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You go Skiing to France, and you must have an idea about tyre requirements for Cold Roads.

 

Snow chains laddie, snow chains. But I accept that I really should invest in winter tyres for the Alps next year

 

ps - fortunately I have only ever actually had to use snow chains in anger on one occasion to date - fitting them was an absolute nightmare, as was digging my car out of a snowdrift.

Snow chains were not required here this winter for many, they hardly ever are,

but Black Top Tar with Black Ice is a regular thing,

that is why Winter Tyres are useful and for many essential.

Plenty up sides and no down sides really.

 

We are rather further North in much of the UK , than France or Much of Europe with a different Moisture in the air, an Island Nation.

 

http://metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/so/print.html

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Black Top Tar with Black Ice is a regular thing,

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Serious question: Would winter tyres actually be effective on ice?

This forum is full of Winter Tyre threads.

 

On Ice anything can slide, unless like the Studded Tyres you posted on another thread.

(i have studded tyres and in 2010 i had them on on the public roads for 5 weeks,

we had 7 weeks in my area with the temp never above freezing, and the roads not clear of snow/ice for 5 weeks., that was in Scotland)

But most people drive on Treated Roads, and try to travel easy on ice.

Cold Weather, frosts, slush and snow, cold rain, they know if they need tyres to suit their use or location.

 

Winter Tyres do their job, & Snow Tyres theirs, and some All Season Tyres are good enough for all seasons.

I have a car with Winter Tyres on, and it has had them on for 5 years,

very good in wet weather and cold, and no wear in the summer, because it is a low power car.

Driven to the tyres fitted.

 

 

I like Tyres for every occasion.

 

george

Do you really feel that you NEED to use Winter tyres in most of the UK?  I have for a long while rather suspected that this is just a money-making scam by the tyre companies.

 

Well I noticed a significant improvement in grip in cool conditions going from parrt warn Michelin Pilot Sport 3s to the Nexen winters.

 

Part of the improvement was down to comparing a new tyre with it nice sharp edged blocks to one with rounded blocks.

 

Cost is not an issue as you can buy 4 Winters and 4 Summer Nexens for the price of the Michelin PS3s.

 

The only pain is the changing of tyres on rims but I partial get round that by having two spare rims with a pair of the off season tyres.

 

Worth knowing that even the best tyres get poor in the second half of their life usage.  In the government services as with the police tyres on pursuit vehicles are changed with 3 to 4 mm left as after this performance is well sub optimal.

As far as I'm aware it means being able to adjust the behaviour of the car in the course of a corner by being able to make it move from understeer to neutral to oversteer,or vice versa.

In a fwd car you can change from understeer by lifting the throttle....sometimes....the vRS is a steady understeerer and even with a rarb mine still understeers but to a lesser degree.I don't explore the outer limits of its handling on the public road,what happens at hooligan Tiff Needell speeds on the track I haven't a clue

Tiff would say 'the electronic stability program can't be switched off, soooo frustrating!!! I drive mine quite hard I think and i think some of the understeer is induced by the esp, the transfer from understeer-neutral-oversteer when you play on throttle/brake in a corner doesn't feel like just a bad chassis and brake setup to me, there is electronic intervention going on in there quite alot and i personally don't like it, it's far to nannying and spoils the car somewhat when driving with spirit of da vrs. Such a shame when engine and gearbox combo is exceptionally good!

I've got a set of Yokohama AD08R in 215/40/17 on their way to me soon so will update after a few weeks running with them.

I'm going for Goodyears. Ordered and they come in stock end of next month which is ample time to wear down the Uniroyals. I may even find a set of springs for it

The Goodyear Efficient Grip are great ,wear rate, quietness and handling in all weathers.Oh! and decent economy on fuel!

 

But we are Sothern Softies!

Ordered Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric 2's Get them next month as I want to wear my fronts out first