I have a 2008 pd disel scout. This winter I will be fitting fallen euro winter tires. These tyres are going onto Audi 16 in rims 7 j width and offset of 45 mm. My question is

 

Is this good enough for the British isles? Has any of the form members been beaten by winter conditions when with winter tyres on the scout ? Did you need the snow chains? It would appear that snow chains are not suitable for a 7 j rim ( conventional chains). 

 

Thoughts please

 

Tsm

 

I live on the west coast of Ireland and am thinking of ice on hills. I.e when it rains on a frozen road to leave a sheet of ice

 

 

In Scotland I have never been stuck with summer tyres and FWD, only had to turn back once as the snow drifts over a hill road were higher than the door mirrors!

With winter tyres  on a scout I have always run out of ground clearance in snow before getting stuck, however if sheet ice is a worry then studded tyres would be necessary (I generally stay in as even if I could get around chances are someone with summer tyres will try and it will end in carnage)

I've fitted Nokia Cold Weather tyres to my Scout since 2010 (17 on the original Proteus alloy and 16 on steel wheels) and never had any serious issues. it tends to get icy here more than snowy, but i have coped reasonably well in both. 

 

The only real issue I have driving in really bad snow  is driving around crashed or abandoned vehicles.

 

If I ever felt I needed to use chains,  I'd just fire up the stove and XBox and stay at home. 

 

 

I've said this a few times, its not just about the traction.  Winter Tyres offer better levels of grip and better braking when the weather turns - I know that for fact, alternatively you can check the numerous Youtube test vids on line.

 

I brought a 2010 Scout with those Falken Euro winters on (Proteus 17" alloys) but personally didn't get on with them - I found them particularly noisy and dropped them for new Continental Winter Contacts shortly after purchase.

 

I tackled a few steep slopes that were fresh snow and compacted snow and both times I got up and down without issue - even stopping part way and starting again.  As mentioned above, it would be the depth of snow that would be more of an issue - I did have an A4 Quattro that i beached in the snow once and had to dig out the underneath of the car to get moving again.

21 hours ago, Anddenton said:

With winter tyres  on a scout I have always run out of ground clearance in snow before getting stuck, however if sheet ice is a worry then studded tyres would be necessary (I generally stay in as even if I could get around chances are someone with summer tyres will try and it will end in carnage)

 

 

Don't think studded tyres are legal in the UK think same is true in Ireland.

you do know in very ice/snow ASR? stability should be switched OFF 

@cheshire_cat

 

Now that isn't exactly true.

 

I've had my foot flat to the floor testing it on uphill snow/ice and it's very good at maintaining progress.

 

I'm not saying I couldn't have done it manually with ASR turned off but why make things more complicated.

 

Before anyone misinterprets me, no I am not one of those foot to the floor/wheelspinning types you often see stuck.  I'm the guy passing them!

In the snow and ice that I've encountered with my 3 Scouts so far, only once have I felt the need to turn the traction off - that was due to being in deep snow in a drift earlier this year where I had got out to see how deep it was.  Getting moving again was a bit slow so I turned off the traction and gave it some welly.  Had I have continued without stopping then it wouldn't have been an issue.

22 hours ago, MicMac said:

@cheshire_cat

 

Now that isn't exactly true.

 

I've had my foot flat to the floor testing it on uphill snow/ice and it's very good at maintaining progress.

 

I'm not saying I couldn't have done it manually with ASR turned off but why make things more complicated.

 

Before anyone misinterprets me, no I am not one of those foot to the floor/wheelspinning types you often see stuck.  I'm the guy passing them!

yes I've played that game too  but an excess of "auto-correction" will over heat the brake system and switch it off ---with a fault code if I remember correctly,  

When the snow comes and you have the tyres you have on the car you have the choice, ASR / TC on or off, and then you see what suits you or the car.

Hardly matters what someone else does in their car in their situation in the snow they are in.

 

With Snow Chains on then the Owners Manual gives the advice what to do.

'Off'.

 

Going up hill and down hill have important differences.

A car might start uphill and not get there. You have to go backwards maybe.

You might start down hill  going forwards and think best not, and then circumstances take over, and a vehicle sliding without traction is a heavy sledge, 

and sliding on a camber and not turning around a corner or braking hits hard sometimes.

 

To get down ice there are better things to put on and off over the winter tyres if needs must just until taking off again.

Even Snow (****) socks can work until back on Black Top or gritted / salted roads.

 

Easy on and off if needs must.

 

 

Edited 23 October, 20187 yr by Offski

On 21/10/2018 at 11:48, twostrokemick said:

These tyres are going onto Audi 16 in rims 7 j width and offset of 45 mm. My question is

 

Permissible wheel-tyre combination which allow you to use chains on SCOUT is 6J16 205/55R16. Otherwise wise you will damage wiring N/S/F wiring loom for ABS/Brake wear sensor. 

@cheshire_cat

I think you mean ABS not ASR.

 

Never heard of ABS overheating!

Over active XDS / TC-ASR can become disabled when the Brake Fluid and system gets too hot, as happens with motorsport use.

 

Good reason to be changing brake fluid at 3 years and every 2, or when ever their is H20 in the system.

Easy for 'Steam' to cause overheating in the brake system.

 

But that is all a bit extreme or a poor maintenance issue.