Following on from last winter, the many threads about them, about getting them etc and they are starting to make an appearance again. So I was wondering what people are going to do this winter.

Feel free to vote and add any comments about what tyre you use etc and why you always put them on because, for example, you live on Snowdon. I added option 6 for our European friends as I'm really talking about British drivers and although their (our European friends) experiences and contributions is valued I don't want them to skew the results of the poll. Hope you don't mind.

Edited 14 September, 201015 yr by 'daiking'

I have never used them before and TBH I have always managed OK (apart from in my E30 M3 which went nowhere in the snow - despite having an LSD). Last year was tricky mainly due to others who had no idea how to drive in the snow and then blocking off the roads.

That said, my new Superb Combi will be running on wider and lower 225/40/18's (compared to my current 205/55/16's) so I have chose to buy a set of 16" Audi alloys (then got them refurbished as they were well corroded - being 13 years old) and had some 205/55/16 Nokian WR G2's fitted.

(it's worth noting these tyres have just gone up by £4.40 per tyre since I bought them - 4 weeks ago, so they may be getting dearer the closer to winter we get and there is more demand for them?)

After driving our Octavia vRS last year in the snow, running 18" goodyear asymmetric summer tyres I couldn't believe how bad it was.

Our other car was a Golf 150pd, running 16" summer tyres and it was so much easier and safer to drive than the Octavia even though it had more torque.

The Octavia running those low profiles was lethal IMO in the winter weather. This year I have treated the Octavia to some 16" wheels and some winter rubber

I only failed to get to work once last winter but could have made it on a different route.

Will stick with my normal tyres this winter, or take the bike

Despite all the electronic wizardry, my Roomy Scout was cr@p in the snow last year.

My old Allegro would have run rings around it.

It doesn't seem worth the cost of winter tyres for the one or two days of snow we get each year. I'll leave the car at home instead.

I've had them for a couple of years now due to a shunt in the snow, where the Falken 452 just had no grip at all on the compacted snow.

After that I realised that the cost of the tyres was a lot less than the excess and not worth chancing it.

I got laughed at, but last year proved had people with 4x4 cars at work shocked at how easily I moved away.

Since I have the tyres I'll be running them again this year and currently debating wether to get another G2 so I have G2 all around or run the WR at the front and the G2 at the rear + spare.

Coped OK during the worst of it with the Alpine renowned Pilot Exalto

Considering the purpose of that tyre, they coped pretty well. I used the car as little as possible though.

As I'll have a spare set of wheels, I'll probably fit a set of more winter-orientated rubber. Might not go for the full snow spec, but something that works better below 7deg, where most performance/summer tyres tend to start to loose their effectiveness. Maybe something like the Avon IceTouring?

Steve

Not bothering. Lets face it - last winter had some freak weather which stuck around for some time.

I don't see the same thing happening (at least not down south / south west) so I shall be sticking with my normal tyres and just taking care if the weather starts getting a little nasty.

Last year I did ok, even managed a lap of my car park on the first day before deciding not to bother with work. But that was running 195/65s and using city centre roads and the motorway which was all pretty good and entirely flat.

This year I've swapped to 215/45 B'stone Potenzas and moved to Cheshire (lol) and my commute involves narrow country B-roads and a rather steep up and down bridge. I'm starting to think that cold weather tyres might be a better bet on that route during the dark of winter but I'm not really sure. Last years winter was a once in 25 year type event...

Last year I did ok, even managed a lap of my car park on the first day before deciding not to bother with work. But that was running 195/65s and using city centre roads and the motorway which was all pretty good and entirely flat.

This year I've swapped to 215/45 B'stone Potenzas and moved to Cheshire (lol) and my commute involves narrow country B-roads and a rather steep up and down bridge. I'm starting to think that cold weather tyres might be a better bet on that route during the dark of winter but I'm not really sure. Last years winter was a once in 25 year type event...

Plus the few days of snow the year before.

Plus the few days of snow the year before.

Not up here, I hadn't driven in snow since 2005

Not up here, I hadn't driven in snow since 2005

Down this way I remember a few bursts around the 2003-2005 time, then last year and this year.

FWIW the winter tyres designed for cold dry tarmac and light snow are so much better than summer tyres even on a cold dry road for ability to stop.

Down this way I remember a few bursts around the 2003-2005 time, then last year and this year.

FWIW the winter tyres designed for cold dry tarmac and light snow are so much better than summer tyres even on a cold dry road for ability to stop.

Its going to depend on where you are. Central, low level Manchester had seen very little snow for years.

FWIW, some of my neighbours are CZ and a quick squizz at their wheels show they're running winters already. Don't recall if they were using them all year round though

I have a DSG box . For me its a MUST in the winter months.

Dont forget that Winter Tyres will give much more grip on cold roads and in wet conditions.

Its a no brainer for me

Last years snow left a stain in my pants

The hill i live on is a nightmare if you have to stop around the bend. I was running Falken 519's or what ever they are called (to early) it handled ok on flat, but couldnt trust them to much on hills if you had to stop

But good news. .. no bumps for me

Now on the other hand .. other half in the swift running t1 proxys.. well lol they are pants. So they would need swapping if we got snow again

Im hoping to get some steel rims and tyre them just incase the mich exalto's p3 i have on are no good. .. but the way things are going.. ill need new lenses in my glasses before that. (getting lots of headaches)

On a side note -We are hoping to get a swap done on her Swift Sport with in the next 2months for somthing else.. so cant comment on the tyres for winter on that one hehe

Don't want to skew the results so I chose option 6 but option 1 is more truthful, I would've put winter tyres on even without legislation. Here in the SW winters like the last one are rare and we seldom get snowy roads like this one:

But wet roads freezing during the night, or that nightmare called freezing rain are not uncommon and then there's no alternative to studded tyres.

Should I move to the northern UK, and especially to an inland area, I would probably stick to tradition and get myself a set of steel wheels + proper M+S tyres, put them on in December and switch back in late February or so. I would prefer studs, but maybe they're not allowed. A set of second hand plain steel wheels shouldn't be too expensive, and the cost of tyre wear is roughly the same. Snow socks or chains can get you out of the single hopeless situation, but not an alternative for daily driving.

You should have an option for "I'd like to but can't afford it".

I'll have to stick with the summer tyres and just stay at home if it gets really bad. Over the last ten years I think I'd have really needed them maybe 3 times. Last winter was the worst for 75 years up here so it's a bad example to base the future on.

Sorry, should have read the post first. Entered 1 and should have been 6.

You all know my opinion already, was one of the guys that did answer on the previous posts.

Not only because it is getting mandatory to use winter equipment, but also because I hate to miss traction if I know I could have had it.

I already changed my tyres every season years ago. Cars are getting faster and the tyres have to have the right speed indexes. The higher the speed index, the harder the tyre and the less suitable for winter.

Do drive a lot a year, also in winter. And my safety (and the safety of the others) is very important to me, want to get back home in one piece to see my family again.

I'll be sticking with the standard tyres most probably. I don't need to drive the car anywhere that buses won't cover, so if it comes to it, I'll just have the use the bus, or walk/ cycle.

That said, if I can find some for a cheap enough price, I might get a couple for the front, but so far I can't find any to fit my car.

Having used proper Winter tyres for the last couple of years I will certainly be hoping to fit them again this year. Although I can drive up to 600 miles return in a day, it isn’t just snow that worries me, it’s the bad weather and slippy cold roads. This were I discovered how truly brilliant Winter tyres are. They not only work in snow, but a great in cold and wet conditions. Just what I need if I am driving 300 miles very early in the morning, to get to work and returning very late at night. Only problem is the tyres I want are a bit pricey and I can’t see the price coming down as winter approaches.

I'm getting winter tyres this month or next. have my eye on hankooks or kumho which under £90 a corner. Still a lot of money but after what happened last year i'm not risking it again. Too many drivers around who don't know how to drive in snow. I also got caught in a 4 hour go slow due to the snow and i only had to drive 5 miles. At least if it happens again i will feel a lot safer knowing any evasive manoevers I need to take or brake will be me by a better responsiveness and control. I dont fancy having to dig the snow from under my tyres out also which did happen last year and the year before.

My only problem with having snow tyres is that although the driver with the snow tyres can stop in the snow (i.e. me), the driver behind with summer tyres cannot stop, crunch (and my car then needs a new back end!)

If everyone had them as per some of the European countries it wouldn't be as much as an issue.

newskoda,

I have ordered Hankook snow tyres for mine, they seemed to do fairly well in the ADAC snow test, beating the offers from Michelin, Pirelli and Vredestein.

Link http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://www.adac.de/infotestrat/tests/reifen/winterreifen/2009_Winterreifen_Test_205_55_R16.aspx%3FComponentId%3D29880%26SourcePageId%3D31821&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&usg=ALkJrhhH4Z0DBf8_u8qsu6DAPh8r8GYjLg

Edited 15 September, 201015 yr by Bogwoppit

So you rather be the one crunching into the car in front of you?

So you rather be the one crunching into the car in front of you?

I'd rather be hit and it be not my fault than hit somebody.... although I admit I don't fancy the idea of a lorry not being able to stop behind me.

If, you will be able to react better with winter tyres than with summers.