Having had to change from my winter tyres prematurely to summer tyres and now covered several hundred miles on the summers in the very cold weather, but not freezing weather I have come up with some thoughts.

I was running 215/60 R16 winter tyres and now running 225/50 R17 rubber bands....both inflated to factory recommendations.

The summer tyres are:

noisier when it gets cold - below 7 degs C,

they feel all the debris in the road and are quite uncomfortable in that sense

They don't grip on cold surfaces any where near as well,

you can feel through the car that the tyres are hard, harsh even on smooth roads.

I don't even think they are as economical either at low temperatures as the winter ones.

They do not inspire confidence.

I am not even talking about wet or icy or snow performance, just cold.

I am not impressed with summer tyres in the cold....bring back the winter tyres.

Once the outside temperature and the road temperature warms up then the summer tyres are fine, but still a not as comfortable as the winters. I would prefer to have 215/60 R16's for summer tyres as well.

I would not have changed over for another month if I hadn't written off one of the tyres. Next winter I will have a spare full size winter tyre.

Mike

I have taken my winters off too - risky perhaps, but I was about to do a lot of mileage - and agree with your thoughts. Next time i buy winter tyres, I think I will get steel rims and cheaper winters so I am not so sensitive about wear on them - mine are 225/50s on the alloys - Contis - my, they were a price!

Hi Mike,

excellent review and mirrors my experience with both my previous Yeti an my wifes Fabia II Elegance

Regards,

TP

I have my winter's still on - they are on Skoda 18" OEM wheels, and i have had no problems with them; good grip in Snow, Ice and Cold, Wet & Dry roads - Love them to bits, and i wont be taking them off for a we' while yet - it was -3 here last night, and has only got to 6.... :|

Al.

You don't think the 16mm shorter tyre sidewalls have an effect on the road noise and stiffness? What about the (almost certainly) different tread pattern?

I've run Summer tyres all Winter, and only felt the walls being noticably stiffer at -5C and lower. They've only given me one real scare, and that involved fresh wet snow over ice on a steep downhill. Several other people had problems there within minutes of when I did. Any time I had traction problems involved wet snow that stuck to the tyres well enough that I had snow to snow for grip. So much so that on a few occasions I was driving on dry, ungritted snow and happily running at speeds up to 60mph.

You don't think the 16mm shorter tyre sidewalls have an effect on the road noise and stiffness? What about the (almost certainly) different tread pattern?

I've run Summer tyres all Winter, and only felt the walls being noticably stiffer at -5C and lower. They've only given me one real scare, and that involved fresh wet snow over ice on a steep downhill. Several other people had problems there within minutes of when I did. Any time I had traction problems involved wet snow that stuck to the tyres well enough that I had snow to snow for grip. So much so that on a few occasions I was driving on dry, ungritted snow and happily running at speeds up to 60mph.

My point is that I was comparing both summer and winter tyres. I'm not saying you can't drive in the winter on summer tyres, I'm saying I don't like driving in the winter on summer tyres.

The side wall will make a difference to the comfort, but not the feel. The summer tyres are spinning all the time, and yes I have far more torque than standard, but the winters were great, the summers can't cope as the tyres are so hard when the temp drop below 7 degs.

Mike

I've still got my 225/50 17 winter tyres firmly fitted; good grip and ride.

Won't switch until the end of the month.

Having had to change from my winter tyres prematurely to summer tyres and now covered several hundred miles on the summers in the very cold weather, but not freezing weather I have come up with some thoughts.

I was running 215/60 R16 winter tyres and now running 225/50 R17 rubber bands....both inflated to factory recommendations.

The summer tyres are:

noisier when it gets cold - below 7 degs C,

they feel all the debris in the road and are quite uncomfortable in that sense

They don't grip on cold surfaces any where near as well,

you can feel through the car that the tyres are hard, harsh even on smooth roads.

I don't even think they are as economical either at low temperatures as the winter ones.

They do not inspire confidence.

I am not even talking about wet or icy or snow performance, just cold.

I am not impressed with summer tyres in the cold....bring back the winter tyres.

Once the outside temperature and the road temperature warms up then the summer tyres are fine, but still a not as comfortable as the winters. I would prefer to have 215/60 R16's for summer tyres as well.

I would not have changed over for another month if I hadn't written off one of the tyres. Next winter I will have a spare full size winter tyre.

Mike

Your conclusions are spot on.

I am happy to have stayed with the 16" for summer use - I was considering the 17 inchers on Annapurna black wheels, but got such a deal on buying the original tyres on the car back on a secons set of 16" alloys - never looked back.

Same here - when we regularly get 10deg C and frosts are all but gone is the ideal time to change - end of the month , hopefully?

I looked on a website (can't remember the exact one) which gave the forecast for the next 14 days , in the SE the temperature is due to go above 7 degrees just once!

The day I collected my car there was black ice everywhere, yet the Continentals were surprisingly VERY good, so much so I actually checked to make sure they were not winter tyres! before I took them off the very next day to fit my winters.

My point is that I was comparing both summer and winter tyres. I'm not saying you can't drive in the winter on summer tyres, I'm saying I don't like driving in the winter on summer tyres.

The side wall will make a difference to the comfort, but not the feel. The summer tyres are spinning all the time, and yes I have far more torque than standard, but the winters were great, the summers can't cope as the tyres are so hard when the temp drop below 7 degs.

Mike

And I'm saying that you're comparing ride comfort, where like it or not wall height is a factor, and road noise on 2 completely different tyres, so your conclusions on those parameters are not valid. I'm not claiming that you didn't have more grip on Winter tyres.

Incidentally, other than in December and January, the air temperature here has mostly been between 5 and 9C, so on the cusp of where either tyre would be out of its design range.

And I'm saying that you're comparing ride comfort, where like it or not wall height is a factor, and road noise on 2 completely different tyres, so your conclusions on those parameters are not valid. I'm not claiming that you didn't have more grip on Winter tyres.

Incidentally, other than in December and January, the air temperature here has mostly been between 5 and 9C, so on the cusp of where either tyre would be out of its design range.

I`m still on Vredestein Wintrac Extremes on 16 in rims and will stay on them until April. We get proper snow up here and to be honest on the standard 17in summer stuff the Yeti was an embarrasment( far worse than my wee Suzuki Swift on winters) anyone who says otherwise has only been faffing about on the the odd inch or two of the white stuff.

I'm still on my Avon Ice Touring winters, 215/60-16's, and will keep them on till later in the month.

I find the ride more compliant over bumps & humps, but the tyres are definitely noisier than the original Pirelli P Zero's. Also at slow speed, there is a vibration that feeds back through the suspension, just like a Land Rover on big chunky M&S tyres. I'm not complaining though, as I've been very impressed with the changed feel of the car at low temperatures.

I honestly doubt the majority of "average non-thinking" drivers would notice the difference in handling if all Yeti's were fitted with the taller tyres. Yes, the 225's handle better, but unless you are really pushing on, I don't think most ordinary drivers would notice!

Incidentally, anyone noticed how winter tyres are starting to become available again, and how prices are beginning to fall?

Edited 3 March, 201115 yr by speedsport

I`m still on Vredestein Wintrac Extremes on 16 in rims and will stay on them until April. We get proper snow up here and to be honest on the standard 17in summer stuff the Yeti was an embarrasment( far worse than my wee Suzuki Swift on winters) anyone who says otherwise has only been faffing about on the the odd inch or two of the white stuff.

Does Dumbarton to Uig on Jan 9th there sound like "just faffing about"?

Good shout. I think there seems to be a difference between those on Skoda Dunlops and other brands that they use. Northumberland had a feisty time with the snow this year, significantly more than a dusting, and the Dunlops worked fine. I know one of the posters on here lives in the Welsh hills and he is on the same tyres and found them okay as well. No one disputes that winters are better but for most people the standard Dunlops are fine.

Good shout. I think there seems to be a difference between those on Skoda Dunlops and other brands that they use. Northumberland had a feisty time with the snow this year, significantly more than a dusting, and the Dunlops worked fine. I know one of the posters on here lives in the Welsh hills and he is on the same tyres and found them okay as well. No one disputes that winters are better but for most people the standard Dunlops are fine.

My new SM has Dunlops, which look more convincing (unscientific comment, but I know what I mean!) than the Continentals that came as standard on my Octy Scout.

anyone who says otherwise has only been faffing about on the the odd inch or two of the white stuff.

Standard Dunlops coped adequately for my cross country runs to work, one morning of which was in virgin snow up to 9" deep (at 4.00am), plus a trip into the mountains on a 4x4RW mission.

However I will admit that technique,knowledge and proper training does help.

Standard Dunlops coped adequately for my cross country runs to work, one morning of which was in virgin snow up to 9" deep (at 4.00am), plus a trip into the mountains on a 4x4RW mission.

However I will admit that technique,knowledge and proper training does help.

Perhaps the Scottish snow is different to the Welsh snow.

Maybe I'm wrong but I thought that, by buying a 4x4, I would not need all the extras required for normal cars to go through snow and ice. I remember the 63 winter which was as bad if not worse than 09 and 10. Travelling was not easy but we still got around, probably chains were used more then than now.

Is the current Arriva difficulty giving you more time to play with your Yeti?

Edited 4 March, 201115 yr by Terfyn

I think we forget that in the past we were lucky if our cars produced a quarter of the power we now have, and tottled around on 3.5" cross plies.

ATW, just means we have to signal less trains!! I was on last Sunday from 0930 to 1730 and we had 2 freight trains, but we have to be open as we are a diversionary route around Brum.

I think we forget that in the past we were lucky if our cars produced a quarter of the power we now have, and tottled around on 3.5" cross plies.

ATW, just means we have to signal less trains!! I was on last Sunday from 0930 to 1730 and we had 2 freight trains, but we have to be open as we are a diversionary route around Brum.

In all my years of driving (which are many) I have never bought or run on "winter" tyres. Even in my TVR days I just got on with it.

I will probably be replacing the Yeti tyres soon and I don't know what to aim for. New Goodyears (to replace the existing ones) or something more all weather.

Just being nosey but how far East do you have to travel to "man" a diversionary" route around Brum. I visualised you being the guardian of the Mid Wales line.

I'm at Bromfield, on the outskirts of Ludlow, on the Marches main line, between Shrewsbury, Hereford, Abergavenny and Newport.

Just to join in the train themed hi-jack of the thread, my only way is to say that I can sing you a song about trains? Would that do?

And to kick back into tyres - I have been all year on Dunlop Sports, and have just replaced all four with exactly the same tyres (no - not exactly the same - NEW ones!!).

I found that I was able to get about quite happily and securely wearing those boots this winter.

But,as I have said before (before scuttling for cover) I am really not convinced about the whole winter tyre thing here in UK.

Well I'm still waiting for you to come up to Llani, George!

I suspect I will be looking for new tyres soon, and currently I'm undecided to another set of Dunlop's or a set of Kumho's like I had on the Freelander. I would consider Winter tyres if I could find a suitable set of CHEAP 16" steels.

Having had to deal with the severe injuries to someone in the back of a car who was hit by a heavy unsecured item in the boot, forcing the backrest forward, I hope that your wheel and tyre is VERY securely mounted.

Have a guess how much it weighs, then multiply that by 10? Because that is the force that can be generated, and why wheels are bolted to the floor, not strapped to a plastic bar.