What are the best winter tyres to get for the roomster and are the standard tyres all weather or just summer

I think tyres are all weather all season.

Just make sure they havent worn unevenly, bulged etc...

I think tyres are all weather all season.

Just make sure they havent worn unevenly, bulged etc...

Nope the compounds differ.

I've heard good things about the Wintrac Xtreme, but found them very hard to get hold of around my way.

I don't think our climate will be consistently cold enough for tyres such as wintrac extreme. You'll find when its above 7c they wear too quick. Look at the Vredestein site at Quatrac3 sizings are available on that.

They are available as V Rated, so should be able to deal with a bit of heat IMHO.

Quatrac 3 got disappointing reviews in dry and wet compared to others which is why I didn't bother with them.

Is it really worth the expense and hassle of having two sets of tyres for a car? Can anyone explain the benefits of this way of thinking?

Is it really worth the expense and hassle of having two sets of tyres for a car? Can anyone explain the benefits of this way of thinking?

at 5 celcius,"normal" tyres (like my goodyear F1's) start to go off..... at below freezing they are practically usless (this is the same for most summer tyres, bridgstone for example say don't use the potenza below freezing) the winter tyres, work much , much better below 5 celcius (like the Wintrac Xtreme, most manufacturers do a winter tyre) the different compound really makes a difference (in the summer tyre it becomes too hard when cold, and in the winter tyre it still works) they are better in the wet, and snow, and slush ect..... as soon as the temps get above 5 celcius tho, the summer tyre is better... the winter tyre moves around too much (due to the different comapound and tread pattern) and overheats and wears too quickly.....

a friend of mine (has a merc a-class) has a set of steel wheels he has winter tyres on,(lives in Sheffield,pleanty of snow..) takes his alloys off this time of year and puts the steelies with the winter tyres on, and it works really well... if I had the money , I'd do this too....

anyone who's tried F1's in the snow will testify to this (bloody great tyre above 5 celcius tho! especially on a hot summer day.....)

I have just taken my F1's off (They are worn anyway) because I want to live to see next year.

If only i had a garage to keep 4 tyres in, i'll have to manage through the harsh winter.

I understand that some countries in Mainland Europe insist that everyone has a set of summer and winter tyres for their cars... knowing how cold it can get over there I can understand why... but as long as the Gulf Stream continues to wash up on our shores I doubt that its worth it in this country unless you live in the middle of nowhere... in which case a 4x4 would be more appropriate than a Roomie!

Winter tyres (M + S) are compulsory in Finland from 1 December. They are not mandatory in any other country AFAIK. Goodyear Eagle used to be rated M + S for all year round. I used them some years ago.

John

Winter tyres (M + S) are compulsory in Finland from 1 December. They are not mandatory in any other country AFAIK. Goodyear Eagle used to be rated M + S for all year round. I used them some years ago.

John

In Sweden they are, if the road´s in "winter condition" (black ice, snow, mud). In the south of Sweden with not too much snow the big problem is low night temperature (wet roads freezing) so I always switch to studded M+S tyres in November and back again in March. More noisy and a slight increase in fuel consumption but a necessary safety measure.

From the AA:

"Since May 2006 German motorists have been required by law to use the most appropriate tyres for the weather conditions. In practice this means most drivers keep two sets of tyres – 'winter tyres' for the colder months when many roads are snow-covered and 'summer' tyres for the remainder of the year. Summer tyres may not be used when there's ice or snow on the road.

Alternatively, German motorists may use so-called 'all-season-tyres' and leave them on the car all year round."

Good old Germans being logical and leaving it up to the individual! I understand that in some mountainous areas of Germany local regulations do make them compulsary. They also seem to be compulsary in Latvia and Norway. A google search gives several references to the various regulations.

You`re right that using winter tyres depends mostly on weather and road`s condition. In Bulgaria we don`t have a "Swedish winter" :P, but what we often have are uncleaned snowy or muddy roads. So it`s better for us to use winter tyres. The tyres I use are "Cooper Weather Master ST2" and I`m quite satisfied wiht their performance on snow, ice and even dry tarmac. Best wishes!

Over here I think all tyres are all season.

Its up to the individual if they want to change them for different circumstances.

On my Felicia I have 2 of the budget tyres on the front (still good from buying the car almost 3 years ago) and 2 new Fulda EcoControls on the back.

Although on the website it says summer tyres.

I haven't had the need to have winter tyres on any of my cars.

We might find out whether we need winter tyres this weekend!

Do you get any snow in deep space nine?

My winter tyres Gislaved NordFrost 5 R15 195/55

For our winters - that that is necessary!

Nokian WR G2

These may be listed as winter but are all season listed in the US and on the tyre.

Just has some on my Octavia, very happy with their road performance, have to see how they wear through the summer.

Try "Mytyres" on the the web for a huge selection and user reviews.

If you're in the UK then just slow down for the 5 days of a 2" covering of snow we get... there may be places in the Pennines and Highlands that get 6 days but for most of us its just not worth the expense...

I wonder why we in the UK seem to get so hung up about a couple of inches of snow which is lucky if it makes it 'til lunchtime....

If you're in the UK then just slow down for the 5 days of a 2" covering of snow we get... there may be places in the Pennines and Highlands that get 6 days but for most of us its just not worth the expense...

I wonder why we in the UK seem to get so hung up about a couple of inches of snow which is lucky if it makes it 'til lunchtime....

Perhaps you have never been left stranded in car with a lot of torque, a pregnant wife and very expensive Hi-performance summer tyres in a few inches of snow which wasn't there when the journey was started.

Never again...

Edited 14 December, 200817 yr by Decron

I am from Slovenia, where is obligatory to use winter (M+S) tyres by law between November 15 and march 15. We all keep two sets of tyres at home, most often also two sets of rims for easier swap.

I had to purchase new tyres recently because my old pair from Fabia doesn't fit roomster. I chose Goodyear Ultra Grip 7+ and I am very satisfied with preformance. Traction and breaking are good, grip on snow also.

I was using Michelin Alpin 3 (also very good) and before that Nokian NRS and Semperit.

Winter tyres preform much better than summer tires in every respect as soon as temperatures drop below 7°C, especially on wet, slippery surfaces. I had been using M+S tyres even before the obliging law was passed. Because even if there is only one one instance, when you need the the grip that brings you out from a sketchy or dangerous situation, the purchase is justified.

Perhaps you have never been left stranded in car with a lot of torque, a pregnant wife and very expensive Hi-performance summer tyres in a few inches of snow which wasn't there when the journey was started.

Never again...

Nope, but I tend to keep my cars standard and have normal tyres on them as well, as the majority of people do. I just think that its blown out of all proportion in this country, we don't get bad weather in the majority of the UK, its just some people on the news channels think we do... as the last poster said, other countries get real bad weather in the winter!

Even with winter tyres on I suspect a "performance" car would still be a handful...