Bought a full set yesterday, and the fitter said he couldn't understand why I bothering and wasting my money, as in HIS opinion, the Octy performs more than adequately in wintry conditions already.

 

Talk about negative sales talk!

Did get me wondering though. Are we all being hoodwinked like blinded sheep  in this country, as winters are rarely that bad really nowadays i suppose.

My opinion even if you don't have much snow BUT temperatures fall bellow 7 degrees cels. you MUST have winter tyres for safety. Only backup option are good all seasons (Michelin). Summer tyres if the temps are low will do something but I would not risk, even on clean surfaces. Forget about cost saving for tyres, save from something else.

Read any of the published comparison tests between Summer & Winter tyres - when it's cold (below approx. 9 Celsius) Winter tyres provide more grip than Summer tyres.

 

More grip = shorter stopping distances, safer cornering, etc.

This is what I thought too.

I can't understand why he was critical and questioning of my decision

.

As you both rightly say, it's NOT just about snow and ice.

Some mornings I have to be at work for 5am. Which ever way I drive I have to go up hills, the roads can be quite bad sometimes after it's been snowing/icy conditions.

 

Winter tyres are worth every penny. My local tyre place says even cheap chineese winter tyres are better than premium summer rubber in the wintery conditions

I've a set of Yokohama winters on at the moment and they're crap. Wheel spinning in 3rd etc. Loads of tread but doesn't seem to do well in wet conditions.

Just wrecked my 3rd 19" Pirelli front n/s tyre since car was new 8600 miles ago, half an hour ago on a pothole/unfinished drain cover on a newly surfaced road, so off to swap to my 18" winter wheels and tyres.

Bl**dy lazy plonkers that can't even fill around a drain cover - the road has been reopened fully weeks ago and no signs or anything.

I've a set of Yokohama winters on at the moment and they're crap. Wheel spinning in 3rd etc. Loads of tread but doesn't seem to do well in wet conditions.

Should have not purchased and had them not fitted at my friendly tyre shop then.  :p

 

Tried 'em in ice or snow yet?

Just wrecked my 3rd 19" Pirelli front n/s tyre since car was new 8600 miles ago, half an hour ago on a pothole/unfinished drain cover on a newly surfaced road, so off to swap to my 18" winter wheels and tyres.

Bl**dy lazy plonkers that can't even fill around a drain cover - the road has been reopened fully weeks ago and no signs or anything.

Photos and claim to the council it is then?

Photos and claim to the council it is then?

If I thought it would be worth it...

Bro in law wrecked a 19" Passat wheel and tyre last year...6 months of hassle later and it was finally...REFUSED.

They had "inspected the road within the previous 6 months" apparently. This was a get out clause!!

Edited 19 November, 20169 yr by pist0nbr0ke

Winter tyres are worth every penny. My local tyre place says even cheap Chinese winter tyres are better than premium summer rubber in the wintry conditions

As was said many times by owners of my previous car which was an Audi with quattro:

 

In slippery conditions quattro gets you moving even with worn Summer tyres, but decent Winter tyres will get you stopped quicker - which when you're sliding towards the back of a stationary lorry is rather important!

So, what was this tyre fitter rambling on about?

I was actually quite shocked at his comments tbh.

 

If you're just using a car for very local tootling about to The Asda twice a week etc with subsequent very low mileage, then PERHAPS there is a case?

Makes the expensive summer tyres last twice as long too!  :sun:

The UK is a difficult one (especially at the moment) -1 and snow one day 15 degrees in sun the next, and not sure what tyres deal with tornados  :think:

 

Whilst any winter tyre is better than a summer tyre in snow and ice, (I'll throw this one in again!) you have to pick carefully for the conditions you use them. Some are not as good as summers in the wet, and some fall off worse than others when the temperature goes up.

 

Whilst being caught out on winters in conditions they are not meant for is nowhere near as bad as summers in snow it sort of defeats the object of fitting winters to be safe.

 

Pick carefully and just be wary of the conditions the tyre is actually designed for and limits of that particular winter tyre (or any tyre you use for that matter).

 

Used winters on my cars for the last 12 years (not the same set !). I use basic skoda steel wheels and store the summer alloys in the garage.

 

Never regretted it. To my mind it's a good investment.

The cost of hitting someone in a crash is a lot more than tyres , and with 20% hills with snow I just pass all the cars that are stuck, or who do a 5 mile detour and get gridlocked instead of using the normal moor road which ive got all to myself

Edited 25 November, 20169 yr by blueR36

Always used winter tyres too. Yes we may not get that much snow but as said earlier, we get a lot of days below 7 degrees. I've just bought 4 x Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 225/50/17 for £180 on a well known auction site. They're basically brand new. Couldn't believe I got them so cheap!

Michelin cross climates might be the best answer. Less hassle and cost.

From what I read they are fine in all but the most extreme snow, which if its that bad should you be out driving anyway?

I'm guessing that people are just not used to seeing tyres changed over to winter ones here (unlike places like Canada), but I think we will see it become more common. I'm only a recent convert myself but I second other posters about low temperatures, even without any snow and ice there is that extra feeling of security with the noticeable improvement in grip and the knowledge that you are better prepared for the conditions. It's interesting to note that many of the insurance companies now don't require notification if you fit winters.

Warrior193.  

This is what I thought too.

I can't understand why he was critical and questioning of my decision

.

As you both rightly say, it's NOT just about snow and ice.

because some people are eager to foist their opinion on others, regardless of whether it is solicited or not. 

So conversely, is there an argument to switch to summer ones, i.e. why not keep winter ones on all year round?? Excuse my ignorance if this is obvious, already covered etc!

Edited 19 November, 20169 yr by emdoc

So conversely, is there an argument to switch to summer ones, i.e. why not keep winter ones on all year round?? Excuse my ignorance if this is obvious, already covered etc!

The rubber compound is different in winter tyres - you will see a marked decrease in performance AND an increase in wear if you use winters at summer temperatures.

Warrior193

Winters are softer stickier rubber. If you use them in the hot weather. ...fuel consumption is worse because they drag more and braking is worse as they are too soft and wear when hot.

So conversely, is there an argument to switch to summer ones, i.e. why not keep winter ones on all year round?? Excuse my ignorance if this is obvious, already covered etc!

 There was an argument that you would be better overall running winters all year than summers as on balance you lost less on winters in (what we laughingly call) the summer than summers in the winter.

 

However if you have been on some of the older generation of winter tyres in temperatures hitting 30 then it becomes obvious why it is not a good idea. They feel very soft and if you were to do any sort of mileage they wouldn't see the next winter.

 

Also the stipes on winter tyres that grip the snow are not that good at shifting water (just as large water channels do not grip snow) this seems to be worse when hot.

 

The latest generation of tyres (Michelin crossclimates and Conti TS860 etc) blur things a bit and the more "all season" tyres have decent performance through the year

Winter tyres don't cost any more money.

 

Remember that whilst you are running winters your summers are on holiday in the shed, i.e not being worn.

 

Yes, you need to find the money upfront but after that the cost evens out and it works out no more expensive.

 

You have to figure in the cost of a second set of wheels but this is a cost I'm happy with as it means my 'best' set is used in the summer and stay looking good whilst my winter set are the ones getting covered in dirt and salt.