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[Entwood]

Not wishing (or knowing enough) to get involved in the rights or wrongs of fitting winter tyres, however from past experience I know of an insurance problem whereby a vehicle fitted with them was deemed to be "modified" and the insurance invalidated.

I have recently come across this information which may be useful to anyone who has fiitted winter tyres, or is intending to do so.

http://www.abi.org.uk/Information/Consumers/General/Winter_Tyres__The_Motor_Insurance_Committment.aspx

Well worth a quick check BEFORE something nasty happens ??   

[Kevin Wood]

Well worth taking a paper copy of it if you're going to rely on it, I'd say, just in case your insurer still tries to pull a fast one.

[Kevin Wood]

Hmm. and what are the "manufacturer's specifications" for winter tyres for the Omega?

[cem_devecioglu]

Well .. good to see insurers make some advance

[feeutfo]

Well .. good to see insurers make some advance

Indeed, its very easy to advance from such a poor position though. This issue is indicative of a very poorly run industry IMO.

[aaronjb]

Hmm. and what are the "manufacturer's specifications" for winter tyres for the Omega?

According to the manual:

Winter tyres
All tyre sizes given here may be used as winter tyres (M+S tyres).

It adds, along with all the standard sizes, 195/65R15M+S as a valid size for all models on Page 225 of the owners manual

[cem_devecioglu]

Hmm. and what are the "manufacturer's specifications" for winter tyres for the Omega?

According to the manual:

Winter tyres
All tyre sizes given here may be used as winter tyres (M+S tyres).

It adds, along with all the standard sizes, 195/65R15M+S as a valid size for all models on Page 225 of the owners manual

so cost is seriously reduced

[05omegav6]

Hmm. and what are the "manufacturer's specifications" for winter tyres for the Omega?

According to the manual:

Winter tyres
All tyre sizes given here may be used as winter tyres (M+S tyres).

It adds, along with all the standard sizes, 195/65R15M+S as a valid size for all models on Page 225 of the owners manual

so cost is seriously reduced

Only if you have 15" wheels

[cem_devecioglu]

Hmm. and what are the "manufacturer's specifications" for winter tyres for the Omega?

According to the manual:

Winter tyres
All tyre sizes given here may be used as winter tyres (M+S tyres).

It adds, along with all the standard sizes, 195/65R15M+S as a valid size for all models on Page 225 of the owners manual

so cost is seriously reduced

Only if you have 15" wheels

I bet you can buy them next to nothing.. or buy with the car and scrap the shell

[05omegav6]

Still a cost to be factored in

[dbdb]

I'm not sure what is meant by 'winter' tyres.  Mine are marked M&S (Mud and Snow) and have quite a bit of sea compared to land but otherwise look very similar to 'normal' unidirectional tyres.  They were not sold as winter tyres, they were called 'all season' tyres and that was only in the small print.  WESTLAKE SV308 97W XL 235/45WR17 £62 each:


Having tried driving in small amounts of snow with the Eagle F1 pattern tyres I would prefer these anyday.  However to me 'winter' tyres mean ones with studs in or at least knobbly rubber bits on them. 

Actually National may have the wrong image I think this may be more like them, will check tomorrow:

[MV6Matt]

Hmm. and what are the "manufacturer's specifications" for winter tyres for the Omega?

According to the manual:

Winter tyres
All tyre sizes given here may be used as winter tyres (M+S tyres).

It adds, along with all the standard sizes, 195/65R15M+S as a valid size for all models on Page 225 of the owners manual

so cost is seriously reduced

Only if you have 15" wheels

Yes, exactly.
I have the hand book recommended 225/55/16 (for 16" wheels) M+S tyres on mine.
Currently looking for a narrower tyre for a 16" wheel that isn't too far off the same revs per mile as the 225.

@ original poster - my understanding of the definition of 'winter tyres' is the different compounds they're made from (and hence behave more effectively at temp below 7 deg. M+S tyres also seem to have very distinct extra tread in the pattern

Matthew

[cem_devecioglu]

I'm not sure what is meant by 'winter' tyres.  Mine are marked M&S (Mud and Snow) and have quite a bit of sea compared to land but otherwise look very similar to 'normal' unidirectional tyres.  They were not sold as winter tyres, they were called 'all season' tyres and that was only in the small print.  WESTLAKE SV308 97W XL 235/45WR17 £62 each:


Having tried driving in small amounts of snow with the Eagle F1 pattern tyres I would prefer these anyday.  However to me 'winter' tyres mean ones with studs in or at least knobbly rubber bits on them. 

Actually National may have the wrong image I think this may be more like them, will check tomorrow:

this thread pattern is designed towards wet surface.. in snow you may have some little traction but be warned you will have no brakes..

[aaronjb]

@ original poster - my understanding of the definition of 'winter tyres' is the different compounds they're made from (and hence behave more effectively at temp below 7 deg. M+S tyres also seem to have very distinct extra tread in the pattern

Yep, compound and a treat pattern with thousands of tiny 'sipes' like this:



BTW my four steelies cost me nowt thanks to a very generous OOF member, even from a breaker ought to be sub £100 for four which would be more than made up for by the cost difference in tyres (plus fitting & removal each time you switch tyres) when 4x 195/65R15 UG-8 can be had for £262 and 4x 235/45R17 (Elite sizes) would be £684!

Granted you need storage for a set of wheels & tyres somewhere, but..

[MV6Matt]

@ original poster - my understanding of the definition of 'winter tyres' is the different compounds they're made from (and hence behave more effectively at temp below 7 deg. M+S tyres also seem to have very distinct extra tread in the pattern

Yep, compound and a treat pattern with thousands of tiny 'sipes' like this:


BTW my four steelies cost me nowt thanks to a very generous OOF member, even from a breaker ought to be sub £100 for four which would be more than made up for by the cost difference in tyres (plus fitting & removal each time you switch tyres) when 4x 195/65R15 UG-8 can be had for £262 and 4x 235/45R17 (Elite sizes) would be £684!

Granted you need storage for a set of wheels & tyres somewhere, but..

So that's what a 'sipe' is! What a great word!

Cheers!