Just trying to gain peoples thoughts as to the pros & cons of each

A bad Winter is forecast so is it worth getting Winter tyres, . We are also driving to France over the new year for a spot of Skiing & someone has said you have to have chains by law but this does not apply to 4x4's.

I have the choice of taking the L&K Estate which is bigger, A Diesel but 2wd or the 4x4 which is smaller & eats fuel but might be fun !! (340bhp4x4)

If we are to get a bad winter its never really bad down south (famous last words) & chains might never be needed but a set of Winter tyres might be a good investment

Also any idea what a set of cheap winter tyres would cost

Anyone any thoughts

Just trying to gain peoples thoughts as to the pros & cons of each

A bad Winter is forecast so is it worth getting Winter tyres' date=' . We are also driving to France over the new year for a spot of Skiing & someone has said you have to have chains by law but this does not apply to 4x4's.

I have the choice of taking the L&K Estate which is bigger, A Diesel but 2wd or the 4x4 which is smaller & eats fuel but might be fun !! (340bhp4x4)

If we are to get a bad winter its never really bad down south (famous last words) & chains might never be needed but a set of Winter tyres might be a good investment

Also any idea what a set of cheap winter tyres would cost

Anyone any thoughts[/quote']

I'm thinking of winter tyres for the vRS - online you can get a 205/50/17 from about

You're not really safe unless you have both; winter tyres are a great idea because they give you an extra bit of grip which might help if you encounter bad conditions in the middle of a journey without you having to do anything.

The chains will still be useful when you're trying to get up the hill which is covered in four inches of snow

Interestingly, the manual suggests attaching chains to the front wheels, even on the 4x4. Anyone got any ideas why?

Also any idea what a set of cheap winter tyres would cost

http://www.mytyres.net allows you to search for winter tyres.

Interestingly' date=' the manual suggests attaching chains to the front wheels, even on the 4x4. Anyone got any ideas why?[/quote']

I assume it's because it's predominately fwd anyway....but if the fronts slip drive goes to the rear and vice versa. I guess drive would continuosly move front to back and then back to front....putting chains on front would stop this...I guess.:confused:

Another point is that our Haldex won't be engaged until a wheel slips. This causes a problem when starting in really low-traction conditions because you're not gently feeding power to the rear wheels but sometimes slamming so much power that they start slipping in my experience.

Ideally, the haldex would be engaged from rest.

Anyone else for a new controller? Can your controller do this EddyH?

I assume it's because it's predominately fwd anyway....but if the fronts slip drive goes to the rear and vice versa. I guess drive would continuosly move front to back and then back to front....putting chains on front would stop this...I guess.:confused:

Surely chains give more grip, but the fronts might still slip. Given that chains provide more traction, why should the rears then not have the benefit?

Also confused :confused:

When I were a lad (all of 10 yrs ago) I helped out a farmin friend for a bit of pocket money. I remember one winter going out with an oxycetalyne torch to remove snow chains from a milk float's axles.

People tend to dirve nice and slowly when they have the chanis fitted but as soon as they're off the snow they speed up again.

If using chains, drive slowly.

Just did a bit of checking....as I was thinking about this last night...spooky...but I digress...

Most expensive I've so far found are

The chains go on the drive axle. And as for them being a PITA, being stuck, or worse, sliding off a mountain road would be slightly more inconvenient than 10 mins fitting chains. I had them in the truck, and they took 10 mins a side to fit.

Winter tyres are only of any use in snow in my experience, and offer very poor grip in anything other than "proper" winter conditions.

I have winter tyres on mine at the moment, rather nice in this weather. Chains, complete PITA as pointed out (but I do have a set in the boot ).

Good ones to go for? Michelin Pilot Alpin, Pirelli Snowsport 240, Conti Wintercontact, Goodyear (can't remember what they're called) these are all V rated so are OK up to nearly 150 just like your "normal" tyres. Most snow / winter tyres are only H rated which may lead to trouble with your insurance.

The Goodyears and Michelins get good reviews, with the Michelins coming out on top.

I have the Vredestein Wintrac Extreme on mine. Take ages to scrub in, but once scrubbed, pretty good. They are VR rated.Wanted the Michelin Pilot Alpin 2, but they weren't available when I ordered mine.

Although they have very sticky compound, the winter tyres last really well, I usually get 2 seasons from a set...

Although they have very sticky compound' date=' the winter tyres last really well, I usually get 2 seasons from a set...[/quote']

With the miles you drive thats one hell of a recomendation

My Contis had 20k on them when I sold the car, they were half worn :eek:

The Vredesteins are nearly scrubbed in on the front after 1k miles, the rears still have the bobbles on the tread :eek:

I have winter tyres on mine at the moment' date=' rather nice in this weather. Chains, complete PITA as pointed out (but I do have a set in the boot ).

Good ones to go for? Michelin Pilot Alpin, Pirelli Snowsport 240, Conti Wintercontact, Goodyear (can't remember what they're called) these are all V rated so are OK up to nearly 150 just like your "normal" tyres. Most snow / winter tyres are only H rated which [i']may[/i] lead to trouble with your insurance.

The Goodyears and Michelins get good reviews, with the Michelins coming out on top.

I have the Vredestein Wintrac Extreme on mine. Take ages to scrub in, but once scrubbed, pretty good. They are VR rated.Wanted the Michelin Pilot Alpin 2, but they weren't available when I ordered mine.

Although they have very sticky compound, the winter tyres last really well, I usually get 2 seasons from a set...

I was considering the verstestien as well...in the end I opted for can't drive won't try and kill myself doing so.

Instead I have a winter bag, jacket water etc in the car along with boots and a toothbush.

Last thing I need is to be able to get to work 200 miles away. Now if the weather does close in then I'll consider a set of winter tyres, but as I'm possibly selling it's another 400 quid I don't need to throw away, well can't throw away. Although I know Jon, that you have to, might be in a similar boat myself soon. So trial bike and stud's it is then, because lets face it if you have snowy's the prat (me) in front won't have and you can't get a car past another crashed car.

Been caught out when already out is the worse case scenario, hence my winter mountaineering kit...reminds me should get a rope for the car, just in case.

I have a 5 tonne tow rope, duvet jacket, gloves, hat, warm boots and a light down bag in a rucksack in the boot. Head torch is a worthwhile addition, always keep mine in the car.

Filled up with fuel last night at Sainsburys, they had some self heating pr-made coffee in cups, so I've added a couple of them to the arsenal. As for the wide mouthed nalgene bottle, have a guess what that's for Col

As for the wide mouthed nalgene bottle, have a guess what that's for Col

Apple juice? :confused:

I have a 5 tonne tow rope' date=' duvet jacket, gloves, hat, warm boots and a light down bag in a rucksack in the boot. Head torch is a worthwhile addition, always keep mine in the car.

Filled up with fuel last night at Sainsburys, they had some self heating pr-made coffee in cups, so I've added a couple of them to the arsenal. As for the wide mouthed nalgene bottle, have a guess what that's for Col [/quote']

Just keep the wide mouthed bottle for one purpose only!!

Years ago I lived in Shetland and was in the Round Table. We had a big dinner and some fellow Tablers were coming up from England. They flew up in a light plane and had several flasks of hot coffee. Too much coffee was drunk by one of the guys and he had to use an empty flask for "waste purposes". Pity the flask was still hot - he burnt his tadger on it :rofl:

Mine is one I always used and is marked up on the outside as such, too many winter climbing trips