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Definitely the wrong type of snow.😀
Winter tyres will see you right. An SUV with AWD is a bit of a gimmick. (Proud owner of one.)
4wd estate with cross climates here. Ideal for typical west of Scotland conditions.
4wd doesn’t help you stop.
Not strictly true. Assuming you lift off before mashing the brake pedal, engine braking on all 4 wheels can be a significant advantage.
i put winter tyr on a merc c class... well, the car actually came with a set of winter wheels and tyres, and i used to put them on oct to march, just because i had them, and then one year i got caught in the snow..... my god, the car was a joy to drive, i could go anywhere i wanted and zero issues... and this was an auto rwd car...
really opened my eyes to the difference winter tyres can make
There is a reason for all the What Tyre For.... threads on the bike forum 😉
I would say SUVs are a red herring for most people when it comes to snow. I’ve had a Jag for the last 2 winters and was seriously concerned about the rear wheel drive on the few snow days we do get - Huddersfield based so it’s pretty hilly! Fitted winters and have had no problems even in fairly extreme conditions, when plenty of SUVs seemed incapable of getting going.. Also agree with the comments about getting going being only half the battle - used to have a Range Rover and first trip out in the snow was great fun....until I tried to stop!!!
Not strictly true. Assuming you lift off before mashing the brake pedal, engine braking on all 4 wheels can be a significant advantage.
So in the scenario where you want to stop on a perfectly flat road with nothing infront of you, you'll stop that little bit quicker.
Thanks for the comments and advice.
More than happy to go for either winter tyres or maybe opt for the all seasons to save the hassle of buying another set of alloys/steels or paying to have these swapped over onto the existing alloys twice a year.
I had another look over the VW Passat Alltrack and it is defiantly more suited to my needs, boot mainly being the key here. If you get the right colour it helps with the plastic trims. Wife is more SUV but think that is a standard thing!
I get the benefits of a winter tyre, its been proved and tested, however I can honestly say in over 20 years of driving I have never felt the need for a winter tyre, even during the harsh winter of 2010/2012 I think it was? It was only during last winter with the tourer I thought I need to either look at a new car or changing the tyres.
I would therefore imagine that anything that has AWD would do the job on summers, but I'd prob just opt for all seasons, as all previous FWD cars have been fine barr the tourer.
I like the tourer but just wonder if maybe its best to swap now, especially since they have stopped production of the car now.
modern tires supplied on vehicles are often Eco varieties.
These have some lovely compound that appears to be made from old laptop cases or something equally hard and ungrippy.
Give good MPG though.
As experianced with our new berlingo on some factory fit michelin tires that are near new. scary in the damp and cold when pulling away at junctions and supervague in cornering - that was the main reason i went to nokian winters on mine. Had it years ago on some factory fit pirelli p6000s as well - hard as nails did 40000 miles on them before they died of perishing rather than tread wear - not confidence inspiring at all and useless in the snow.
so i wouldnt bet on a new AWD being any better on stock tires.
Not read the thread, and I'm sure it's all been said before, but get winter tyres regardless. If you don't want more than one set, run them in the summer too (I believe that is the RACs advice)
Come October, they make a huge difference, well before any snow or ice gets here.
When it does snow, they can enable a poor 2WD car to get going like an AWD on summer tyres. And it will stop and go round corners MUCH better.
I've been running winter's a few years now (currently an automatic RWD BMW, which has taken everything I've thrown at it - except that time the wheels were no longer touching the ground...). Had my parent's car out last winter in a very light dusting, and I was shocked. Actually scared me how it wanted to go straight on in every corner. You might be able to get from A to B, but on the basis of safety, I'm surprised it hasn't been made law to use suitable tyres, like in other countries. There is really no reason not too, unless a couple of extra decibels road noise bothers you.
I did try some highly recommended 'all-season' tyres before going full M+S snowflake jobbies, and to be honest found them no different from a summer tyre.
So in the scenario where you want to stop on a perfectly flat road with nothing infront of you, you’ll stop that little bit quicker.
Or, in a far more likely scenario where you have to descend a steep hill you’ll have far more control. Doubly so if you have and use low range.
Best not to try to be sarcastic if you’re going to post shite, eh?
Anyone recommend any good suppliers of steel wheels?
(For my 4wd SUV obviously.)
mytyre is where I looked, but tbh the steel wheel IMO will make the car look awful.
Just on another note, with Honda no longer producing the Tourer do you think its a better idea to trade it in now or in a couple year when I originally indented or will it make no difference in a trade in price?
when i looked it was cheaper to buy another set of alloys than it was to buy steel wheels.....
thankfully someone on facebook was selling a set that fitted my car so i got 4 steels for the price of 1
might not look as good as the alloys but i A. Cant see them from my seat inside the car and B. Its not a fashion parade its a car - no one really cares what the one your driving looks like.
Just another vote here for running winter tyres - reasons well documented in previous posts but in summary:-
Night and day difference in snow
Far better in british slimy wet cold winter roads
Much less wear rate over winter - 'normal' summer tyres wear much faster in the cold temps
Less overall cost of tyre ownership owing to above, even though extra initial outlay is required
Someone else mentioned it but it's worthwhile considering using a smaller diameter wheel with larger tyre sidewall height. I use 15" on the winters with a taller sidewall and slightly narrower rather than 16" on the summers. Your car should have a label or somewhere in the manual the approved tyre/wheel sizes for your car - stick to them and no probs with insurance.
I have a Subaru Legacy permanent 4x4 with low ratio box. The winter tyres make WAAAY more of a difference than the 4x4. Other half used to have a nissan micra... OK on summers in the snow mainly owing to narrow tyres, but an absolute revelation on winter tyres.
When I looked it wasnt much more to get alloys over steels new, I understand that some are not bother if it makes the car look worse, but I wouldnt say I am wanting it to be a fashion parade just that IMO steels would make the car look really crap, some it would work on ok but just my one would look crap.
I have 17s on my car (SR) however in tyre searches 16s and 17s come up, I thin teh SE runs 16s, therefore I could get 16s alloys and the tyres for the 16s and much cheaper and more selection
Yep that too . My alloys are 16s and 4 of nokians for that were 400 quid.
I got 15 inch steels and bought the correct profile 15" nokians and the tires were 240 - add that to the 40 for the rims and it was much cheaper to have a spare set of steel wheels than to have the tires on the alloys swapped over.
my options then will be buy 16s alloys and some winter tyres, buy just winter tyres and pay to have them changed over, or sell the tourer for a FWD, SUV, ALLTRACK that is more capable that the tourer.
Is there any negatives to having a garage change the tyres back a forth, in my case this will be only for next 2 years, apart from the cost of having this done.
You should be able to pick up a used set of alloys for not much - I wouldn't imagine the tourer civic hasn't got different wheels to the other models and there's plenty of those about. If you want to go down the all season route then just get the tyres swapped and put the part worn tyres on ebay. If they're as new as you say there should be still 6-7mm of tread so you should be able to recoup some cash for them.
Personally I've got a spare set of alloys and winters for mine and the wifes cars. I picked up the alloys cheapish ~£100 for a refurbed set, sized down from 18 to 17 (and 16 on the wifes) and the tyres are cheaper for the smaller sizes and they give better performance in winter conditions as they aren't the low profiles of the standard wheels. When you come to sell the car, either use the winters as an added extra or sell them separately and get some of your outlay back.
Kinda weird thread here to which the OP is ignoring all the advice given.
Summer tyres are not great for harsh winters so get some winter tyres. It will transform how the car handles in cold weather not just snow. You don't even need new alloys just get a fitter to change them over twice a year.
Also "but then again a golf is a true machine" trolling?
BTW I see that you posted this question on pistonheads and got the same advice.
Im not ignoring all advice. I have said I have taken it all on and I am looking into the costs of winter tyre/alloys, the costs of just using a fitter. I am also looking at the options of replacement car options.
I have taken on all advise, and it has been great, I am not sure how you can say I am ignoring all advise, but just for you, yeah ok I will go with winter tyres and a fitter.
my other post was targeted at the question regarding the car no longer in production, I really dont see the point in you bring that into this on.
I also do quite understand what you mean "Also “but then again a golf is a true machine” trolling?"
my options then will be buy 16s alloys and some winter tyres, buy just winter tyres and pay to have them changed over, or sell the tourer for a FWD, SUV, ALLTRACK that is more capable that the tourer.
Seriously, if you use just 1 set of tyres, it is RECOMMENDED that you go for winters in our climate.
No need to change anything. Run them all year round.
If you want the marginal performance gain during the summer, go for 2 sets.
Unless you're driving down farm tracks in a foot of snow, you don't really need anything else. I've had my BMW around hairpin bends on 20% gradients in a good few inches of snow. That's a car that is notoriously bad when it goes white outside. I live in a bad area for snow, and we had particularly bad snow fall this year (at least 18 inches) but it's not in the slightest phased by anything you will encounter on the main roads.
I also had an old Honda BTW. Completely different to what you have, but I guess the handling hasn't changed much. Understeer everywhere you go. Front end was like it was weightless. Winter tyres transformed it.
currently an automatic RWD BMW, which has taken everything I’ve thrown at it
Good to hear. I'm about to do the same for mine, and as its white with dark satin alloys I'm going for Steels as it won't change the look much, especially covered in winter slush. My used is mainly down south but long motorway journeys and a lot of winter A roads I'd like not to be stuck in with RWD.
Anyone go any opinions on tyres? I'm using Mr Winter Wheels to buy and the two NRFLT options are Dunlop Winter Sport 5 or Pirelli Sottozero - £80 difference with the Dunlops being cheaper.
Goodyear Ultragrip and Bridgestone Blizzack have been fine. Can't comment on the Dunlops or Pirellis though.
Just get a cheap set of 2nd hand 16" alloys instead of the steelies. They'll probably be cheaper too.
Not strictly true. Assuming you lift off before mashing the brake pedal, engine braking on all 4 wheels can be a significant advantage.
Most modern 4wd SUV's have a Haldex or similar on demand 'part time' drive to the rear wheels. They are designed to de-couple as soon as the throttle is closed. So the vehicle automatically becomes 2wd under deceleration.
Oh, and a significant percentage of the SUV's on the road are actually front wheel drive only, so if you do go for one, make sure it is a 4wd.
As above really and as I've previously posted on other threads, winter tyres are an absolute revelation in the white stuff and even in colder damper conditions yield noticeable benefits above summers.
I had winters on a relatively powerful 3.0l RWD car it was VERY capable in the snow. It went, stopped and turned really well. My proudest moment in that car was scooting past a Rangey Sport on an incline that was spinning on the spot with some big lary alloys presumably shod with summer boots. Obviously a Range Rover with winters would be a better combo than my RWD + Winters.
I fear that a lot of people with some of the more "lifestyle" SUV's (as noted above many of which are FWD) just assume they're going to be cracking in the snow and don't bother changing tyres? Or if the massive wheels and thus very expensive tyres means people are put off investing in a 2nd set..
I'm currently looking to get some winters for our new 320i. It's on 19's so will be looking at getting some 18" alloys and winters so I've got a full set. Just need to make sure you clear the calipers etc. and as noted above check the manual for compatible sizes if changing the size you go for.
used to have a Range Rover and first trip out in the snow was great fun….until I tried to stop!!
^this
The advantage of 4wd is minimal when it comes to stopping.
I think weight / momentum is a real issue with big 4x4's.
My old Yaris MK1 on winters would stop easily in all conditions. Unlike the 110 that slid into the ditch next to me.
The 110 could extract itself, but the driver was amazed why none of the outdoor centre staff drove 90/110/130's. We all drove Micra/Yaris/Ibiza/Panda on winters year round - and this was 8 miles of Highland singletrack road and a 200m climb up 1:6 driveway at end of it. For 6 months a year it was in shade, cold, icy and wet...or tyre deep in snow.
Any ideas where I can locate some 16" honda alloys, looked on gumtree and ebay but nothing for collection near by or either not suitable or 17s 18s, found these below link for £110 a each, but these seem to be the only 16s form honda re-sellers
https://www.hendyeshop.co.uk/16-orbit-alloy-wheel-08w16-tr0-604-33562-p.asp
Apart from a dent in my pocket every October and March for next couple years, being able to preserve the existing alloys for summer use, what else is a negative just getting a tyre fitter to swap over onto the existing alloys and back.
What about a local alloy wheel and tyre place? I know a good one but it's up in Newcastle.. The Honda ones will be expensive (per your link £110 for a 16") so maybe go for a decent quality aftermarket/replica?
Only you know how important it is to have alloy rather than steel wheels but when I took delivery of a brand new 4x4 on 15th December last year, first thing I did was fitted winter tyres in steel wheels (the week between Xmas and new year) and very glad I did. The tyres and wheels cost less than the cost of 4 tyres to fit the alloys that came on the car. Swapped the pristine wheels and tyres back on at Easter. Over the time we will own the car both sets of tyres will wear evenly so the only cost is the £36 the local garage charge twice a year to swap them over and store the wheels year round. No brainer.
This is my wife’s car. I drive a little Mazda 2 and swap winter/summer tyres onto the same set of alloys. Sometimes leave the winters on all year round. My wife convinced herself she needs a 4wd (works in the hope valley and sometimes encounters farm tracks). I’m sure a 2wd car with winters is fine in this country.
tried mr winter wheel already but they only do 2006 - 2012 civics. Replica is an option but would rather a pair of Honda's I have seen on a civic, sometimes too hard to tell what replica's will look like.
Ive run a Defender 110 on BFG AT's (all terrain) and our Volvo V70 on Verdestien snow tyres.
The Volvo gripped better on compacted 'road snow' than the 110 - I was genuinely amazed by the Vredestines. It only lost out when 'snow bashing' as snow compacts under the sump cover. I never changed them in summer and they lasted pretty well .
Just buy some proper Scandinavian winter/snow tires when autumn comes.
Why not just fit cross climates on your existing wheels and run all year round ?
regarding cross climates I have read mixed reviews on them and with the poor performance of the tourer I just feel a dedicated winter tyre may suit better for the tourer.
If I had a SUV or 4x4 estate or a FWD that performed well in the snow then I would defiantly consider the cross climates for all year.
The car also just had new summers in the last few months so would like to get use out of them, there will be a cost and loss either way, but I just think a winter tyre would suit best, I may be wrong but some reviews have put me off for the tourer anyway
Wait till October, get winter tyres fitted to your existing alloys, store your summers.
Come April next year, pay £40 to get your summers refitted, store your winters.
£40 October next year and the following April, trade the car in with the summers on, sell the winters.
Job done.
Winter tyres will beat 4x4 in snow / icy conditions. Even better is 4x4 with winter tyres.
Had them on my FWD V60 this year. Provided snow not deeper than the bumper it just charged through. Particularly handy on motorways where there's only one lane clear, as you can use the uncleared section and avoid people who are either stuck, or driving along at 5mph.
I've bought a new car and was that impressed I've got a set of winter tyres to go with it.
The quotes locally I've been given are between £60-80 to do the tyre swaps a time. If it was £40 as chipster said then great. Also a few will not carry out the work if tyre are not on their systems.
I have managed to speak with an online supplier and they have some 2nd hand 2016/1017 official Honda 16" alloys, that each have some lacquer peel. £199 for the lot with brand new center caps, could be a good option.
Is there going to be any issue going from 17's to 16s or just a case or swapping over? Will prob need to tell insurance. I will have these balanced when the tyres get fitted to them.
Just to add my 2p, I had a golf mk6 2.0tdi which was a bit crap in snow. I fitted winter tyres and in the next bit of snow, it would drive straight past 4x4's which were struggling like hell on their SUV tyres.
I then got a Touareg (I know, feel free to shoot me) which came with standard SUV tyres. SUV tyres are slightly more tready summer tyres so you think they will work off road and in the snow. They don't.
I swapped them for some BF Goodrich Urban Terrain last winter before heading to the alps. They are as quiet as the tyres that came off and grip like shit to a blanket. The snow in the alps was no issue, the snow that stopped everyone around me back in the Uk was again, no issue. I will admit I got stuck once when I went full ramming speed at a snowdrift purely for giggles and grounded the car, but 2 mins with a shovel and I was out again. Brilliant pieces of kit.
I've left them on, still driving them through this hot weather. No signs of wear and seem to grip just as well as the summers did. Don't get me wrong, the car's not exactly a GTI so throwing it around corners at mental speeds is something I literally never do. Towing out of fields however, that I do a lot so it's nice to have the grip.
I did swap mine back to summer tyres when I looked in the mirror and realised that they were sucking the tar out of the road in the recent hot weather. Mine was the only car leaving tracks.
[looks innocent]