If you're thinking of winter car tyres…

@andrewh – you’ll probably find you don’t wear through the winter tyres that quick.

If you do that much mileage that you wear out a set of tyres every year a car is pretty important to you and you probably spend a lot more than that in fuel and other running costs. But that is me making assumptions and I don’t have any idea about your personal finances etc on how easy it is to come by £500.

But one thing I can say is when the winter tyres get below a certain limit (normally 6mm in Europe) what they tend to do is either sell them off (which is why they end up here with 5mm on) or what I would suggest in the UK is keep them on and wear them out. They will wear faster in summer but if they are not much use next winter then you may as well wear them out.

I’m on my 3rd winter with my set, I go through a set of summer tyres every 2 years (including running winters). This year the winters have had a lot less use as it’s been quite warm so I’ve kept them on the spare car that the OH uses (same car but smaller petrol engine and hatchback). Instead of fitting them to mine I just use that car as I don’t have to worry about someone crashing into it like I do my newer model.

For me it has worked out cost effective, especially as the old car needs new summer tyres anyway but would only do about 2k a year driving around locally to Uni and farms so I leave them on and they work well up muddy farm tracks.

No, I don’t. I was only using 1 year to keep the example simple, just showing that for some it’s about timing as wellas total cost.
I normally get over 3yrs out of a set of (summer) tyres. 8k-ish miles a year in the van, 12k-ish on the bike 🙂

Have folk thought if these newfangled all-season tyres? Might actually be the best option for the road conditions we encounter.

“Jack of all trades” from what I have heard and seen in the test results unfortunately. Which is a shame.

@andrewh – so you were going a bit daily mail on me then and exaggerating? 😉

I wonder how much our insurance goes up (or fails to go down) each year due to people driving into floods or crashing snow/ice? I remember there being a scrap yard at the bottom of a steep hill at the side of the BRI in Bristol a few years back. This is nothing to do with winter tyres – just people driving when they shouldnt be!

You can turn off my ABS (and every other bit of assistance the car normally gives) by putting it into “dyno mode”

Not for the fainthearted though!!!! (empty car parks only!)

Why not for the faint hearted? It wasn’t many years ago that most people drove cars without ABS, traction control, stability control and many people including me still drive such antiquated relics.

Jeez, a guy just posts that he is impressed with his winter tyres….

I’m impressed with mine – much more stable and confidence inspiring on snow and standing water than the stock ones. I’m not holding a gun to your heads, just expressing an opinion!

Jeez how much are you guys paying for your tyres. I have all season tyres with a bias towards snow. Fit and forget. 65 pounds each from mytyres.co.uk then 7.50 a corner to fit and balance. 205 / 55 /16’s. Fantastic in the snow and slush.

Here’s a thought to help you make your mind up. Winter tyres are worse in summer than summer tyres are in winter. Have folk thought if these newfangled all-season tyres? Might actually be the best option for the road conditions we encounter.

not according to Continental.

As for the all season tyres, was using Vredestein Quatrac 3’s on the old car and very happy, will swap to them once i wear out the current set.

Been thinking about “mids” for a while. I mostly do motorway miles with around 28mile off motorway on whats passes as an A road.

In the end i went with gearing up for possible worst case, although may look into what i call “mids” again (not snow tyres but winter tyres)
I got a shovel, an old 10ltr paint pot filled with salt grit, and a pair of snow chains. My little car lacks traction control and ABS and power steering, got electric windows though.

If it’s real bad, i don’t go out unless unavoidable local trips.
If i am out and get caught out, i can chain up and chug along at a reduced speed to get home (unless we are talking footage of snow then screwed anyway)

Chains haven’t seen much action, but they do induce a nice warm smug inner glow as my little 3cyl motor chugs uphill past stuck 4wds and other cars.
Did stop to help a stuck lady in a 4wd, rear wheels spinning, fronts not moving (trying to get in a drive way) pointed out it wasn’t in 4wd…. “yes it is ! the lights on telling me”
There is no drive to your front wheels, have you engaged the manual freewheel hubs.
“i pulled the lever, the lights on, it’s in 4wd”
No you haven’t locked the hubs to engage, those big black dials in the middle of the hub that say “locked” and “unlocked” your not in 4wd.
“but the lights on, so it is”….

I try to engage hubs for the lady, they are seized from lack of use, needs to be looked at by a garage.

I carry on with my journey 🙂

Deffo wrong time to buy tyres right now, plan ahead do it in summer when they are cheaper, or just pick up a set of chains.

Did drive past a few strangely parked cars and bus between Nether Stowey and Holford today, along the Quantocks. Tyres or chains would have maybe sorted most of them out.

mmannerr – why would anyone do a full on ABS stop in any conditions never minds snow or a wet road with lots of standing water on it?

Other option being hitting a moose or pack of deers? I have done full ABS stop several times in different conditions and probably will be doing it again in the near future.

Only problem is that if there is a loose snow layer on top of ice the ABS may get confused – on those situations studded tires and locking brakes would be better.

On the other comments, most current ABS systems manage to keep the car straight in situations where tyres on the other side of the car on slippery surface and other side is on grippy surface. That is something which is beyond any drivers skills.

I use winter tyres all year round. I reckon the wet grip is better with winter tyres even at 30°C. I haven’t read the whole thread so if anyone has any test evidence to the contrary fell free to disagree and post it.

got my driving test cancelled for the 2nd time today … hmmm …

On the other comments, most current ABS systems manage to keep the car straight in situations where tyres on the other side of the car on slippery surface and other side is on grippy surface. That is something which is beyond any drivers skills.

Normally that would be true, but this is STW…,

Ffs, I’m so sorry I started this!

I like em, they work for me. I’m pleased I splashed out. If you’re too good a driver for them to work for you then fair play and I look forward to your 2013 wrc / f1title celebrations.

Enough now!

Would this be a bad time to point out that on ice and snow engine braking forces can be such that if you lift off and hit the brakes the wheels will slow to below road speed, continue to be braked by the engine which will then drop to tickover or stall so you end up with locked driving wheels.

Hard braking on snow and ice is best with your foot poised over the clutch anticipating a lock up or with the ABS off.

Oh god, I can’t resist…

Glupton76, if your wife takes so little notice of you that she drove into the back of another vehicle, your advice can’t really be relied upon. Do you think she would have stopped with winter tyres on?

andrewh – Member

Not everyone can afford to shell out £720 on tyres, even if, being two sets, they will last twice as long.

I paid about £120 for mine- 4 barely used Snowproxes in a fairly expensive size, + 4 ugly alloys.

Yes not everyone can afford to shell out £720 for tyres- and those people who can’t, don’t generally drive cars that have tyres that cost £720! Very silly argument. Buying and fitting 4 quality, new tyres for an inexpensive size will cost you a fraction of this.

What an entertaining read 😀

FYI, I was the numpty in the Freelander who couldn’t get up Winnat’s Pass on Saturday lunchtime. Ice and snow mode my arse!!
I blame it on the 235/55 x 19″ wheels that I sensibly specc’d up. Form over function anyone?

Of course, it could have been my complete lack of driving skill and mechanical sensitivity….

Am currently researching 16″ wheels and winter tyres so that I can carry on (taking my bike to and) riding my bike in the snowy Peak District.

You do not have to spend a months take home on winter tyres

http://www.thetreadshop.co.uk/

£20 a corner anyone?
Part worn German ones with 4mm or so on them . I got some Michelin Primacy Alpins with around 5mm on them for £70 a pait fitted and balanced.

Probably a better investment for the 10 days or so of snow we actually get in Englandshire, plus they cut through standing water very well ( every other day it seems )

Ffs, I’m so sorry I started this!

I like em, they work for me. I’m pleased I splashed out. If you’re too good a driver for them to work for you then fair play and I look forward to your 2013 wrc / f1title celebrations.

Enough now!

No apologies – no need! It was a thread on here a couple of years ago that made me buy a set that are now on their third winter, and I know from first-hand experience the difference they make.

It’s all personal choice. I’ll bet there’s people on this forum that spend more on different bike tyres that make less of a difference than car winter tyres…

Correct me if im wrong but from my colleagues description of “snow mode” on his rangey its just like diff lock , lo range with traction control. – which is a low gear high revs,

In which case you dont really want it in that mode for climbing snow and ice

A sand mode or even a normal mode that lets you have low revs and a high gear

Climbing on ice and snow you need momentum.

Not everyone can afford to shell out £720 on tyres, even if, being two sets, they will last twice as long.

But anyone who has a car that requires tyres that cost 180 per corner should be able to afford them without eyelids batting. And if your monthly salary is less than this I doubt that you can afford to run a car of any sort.

We managed a full super deep powder day at glenshee today courtesy of a full set of winters. Would never have gotten there otherwise… Of course we live in Aberdeenshire….

Meet friends.

Drink beer.

Socialise.

😆

“We managed a full super deep powder day at glenshee today courtesy of a full set of winters. Would never have gotten there otherwise… Of course we live in Aberdeenshire…. “

Yeh, like you have anything useful to contribute to this thread…. 😆

Cash, confused here but then again we do have about 20″ of stagnant powder in our drive at only 380ft above sea level……

I find that if I expose myself to other drivers that I dont need winter tyres

tinybits – Member

Ffs, I’m so sorry I started this!

I like em, they work for me. I’m pleased I splashed out. If you’re too good a driver for them to work for you then fair play and I look forward to your 2013 wrc / f1title celebrations.

Enough now!

I though that this was a public service by providing a place to vent, so the God thread could be debated reasonably without bannings or it being locked.

I have a stunning member. A sort of Spitfire of loins. It makes a fantastic noise you know 😮

I doubt I would have bought them if I was still in middle Englandshire, but up here they seem to be needed for all the months that do not rhyme with ‘June’.

Part worn German ones with 4mm or so on them

That’s basically worn out for winters. They require more tread than summers to be effective.

Tinybits, threads worth it !

Ok like most i just roll into a fitters, they shout a few prices, i pick one depending on state of wallet and drive away new boots.

All this talk of silly money tyres, must be just for fatcats in fat 2ton cars.

Granted i only have little ones.
155/70R13 prices from £30 each to £50 each, last two tyres i fitted where £35 each incl fitting. Thats all new prices, not part worns.

So with some scrap yard diving i might find some spare rims, with some research using the little A-F guide ratings i can compare my normal tyres against winter tyres.

With only a quick look about, some of the cheapies fair better on the A-F guide ratings than the posher ones.

And i always thought winter tyres where expensive 🙂

Isn’t the simple and cheap option just to buy a decent set of chains and pop them in the boot in case you need them?! Low cost, they last forever and they will get you safe up and down the hills even in the deepest snow we get in most of the UK. Just a thought!

Chains help get you moving in snow.

Winter tyres help you get moving in snow, don’t need removing when you hit tarmac, and give you more grip all winter long on black ice, slush, mud etc.

Downsman – Member

Isn’t the simple and cheap option just to buy a decent set of chains and pop them in the boot in case you need them?! Low cost, they last forever and they will get you safe up and down the hills even in the deepest snow we get in most of the UK. Just a thought!

they last about 5 mins in this country.

tarmac destroys them very quickly – and there aren’t many times you’ll be sure of driving on a road that’s completely covered in snow.

and they knacker the tarmac.

although you do feel like a proper man when you fit a set of chains in a blizzard 🙂

Ive done the German tyre route and true snow tyres need tread but also….ever walked round a car salvage yard? Cars scrapped their/bundle up the winter tyres as theres a known market here and…..send them over. Would you trust a used tyres provinence?

I use winter tyres all year round. I reckon the wet grip is better with winter tyres even at 30°C. I haven’t read the whole thread so if anyone has any test evidence to the contrary fell free to disagree and post it.

The problem is not grip, it’s the fact the tyres get destroyed in warm weather. In the December warm snap here, every time I got out of my car I could smell the hot rubber. In one 2000km round trip I wore them down more than 10000km on my summer tyres. They’re much softer and in my case, my winter tyres are much narrower than my summer ones so I actually get far less grip apart from on snow/ice.

In a way it’s pointless buying winter tyres with 5mm of tread as that is the point when they say to get rid of them (and hence why they are cheap).

But then again how many people have 5mm on their summer tyres right now? so a wintery tyre with 4-5mm will still be better in the cold and damp than a 4-5mm summer tyre.

Chains – pretty much pointless in the UK unless you know you are going to be driving on uncleared roads somewhere and you have to take them off when you get to clear road. I’ve seen cars driving round with them when they really shouldn’t which is a huge problem as people use them without actually knowing the correct use.

Snow socks – they might work for snow but again they need to come off as soon as you hit clear road. Maybe a good emergency back up I guess if cheap and universal fitting.

Those who disgrace winter tyres are the people who have not used them and don’t understand the benefits.
Those who champion them are the people who have tried them and won’t be without them.

Recently bought a 4wd car, which came without winter tyres and the snow fell while we were awaiting some to be fitted. It was awful! Plenty of traction to drive, but very little turning or braking. Now the winter tyres are fitted it is incredible.

The sooner it becomes compulsory the better. Maybe then the country won’t grind to a halt every time it snows.

The problem is not grip, it’s the fact the tyres get destroyed in warm weather.

Apparently Continental think otherwise;

“Winter tyres are as quiet and comfortable as summer tyres and, thanks to sophisticated compound technology, do not wear any more quickly.”

My experience back this up as well, we have winters fitted all year round and don’t have to change any more frequently than when we used summer tyres.