I 'managed' for 23 years without an incident. Put winters on this year & can already feel the difference. Wish I'd seen the light earlier.

One of the best (and cheapest) mods Ive done

Winter wheels and tyres for the snow 29 inchers !

Cycle cross tyres for my bike, 20% hills on the moors round here, soon gets gridlocked with the snow, last year it took some people 5 hours to do 5 miles, took me an extra 20 mins getting past all the cars . good that I can drop them in/out in one minute for the pair :yes:

I just ran my normal Nobby Nics whilst commuting, fantastic in the snow and its great to see peoples faces as they can't get their cars up slopes/hills and you just cycle past them

I shall miss that this year as I've changed shifts and don't cycle to a collegues house to car share anymore :(

Just ordered my snow tyres today

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 3, got very good rating and for the past two years i have regretted not buying any

how much do you want to bet that this year we see naff all snow!

It is probably below 7 degrees for about 3 months over winter on the south coast. I understand performance is better etc but still don't see the point in spending the money for 3 months.

Once you get over the initial pain of forking out, it is well worth for all the above reasons.

Tyre running costs then even out as your summer tyres last longer.

It could be the difference between the cost of a small shunt due wet roads where the difference in tyre performance could possibly save the hassle and cost of such a minor incident.

You've just argued your own point there. My 15 inch winter steels and tyres cost me £175 all in. At that cost, it certainly wasn't cost effective to locate another set of alloys. The cheap eBay trims are are purely because in my eyes there is nothing worse than untrimmed black steel wheels, and for the length of time they will be on the car, I can't justify spending £20 PER TRIM when a full set for just over £15 off eBay does the same job.

Mike

If I had to choose between black steel wheels vs. cheap non-genuine trims I'd go black wheels everytime. I guess we all think differently but eBay/Halfords trims make the car look unloved, undressed steels at least hint that you have your winter's on.

Agreed, £60 for genuine trims is big money indeed, but remember they are on for up to 6 months of the year so for me it would be worth it. Assuming you fit them every winter then that is half the life of the car.

Out of curiosity how did you find four steels and winter tyres for £175, that's great value...

If I had to choose between black steel wheels vs. cheap non-genuine trims I'd go black wheels everytime. I guess we all think differently but eBay/Halfords trims make the car look unloved, undressed steels at least hint that you have your winter's on.

Agreed, £60 for genuine trims is big money indeed, but remember they are on for up to 6 months of the year so for me it would be worth it. Assuming you fit them every winter then that is half the life of the car.

Out of curiosity how did you find four steels and winter tyres for £175, that's great value...

6 months of the year? you have long winters! Hoping to have mine off come beginning of March!

You missed two important words "up to"

Sorry to ask what possible is a dumb question but im replacing my 18" alloys for 16 steel wheels (off a superb) with winter tyres on (mainly because two winter tyres for mine would set me back £200+ and i can preserve the alloys) obviously the original tyres are reinforced but these 205 55 16's wont be, so obviously i cant boot it but to what extent?

[]

You missed two important words "up to"

No didn't miss them. Up to 4 months is conceivable, up to 6 months is stretching it somewhat.

With the way the weather has been over the last few years, who knows!

I work on changing mine over based on the temperature. So when we consistently have days below 10c they go on and stay on until we are consistently back at about 10c.

This was based an email response I got from the tire manufacturers. They advised that the summer ones I have become less effective below 6c and that the winter ones don't work as well above 10c.

My insurance company needed to know I'd swapped over, but there was no charge. Interestingly they didn't have an option for "winter tyres on steel wheels" for the Scout on their system. Could have had "winters on original alloys", or "winters on different alloys", but apparently not steel wheels! Eventually they called back to say they'd added the option to the system & I was good to go!

Imagine a pedestrian steps out in front of you and you're travelling at say 30 mph. Would you prefer to be able to stop in a shorter distance or a longer distance? That's (one of) the point(s).

I take your point but over 30 years of driving I can't tell the difference in stopping differences when the temp is below 7C on "summer" tyres on a dry road and have never noticed any significant difference in grip (again on a dry road).

I'd be interested to see how the tests are done because I doubt tyres are generally below 7C when the ambient temperature is as they generate heat in use. I'm not saying winter tyres aren't effective, just want to know how marginal the advantage is in above zero temperatures.

Is it as big a difference as between a new "summer" tyre on a wet road and one with 4mm of tread left for example? That's a difference most of us accept without question.

If however its really icy or snowy under the wheels tbh I probably wouldn't be doing 30mph anywhere near pedestrians.

Bottom line for me is I don't think you need them where I live unless you live out in the sticks, and I don't.

Edited 8 December, 201114 yr by juan27

No didn't miss them. Up to 4 months is conceivable, up to 6 months is stretching it somewhat.

Not really, plenty of people on here, the Yeti forum and Fabia forum fitted their winters in October.

By your own admission it is likely yours are going to be on until March.

October, November, December, January, February and March = 6 months.

Assuming you fit them sometime in October and take them off sometime in March that qualifies for "up to" 6 months.

Winter tyres are recommended for use in temperature of 7 degrees Celsius or below. It may not be cold in October where you live but further north it can very easily be below 7 degrees in October and March, especially for those whose daily commute is during the hours of darkness.

Not really, plenty of people on here, the Yeti forum and Fabia forum fitted their winters in October.

By your own admission it is likely yours are going to be on until March.

October, November, December, January, February and March = 6 months.

Assuming you fit them sometime in October and take them off sometime in March that qualifies for "up to" 6 months.

Winter tyres are recommended for use in temperature of 7 degrees Celsius or below. It may not be cold in October where you live but further north it can very easily be below 7 degrees in October and March, especially for those whose daily commute is during the hours of darkness.

I fitted mine 4 days ago and they'll be coming off at the end of February or early March. That's 3 months, and far from being 6.

That's this year, just after one of the mildest October / November's on record!

What about next year? If it's below freezing again like it was last year in October are you going to wait until December so that you can stick to your 3 months!?

That's this year, just after one of the mildest October / November's on record!

What about next year? If it's below freezing again like it was last year in October are you going to wait until December so that you can stick to your 3 months!?

Average temperature for October in UK for the last 10 years: 9.97 C.

Looks like I stick to my 3 months, may push towards 4 months and into March where average temperature for the last 10 years is 5.76 C.

Warmer temperatures in the south and colder temperatures in the north = an average UK temperature.

An average isn't much use when it's upto 10 degree's colder in Glasgow than it is in Brighton.

Last year was very unaverage. It was below freezing during October in York.

Oh, and your 4 months falls within 'up to 6 months'

Warmer temperatures in the south and colder temperatures in the north = an average UK temperature.

An average isn't much use when it's upto 10 degree's colder in Glasgow than it is in Brighton.

Last year was very unaverage. It was below freezing during October in York.

Oh, and your 4 months falls within 'up to 6 months'

I don't live in Glasgow, Brighton or York so the average will do me fine.

I said push towards 4 months, which isn't 4 months, but still falls within 'up to 6 months'. If I'd of said 1 month, that still falls within 'up to 6 months'. The point is, we'd need the beginning of a return to the ice age before you'd need winter tyres on for 6 months of the year or even 5 months

FFS

FFS

Back in your box!

Live in Scotland and my remapped VRS petrol was crap in the snow last year, got stuck on 3 occasions but I was a big sceptic about the difference winter tyres would make but then i bit the bullet and put a set of 18" goodyear ultragrips on the other day (got a brand new set of 4 off a very shady looking man for an imposible to resist price of £360 then another £44 for fitting elsewhere ), not been in any snow yet but it has been pretty cold and wet and can honestly say they performed great, far better than my summer tyres had been doing in the same conditions.

Bring on the snow.

Edited 8 December, 201114 yr by LPKLPKLPK

Back in your box!

It's still dark, I can stay out until sunrise

Sorry to ask what possible is a dumb question but im replacing my 18" alloys for 16 steel wheels (off a superb) with winter tyres on (mainly because two winter tyres for mine would set me back £200+ and i can preserve the alloys) obviously the original tyres are reinforced but these 205 55 16's wont be, so obviously i cant boot it but to what extent?

As far s I know, the 92 load index on the tyres that come with the OEM 18" wheels is just because you can not get a 91 load index with that size/profile combination. 91 should be fine and is the rating on the tyres supplied with the 16" wheel Octavia models. As they are winters they are most likely 205/55/16 91H, and H is up to 130mph if I recall.

If you have higher spec ones that are 91V then you'll be able to do the max speed of the car!

As far s I know, the 92 load index on the tyres that come with the OEM 18" wheels is just because you can not get a 91 load index with that size/profile combination. 91 should be fine and is the rating on the tyres supplied with the 16" wheel Octavia models. As they are winters they are most likely 205/55/16 91H, and H is up to 130mph if I recall.

If you have higher spec ones that are 91V then you'll be able to do the max speed of the car!

Thanks!

the ones i have on are 91h's though, put them on yesterday, what a transformation! i had 'yellowsea' on my 18's (never heard of them) and the good year winters make the car feel like its on rails compared to the yellowsea's...abit more bouncy mind

Still not convinced. If it did snow down South then everything grinds to a halt anyway and my work closes so wouldn't need my car and would just stay in or go to the pub