I take delivery of my new Octavia 4x4 in the next few days. Car arrived at the dealer today and is going for final prep.  I've just ordered some Conti TS850s (winter tyres). As a result I foresee that we'll get deck all snow :-)

Edited 28 November, 201312 yr by Octy3x4x4

Ive never used winter tyres on any car, and never had a problem! Well except for the day I was stupid, and went to see what the backroads were like a couple of years back, then tried to turn round and head back right at the bottom of a hill! I never even completed the turn. Got half way round, and I was stuck. Wheels sliding everywhere. Thankfully a kind person who lived around there gave me a push to get me out of the icey area. I never bothered heading back up the hill!!

So basically, if it wasnt for my stupidity, id never have had a problem in winter with normal tyres.

But hey, I stick to the main roads in bad weather!

I've been running winters for a number of years, combined with 4x4 it is a nearly unstoppable combination in all but the most extreme conditions. Got so bad an a local road a few years ago, that I had to get a tow up the hill with a tractor :-) The extra cost is negligible as you save your summers for around half of the year. so evens out. I also drive to the Alps and then winters are mandatory so saves bother with the beak. 

Edited 28 November, 201312 yr by Octy3x4x4

I had an Octy II before and the first time I we had a quantity of snow it was OK going into town/work, however on the way back WVM being the usual p**ck that they are forced me to hit the brakes going up a gentle gradient and that was it... Stuck! Luckily two people gave me a shove and got me going again, but got stuck again on the lane where I live. I did get home in the end 2hrs after I'd finished a shift.

 

That was enough and I did my research into Snow Socks & Chains, but both were out of stock, so had to put up with normal "summer" tyres, luckily that didn't last too long, but that autumn I bought a set of steel wheels & Nokian winters and it was a complete revelation in driving when we had snow again and yes it did slip & spin a bit, but I did keep going all the time that the snow was down and I've sworn never to be without them again, they're worth their weight in gold. 

Yep, a lot of people say winters are brilliant. Ive just managed to avoid needing them

We had frost down here in Cornwall recently apparently, but all thawed by 730am. But it doesn't happen every year, and that may be it for the winter. Won't be fitting winter tyres

Been running winters since December 09 after loosing control of my first Yeti on a hill in a snow blizzard. 225/50 R17 profile summer tyres became effectively ski's and the car spun and slid backwards with a stalled engine part way down the hill.

 

Like a number of posters I'd coped before on summers but that had been in either an Octy I 4x4 or Golf TDI 4motion on 205/55 R16 tyres.

 

Now after getting my first set of winters, we fit them to all 3 cars in the household; so much safer.

 

Oh I'm seven weeks in to a long wait for an Octy III SE 150 4x4 to replace my second Yeti.

 

 

TP

Never say anything definitive about future weather! Mother nature will make sure to prove you wrong...

And this ladies and gentlemen is a reason for national crisis after 1" of snow all over the country :-D Well yeah it was a bit more in 2009 or was it 2010 winter where UK had serious problems because everyone was on summer tires. I have personally encountered 1" of snow once on my manual FWD and it was pain the the *** to drive. Doable (if you plan your moves waaaaay ahead), but after few blocks down the road I turned around, went back home, 45 mins to swap out to Goodyear Ultra Grip 500 - these were really good back then. Yes the tires were prepped (being balanced and at right pressure) - just waited for right moment to swap.

I have just got my first set of winter tyres and am lying in bed with a slipped disk and the wheels in my front room. So probably no snow then.

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Winter tyres are far superior in the winter and work much better when cold.

 

The notion of having a 4x4 car with summer tyres as being usful in winter conditions is nonsense as 4x4 does not help you slow down or turn.

Picked up the car today. Winter shoes going on tomorrow. So far I'm liking it. Free tank of fuel too. Sweet!

Been trying to get prices for VAG rims today, think SUK have cottoned on to this a a money spinner, as the prices a couple of dealers have come up with for Octy III steels are almost double what I paid for a Yeti set in 09 :S

 

Add in the cost of wheel trims and your starting to think the winter alloy option isn't to bad an alternative

 

 

TP

Been trying to get prices for VAG rims today, think SUK have cottoned on to this a a money spinner, as the prices a couple of dealers have come up with for Octy III steels are almost double what I paid for a Yeti set in 09 :S

 

Add in the cost of wheel trims and your starting to think the winter alloy option isn't to bad an alternative

 

 

TP

 

 

I'm just going to change the tyres. Then again I'm only on the standard 16'' so I don't really care about salt. I'll just get a replacement set if they get eaten before I ditch the car. 

The property of rubber in summer tires changes even below about 7-8 degrees C (45-46 degrees F), resuting in reduced breaking properties and

handling if you enter into a critical situation. So you don't even need frost on the road to notice reduced characteristics.

 

So to say "I have been using summer tires and it has been fine!" only shows that you have been lucky! So far...

Some spend "half a fortune" on styling but don't want to spend money on proper winter tires...

I don't want to insult anyone so I won't say that it's just plain stupid. (ops... sorry!! I seem to have said it anyway.   )

Thought this thread was based on fact with a title like that....  :wonder:

I've been dealing with drivers who loose it in winter for years.not just one or two... But lots and lots. You might manage on summer tyres for ages.... Forget about getting from a to b... It's also a safety choice. You may not need them every journey, or every year... But it CAN just happen..and the one time it's needed, winter tyres can save your life. Its realy that simple.

So well done all for getting the winter boots..and I hope you don't need them. :-)

I've been dealing with drivers who loose it in winter for years.not just one or two... But lots and lots. You might manage on summer tyres for ages.... Forget about getting from a to b... It's also a safety choice. You may not need them every journey, or every year... But it CAN just happen..and the one time it's needed, winter tyres can save your life. Its realy that simple.

So well done all for getting the winter boots..and I hope you don't need them. :-)

 

Agree 100%! And I don't wish to meet "the others" on the road if you get my point...

I am going for a compromise and will go for Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons with my 4x4.  Judging by the report below, it is not that much of a compromise!

 

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2012-Auto-Bild-All-Season-Tyre-Test.htm

 

However, it will have to be a long wait.  The rate my tyres are wearing, they still have over 30,000 miles left on them : (

I've been wondering about the all season tyre route as well. I simply don't have enough room to store a full set of tyres.

 

I had been looking at the Vredestein Quatrac 3 but the report on the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons has caught my attention.

I've been wondering about the all season tyre route as well. I simply don't have enough room to store a full set of tyres.

 

I had been looking at the Vredestein Quatrac 3 but the report on the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons has caught my attention.

My view is that in the summer, we are driving well within the limit of adhesion so won't notice the difference. but the big gain is in the winter/snow when we are all sliding about ie driving well above the limit of adhesion, so all seasons tyres work for me. And as you have also pointed out, storage is another consideration. For the UK at least, all seasons tyres are worth considering.

Using the ops logic I've changed to a VRS so it'll snow with me :p

Lewjo (Joseph)

I thought this was going to be a link to a shock story from the Daily Mail....

 

 

Winter tyres aren't just for snow.  Not having winter tyres is like saying I won't have a big coat because it doesn't get cold enough..

I've managed for years without needing my seatbelts, airbags or esp. I can just drive slowly and I'll be fine without those things too.

 

Like hell. No car in my family is going to be without winter tyres ever again, even if they're the only set the car has. Its all fine being clever and thinking you're too good and have been lucky so far, but its not all down to you. Unexpected conditions, overconfidence or the actions of others have as much influence on your safety as any skill you have.

 

But this November has been somewhat disappointing so far, I hope December puts up the goods.