Looking for your views chaps yay or nay!, do i need to invest in a set of winter tyres or will I get away with the standard ones? Would rather be buying a set for my Octavia VRS instead you see.

Looking for your views chaps yay or nay!, do i need to invest in a set of winter tyres or will I get away with the standard ones? Would rather be buying a set for my Octavia VRS instead you see.

Yes I bought some spare wheels with the intention of getting winter tyres on them but never got round to it cos it was too near xmas and couldnt spare the cash, but have to say even with the delivery tyres it still got me to work in all the snow, and on a snowy icy hill near exmoor whilst going to retrieve an auntie for Boxing Day, we watched in trepidation as a VW Golf was attempting to climb up it, got so far then proceeded to slide back down towards us gaining speed, so I just pulled out and went past smiling as we went past each other and my yeti just climbed majestically up the hill no problem !

Must be an incredible car on winter tyres is all i can say !!

Hi

I am one of those getting splinters from fence-sitting about the benefits of winter tyres, despite everything I read here from those who are convinced.

I have endured two winters on bog standard Dunlop SP1 tyres without a qualm, even living up a hill with other hills all around between me and anything level.

So - obviously - having coped with no problems at all in the snow and the ice, my money would be better kept under my mattress. I'd also find it such a fag having to change everything - and then change it all back again later.

Hopefully you'll get a balanced set of opinions to make your decision even more difficult!!!

Not this old chestnut again..............

Of course you can get around on summer tyres in the winter. Lots of people do. UNTIL they need to make an emergency stop. THAT is when you will need them. Slipping and sliding here and there does get you where you want to go but in an emergency braking situation or going around a bend slightly too fast you WILL be toast on summer tyres in snow and ice as they WILL slide. End of story.

So yes lots of people will tell you these summer tyres are fine in snow and ice. Read that as you will as this statement is only true because they never had an emergency. Food for thought I'd say.

Johann has hit the nail on the head here. I ran on the standard Dunlops last winter and I managed to get through a pretty severe Northumbrian winter without problems. However I drove VERY carefully, left plenty of space in front of me, went gently around corners etc. I always managed to get where I wanted to, no matter the road or gradient but I did so at a much slower pace. I am lucky in that my commute went from 20 minutes to 35 minutes but frankly that is not a big deal so I was happy to drive carefully. Can you get away with that?

I did on occasion, for a bit of fun, push a corner when I knew there was no one around and had plenty of space and the car did slide. The difference with past cars is that it corrected itself very quickly. I would guess that with winter tyres you would not slide at all or the correction would occur much quicker.

I am shortly going to go for a compromise in that my tyres will need replacing in the next month or so and I am going to replace them with All Season tyres. These should be better than the standard tyres and will not need changing come March. Maybe worth thinking about?

Hi,

my experience comes from having previously owned a Octavia I 4x4 followed by a Golf V TDI 4motion both of which coped on their respective standard 205/55 R16 tyres. Had also expected similar from my first Yeti but without really taking account she was equipped with those daft 17" sports wheels. However on my first outing in the snow I ended up spinning 180 trying to descend a hill and sliding some distance backwards with a stalled engine and zero grip. Only contact with a grass bank stopped a complete uncontrolled hill decent or going off the road completely into the valley below :S

Obvious from this the 225 tyres were useless in the conditions I found myself and within the day had a set of 205/55 R16 winters on order which completely transformed the car. Wife also has sports wheels/ tyres on her Fabia and last winter she kept getting stuck; got winter tyres for that too, allowing her to get around without ringing me up every five minutes to go rescue her

Have pre-empted things this year with a fresh set of winter rubber sat waiting for the Yeti, so hopefully sods law will apply and it will be a mild winter

TP

Not on a Yeti, but on an Octavia 4X4. Last winter i fitted winters and it is much better. Though i never got stuck with the MIchelin summers the previous winter. The braking and steering is much much better. With a heavy foot on snow, you could kick the back end out on snow with the summers, the winters don't budge.

Hi

I am one of those getting splinters from fence-sitting about the benefits of winter tyres, despite everything I read here from those who are convinced.

I have endured two winters on bog standard Dunlop SP1 tyres without a qualm, even living up a hill with other hills all around between me and anything level.

So - obviously - having coped with no problems at all in the snow and the ice, my money would be better kept under my mattress. I'd also find it such a fag having to change everything - and then change it all back again later.

Hopefully you'll get a balanced set of opinions to make your decision even more difficult!!!

Exactly the same scenario for me, except it wasn't a golf but a BMW

I went through last winter and never had a problem even going up some good steep inclines and the yeti always felt very secure.

For the kind of mileage and driving I do I am happy to stick to the stock dunlops.

I can, however, see Johanns point and reckon that winter tyres are the safest solution.

For me though the cost is not completely justified as I do so few miles?

If money was no object then I would certainly fit winter tyres but it is not so I probably won't.

I suppose this all goes back to a motorcycling quote...

Buy the best gear, that fits your type and style of riding, that you can afford.

For the past few years I have used winter tyres. I have a set on spare steel rims, half an hour to change them twice a year is not really a big effort. Having seen the videos of the improved stopping distance my view was if they save me just once they will have paid for themselves. It is all very well driving to the conditions but you might find yourself sliding down a hill or, as a neighbour did last winter, stuck in a dip with a hill infront and behind.

Ian

For the past few years I have used winter tyres. I have a set on spare steel rims, half an hour to change them twice a year is not really a big effort. Having seen the videos of the improved stopping distance my view was if they save me just once they will have paid for themselves. It is all very well driving to the conditions but you might find yourself sliding down a hill or, as a neighbour did last winter, stuck in a dip with a hill infront and behind.

Ian

Agreed in full.

But never mind the better grip..... for me the big plus is every time I go in to the garage and pass by the winter tyres stored on a rack, I get a whiff of new rubber tyres under my nose. I don't happen to have a rubber fetish, but I do love that smell.

Not this old chestnut again..............

Of course you can get around on summer tyres in the winter. Lots of people do. UNTIL they need to make an emergency stop. THAT is when you will need them. Slipping and sliding here and there does get you where you want to go but in an emergency braking situation or going around a bend slightly too fast you WILL be toast on summer tyres in snow and ice as they WILL slide. End of story.

So yes lots of people will tell you these summer tyres are fine in snow and ice. Read that as you will as this statement is only true because they never had an emergency. Food for thought I'd say.

I don't think anyone has claimed that the standard tyres are fine on snow and ice and ,as for emergencies, driving the local lanes around my house I expect a car to come around every corner and am prepared - its called defensive driving.

All I can say is that I have driven TWO snow and ice filled winters on the Goodyear tyres supplied with my Yeti without incident but with care. Unfortunately only the rich tearabout Yeti owners can afford a second complete set of wheels and winter tyres AND even these will not save a crash on packed ice - you will just slide. The truth is that winter tyres will not replace careful driving and could give a false sense of security to the inexperienced driver.

So having lived with the past two winters and ungritted roads, (they only grit bus routes around here) I will tell you that the standard Yeti supplied tyres will cope. But if you want winter wheels and tyres - go and get them. It will make you feel better.

Incidentally I have NEVER bought a set of winter tyres for any car I have owned and I have driven worst winters than the last two - 1963 for example. Only rally drivers had such luxuries all those years ago.

Edited 17 August, 201114 yr by Terfyn

. . . Unfortunately only the rich tearabout Yeti owners can afford a second complete set of wheels and winter tyres AND even these will not save a crash on packed ice - you will just slide. The truth is that winter tyres will not replace careful driving and could give a false sense of security to the inexperienced driver.

.

.

Incidentally I have NEVER bought a set of winter tyres for any car I have owned and I have driven worst winters than the last two - 1963 for example. Only rally drivers had such luxuries all those years ago.

A set of winter tyres and wheels is not that much when compared to the cost of a Yeti.

You have made some very sweeping statements. I like to be as safe and prepared as possible. Even the most defensive driving style can not save you from driving down steep icy hills. You are wrong about winter tyres on ice, they have a lot more grip than standard tyres.

Ian

A set of winter tyres and wheels is not that much when compared to the cost of a Yeti.

You have made some very sweeping statements. I like to be as safe and prepared as possible. Even the most defensive driving style can not save you from driving down steep icy hills. You are wrong about winter tyres on ice, they have a lot more grip than standard tyres.

Ian

Oh so my experiences of winter driving over 50 years is WRONG? I have NEVER said that winter tyres are not better than the standard tyres. I said that I have driven through the last two winters - on ungritted roads with steep hills - on the standard tyres.

The only sweeping statement that you can claim I have made is that winter tyres will not save a slide on packed ice - this happens to be true.

Your claim that " Even the most defensive driving style can not save you from driving down steep icy hills." is not true as I have to drive the hills around here every day. The Yeti is as good a car as I have driven in these winter conditions and better, in many ways, than my Terrano or X-Trail.

I don't think anyone has claimed that the standard tyres are fine on snow and ice and ,as for emergencies, driving the local lanes around my house I expect a car to come around every corner and am prepared - its called defensive driving.

All I can say is that I have driven TWO snow and ice filled winters on the Goodyear tyres supplied with my Yeti without incident but with care. Unfortunately only the rich tearabout Yeti owners can afford a second complete set of wheels and winter tyres AND even these will not save a crash on packed ice - you will just slide. The truth is that winter tyres will not replace careful driving and could give a false sense of security to the inexperienced driver.

So having lived with the past two winters and ungritted roads, (they only grit bus routes around here) I will tell you that the standard Yeti supplied tyres will cope. But if you want winter wheels and tyres - go and get them. It will make you feel better.

Incidentally I have NEVER bought a set of winter tyres for any car I have owned and I have driven worst winters than the last two - 1963 for example. Only rally drivers had such luxuries all those years ago.

The OP will wish he hadn't asked his question judging by the slightly tetchy tone creeping in here.

Let me repeat that I've only bought them this summer so haven't used them and so both Terfyn and I each have as much, or as little, personal experience of them gained from actual use. I got them with the best of intentions and, personally, considered them to be a wise, precautionary purchase from what I read on the net and elsewhere. But having bought them I'm slightly unhappy to find out that Terfyn knows me to be " a rich tearabout" as I can afford to buy them. I don't think you really mean that, Terfyn. And don't you think it's just a little condescending and unhelpful to say to the OP..... "But if you want winter wheels and tyres - go and get them. It will make you feel better"....? And talking of condescending....the concluding sentence of your first paragraph......"it's called defensive driving".... suggests to me that you're the only one to have ever heard of it. You'll find that there are those who have a wealth of driving experience - at quite high levels in a variety of challenging circumstances.

I'm sure there's no doubting your skill and experience and the topic has been very well covered, and if you choose not to use them, that's fine, but the original question was just one requesting some info. and, yes, he could use the search facilty and I'm sure, will do so but is your reply really want you meant to say?

Edited 17 August, 201114 yr by oldstan

FFS - if you want a reassuring amount of grip and near go-anywhere ability winters give you a huge safety margin.It's nothing to with being rich - eh ?- or a tearabout- although I enjoy making brisk progress when possible.It's solely about getting from to A to B safely and with no worries about getting back home. I have been marooned in snow - many years ago - and have used winter tyres since then without mishap. The nice by product is your summer ones last twice as long.If I lived in Basingstoke or somewhere I probably wouldn't bother with them- or a Yeti come to that. A nice GTD Golf is a lot more fun but pretty rubbish off road.

Oh so my experiences of winter driving over 50 years is WRONG? I have NEVER said that winter tyres are not better than the standard tyres. I said that I have driven through the last two winters - on ungritted roads with steep hills - on the standard tyres.

The only sweeping statement that you can claim I have made is that winter tyres will not save a slide on packed ice - this happens to be true.

Your claim that " Even the most defensive driving style can not save you from driving down steep icy hills." is not true as I have to drive the hills around here every day. The Yeti is as good a car as I have driven in these winter conditions and better, in many ways, than my Terrano or X-Trail.

I was picking up on the same comment as oldstan, I would not call myself "a rich tearabout". I am not saying you can not use summer tyres in winter, what I am saying is, in my opinion the benefits they offer far outweigh the cost. In your opinon they don't, fair enough. I still disagree, a winter tyre will slide less on ice than a summer tyre.

You have been driving for more years than I have been alive, but by your own admission none of those years have been on winter tyres. I however have driven on winter tyres so have experience of the benefits.

Ian

Last winter used summer Pirelli P Zero 225 17R tyres with 2 sno socks for emergencies ( never used)

I am about to order a set of steel rims with 215 16R winter tyres fitted.

Seems to me that if you have to be out and about over a northern winter winter tyres make good sense.

Looking for your views chaps yay or nay!, do i need to invest in a set of winter tyres or will I get away with the standard ones? Would rather be buying a set for my Octavia VRS instead you see.

Most people will not put on winters. Fact.

I ran my Octavia on summers and couldn't get up some of the hills around Croydon. My Yeti has winter tyres. Feels so much safer and secure. I can now get out of the way of drivers who aren't in control of their cars.......

Mike

I've only driven through 40 winters and have never had or "needed" winter tyres.

I have however bought some (second hand on Seat rims) and have done so because the extra margin they provide is significant-or so I believe- and anyone running a new and relatively valuable vehicle could afford them.

I'm afraid the "I can cope, only rally drivers had them in my day" mantra doesn't not cut it for me.

Radial tyres, disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning and halogen lights (or Xenons) were all the preserve of competition cars when I started and all of them make my travel safer.

Winter tyres are normal in the rest of northern Europe and the last two winters have persuaded me that I will derive some benefit.

Can I be blunt??

I don't (drive on summers in winter)

My life is worth a lot more than the cost of a set of tyres. The same goes for the cheapest possible of either season.

Ok glad someone asked this question! The next related question is what is he best all round tyre for he yeti?

I have some sympathy with Terfyns points - except the rich tearabout comment.

I don't think his points are any more sweeping than 90000's which implies (to me) you're doomed without them if you need to make an emergency stop or go around a bend a little too fast.

The worst of the winter had passed last year before I got my winter tyres on a Octy 4x4 & I only got them after reading the positives here & because the summer tyres were worn. Never had winters before on 2x4 or 4x4 before that.

Adjusting driving style to the conditions has a lot going for it & driving around bends a 'little' too fast isn't really wise. My 2x4 car was rear-ended winter before last by a car that was statistically likely to have been on summer tyres - sub-zero temps & snow just starting to overcome the salt. I had to do an emergency stop as an oncoming car came onto my side of the road on a bend going too fast - the guy behind me was driving too close. I was on summer tyres.

Harsh winters though the 60's in Germany & my dad got around on the same tyres year around without a scratch.

I'll be on winter tyres this winter but will still be driving in snow & ice like I'm on my summer tyres.

My life is worth a lot more than a cost of a set of winter tyres too but in life there's always something more we can do or more we can spend to make our life's safer.

The OP will wish he hadn't asked his question judging by the slightly tetchy tone creeping in here.

Nope enjoying the various discussions and views TBPH. Some interesting reading on both sides.

Looking for your views chaps yay or nay!, do i need to invest in a set of winter tyres or will I get away with the standard ones? Would rather be buying a set for my Octavia VRS instead you see.

IMHO to answer your questions in two words;-

do i need to invest in a set of winter tyres

No

or will I get away with the standard ones?

Yes

....... but ................... your choice of words is most perceptive 'invest' being the operative; I would advocate you do if you can.

I have read in other threads comments along the lines of 'I drove past several 4x4 on summer tyres in my ****** with 2WD but winter tyres'.

Seeing as you have two cars and would appear to want to buy only one set of winter tyres I suggest you consider which car you would use in bad weather and which you would be able to leave at home.

One final point that has not been mentioned yet; remember - winter tyres are not just for driving around in snow, they are mainly for driving in low temperatures (below 7 degC) and will provide better grip etc. than summer tyres be the road, dry, wet, slush or snow!

Well it boils down to costs just now BS, I can add 2 winters to my VRS Octavia FWD (which sat in the drive for 6 weeks last year) or buy a set of 4 for the Yeti. I am not talking large milage mainly the commute to/from work 20 minute drive, was really guaging how many 4x4 users here had winter tyres, can see arguments for and against also.