I often wonder whether those who have always managed without winter tyres and say they're not needed are at all choosy about the tyres they buy ...

 

Do they always just buy the cheapest available at the tyre fitters on the day they go in?

 

I'll lay odds that most actually try to find the best tyre within their budget, asking their mates or on forums for suggestions. Strange, then, that the underlying logic goes out the window when it comes to choosing rubber that works better in colder and slippery conditions.

Its more ignorance than anything else. They think that Winter Tyres are JUST for Snow

Neither will they research ANY tyre...

Also...MOST motorists NEVER buy them, know nothing about them, you know..the sort that never wash their car or frequent Forums etc....

has anyone tried those all season tyres, what are they like?

i do have winters on now but i could do without having to change them twice a year and the alloys i have them on are naff. its just i will need new front tyres anyways when i put my VRs wheels back on so i might be tempted to fit all season ones if there any good. i dont do track days, just normal road driving

has anyone tried those all season tyres, what are they like?

i do have winters on now but i could do without having to change them twice a year and the alloys i have them on are naff. its just i will need new front tyres anyways when i put my VRs wheels back on so i might be tempted to fit all season ones if there any good. i dont do track days, just normal road driving

Surely must be compromised?

Probably average to poor in summer and winter. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Get 2 or 4 extra rims solves change over issues somewhat.

Surely must be compromised?

Probably average to poor in summer and winter. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Get 2 or 4 extra rims solves change over issues somewhat.

Read some reviews, they are far better in winter conditions and temperatures than summer tyres, and rate higher in the tests than most budget winter tyres. They are probably a better all round choice for the average British winter unless you live in Scotland or the peaks and dales of Northern England.

i would still pick winters over all season if i had to use only 1 set of rubbers all year round.

 

http://www.weather.com/video/winter-tires-vs-all-season-tires-25705

 

http://www.tirerack.com/videos/index.jsp?video=23

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2wTg0l3_wI

We've put Vredestein Quatrac's on SWMBO's Yaris, they score incredibly well for winter use (better than my new Nankang SV2's) but falling off the pace a little as a summer tyre against dedicated summer's, but absolutely fine for a lower powered Motor. I personally wouldn't see these as a viable all year round tyre for a car putting out the power to weight ratio of a vRS given that they are a lesser performer under summer conditions, I want maximum grip etc in the seasons where you have chance to most enjoy your car.

Winter/summer also means more than snow/sun it's the differing temperature ranges.

I would expect them to be good as extended winters maybe doing six months rather than the four with full winters.

i would still pick winters over all season if i had to use only 1 set of rubbers all year round.

 

http://www.weather.com/video/winter-tires-vs-all-season-tires-25705

 

http://www.tirerack.com/videos/index.jsp?video=23

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2wTg0l3_wI

 

I gather some Emergency Services pick Winters for all year round usage as the performance they get is what they want for their vehicles.

 

My winters are 17 inch and V rated so a part from only E rated for energy and therefore a little heavier on fuel they are very good ie cheapish and great in wet weather and snow.

I gather some Emergency Services pick Winters for all year round usage as the performance they get is what they want for their vehicles.

 

My winters are 17 inch and V rated so a part from only E rated for energy and therefore a little heavier on fuel they are very good ie cheapish and great in wet weather and snow.

Staffordshire Paramedics Octavia Estates (Scouts I think) have winters fitted all year - according to the ATS guy who swapped my tyres as they also to theirs.  They have a special stock deal as not many wholesalers will stock winter tyres in May..

Staffordshire Paramedics Octavia Estates (Scouts I think) have winters fitted all year - according to the ATS guy who swapped my tyres as they also to theirs.  They have a special stock deal as not many wholesalers will stock winter tyres in May..

our RRV's (mostly octys) have winters all year round, (we are often driving through muddy fields/tracks/farms/driveways ect in summer!) our ambulances are fitted with winters from NOV onwards when the tyres need replacing....

 

just put the winters (continentals) on the citygo , just in time me thinks,we are forcast rain followed by ice followed by snow! lol...

 

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Edited 18 November, 201312 yr by sharkrider

our RRV's (mostly octys) have winters all year round, (we are often driving through muddy fields/tracks/farms/driveways ect in summer!) our ambulances are fitted with winters from NOV onwards when the tyres need replacing....

 

just put the winters (continentals) on the citygo , just in time me thinks,we are forcast rain followed by ice followed by snow! lol...

 

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yaaaay, get to test out the tyres properly

 

booooo, just remembered the car is lowered 40mm :(

 

fingers crossed for just a light dusting or I might quickly become one of Yorkshire's speediest snow ploughs.

yaaaay, get to test out the tyres properly

 

booooo, just remembered the car is lowered 40mm :(

 

fingers crossed for just a light dusting or I might quickly become one of Yorkshire's speediest snow ploughs.

thats the problem, mine is only 20 mm lower at the front (15mm atthe back!) and my splitter will hit a kerb if you try and park forwards! snow plough indeed

 

dont worry though they will still work in the cold/wet/ice/frost ect , but more than 4 cm of snow and you might be strugglin we can always take the citygo! :P

we can always take the citygo! :p

 

Very kind of you to offer Dave, especially as I'm a bit out of the way.

 

Where are we going again?

Its more ignorance than anything else. They think that Winter Tyres are JUST for Snow

Neither will they research ANY tyre...

Also...MOST motorists NEVER buy them, know nothing about them, you know..the sort that never wash their car or frequent Forums etc....

 

I've been told I must be mad and I like throwing money away because I fit winters to three cars.

 

You just can't get through to people the difference that winter tyres make or the fact that you only wear one set at a time so it isn't a true cost.

 

I've got Pirelli Sottozero's on the Passat, Vredestein Snowtrac 3's on the BMW and Bridgestone Blizzak's on the Fabia.

 

For the Passat and Fabia I have steel wheels, for the BMW I have the tyres swapped on the rims. On Friday I was at my local tyre fitters having the BMW done and got into a chat with the owner. He said most of the phone calls he gets now are "What's the cheapest tyre for my car?". I had four Goodyear F1 Assy 2's fitted to the Passat during the summer and he said then it's very rare for them to fit "Premium" tyres.

I always go there because they mostly manage to match internet prices and have never marked a wheel.

 

Another thing is many will come in for a single tyre or ask for a part worn to pass the MOT.

 

But just goes to show that most cars over a certain age will be running on a mixture of budget rubber. 

 

Also have set of 14" Bridgestone Blizzak LM-20's on Steel Wheels for a Fabia that I need to get on ebay, they were fitted to our old HTP that I sold to my Uncle. He's now swapped to an Octavia.

 

Cheers

Lee

Edited 24 November, 201312 yr by logiclee

I live in Buxton, derbyshire, so we get the snow pretty bad.

Last year i was driving a 2005 polo with snow tyres on (prob better than the fabia as the tyres are thinner).

No matter how much you say they arent worth while, they are if you live somewhere where the temps are minus on a regular basis.

While many cars were simply spinning to a stop trying to get home on a winters night in the snow, ti would simply indicate and go past where its safe to do so. With abit of know-how winter driving and snow tyres, it only got stuck once, and that was when the car bellied out on the snow.

I would love to have a defender with 4 winter tyres on, but for the rest of the year its useless to me.

Whether you think you need them or not, ill continue driving past the people that havent got them and have to wait for hours to be rescued

Last year i was driving a 2005 polo with snow tyres on (prob better than the fabia as the tyres are thinner).

 

 

You can fit 165's on 14" rims on the Fabia upto the 1.2HTP 12V or 1.4TDi. Bigger petrols and diesels have bigger brakes so you need 15" wheels and 185/60's or 195/55's.

 

Here's our old 1.2 HTP on 165's (They are for sale on ebay)

 

 

Cheers

Lee

Edited 24 November, 201312 yr by logiclee

Oh thats good then! Thats the same size that was on the polo.

I think mine are 195's. Better for summer i guess!

Oh thats good then! Thats the same size that was on the polo.

I think mine are 195's. Better for summer i guess!

 

 

The 195/55 R15's are quite expensive as they are not a common size. Fortunately Skoda approve the fitment of 185/60 R15 winter's which are much cheaper, we have this size on our TSi SE.

 

Cheers

Lee

I didnt know that either haha. Can you tell much difference driving with the 185/60's?

I didnt know that either haha. Can you tell much difference driving with the 185/60's?

 

Not really there's only 3.5mm extra side wall between a 195/55R15 and a 185/60R15 so ever so slightly softer but this could also be down to a softer winter tyre.

 

Our old HTP that I sold to my Uncle went from 195/55R15 to 165/70R14 and that made a big difference to normal driving, steering was much lighter and ride much softer but excellent in the snow. On my Passat I drop from 235/45R17 to 205/55R16 and that also transformers the ride quality. Obviously both these are dropping a wheel size so an inch of extra side wall to start with.

 

On the BMW the winters are the same size as the summers and the Vredestein Snowtrac 3's actually feel stiffer than the Dunlop summers but have a little more tread movement on turn in.

 

Just ordered my Dad some 185/60R15's Goodyear Ultragrip 8's from mytyres for just £55 each delivered.

 

Cheers

Lee

has anyone tried those all season tyres, what are they like?

Currently have them on our Fabia (Hankook Optimo 4S) and a rwd Alfa, previously on a Felicia (both Vredestein Quatrac 3). The thing to remember is that all season tyres vary in quality and capability is exactly the same way as summer and winter tyres do, and often that cheaper tyres are compromised in a way that isn't the case for better tyres.

 

Surely must be compromised?

Probably average to poor in summer and winter. Jack of all trades, master of none.

We have found the Vredestein tyres to be good enough to get around on fresh or compressed snow on roads, and not a problem for spirited driving in the summer.

 

I personally wouldn't see these as a viable all year round tyre for a car putting out the power to weight ratio of a vRS given that they are a lesser performer under summer conditions

Our rwd Alfa on all season tyres is significantly more powerful than our PD130 cars and is fine for very spirited driving throughout the year -- I'd need to check the power to weight ratio but I'm certain it's lighter than a Mk1 Fabia vRS. I think people tend to be excessively cautious about what does or doesn't work well, normally based on a lack of direct experience.