Test was done in sub zero temperatures, winter tyres have different softer compound to perform best at under 7C*.
Summer tyres with their rubber compound start to "live" at over 12C* or so.What makes you think that winter tyres are best to be used all year round,
in scotland, if you have a look at the average temperatures month by month, that barely gives 3 months of the year where a summer tyre is worth it...
Of course you have to account for the fact that the average temp includes 4am when the temparature is much lower than early afternoon.
I for one tend to drive morning and evening during the week and that certainly means temp of 7c or less from now onwards more often than not which makes "winters" the best option.
If however, another day like three years ago in December comes along in the west of scotland, then you are still stuck in a four or more hour jam with everyone else. Unless you use the back roads with your grippy winter tyres !
Hmmmmm..... I'm not at all convinced by the 'best tyres on the rear' argument, especially on FWD cars !
I'm on my 3rd winter on M&S tyres and this year, for the first time, I haven't changed them over for the summer. There is now 3mm less on the fronts (front wheel drive car) and I'm definitely going to swap the lower treads to the rear as I want the maximum grip on the front for traction when accelerating/pulling away and getting up hills. Surely braking is better with more tread up front too?
