General New winter tyre thread

[Olliver]

I run 195/60R14 on 6x14 steelies in summer and 165/70R14 on 5 1/2x14 steelies in winter. The circumference is the same and I don´t experience any difference in performance. Maybe the top speed is slightly higher with the winter tyres.

 

[snes]

Yes they'll be just fine.

Even my 1953 Lanchester has tapered wheel nuts, as has every other car I've ever owned.

C'mon JR - that calls for a pic at the very least.

What a tease!

If you refuse, I'll report you to the mod........

 

[snes]

Ermm - and sorry for going off topic.

 

[Melanabb]

Now, question for winter tyre experts: when should I put them on? The temperatures here are 8-10C during day, falling to 3-5C during night... Any thoughts? Many thanks

 

[306maxi]

Now, question for winter tyre experts: when should I put them on? The temperatures here are 8-10C during day, falling to 3-5C during night... Any thoughts? Many thanks

Melana, this weekend is absolutely the perfect time to put your winters on, a lot of people will get their first frost of the winter on Monday or Tuesday The Panda is getting winters tomorrow and will be running them year round.

 

[Mercky]

Put my new Goodyear 9's on with steelies about 2 weeks ago, a bit early but I was just curious to see what they'd be like. They felt really sticky and slow at first but have bedded in fine now. I seem to be getting about 2 mpg less then summers - is this fairly normal? I'm guessing it is. Grip is excellent though - had to do a full on emergency stop at about 50mph last weekend (in the dry) to avoid smacking a suicidal dog........no problem at all.

 

[frupi]

Mercky, just make sure your tyre pressures are correct. I seem to remember on the Vredestein website, they had a table of tyre pressures for winter tyres and the pressures were just slightly higher than summers iirc. That might help with the mpg issue.

I haven't put the winter wheels on either our TA or my Saab yet. Most likely I'll swap the next couple of weekends, certainly with my Saab as I've got a 500 mile round trip coming up next week and I don't want my winters on for that.

 

[dave]

Now, question for winter tyre experts: when should I put them on? The temperatures here are 8-10C during day, falling to 3-5C during night... Any thoughts? Many thanks

mine went on today

 

[rkt2003]

Mine have been on a few weeks now it`s colder up north
Continental WinterContact TS 850 185/65 R15 88T
They were brilliant in the wet last year ,below 7c they work best and soon i`m sure it will be getting colder

 

[Mercky]

Mercky, just make sure your tyre pressures are correct. I seem to remember on the Vredestein website, they had a table of tyre pressures for winter tyres and the pressures were just slightly higher than summers iirc. That might help with the mpg issue.

I haven't put the winter wheels on either our TA or my Saab yet. Most likely I'll swap the next couple of weekends, certainly with my Saab as I've got a 500 mile round trip coming up next week and I don't want my winters on for that.

Thanks Frupi but yes I've done that, I'm guessing that despite being 14's the rolling resistance is higher then my summer goodyear efficiency grips. Not surprising really.

 

[306maxi]

Mine have been on a few weeks now it`s colder up north
Continental WinterContact TS 850 185/65 R15 88T
They were brilliant in the wet last year ,below 7c they work best and soon i`m sure it will be getting colder

185/65 r15 is the wrong size

 

[rkt2003]

185/65 r15 is the wrong size

Exact fit for mine

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Thanks Frupi but yes I've done that, I'm guessing that despite being 14's the rolling resistance is higher then my summer goodyear efficiency grips. Not surprising really.

Personally never noticed a difference in the last 4-5 years I've been using winters between MPG, however will look with interest this year now I've the Prius with LRR summers to see if the winters have a noticeable effect on MPG in comparison.

 

[306maxi]

Exact fit for mine

Is it a 500?

 

[rkt2003]

No on the Punto ,but like you all I do recommend winter tyres for our cars

 

[portland_bill]

Mercky, just make sure your tyre pressures are correct. I seem to remember on the Vredestein website, they had a table of tyre pressures for winter tyres and the pressures were just slightly higher than summers iirc. That might help with the mpg issue.

It is worth checking the manufacturer's website for their pressure recommendations, often higher than in the handbook. Both Vredestein and Continental show higher pressures for my Panda, and what a difference. Its on 155/80 13s, and with higher pressures it is more comfortable over bumps, quieter and significantly less understeer. This is relevant to summers as well as winters.

 

[Mercky]

Personally never noticed a difference in the last 4-5 years I've been using winters between MPG, however will look with interest this year now I've the Prius with LRR summers to see if the winters have a noticeable effect on MPG in comparison.

I guess there are other factors at play here too, putting on the winters also coincided with colder weather when the ACC may be working harder, also the traffic levels on my commute have increased significantly so the tyres may only be part of the cause.

 

[306maxi]

Winter tyres when compared to summers of the same size will always have a slightly higher rolling resistance.

 

[Melanabb]

Oddly, my winters are quieter than summers. Both Nokian...

 

[frupi]

Oddly, my winters are quieter than summers. Both Nokian...

Nothing odd Melanabb, when I swap over the 17 inch UniRoyal's from my Saab to my winter Conti 830's, the Contis are quieter than the summers and the ride is softer too.