I was going to try and manage through winter this year on my summer tyres but we have a couple of inches lying at the moment and my car is struggling big style.

I had winters on my BMW last year and i bought only for the rear tyres initially. Car was absolutely undrivable so ended up buying 2 more and having winters on all 4 wheels. A factor in this instability may have been due to the fact that i was changing from 255 section summers on 17 inch rims to 205 sections on 16 inch rims but the car was totally unstable even at 30mph.

I was wondering if this phenomenon would be the same for a front drive car or could i get away with it? Main reason for asking is purely from a fiancial point of view. 2 tyres is obvioulsy cheaper than 4. I know 4 is obviously the best and safest option but would changing only the driven wheels be safer than running on all summer tyres?

I wouldnt advise anyone ton change only the rears on a BMW due to my experiences but a mate at work changed only the fronts on his Audi A5 and he reackons it was ok.

Also would fitting winters the same section size as my summers be a better option rather than steelis with winters on front and original rims on the back with summers?

I may still risk it and not buy them but a brickie i know seems to think the long range weather forecast is dire i.e lots of snow.

The baby gets transported in the rav4 so it would only be myself in the VRS if i did persevere with summers or change fronts only.

Thoughts please??

Winters all round, there's a video showing why somewhere on here, I'll find it for you if I can

Winters all round, there's a video showing why somewhere on here, I'll find it for you if I can

Bloody works laptop probably wont allow videos but i can check it out at home later.

I've just gone for winters all round, don't fancy reversing into a barrier at speed.

My tyres are doing the Falken for £108 which looks a great deal. I've gone for 4 uni royal m66 at £129 fitted with a local mobile fitter.

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Useful article here which mentions all round fitment and also the understanding which is supposed to be insurance industry wide that there would be no surcharge for fitment of winters

I've just gone for winters all round, don't fancy reversing into a barrier at speed.

My tyres are doing the Falken for £108 which looks a great deal. I've gone for 4 uni royal m66 at £129 fitted with a local mobile fitter.

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Are these prices for full size winters? i.e ones to fit original rims.

Here's a vid that I found, sorry it's on one of the lesser relatives of Skoda but hey, the message is the same.

Useful article here which mentions all round fitment and also the understanding which is supposed to be insurance industry wide that there would be no surcharge for fitment of winters

Never thought about the insurance implications. Wonder what they would say to only changing the driven wheels. Think ill give them a call later actually as i definately wouldnt want my insurance invalidated.

Here's a vid that I found, sorry it's on one of the lesser relatives of Skoda but hey, the message is the same.

As supected "web page blocked" dam it, do they actually expect me to be doing work or something.

As supected "web page blocked" dam it, do they actually expect me to be doing work or something.

Nah, well at least my lot don't .................. I hope

Snow is absolutely horrendous at the moment. Seriously dumping down and massive flakes. I am seriously going to struggle to get home tonight. Barely made it out the carpark an hour ago and its been blizzarding since then. Where was the bloody snow last year when i spent £540 on winters. Flippin typical.

I think a bit of web searching is in order. I am still tempted to fit fronts only unless the video you posted changes my mind when i see it.

Don't do 2 on the front, or you end up with a huge amount of oversteer when you slowdown or similar.

I'm guessing that video will show what happens when you brake with 2 winter + 2 other.

Start to break, the front slows, the rear does not and it comes around on you.

Better to get 4 cheap winters or even all seasons like quatrac3 than 2 on a single axle.

Edited 5 December, 201213 yr by cheezemonkhai

If you want to simulate winters on front wheels only, pull the handbrake next time you go around a corner in the rain. I would personally never just do the fronts.

Here's a vid that I found, sorry it's on one of the lesser relatives of Skoda but hey, the message is the same.

Watch this video if you get a chance and I promise you'll be pesauded to fit 4 winter tyres. Fitting 2 is worse in my opinion than none at all. Plus think of it this way, it costs a lot now but next winter it'll be free and it is saving wear on your summer tyres.

Thats all the correct information & advice.

Real world is often many of us in the North East of Scotland drive some winters,or just some days or some weeks with only Winter tyres on the Driven Wheels.

Today i have Snow tyres on the front & Winter tyres on the rear of a FWD car.

Be insured, be safe, drive to what you have.

If you fit Drive wheel Winters only and it does your trips around Aberdeen safely, then thats better than 4 Summer tyres.

http://www.michelin....ld-weather-tips

If you find there is Over Steer, Understeer, J Turns, 360 spins while trying the pair out safely in some empty car park,

you will need to bite the bulit and go get 2 more Winter tyres fitted..

Let us know how it goes.

Cold tonight, more snow tomorrow, good weekend then big snow on Sunday.

Be safe.

george

http://www.trafficsc...urrentincidents

http://www.trafficsc...etrafficcameras

Thats all the correct information & advice.

Real world is often many of us in the North East of Scotland drive some winters,or just some days or some weeks with only Winter tyres on the Driven Wheels.

Today i have Snow tyres on the front & Winter tyres on the rear of a FWD car.

Be insured, be safe, drive to what you have.

If you fit Drive wheel Winters only and it does your trips around Aberdeen safely, then thats better than 4 Summer tyres.

http://www.michelin....ld-weather-tips

If you find there is Over Steer, Understeer, J Turns, 360 spins while trying the pair out safely in some empty car park,

you will need to bite the bulit and go get 2 more Winter tyres fitted..

Let us know how it goes.

Cold tonight, more snow tomorrow, good weekend then big snow on Sunday.

Be safe.

george

http://www.trafficsc...urrentincidents

http://www.trafficsc...etrafficcameras

I think the VRS is a tad better than my BMW was on the summers but i struggled today so i dont think it will take much to get me stuck.

I do plan keeping the VRS for at least 3 years so i would get good use of them. Think im still just hurting after buying a full set last year and not getting any use out of them. Snow warning for tomorrow as well. Not looking good. I wouldnt mind buying them if the weather was terrible but last year was so mild. It was flippin 11 degress on xmas day last year and there was me with my stupid winters on what a joke.

Don't forget they're for temperatures below +7 degrees not just for snow and ice, these temps are pretty much guaranteed until at least next March for where we are and I'm sure it's even colder up where you are.

Don't forget they're for temperatures below +7 degrees not just for snow and ice, these temps are pretty much guaranteed until at least next March for where we are and I'm sure it's even colder up where you are.

I know what you mean but i'll take my chances when its just 7 and below. The baby wagon doesnt need them due to four wheel drive and it already has all weather type tyres on so seeing as mine is just a dog taxi and commuting tool i would rather try and slog it out on summers. As long as i can get moving i will take my chances on summer tyres as i generally drive a lot slower and more carefully and leave big gaps to the car in front anyway when its slippy out. The only reason i would buy winters is to stop getting stuck or to allow me to make progress in the first place. The benefits below 7 degrees dont interest me. Getting stuck in the driveway or getting stuck enroute to work is a pain in the bum but this is the only motivating force affecting my decision on whether to get winters or not. Loads of snow = ill get them. Cold damp conditions = forget it and just drive with more care and attention.

I bought snow socks before but these where a pain as i couldnt get them on my BMW tyres due to the lowered suspension so had to jack the car up, total grind. I wonder if it would be easier to fit them on the VRS. Does look to be slightly more space between the tyre and wheel arch compared to my beemer. Think i will go and have a trial run and see if i can get my hand in there.

I have 400 plus miles to do Fri -Sunday, West Coast to Edinburgh airport & home.

Using the Picanto with Snow & Winters fitted, just because its best in the conditions at present.

Goes anyplace & everyplace other than in the deep snow.

Fabia vRS is a no no even on 4 Winter tyres if things get bad ice wise,

(rain forcast for Southern Scotland, but ice is a big possibility)

& 4x4 or AWD on snow tyres is too damn expensive on fuel.

Save that incase of real snow which will be coming.

Sunday on looks like its going to be interesting.

Just drive to the conditions.

But then the plonkers in Aberdeen on Low Profile tyred 4x4's are the biggest danger.

george

Are these prices for full size winters? i.e ones to fit original rims.

Yes. 225 x 40 18V on the std rims

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Fitting them on the front only will lull you into a false sense of security, the grip on the front will be vastly more than the rear, meaning you will know realise how sloppy the roads are until the rear looses traction, by then it could be game over.

Personally I would fit either 4 or non at all.

Winter tyres IMO are more about cornering and braking safely than they are about getting going.

Using the Picanto with Snow & Winters fitted, just because its best in the conditions at present.

Fabia vRS is a no no even on 4 Winter tyres if things get bad ice wise,

(rain forcast for Southern Scotland, but ice is a big possibility)

& 4x4 or AWD on snow tyres is too damn expensive on fuel.

OK can you clear a few things up for me?

These ‘snow tyres’ I assume are super skinny jobs?

Why do you think a vRS is a no no with winter tyres?

Why is a 4x4 on ‘snow tyres’ (I assume you mean the skinny ones again?) too expensive on fuel?

We certainly do not get enough snow for long enough to warrant proper snow tyres in the UK.

A GOOD quality winter tyre is amazing in the snow and icy conditions and will typically use LESS fuel than a summer tyre.

Fitting them on the front only will lull you into a false sense of security, the grip on the front will be vastly more than the rear, meaning you will know realise how sloppy the roads are until the rear looses traction, by then it could be game over.

Personally I would fit either 4 or non at all.

Winter tyres IMO are more about cornering and braking safely than they are about getting going.

#

I agree, you may think there is more grip due to the front winters biting in and then the rear could slide round unnexpected. For this reason 4 summers could be safer. But then with front winters only at leats the car would stop better. Tricky one.

I just went out and managed to get my hand between the front tyres and the wheelarch so im starting to think snow socks might be a viable option. Has anyone fitted snow socks to a VRS? If so how is it?

It is nothing to do with 'false sense of security'. You can drive stop and steer safely within a 30 or 40 mph national limit at crawling City gridlocked & sometimes blocked snow or ice covered road speeds,

& then you can get on Aberdeens Cobbled Rat Runs with the right tyred or type of car..

Thats just how its been since the year dot,

well since Town & Counties & a Bag of Sand in the boot of rear wheel drivers.

Its a choice.

4 tyres are safe, no tyres are Park up most often.,

You decide.

You need to have valid insurance tho. Someone might hit you.

george

Gizmo69,

i do not think, Well sometimes i Sit & think.

i just drive North East Scotland for 37 winters & attend the Ski Centres during the Ski Season.

(its not the tyre choice thats too expensive on fuel, its the engine & drivetrain.

400 miles at 42 MPG while you are moving is better than 20 mpg, *£60 v £120 worth of Petrol*

& when stuck in the Closed roads, the economical cars fuel tank keeps the engine running and you warm for much longer

before the fuel runs out..

Yes we carry spare cans of fuel, but stuck for 6 or more hours @ -3*C gets very cold.

even your bottled water freezes if you can not keep the engine running.)

68bhp automatic on 185 Winter tyres is preferable to 178 bhp automatic on 205 winters, IMO.

You use what works & you learn by experience mostly.

That includes learning by past mistakes.

Always drive legal, & insured.

george

I choose the tyres & wheels to suit the needs.

Horses for Courses, type thing.