Winter Tyres - are they worth having

[MFS Electrical]

Went to a wedding in Inverness,last November,and came a mile and a half,down a hill in virgin snow,as an un-guided missile,with the kerbs on both sides,acting like those "bumpers" you stick down a bowling lane,when kids are having a go...

...It may have been my favourite moment of the trip

So that was you

 

[diyterry]

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on having winter tyres - being in the south it hardly seems worth while ............ even the "beast from the east" only managed a light sprinkle!

Thanks

As long as you've got good quality tyres with plenty of tread I don't think it's worth buying winter tyres.

 

[rapparee]

Your vans in NI are basically troop carriers though

They also pack a bigger punch than your common or garden car bomb

 

[MDJ]

They also pack a bigger punch than your common or garden car bomb

Typical Irish

 

[rapparee]

Typical Irish

 

[Squid]

As long as you've got good quality tyres with plenty of tread I don't think it's worth buying winter tyres.

Standard tyres in winter go hard and lose grip, the compound in winter tyres stays more malleable when the temperature drops, winter tyres also usually run a slimmer profile and are taller to cut through the snow, the thing is it not just the snow but its when it snows, thaws turns to ice then snows again, there is nothing worse then driving on snow with an inch of ice laying underneath.

You also don't run standard winter tyres in summer as you'll just wear them out.

 

[plugsandsparks]

Have run winters for 5 years, prior to that i used chains on summer tyres. Basically i cannot get off my drive if there is even an inch of snow. I have 4 new Michelin Alpin waiting for the bad weather. They are a huge huge improvement in all aspects of control. No brainer, if you need your vehicle to make a living and it snows where you live.

 

[Nigel]

I dont have winter tyres on the RR and nothing stops it.

 

[Nigel]

Also make sure you compare the independant ‘Euro Rating’. Suprising how poor some ‘premium’ brands perform.

 

[Squid]

I dont have winter tyres on the RR and nothing stops it.

If you are running a Rolls Royce then let your man servant and chauffeur worry about the tyres.....

 

[Squid]

Have run winters for 5 years, prior to that i used chains on summer tyres. Basically i cannot get off my drive if there is even an inch of snow. I have 4 new Michelin Alpin waiting for the bad weather. They are a huge huge improvement in all aspects of control. No brainer, if you need your vehicle to make a living and it snows where you live.

Where do you use chains as they are restricted and should not be used unless in the mountains and with dire weather.

 

[Nigel]

If you are running a Rolls Royce then let your man servant and chauffeur worry about the tyres.....

I am the man servant.

 

[Shoei]

Michelin CrossClimate are worth a look, summer tyres with an official winter tyre rating. My daughter had them on her Mini during the 'beast from the east' and for a couple of days it was just her and 4x4s still mobile in her town.

Handy if you get a job at the top of a ski slope too.

 

[MDJ]

I dont have winter tyres on the RR and nothing stops it.

obviously they are superb off road, however get your head out of your arse and look in your owners manual, they recommend winter tyres if you use your car in 4 wheel drive 4LLC which is the winter gears recommended for snow and ice, obviously summer tyres will do the job but why use summer tyres in the winter if the winter is bad? PS, you can take the boy out of essex but cannot take essex out of the boy

 

[Squid]

I dont have winter tyres on the RR and nothing stops it.

Thats why you need winter tyres as when you press the brake pedal it will stop.

 

[telectrix]

If you are running a Rolls Royce then let your man servant and chauffeur worry about the tyres.....

Rolls Royce my arse. essex runs a Reliant Robin.

 

[Squid]

Rolls Royce my arse. essex runs a Reliant Robin.

Only needs 3 winter tyres then......... or just 2 for the rear and an old ski for the front......

 

[plugsandsparks]

Where do you use chains as they are restricted and should not be used unless in the mountains and with dire weather.

To get out of the village, yes its mountainous and the weather is dire, basically i have them from skiing trips, nothing stops chains, you do need full snow cover as they are tricky on tarmac... lol

 

[rapparee]

Only needs 3 winter tyres then......... or just 2 for the rear and an old ski for the front......

What if you put two winter tyres on the front but didn't bother with the rear tyres, would it be any advantage?

 

[Sintra]

Do you guys that use the winters have them on another set of rims so it’s just a matter of jacking up and swapping over?