...Just wanted to know if anyone changes their own winter weels or do they let the shop do it ???????

another con ... barely any need for winter tyres in this country .. vastly expensive for literally a couple of days in our 'mild' winters

another con ... barely any need for winter tyres in this country .. vastly expensive for literally a couple of days in our 'mild' winters

That depends on what brand of tyre you have fitted, softer compounds perform better in colder weather. .

When i had my 3 series BMW i had a set of extra alloys and winter tyres, i did my own and at the same time took the opportunity to clean the wheels and the arches and suspension, its easy and took about an hour. It true that all winter tyres are not just for when it snows, its when the temp drops below 7 degrees, they are softer (as said) and your braking distances are decreased and your cornering is improved.

Put my winter wheels on last weekend. Vredestein Snowtracs (185/55 R15) on low cost alloy rims from mytyres.co.uk

The 15" wheels just clear the brake calipers on my vRS and actually don't look too bad. Easy job to change. As Hudson says, a big benefit once temperature below 7 degrees.

another con ... barely any need for winter tyres in this country .. vastly expensive for literally a couple of days in our 'mild' winters

Try some. Makes a big difference to my car.

i have some on a spare set of wheels. easy to change on your own.

...Just wanted to know if anyone changes their own winter weels or do they let the shop do it ???????

Changing the wheels is easy, changing the tyres not so.

Those that say they are a waste of time need to remember two things IMO.

1. They are not Winter Tyres just for snow and ice, they are Cold Weather tyres.

2. When you are using them you are not wearing out your other tyres, so the only real cost is in the second set of rims.

Just put the summer tyres back on our Fabia Elegance Mind hopefully she will be going in P/X later this week for a Monte Carlo. This, when we get her home, will be going straight onto 15" rims shod with 195/55 Avon winter ST's. Even in storage the W rated summer Conti's felt like concrete compared to the Avons. Impatient for the P/X day to arrive and get a car back on much safer tyres for this time of year.

TP

another con ... barely any need for winter tyres in this country .. vastly expensive for literally a couple of days in our 'mild' winters

You really do not understand winter tyres at all do you?

I take them to the tyre fitters to get the tyres fitted to the rims, but I then fit the wheels / tyres myself (on both cars).

Just put the summer tyres back on our Fabia Elegance Mind hopefully she will be going in P/X later this week for a Monte Carlo. This, when we get her home, will be going straight onto 15" rims shod with 195/55 Avon winter ST's. Even in storage the W rated summer Conti's felt like concrete compared to the Avons. Impatient for the P/X day to arrive and get a car back on much safer tyres for this time of year.

TP

I did this yesterday to the Octy, I noticed thee difference this morning.

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Well, just had a set of winter tyres (Nexens - not much choice for mine! Guy who fitted them is pretty sure they're just an older Hankook design) and the difference is night and day. Drove the same road back and it was like there was no snow, slush, anything on the road itself (currently in Germany).

On the way there, I was slipping, sliding and almost didn't stop at a junction (Dunlop SportMaxx). On the way back on not-yet-scrubbed winters, it was like driving on a dry road.

Haven't pushed them yet as they need to settle down and scrub the release agent off but I'm a convert.

?? Has Global Warming had such an effect on Wales that there are no cold road surfaces any more in the Winter months.??

There are some ECO tyres which are fitted as standard that i would not drive with on in Summer when its a warm rainy day in the UK,

let alone drive with them on a frosty morning.

*Fitting/changing your own tyres.*

Good exercise for the body doing it at home.

You need to break the bead & remove tyre without damage to rims or beads/tyres.

Fit on new tyres, lube rim, & then get beads on the rims & sealed, then pressure in tyre.

So a compressor. (that could be taking the tyres to a good one, what a plaster)

Balance the wheels.

So you need the Tools, tyre levers are the minimum, you can break a bead of the rim easy enough,

not damaging rims is pretty important & you can get the knowledge online to do it yourself.

Always worth being able to do yourself, best that someone actually shows you in real life, not a video.

DIY, good exercise, as i said.

*so many people ruin a tyre/tyre bead, its unreal.*

*Changing your own wheels.*

Good Exercise & practice fr changing to the Spare if ever caught out on the road.

george

http://www.trafficsc...urrentincidents

http://www.trafficsc...etrafficcameras

Snow gates & roads closed today

& snowing right now even were i stay, which is not a cold place.

Lets see how mild this first week of winter is,

let alone untill next March/April.

another con ... barely any need for winter tyres in this country .. vastly expensive for literally a couple of days in our 'mild' winters

Having previously done plenty of driving with actual back to back comparisons of summer and winter rubber, that comment cheered me up no end, thank you!

When Im running two pairs of wheels, I'll swap them at home to save the money tbh. Local tyre places are cottoning on here and if you want the actual tyres swapped onto the same alloys. they want £20 plus vat each!!! (if you are supplying the tyres!)

I don't have any winter tyres or alloys (yet) for my new Fabia Elegance but need to get a move on. As i understand it in certain continental countries it is the '' law '' that between certain months you have to have cold weather tyres on.... i don't think they check, but if you have an accident and you don't have them on.........

I don't have any winter tyres or alloys (yet) for my new Fabia Elegance but need to get a move on. As i understand it in certain continental countries it is the '' law '' that between certain months you have to have cold weather tyres on.... i don't think they check, but if you have an accident and you don't have them on.........

Yes, correct, Germany is an example.

Yep - some countries its law in certain months (October to March for Luxembourg); in Germany its law if there are "wintery" conditions...and its rather "wintery" at the moment! Its also been below 5 degrees since about Friday (three or four good dollops of snow as well). Big fines if you cause an obstruction and you don't have winter tyres. You're also not allowed to move until you get winter tyres fitted if thats the case. If you have an accident on summer tyres, also a big problem!

...Just wanted to know if anyone changes their own winter weels or do they let the shop do it ???????

I changed my own wheels to winter ones - I wanted to see what everything under there was like, apply some Waxoyl on vulnerable parts and add a smear of grease to the hubs.

Changed over to my winter wheels and tyres myself in my in-laws garage on Saturday.

Heated garage with carpets make it a much nicer job

Not allowed to change to winter tyres thanks to dumb insurance company, well not allowed different size tyres anyway, an dont wanna fit winter tyres to original rims.

But if I was allowed yeah would change my own, in fact if it was steel wheels would even fit the tyres to the rims myself then just take them to get balanced. (Used to be a tyre fitter)

Yes, correct, Germany is an example.

Sweden another one. We have had -10 to -15 here the last few days and i would wanna try driving with summer tires now since its really slippery even with winter tires..

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I would agree with all the positives for fitting winter tyres.

They feel very secure in heavy rain and much better going through deeper puddles.

They inspire confidence that, even in above freezing temperatures, the car has more grip in all situations.

I have resisted for quite a few years but have bitten the bullet this winter. I'm glad I did.

I got the local independent tyre shop to swap the wheels and check balance. £15 all in and I got a couple of gratis slices of pizza too

Would have done them myself but the yeti is too tall for my trolley jack and I don't have the spare wheel kit.

Something to be aware of... Most, if not all, the large tyre fitters (Kwikfit, STS, ATS and central tyres) will not do the swap if you supply your own wheels with tyres on or just tyres to be fitted onto same rims and Kwikfit quoted H&S concerns and that head office changed policy and do not allow it.

Perhaps they are hoping for more business from drivers buying winters from them, and in the case of Kwikfit, the rent from the tyre hotel.

Well they've got it wrong IMHO, they ain't getting my cash.

Not allowed to change to winter tyres thanks to dumb insurance company, well not allowed different size tyres anyway, an dont wanna fit winter tyres to original rims.

There really shouldn't be a problem, particularly if you go with the sizes Skoda list for winter tyres for your model, which will be TUV approved. Otherwise consider changing your insurance company. Direct Line are now very good about this and have changed their stance from three years ago, when they used to view it as a 'modification' to your vehicle. They have put a comment on my policy that I fit winter tyres over the winter months so I no longer have to ring them every time I change wheels and tyres.

Follow the guidance given here

http://www.abi.org.u...ommittment.aspx

re insurance, as mine is listed as not needing contacting if I'm using manufacturer approved, which I am.

TP

Haven't bothered this year I just drive slower and not use the car if I'm snowed in. As others have said the only real cost is extra rims. Steelies are cheap enough and I'll probably do it next year