Even in the heavy snow this year, winter tyres wouldnt have helped much.

I'll both agree and disagree. Wintertyres will hep your grip, but to be honest I never have a problem in ice and snow on summer tyres- I've never got stuck: it's all the people that can't drive on snow that cause the worst problems .

You might well change your opinion though if ever you are forced to do an emergency stop on a motorway when it's -5 deg C and you are sliding towards the truck in front of you :eek:

Unfortunately, the benefit of running winter tyres isn't apparent until you approach the edge of the summer tyre's performance.

Well being the last of the demon late brakers, I can assure you that's happened more times in the past than I'd like to admit, but has never been an issue.

I'm not arguing that winter tyres are not worth it - they most certainly are - but that for the vast majority it's just not something we can afford.

The other issue for me personally, is if I went for all-season or winter tyres all year round, they are a lower speed rating than my Y rated bad boys, so would this cause me issues come MOT time?

The other issue for me personally, is if I went for all-season or winter tyres all year round, they are a lower speed rating than my Y rated bad boys, so would this cause me issues come MOT time?

I'm not sure of the MOT situation, but if you go to all-season tyres, you're going to have to compromise somewhere I guess! I figure that I don't drive particularly fast, so I don't need high performance summer handling characteristics, therefore all-seasons seem like a worthwhile compromise for me.

I'll both agree and disagree. Wintertyres will hep your grip, but to be honest I never have a problem in ice and snow on summer tyres- I've never got stuck: it's all the people that can't drive on snow that cause the worst problems .

The problem is though, people find out they can't drive on snow/ice as well as they thought when they start sliding towards something, and by then it's too late to regret using summer tyres in a blizzard

I think if you could afford a second set of wheels with winter tyres, it would be a nice investment for the colder months of the year.

However, most of us don't have that sort of spare cash hanging around to spend on another set of wheels and tyres, so we have to make do with what we already have. I personally have never had an issue with summer tyres in winter, with the exception of February when we had all that snow (even in tropical Basingstoke), but I really can't justify running winter tyres all year round just for one week of really bad weather or a few cold months, so I make do, like the majority of people.

£65 off ebay for a set of 1 year old steel wheels. £309 for a set of winter tyres. Of course you have to remember that your summer and winter tyres will last longer as you are only using them part of the year. Your insurance excess if probably that much!

All too often I have seen winter accidents in the UK which could have been avoided if winter tyres had been fitted. Modern cars can go faster and inspire lots of confidence with 4wd, traction control etc. But all these things just help keep you going. Its stopping on ice that the problem even with ABS and there is plenty of the black stuff around on UK roads for a large part of the year. Its a no brainer if you want to stay alive, although I have to say it became more of an issue for me when I had kids.

I completely agree with KajakJim.

Here in Germany, I bought winter tyres because otherwise the insurance doesn't pay out fully in an accident.

I was sceptical at first because of the price, but it's really only the initial outlay, where the expense lies, just like when you buy the car. But, what a difference they make in the winter. :eek:

Last year, I had to leave one car at home, which had normal 225 tyres, because it couldn't grip to drive on the flat properly. The car with the 205 winter tyres drove off like it was still summer.

I have them on from December to March generally and my winter tyres have lasted 8 years with my summer tyres lasting 4 years each. If I had normal tyres, they would have lasted me 3 years each time max. I would still have spent the same amount of money over the time, on just getting normal tyres as I had on my winter and summer.

Difference is, I've got the right tyres for the right conditions all year round. The only pain with the whole process is the 40 mins it takes me to change the wheels, 2 times a year, but for the extra security......

Unfortunately, the benefit of running winter tyres isn't apparent until you approach the edge of the summer tyre's performance.

The issue here, and you are the same, is that you appear to say unless it's a CWT tyre, then it's merely a summer tyre.

The Michelin Pilot Primacy's on both ours are classed as all season, yet many are saying that they are only a summer tyre.

So for clarity, how are you basing your classification on Summer or all season tyres?

As for having tyres last twice as long, that's silly logic. Overall you'll get the same usage from each set as you would running them continuously.

From the Michelin site:

Summer tyres:

Michelin - Summer tyres for car, van and 4x4.

Winter Tyres:

Michelin - Cold Weather Tyres, Tyres for winter, snow, alpine tyres, car tyres, 4x4 tyres, van tyres

It's basically a choice people have to make for themselves, but for me the roads I drive, plus the fact that the weather can regularly change to cold and icy over the course of a day means I think they are worth it.

Either way, anyone looking for a set of michelins might like this offer they have on right now:

http://www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/en/car-4x4-van/campaigns/20090623142210.html

Edited 5 November, 200916 yr by cheezemonkhai
typo

As for having tyres last twice as long, that's silly logic. Overall you'll get the same usage from each set as you would running them continuously.

Not necessarily true - The Conti Winter Contacts I put on my Touareg lasted loads longer than the OE fitment Pirellis. Mich Diamaris NO (Porsche homologation) were truly appalling for wear, and Hankook Ventus were on a par ith the Conti CWTs albeit not at the same temperatures. I would just keep an eye on the wear rate and not use them in Summer (when we occasionally get one!). If you don't feel confident in corners its time to change, but bear in mind that pressure also changes with temperature and slightly overfill if temperatures are dropping.

Forgot to say that Costco are solus Mich, and there is likely to be an offer soon on their already keen prices.

Forgot to say that Costco are solus Mich, and there is likely to be an offer soon on their already keen prices.

Already 25% off 4, but if you order and pay online, Kwikfit are very cheap - even on the Primacy HP's (£80/tyre cheaper!)

20% off 4, not 25%

The issue here, and you are the same, is that you appear to say unless it's a CWT tyre, then it's merely a summer tyre.

The Michelin Pilot Primacy's on both ours are classed as all season, yet many are saying that they are only a summer tyre.

So for clarity, how are you basing your classification on Summer or all season tyres?

As for having tyres last twice as long, that's silly logic. Overall you'll get the same usage from each set as you would running them continuously.

I use all-seasons myself, so I certainly am not assuming a tyre is summer if it's not winter!

I didn't look up your tyre, but I assumed (wrongly, it seems) that it was a summer tyre.

As for classification, I just go by how the manufacturers classify them, that's good enough for me. Although my tyre is classed different in Europe and the US/Canada :confused:

Not sure about your last paragraph, doesn't seem to relate to anything I've typed...

One thing to add, which I didn't see covered:

The soft winter tyre compound do harden over a couple of years, and loses lots of its grip. I won't keep them longer than 3 years because of this. Running winter tyres can be expensive. Even if you haven't needed them much, and the tread is still healthy, their age has made them much less effective anyway....so why bother...

As for wheels or tyres? Much easier to have two sets of rims. 98% people here change twice a year, an hours job.

Indeed Nokian say once 4 years old the rubber will be hard and useless and you should replace the tyres.

I use all-seasons myself, so I certainly am not assuming a tyre is summer if it's not winter!

I didn't look up your tyre, but I assumed (wrongly, it seems) that it was a summer tyre.

As for classification, I just go by how the manufacturers classify them, that's good enough for me. Although my tyre is classed different in Europe and the US/Canada :confused:

The Michelin are classed as a summer tyre, they do an A/S version of that tyre in the US, which has multiple rubber compounds in different areas of the tread and a few sipes.

Indeed Nokian say once 4 years old the rubber will be hard and useless and you should replace the tyres.

Sorry, don't agree with that. The tyre companies in Germany say 8 years.

Like I said in my previous post, I had my winter tyres 8 years and where the brand new 225 normal sport tyres could not shift one of my cars, the 8 year old 205 winter tyres drove off like it was summer and I have had absolutely no handling issues with them in the winter.

I would not use them longer than 8 years though, but I wouldn't use "normal" tyres longer than 8 years either.

As for having tyres last twice as long, that's silly logic. Overall you'll get the same usage from each set as you would running them continuously.

I think what was meant here is not that the winter tyres will last twice as long, but that when the winter tyres are on, the summer tyres will not be used and will therefore last longer (not mileage but age).

My summer tyres lasted me over 4 years, with my winter tyres lasting me 8. If I had not taken my summer tyres off in the winter, they would only have lasted me 3 years max, due to them being worn down in the winter as well.

If they're not on the car, they are not being worn down, so the period between buying summer tyres is longer.

Sorry, don't agree with that. The tyre companies in Germany say 8 years.

I can't speak for the tyres sold in Germany, but the Nokian winter tyres I've used really start to harden and lose performance after 3-4 years. What make of tyres were you using? And were they all-season or specifically winter tyres?

I was using Dunlop SP Winter Sport tyres. They are winter tyres rather than all season. They would be 9 years old now and even though they have a lot more than the recommended 4mm tread for winter, they're over 8 years old.

I've just managed to order my winter wheels for my Octy which I pick up in 3 weeks. I only just managed to get a set of steel wheels for them here in Germany.

I was originally told I would have to wait until the new year to get steel wheels to fit the Octy. :rotz:

Running out of winter tyres in mid November is quite common here as well. Such is the high demand every year even in such an organised country as Germany where a train arriving 5 mins late is seen as a scandal. :eek:

Here a useful link.

Aftonbladet do a review of winter tyre every year. It's very highly regarded and trusted or here in the Nordics. You only need to know:

Pris = Price

Poåang = Points scored

http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/bil/0310/18/dacktest.pdf

The issue here, and you are the same, is that you appear to say unless it's a CWT tyre, then it's merely a summer tyre.

The Michelin Pilot Primacy's on both ours are classed as all season, yet many are saying that they are only a summer tyre.

So for clarity, how are you basing your classification on Summer or all season tyres?

As for having tyres last twice as long, that's silly logic. Overall you'll get the same usage from each set as you would running them continuously.

In Norway we use summer and winter tyres. But we use winter tyres for nordic conditions which meen they are good on snow etc, but less good on wet surfaces. Wintertyres made for the european mrket are better on wet surfaces. All season tyres are not widely used because they are a compromise, and therefore not good on either surface (snow and tyremac) I have the same Michelins as summer tyres and would not trust them on any form of sleet, snow or ice conditions..... In the summer they are great.

As i do not live in the western parts of norway I don't see much snow....

You can get 195x50x15 Toyo S952 Snowprox from camskill.co.uk for £38.17 , no this is not typing error. I am awaiting delivery today. Cost me for 4 tyres delivered £162.48

On the top of that 4 brand new 15'' steels from volkswagen forum member for £50. These wheels should last good few winters.

Is that expensive? Well depends on your budget but for my peace of mind if I am involved in accident I know I did my best by using right tyres. And if the weather is above 7 degrees my tyres will still perform excellently especially in wet, but they will wear off faster depending on your driving style. Or I simply swap the wheels won't take long.

cheers

Edited 6 November, 200916 yr by Petr

Forgot to say that Costco are solus Mich, and there is likely to be an offer soon on their already keen prices.

Just ordered the last 2 Mich alpin PA3s in the UK. No more in Mich's European stock and awaiting more from USA. £616.35 inc VAT fitted for 4. Costco will offer a "raincheck" voucher as long as you order within the offer period (22/11). Noel at Birmingham 0121-326-3514 was very helpful (perhaps because I used to work for a Mich subsidiary and there was also a guy from Mich visiting Costco yesterday!).

Forgot to say that Costco are solus Mich, and there is likely to be an offer soon on their already keen prices.

J£616.35 inc VAT fitted for 4.

Am i the only one who can't see where the good deal is? - £615.35 for 4 tyres! :confused:

Am i the only one who can't see where the good deal is? - £615.35 for 4 tyres! :confused:

Depends on what you perceive as value. I can use mine on 3 VW group cars at home (where the Skoda's the most suited to snowy conditions). The most important pieces of a car for performance/safety are the 4 palm-sized bit of rubber that stick you to the road "surface". If it gives me confidence and saves me time in the process as well as possibly preventing payment of insurance excess I'm all for it. There are cheaper tyres and arguably why should you change to CWTs anyway, but on that basis why even bother with insurance.

A bit like watching colour TV for the first time - it's only once you've changed will you realise what you've missed. If I want to save money I'll keep shopping at ALDI etc. etc.