland is probably the best country I've ever visited, absolutely fantastic place, especially for the kids. I've got a brother there plus one in Swedish Lapland who is an aurora photographer so we should be in for a good time when we get North. Aim to be there for the Jokkmokk winter market on the first week of Feb.
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