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Summer tyres

Winter tyres

Rain tyres

All season tyres

Not aware of the differances

[aaronjb]

Yup, nobody wil be convinced, Cem

Don't get me wrong, over about 15C even in the wet I'd probably rather be on a premium set of summer tyres with sidewalls that aren't three weeks high. Ok, possibly not the craptastic Neutons I have on the Omega right now, but the Bridgestone RE040s I had on the MR2, or Goodyear F1s I used to run on the Nissan; they were great in the warm wet weather but the grip does drop off as it gets colder.

Although I'm not sure I'll get four seasons out of these winter tyres with the way I'm driving on them and the fact it's still 10C or so in the day

[Cliffo B]

As posted previously:-
exchanged 18"Irmscher Sportstar's with Michelin Pilot sport 3s on for 15"steel wheels with Michelin Alpin 4 winter tyres on.
My initial reason for this was to take my precious alloys off the road
We do a weekly journey to the East coast to see my disabled sister and take her to the supermarket
Last yr the road surface on B1251/1253 known as the scenic route to Bridlington/Flamborough became in a bad way from snow/frost damage to a point that laterly the local authority had to use cones to indicate where the damage was
Too late for Miggy and her Alloys!!
Then the following week tryed the main route and that became as bad
As I needed tyres for the steelies I decided to fit winter tyres
I have no doubt that very shortly I'll be putting them to the test
Some may think it an unnessary cost and trouble,however I reasoned to myself its just transfering 3 months tyre wear from one set of wheels/tyres to another,And if the tyres come up to expectations in snow icy conditions as the tyre fitter commented i'ts a bonus!
I'll simply do the same next yr
Cost was 345.36 for Tyres with balancing & valves,35.00 for 3 wheels,(already had one as spare)Total 380.36
 

[TheBoy]

As posted previously:-
exchanged 18"Irmscher Sportstar's with Michelin Pilot sport 3s on for 15"steel wheels with Michelin Alpin 4 winter tyres on.
My initial reason for this was to take my precious alloys off the road
We do a weekly journey to the East coast to see my disabled sister and take her to the supermarket
Last yr the road surface on B1251/1253 known as the scenic route to Bridlington/Flamborough became in a bad way from snow/frost damage to a point that laterly the local authority had to use cones to indicate where the damage was
Too late for Miggy and her Alloys!!
Then the following week tryed the main route and that became as bad
As I needed tyres for the steelies I decided to fit winter tyres
I have no doubt that very shortly I'll be putting them to the test
Some may think it an unnessary cost and trouble,however I reasoned to myself its just transfering 3 months tyre wear from one set of wheels/tyres to another,And if the tyres come up to expectations in snow icy conditions as the tyre fitter commented i'ts a bonus!
I'll simply do the same next yr
Cost was 345.36 for Tyres with balancing & valves,35.00 for 3 wheels,(already had one as spare)Total 380.36

I fully understand your reasoning Cliffo B.  My expensive 18" alloys, although in need of refurb anyway, will be staying on the drive during our short periods of bad weather - which in the UK, esp the South, isn't a common occurance (the past 2-3 winters aside), and I will use the other Omega and have a set of chains.

Around these parts, generally the A43 is kept clear, but the local roads untouched. Which in reality means getting getting around town (Brackley is a small market town), which has never caused problems before, including the last 2 harsh winters.  Added to that, I have the luxury of being able to work at home anyway, and Mrs TheBoy can lift share with one of the 4x4 owners (seeing as she works for the best 4x4xfar manufacturer ).

TBH, its unlikely I will need the chains, although the first bit of proper snow, I'm going out into the lanes out the back here, just to see how much they reduce slip


Winter tyres will undoubtedly be a better option, but the trouble is storing them between winters.  They would have to go outside, have tarpalines over them to keep sun off, and I'm sure she'd complain how unsightly it is.  And I'm still convinced this winter will be relatively mild.


cem, ignoring the last 2 or 3 winters, I remember most years, when we got in the office, we used to have discussions how cold it was where we all lived (my team is based and live all over the South), and it was rare for it ever to be colder than -2 to -3C at 7:45am just before the sun came up. And snow normally lasts little more than a day.  Its just the last 2 or 3 winters have been exceptionally harsh for this area - apart from last year, the last time we had a foot of snow must have been late 70s, early 80s. Our winters tend to be quite mild, and usually lots of rain.

[feeutfo]

I have conciedred winter tyres tbh. Because ;
Sc3 are apallingly dangerous in snow
Sc3 are expensive, esp in 18" so saving them for warm weather makes sense
I suspect they will perform better at single figures temp.
I have the oe wheels sat in the garage doing nout with worn out tyres on.

I have discounted them because;
Of cost. Ones worth having are more expensive than summer tyres afaict. Stitch up 
Availability, there simply are no decent ones to be had as "our winters are not harsh enough"
I suspect i will kill them with my driving if its even remotely warm. 
If it wasnt for the last couple of years exceptional weather, i wouldnt even dream of changing tyres for winter.
So lets hope we get a normal winter this year.  or i'll be getting the train. Pfff...

[Kevin Wood]

So lets hope we get a normal winter this year.  or i'll be getting the train. Pfff...

Gixer on public transport? Can't see it myself. 

 

[feeutfo]

So lets hope we get a normal winter this year.  or i'll be getting the train. Pfff...

Gixer on public transport? Can't see it myself. 

 

Hmmm... I have got full wets for the bike.   

[feeutfo]

Although the train will only be for getting home. If its snow before work i'm staying home....bugger that.

[D]

I am thinking of getting 2 winter tyres for the back of my estate, 1 tyre is near it's time so thinking of replacing both, not sure with what make etc, need to get advice, want to be ready for the snow

Not a good idea at all. Essentially you have differential grip which means you are very likely to loose control particularly of the steering wheel.

[feeutfo]

I am thinking of getting 2 winter tyres for the back of my estate, 1 tyre is near it's time so thinking of replacing both, not sure with what make etc, need to get advice, want to be ready for the snow

Not a good idea at all. Essentially you have differential grip which means you are very likely to loose control particularly of the steering wheel.

Why is better grip at the rear a bad idea D?

[D]

I'm quite happy on "summer tyres" (why do they call them that these days?) in the winter unless dealing with heavy snow and, yes, I'll say it... Black ice.

Till you crash (on black ice) with your family in the car. Your choice to take on board that risk. There is a reason its called black ice. Some one I know wrote off his 50k M3 on what appeared a patch of clear road doing 50mph 2 years ago. Since then he has always used snow/winter tyres. He used to make statrements like the above till this happened. Thankfully his wife and 1yr old wasnt in the car.

[feeutfo]

I'm quite happy on "summer tyres" (why do they call them that these days?) in the winter unless dealing with heavy snow and, yes, I'll say it... Black ice.

Till you crash (on black ice) with your family in the car. Your choice to take on board that risk. There is a reason its called black ice. Some one I know wrote off his 50k M3 on what appeared a patch of clear road doing 50mph 2 years ago. Since then he has always used snow/winter tyres. He used to make statrements like the above till this happened. Thankfully his wife and 1yr old wasnt in the car.

He did say "UNLESS" D!

[D]

Why is better grip at the rear a bad idea D?

It may be good for traction (in a RWD car) but you still have no control of the front wheels to do any useful steering (on ice or snow that is). So you could be driving yourself into a ditch because you have no control of the car. On a normal road with no ice/frost it doesnt really matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB7hpWhqIA&feature=relmfu

I do agree with the general advice that its better to put new tyres on the rear. But go for 4 winters rather than 2 on the rear.

[D]

I'm quite happy on "summer tyres" (why do they call them that these days?) in the winter unless dealing with heavy snow and, yes, I'll say it... Black ice.

Till you crash (on black ice) with your family in the car. Your choice to take on board that risk. There is a reason its called black ice. Some one I know wrote off his 50k M3 on what appeared a patch of clear road doing 50mph 2 years ago. Since then he has always used snow/winter tyres. He used to make statrements like the above till this happened. Thankfully his wife and 1yr old wasnt in the car.

He did say "UNLESS" D!

I need to get glasses dont I? I think I missed that bit and was a bit surprised reading that statement.

[feeutfo]

Why is better grip at the rear a bad idea D?

It may be good for traction (in a RWD car) but you still have no control of the front wheels to do any useful steering (on ice or snow that is). So you could be driving yourself into a ditch because you have no control of the car. On a normal road with no ice/frost it doesnt really matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB7hpWhqIA&feature=relmfu

I do agree with the general advice that its better to put new tyres on the rear. But go for 4 winters rather than 2 on the rear.

Under steer is "safer" and two winters on the rear will be an improvemet... If one conciders winters worth while that is.

[D]

Understeer in indeed safer, but on an icy surface understeer usually means no steer at all aka crashing into something.