Discussion
Following the 'RWD in the snow' thread. Who's planning to make their first ever purchase of winter tyres sometime before the next winter? Even down here in the South East I'm contemplating it after a couple of genuinely hairy moments last time.
I wondered: How long do they last in use? How long do they last in storage during summer(s)? How compromised are they on dry tarmac? What sort of prices are you looking at (say, compared to the equivalent summer tyre from a comparable brand)?
If I was in a remote or northerly part of the country it'd be a no-brainer but round here it's only really for emergencies and the general smugness of breezing past stranded soft roader owners. Even using my summer tyres I had to chuckle while nipping past a Rav 4 with its wheel spinning on a hill (in my Focus) last year.
I wondered: How long do they last in use? How long do they last in storage during summer(s)? How compromised are they on dry tarmac? What sort of prices are you looking at (say, compared to the equivalent summer tyre from a comparable brand)?
If I was in a remote or northerly part of the country it'd be a no-brainer but round here it's only really for emergencies and the general smugness of breezing past stranded soft roader owners. Even using my summer tyres I had to chuckle while nipping past a Rav 4 with its wheel spinning on a hill (in my Focus) last year.
Going by the Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme I had on the Lancer last year, there's little difference in the dry compared to my summer tyres. In wet and cold weather they were just so much better it was funny. I ran mine from October to January (when I sold the car) and 6k, and the front wore by 0.5mm and the rears had zero wear.
I'm in the middle of sorting out getting winters for the current car. I'll likely run them from October/November again this year.
I'm in the middle of sorting out getting winters for the current car. I'll likely run them from October/November again this year.
I`ve had a set of ContiWinterContacts on steel wheels for a couple of years now.
They`re fantastic. I fit them at the end of October and remove them around March depending.
They`ve still got a reasonable tred depth left (I`ve probably covered around 10,000 miles on them) and they were excellent in the snow earlier.
I store them in the garage on a stand when not in use and they appear to be holding up well.
Of course, it`s a bonus that I can give my summer wheels a good clean and not have them attacked by salt over the winter.
They`re fantastic. I fit them at the end of October and remove them around March depending.
They`ve still got a reasonable tred depth left (I`ve probably covered around 10,000 miles on them) and they were excellent in the snow earlier.
I store them in the garage on a stand when not in use and they appear to be holding up well.
Of course, it`s a bonus that I can give my summer wheels a good clean and not have them attacked by salt over the winter.
They're about the same price as summer tyres if you go to an internet tyre place like Mytyres who carry plenty of stock.
They don't wear more than summer tyres provided you take them off when the weather warms up (April/May). Oh, and North London does not = all of South-East England; there are plenty of hilly/rural areas in SE England where ice and snow is not uncommon and gritting is non-existent; winter tyres will keep you out of trouble in those areas.
They don't wear more than summer tyres provided you take them off when the weather warms up (April/May). Oh, and North London does not = all of South-East England; there are plenty of hilly/rural areas in SE England where ice and snow is not uncommon and gritting is non-existent; winter tyres will keep you out of trouble in those areas.
I live in the alps and just run winter tyres all year round.. I don't do that many miles, so the slightly higher wear during the summer is not worth having 2 sets of tyres for.
As a few people have mentioned, they are much better than summer tyres whenever it's cold & wet, not just when there's snow on the ground.
If I lived in southern England, I probably wouldn't bother with winter tyres, but I would definitely be running tyres that are known to perform well in the wet!
As a few people have mentioned, they are much better than summer tyres whenever it's cold & wet, not just when there's snow on the ground.
If I lived in southern England, I probably wouldn't bother with winter tyres, but I would definitely be running tyres that are known to perform well in the wet!
Bluebarge said:
Oh, and North London does not = all of South-East England; there are plenty of hilly/rural areas in SE England where ice and snow is not uncommon and gritting is non-existent;
Fair point. In my defence, I'm not a native Londoner and coming from the middle of Devon I'm more than aware of the presence of hills and the lack of gritting 'out in the sticks'!Actually, part of what's holding me back is that North London - it is surprisingly hilly here by the way - grinds to a halt at the first sight of snow. I abandoned my car at one point during the cold snap, not because I was particularly worried about driving, but because everyone else seemed to be and I could get home substantially quicker by walking seven miles. Given the number of numpties around you do wonder if it's worth driving in for the handful of days that might happen.
The Focus is only a shed and I can sort of see the logic of some of the posts above, but what really concerns me is hitting something (or someone) else to be honest. I'm not too worried if I park the Blue Oval's finest in a hedge, but I'd rather not lose my NCB in the process.
So do winter tyre prices go up? Is now the time to buy?
Oh, and how an advantage are general purpose winter tyres on actual snow? I can vouch for the effectiveness of proper snow tyres, but they're not quite the same thing.
My set of winter tyres have completed 5 seasons (generally Mid November through end of March), and have probably covered about 35000 miles in that time. I reckon I will get 1 more season out of them before they reach the manufacturers wear limit of 4mm.
They are Michelin Pilot Alpin's, have worked really great in poor conditions, my only complaint would be that the traction control appears to interpret the slight tread squirm when accelerating hard as wheel spin!
(On a dry road I hasten to add!)
They are Michelin Pilot Alpin's, have worked really great in poor conditions, my only complaint would be that the traction control appears to interpret the slight tread squirm when accelerating hard as wheel spin!
(On a dry road I hasten to add!)Edited by westmoorfarm on Thursday 29th July 13:37
y2blade said:
funny you should ask!!!
I tried ordering some at my local tyre place yesterday, they laughed and said they won't place any orders until October at the earliest
Strangely enough, I just called Mitcheldever and they suggested they wouldn't have any iuntill September ish. Picked up some spare wheels at the beginning of this year so tempted to get some winter tyres on line and fitted locally so I'm all ready and set to go.I tried ordering some at my local tyre place yesterday, they laughed and said they won't place any orders until October at the earliest
hadenough! said:
y2blade said:
funny you should ask!!!
I tried ordering some at my local tyre place yesterday, they laughed and said they won't place any orders until October at the earliest
Strangely enough, I just called Mitcheldever and they suggested they wouldn't have any iuntill September ish. Picked up some spare wheels at the beginning of this year so tempted to get some winter tyres on line and fitted locally so I'm all ready and set to go.I tried ordering some at my local tyre place yesterday, they laughed and said they won't place any orders until October at the earliest
I'm now buying some online and getting them fitted nearer the time by my local garage for £5 per wheel
micheldever....POKE IT
Edited by y2blade on Thursday 29th July 14:08
I bought an extra set of steels and some Nokian winter tyres for my daughter's Aygo last winter and they were brilliant.So much so that my RWD barge was left at home and I "borrowed" her car in the worst of the weather.Changed them back to the summer tyres at the beginning of April once most of the mornings were frost free.
They proved extremely sure footed and provided great traction and braking in the cold -dry,wet,icy,slush and snow.
Was not able to source the tyres in the UK so I ordered them from mytyres.co.uk and they were at my doorstep within 4 working days all the way from Germany.
I was so impressed with the winter tyres that I have ordered a cheap set of wheels for my barge and I'll order some winter tyres from mytyres.They seem to have a good choice and prices are similar to summer tyre prices.
Plus,once you've paid the initial outlay on wheels and winter tyres,it actually means that your summer tyres will last that much longer.
I'm definitely a convert to winter tyres.
They proved extremely sure footed and provided great traction and braking in the cold -dry,wet,icy,slush and snow.
Was not able to source the tyres in the UK so I ordered them from mytyres.co.uk and they were at my doorstep within 4 working days all the way from Germany.
I was so impressed with the winter tyres that I have ordered a cheap set of wheels for my barge and I'll order some winter tyres from mytyres.They seem to have a good choice and prices are similar to summer tyre prices.
Plus,once you've paid the initial outlay on wheels and winter tyres,it actually means that your summer tyres will last that much longer.
I'm definitely a convert to winter tyres.
Edited by Ullevi on Thursday 29th July 14:11
Chris71 said:
Following the 'RWD in the snow' thread. Who's planning to make their first ever purchase of winter tyres sometime before the next winter? Even down here in the South East I'm contemplating it after a couple of genuinely hairy moments last time.
I wondered: How long do they last in use? How long do they last in storage during summer(s)? How compromised are they on dry tarmac? What sort of prices are you looking at (say, compared to the equivalent summer tyre from a comparable brand)?
If I was in a remote or northerly part of the country it'd be a no-brainer but round here it's only really for emergencies and the general smugness of breezing past stranded soft roader owners. Even using my summer tyres I had to chuckle while nipping past a Rav 4 with its wheel spinning on a hill (in my Focus) last year.
I have lived in Denmark for years so have them fitted , i put them on my 5 series 2 winters ago and have not changed them during the summer and they are still fine although the rears are getting a little low ,but still got a fair few mm to go I wondered: How long do they last in use? How long do they last in storage during summer(s)? How compromised are they on dry tarmac? What sort of prices are you looking at (say, compared to the equivalent summer tyre from a comparable brand)?
If I was in a remote or northerly part of the country it'd be a no-brainer but round here it's only really for emergencies and the general smugness of breezing past stranded soft roader owners. Even using my summer tyres I had to chuckle while nipping past a Rav 4 with its wheel spinning on a hill (in my Focus) last year.
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff