MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Sensible for a rear wheel drive car or just a load o 'ollocks?
Where do you live, and if it snowed do you have to drive?
FWIW - if you NEEDED winter tyres, you'd already have them on
Mine went on in Nov, and will stay on until after Easter.
I've been THINKING since October and after a drive up and over a 20% hill to get home in sleet n Saturday made me decide I NEED some.
We live in North Wales in the Coast, snow's not a massive issue here but wet, icy country roads are. Droppin Eye Jnr of at nursery involves a 5 mile drive done a single track lane with tight bends and varying gradients.
FUN FUN FUN in the dry but probably GNARLY GNARLY GNARLY in poor conditions.
Remember that winter tyres aren't just for snow. They offer better grip and steering in anything less than 7C.
Have put them on both cars the last 2 years. Well worth it, they go on in Nov and stay on till April. Actually have a set for a BMW 3 series ( will fit 1series too I think) sitting garage after wife changed her car if you are interested? Decent tread left 7 mm and Goodyear tyres with Dezent rims
Wasn't there a test recently that concluded that winter tyres were better in summer than summer tyres were in winter. So if you only fit one type, fit winter ones. Pre company car, I used to run both and swap twice a year. Yes I noticed a difference.
+1 scotroutes. the 5 series has a set, though very late changing them over this year, it makes mucho difference when it gets below 7c and wet. I wouldn't say i have a NEED, but i like the comfort of them being on.
Oddly enough, the guy I sold the car to, with the extra wheels, has just text to say how amazing they are in the snow.
[quote=Onzadog ]Wasn't there a test recently that concluded that winter tyres were better in summer than summer tyres were in winter. So if you only fit one type, fit winter ones. Pre company car, I used to run both and swap twice a year. Yes I noticed a difference.
I just leave them on all year now as the disadvantages are slight. Mind you, I live in Aviemore so temperatures below 7C can be experienced almost throughout the year. All Season tyres are another option of course.
OP, there have been lots of threads discussing this and also all-season tyres which you leave on all year round.
I have a set waiting to go on my car as soon as the doctor says I can drive a manual again. A couple of years ago I had just the fronts on my old Focus and they were brilliant. We live on a hill that is busy enough to compact the snow but not busy enough to clear it, so it turns to ice very quickly. With the winters on I could just pull off without the wheels spinning and even drive uphill from a standing start. With normal tyres on you stand no chance.
They seem to wear better than summer tyres in the winter too.
My wife's 3-series has 61k on the clock and next spring we'll have to buy it it's first set of new summer tyres. Well tears anyway.
The winter tyres have two years on them now and are fine for another year or two.
We're getting the equivalent of 30-40k out of tyres on a BMW
They are sensible on any car at this time of year, I've run them for the past 6 winters and wouldn't be without them at this time of year.
I never took mine off last year. Probably should have done but they were helpful off road- parking at races and the like. Only you can really know from your usage but I've found minimal downside and tons of plus.
(and if you're happy buying used and have a common model- I got a set of 4 ugly alloys with barely used quality snow tyres for less than I pay for 2 new, equivalent quality tyres- people often sell them on separately when they sell cars)
@bruk I shouild have read the posts sooner, I've just ordered a set of steel rims and Conti winter grips.
No worries. May post them again now as did put them on classifieds before. I think much easier and often cheaper just swapping whole wheels over as can go down rim size and no charge to swap them if you do it yourself. Best tip buy a trolley jack.
I've always bought the steel wheels from a local scrapyard. Tell the tyre fitter to spin them on the machine before fitting the tyres because steelies from crashed cars are sometimes bent. Scrappie will take them back and squash them.
Mrs Gti's car has no spare so in summer I keep one winter wheel in the boot and vice-versa in winter.
I have a BMW and I've been bitten before with the snow. My winters were bought and its not snowed since. Definitely more grip in the cold though. I put them on in October and they stay on until it gets warmer. I have the luxury of a spare wheels and somewhere to store them though. It'd be a right ball ache if I had to swap tyres
Have had them on my Mini Cooper for a couple of months now; spare wheel set comprising steel rims and Nokian WR D3 tyres. The new rims don't have the tyre pressure monitor system valves in them (they're £65 each!) so the car has an amber warning light on but I can live with that. Had them for several winters before on previous car but swapped tyres over.
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On beginning of December, I can now go out without fear of getting stuck if it snows. They really do work, enables you to drive on stuff like this at fairly normal speeds.
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We live in North Wales in the Coast,
Crikey OP you moved house.
mine are Nokians too WR A3, from Oponeo (online tyre place based out of Poland - bloody good service), Like Kato i bought them for last winter and it didn't bloody snow 🙁
I nearly bought the Nokains, but as it's more likely to be icey / generally crappy and wet here I opted for the Contis as they perform better in the conditions we'll experience.
Now I'm thinking I should have opted for run flats as there's usually not much space for a spare - might have to buy one of those silly flat things just in case!
@kyrton, yes, we left London in September for a new life on the Llyn Peninsular. A total lifestyle change from a well paid, relatively easy jobs in the 'creative industries' to starting up a coffee shop/bakery.
My daughter lives in Bucharest and my sister in law lives near Frankfurt, winter tyres aren't an option, they have to be fitted from October to March.
^^ not quite true. i live in Munich. the rule is that you can leave the summer tyres on all year, but if you get caught driving in snow or icy conditions you're in trouble.
was glad to have them today.... arrived back from the UK with incessant snow updates, but no snow, to this:
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8621/15953655600_ab677fee0f_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8621/15953655600_ab677fee0f_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qiLDZA ]DSC_0755[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/72344643@N00/ ]sod_the_taxman[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7539/16115173606_f9b15b822b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7539/16115173606_f9b15b822b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qy3tEN ]DSC_0758[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/72344643@N00/ ]sod_the_taxman[/url], on Flickr
^^ that was the main Autobahn from the south to Munich... glad we weren't on the "landstrassen"... total white out!
I fitted a set of winter wheels to my wifes car in November. I did a 5 hour round trip today starting at -6.5 degC over ice covered roads. They have been amazing. The first hour of the journey was on untreated B roads with lots of bends. The car just felt solid. They took a lot of the stress out of the journey. I don't fast, but I could drive at speeds approaching normal without feeling worrying they car was going to slide. I honestly don't I could have done the journey without them.
Cost wise, it's a no brainer. The alloys were £62 per wheel and are narrower and smaller (17"'s) so the tyres are cheaper than for the summer wheels by about £50 per tyre. I recon I can probably sell the wheels for £100ish when she sells the car. Apart from shelling out the cash upfront, and storing the second set, I can't think of any reason not to do it.
We have fitted winters to our cars and van for the last four years. There's a massive difference when there is snow. I've also had friends with BMW 3 tourers that became driveable on winter tyres on snow.
I've used 'all season' tyres for a few years now. However, I put winters on these past two years and the difference is night and day. And that's just normal conditions. Cold, wet roads. They were budget winter tyres too - cheaper than my all seasons... I'm rarely impressed by tyres, they never seem to meet my expectations, but these impressed me.
Still to give them a good test in snow, but the little they've had they've done all right.
Conti winter tyres on my outgoing car, and have ordered Goodyears for the new one before I even have it. They definitely make a difference, just having confidence in the car is important.
Ah, my annual video post up 🙂
Filmed on my drive a couple of years ago. I am still on the same set of winter tyres but I am not doing huge mileage.
BTW It is a granny ring climb on the MTB
Butcher. Did the all season tyres have the mountain snowflake symbol. some tyre manufacturers are very misleading with the terms all weather,all season and mud and snow. The tyre must have the mountain snowflake symbol too be of any use in snow
Just changed my car,Subaru to 2 wheel drive Peugeot. Live in the Lakes so pondering on winter tyres. The tyre place I use will swop 'em over for £4 a corner,so no need for a spare set of wheels just yet. The commute to work is only really tricky for the last 5 miles.If it gets too dicey can walk that bit... . Might sit this one out on summer tyres and crossed fingers!.
Another fan of them here - mine are Falkens on a Beemer.
They're much better from the get-go on coldish days - the summer tyres aren't too bad once they've warmed up, but the ride and grip are awful for the first 15 mins or so.
Once it gets snowy/icy slushy, you still have to drive sensibly, but the car goes, turns and most importantly stops in control. Even under hard braking on snow it pulls up in a straight line with the ABS triggering properly. The limiting factors for where I can go are the minimal ground clearance, plus the other divots on the road who have got stuck in front of me, or who can't stop behind me.
This is the 4th winter for mine. We got caught out whilst on holiday on Kintyre a couple of years back when we had the really big storms, and the ability to get around in the car, despite the road conditions was a proper lifesaver.
(
Just put 4 new quite aggressive patterned winter tyres on MrsCat's Panda 4x4 as two ordinary tyres were shot so took a chance they would be handy if it got bad - the transformation has been incredible, in the last dump of snow and ice it has not missed its footing once and it has managed to get where poorly shod 4x4s have failed. I was genuinely impressed with both the car and the tyres.
Was out the other day in 4" of snow the other day in 3 series. Once you get going no problems at all, even on hills.
Problem came having to get going on any kind of slope.
I've got snow socks for the rears and wouldn't bother with winter tyres now as socks are fantastic, and cheap!
Now with pic
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Ha best of luck with socks, dont go far or fast with them they are Sh*t*
They worked fine for me where needed, the rest of the time the BMW was fine on standard tyres on snow covered roads.
If I thought we would ever get more than 2-3 days of snow a year in Yorkshire I would consider winter tyres, but as the car drove ok on summer tyres I can't see the point.
Socks are for driving slowly to the nearest normally drivable road but that's about it. It's no comparison to winter tyres and you definitely won't have them fitted if you come across a load of ice in the road later on, or get any of the performance benefits at low temperatures.
Thing is, winter tyres aren't actually much of an expense. They might seem it, but your car needs tyres, and while you're wearing the winters you're not wearing your other tyres. So as long as you keep the car for a while, it's a zero sum thing. The wheels are a cost, but one you'll probably be able to recoup if you sell the car.
The biggest thing for me when it came to buying winter wheels and tyres is that I genuinely need my car to get to work. There is no public transport there and I can't work from home. We don't get much snow but 25 miles down country lanes isn't going to happen with any more than a couple of inches.
Socks are for driving slowly to the nearest normally drivable road but that's about it
I agree, But that's all you ever need in the UK. We are not Scandinavia where roads are covered in snow for weeks on end.
The fact is that when it snows in the UK you get no where fast as people get in the way, being able to do 50 mph on snow isn't really going to happen.
Socks are for driving slowly to the nearest normally drivable road but that's about itThe fact is that when it snows in the UK you get no where fast as people get in the way,
Often the ones in the way are changing their socks.
I've used winter tyres for the last few years. It lets me carry on as normal whatever the weather without getting cold hands.
One day, you'll learn,but I don't expect it to be anytime soon...
I can't understand socks either - how many times do you really drive on roads where you would ever need them for more than a day or two each year? And even then, surely at some point you will reach a fully cleared/treated road!?
I've got snow socks for the rears and wouldn't bother with winter tyres now as socks are fantastic, and cheap!
I agree, But that's all you ever need in the UK. We are not Scandinavia where roads are covered in snow for weeks on end.
You have a very limited knowledge of parts of the UK !
Winter tyres are a must for me and I'm in NE England. I regularly need chains too when going skiing 45 minutes from Durham!
And even then, surely at some point you will reach a fully cleared/treated road!?
You have just repeated my point exactly. They take 2 seconds to take off.
Woody - as I said above I was talking about Yorkshire. How many days this year have you been skiing then? I didn't realise Durham got so many days snow assured skiing a year.
I'm not saying snow socks are ideal all the time, but for the number of days a year the uk gets snow they are a cost effective viable option.
But that's all you ever need in the UK. We are not Scandinavia where roads are covered in snow for weeks on end.
Tell that to the people sleeping in or abandoning their cars next time it snows 🙂
Winter tyres cost very little extra, as you are using two sets of tyres so each set lasts twice as long...
Not done the maths, but I reckon winter tyres work out cheaper than socks. Winter tyres wear a lot less than summers through the winter, so longer life across two sets of tyres makes up for any cost of second hand second wheels. Which you can then flog layer down the line for a profit next time it snows.
Aside from the obvious benefits in the snow ( we drove home from Warrington to sheffield last Friday... we were one of very few cars to keep going, the roads were lined with abandoned cars) they are also much more grippy through winter - that horrible black sludge that covers the road at this time of year is suddenly grippy again with winters.
Anyway, I'm a fan of winter tyres, it's a no brainer in this country for me. Night an day difference. You need to experience the difference to believe it.
Just put 4 new quite aggressive patterned winter tyres on MrsCat's Panda 4x4 as two ordinary tyres were shot so took a chance they would be handy if it got bad - the transformation has been incredible, in the last dump of snow and ice it has not missed its footing once and it has managed to get where poorly shod 4x4s have failed. I was genuinely impressed with both the car and the tyres.
A standard 2WD Panda on summer tyres is excellent; I can imagine that a 4WD Panda with winter tyres would just keep going through deep snow until it built up a bow wave big enough to stop it.
Mrs Gti's diesel Ibiza with Avon Snow & Ice tyres is pretty good thanks to the heavier engine over the driving wheels. Last time I went out early to play in the snow I was driving up a long hill and a couple out walking the dog heard me coming and sprinted for a farm gate, thinking I would be all over the road. I took some pleasure in cruising past, cool, calm and collected then stopping where the road steepened and re-starting with no trouble at all. What a poseur.
Gonna have to repeat this; winter tyres aren't just for snow. They are for temperatures below 7C.
Socks have a much more limited application so aren't really comparable.
They are for temperatures below 7C.
I think this is a bit generic, they are far more versatile than that.
scotroutes beat me to it. We have these threads so often, and still people don't get it.
There are various valid arguments for not bothering with winter tyres in the UK. Not enough snow is not one of them. We are not debating snow tyres or ice tyres, the discussion is about winter tyres. We get one of those in some form every year, for 2-3 months at least.
Impressed by the "close to a gritted road" comments. First winter in 15 years in Derbyshire that they haven't gritted the bus routes. Lots of cold pensioners had to walk half a mile to one of the villages near us the other day as the bus wouldn't go down the icy ungritted hill. Hope none of them slipped and hurt themselves.
scotroutes beat me to it. We have these threads so often, and still people don't get it.
And they probably never will.. 🙄
Even last year , in Surrey, with no snow, or even ice, all winter winter were invaluable. The roads round here are very mucky and the more open tread with sipes helps cope with muddy roads. Many roads were flooded for 3-4 months and even shallow puddles hid gaping potholes. I run 215/45/17 in summer but 205/55/16 helps cope with damaged roads and saves trashing me poncey alloys. Money very well spent!
A quick question for the unconverted- How do snow socks on the rear help with braking or steering?
They probably don't but they will help with a RWD BMW.
@kyrton, yes, we left London in September for a new life on the Llyn Peninsular. A total lifestyle change from a well paid, relatively easy jobs in the 'creative industries' to starting up a coffee shop/bakery.
Wow, a brave move yet I'm sure very exciting for you all. I wish you all the best for your future!
People advocating snow socks seem to be concerned simply with getting moving at slow speeds, e.g. getting out of your drive. Winter tyres will help you drive around and actually get somewhere such as home.
Got 4 Conti WinterContacts sitting in the van waiting for the rims to show up.
Looking forward to the 'reassurance' if nothing more of putting them on the car.
Woody - as I said above I was talking about Yorkshire. How many days this year have you been skiing then? I didn't realise Durham got so many days snow assured skiing a year.I'm not saying snow socks are ideal all the time, but for the number of days a year the uk gets snow they are a cost effective viable option.
Actually, you quite clearly said UK! No-one is talking about 'snow assured' skiing in Durham but at [url= http://www.skiweardale.com/ ]Weardale Ski[/url] there are usually loads of days where skiing is possible and there are a couple of others in N.England.
BTW I also ski in Scotland and drive to NE Scotland regularly, which as far as I'm aware, that is still part of the UK. There have been numerous occasions over the past few years where I would not have been able to reach my folks house at all and the journey was far safer using winter tyres.
So I had my tyres and rims put together and fitted at the local tyre shop.
After paying I had a brief conversations that went:
Him: "So, you going on holiday then"
Me: "No, I got them because I don't want to be caught out"
Him: giving me a wry smile (probably thinking stupid towny) "it doesn't snow much round here, you know"
Me "Yes, I know"
After that I left feeling a bit sheepish, I bloody hope we get some good cold weather/frost/ice.
So the moral of this story is I'm buying a trolly jack!