Out of interest how much do insurance companies charge when you inform the about winter wheels/tyres.

Winter Tyres - The Motor Insurance Commitment

Anyone else doing the "Puffer" 24hr mountain bike race too ?

NUTTER!!!!!!!!!

Hope you've got winters on your mtn bike.........mainly ice, thin snow in S'peffer

One thing any potential purchaser of used winter tyres should be aware of is, when these tyres get down to 4mm they are "finished" as far as real winter use is concerned

I've found that winter tyres are still more effective than 'normal' tyres even when the tread gets below 4mm. Clearly they are less effective than when they have more tread, but they don't suddenly become useless. Of course this is only my experience; others may find differently.

I plan on extending the use of winter tyres further into spring when the tread stops working well enough on snow and ice. Since some people have reported being able to use winter tyres all year round, and Continental say 'If you are reluctant to change tyres and have nowhere to store summer tyres when they are not in use, you are better off using winter tyres all year round', then it seems a good way to get some more wear out of them.

I've found that winter tyres are still more effective than 'normal' tyres even when the tread gets below 4mm. Clearly they are less effective than when they have more tread, but they don't suddenly become useless. Of course this is only my experience; others may find differently.

The sipes are worn out at 4mm which will give you a lot of extra grip in the ice and snow. Check your tread print in the snow and the razor thin sipe cut splits open on the road surface improving traction. The softer rubber also helps as summer rubber is rock hard at sub zero temperatures.

The sipes are worn out at 4mm

Maybe this varies between makes of tyre? It doesn't appear to be the case for the Vredestein Snowtrac 3 tyres fitted to our car.

Maybe this varies between makes of tyre? It doesn't appear to be the case for the Vredestein Snowtrac 3 tyres fitted to our car.

Perhaps the sipes aren't effective below 4mm? All the tyre documents I have read said replace the tyre at 4mm.

In Sweden they must have a minimum of 3mm....

http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/winter-tyres/laws-and-legislation

In Sweden they must have a minimum of 3mm....

http://www.blackcirc...and-legislation

That is not what I would have expected from Sweden - I've never noticed them driving slowly on the telly (The Killing/The Bridge/Borgen/Wallander !).

Anyway, I've been quite surprised how little wear there has been both on the Alpin A3 and the Alpin A4 - quite impressed over the past 3 and 2 years.

This year again, the weather and local incidents has seen these tyres paying their way in allowing us to earn money (ie get to work in time) - I'd rather it was not like this, but it seems that is the way local weather has changed to being like.

I have always used winter tires, because that is just something i´m brought up with.

Here in DK, the weather changes a lot, and many people use winter tires.

You can always spot those who don´t, and the general view is that they are idiots driving around on summer tires in snow.

Last week i test drove a new car that had summer tires on and there was snow on the ground.

What a scary experience! I don´t understand people who doesn´t use winter tires, i really don´t.

BTW: In Holland, winter tires needs a minimum of 4mm - summer tires only 1,6mm, but you are not required to use winter tires.

Stupid stupid rules.