Technical Panda 4wd ----Winter Tyres!!!!!!!!!

[elfenbein]

I guess one of the reasons many folk have already got the Panda 4 x 4 or indeed are considering getting one will be driving on snow/ice in these unpredictable days. Have any of you out there actually driven this car on snow/ice using the standard tyres and how did the car perform? Is anyone seriously considering getting winter tyres considering the undoubted pros as well as the cons (cost/storage/faffing about wheel changing, deteriation) ?

Many thanks for any help.

Regards, Frank.

 

[deeyup]

Frank, the MK4 panda comes standard with continental cross contacts.

306maxi has winter tyres on his 4x4 mk3 Panda, and it's proving to be unstoppable this winter

there's a good winter tyre thread here if you have a few days on your hands to take it all in

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

You should ideally be fitting winter tyres regardless of it being 4x4. 4WD doesn't make the car stop any quicker or handle arond bends any better, winter tyres do

 

[deeyup]

Did you see this video?

It does a great job of showing exactly why.

 

[4x4Panda]

I run winters on my Mk3 Panda. Even though I live in the South of the country, we have had enough frosty / iced roads - let alone the recent snow - to make me glad of the purchase.

I also run winters on my other (German) 4x4. That car does a lot of towing including on all the tracks that never get gritted and are the last to clear as conditions improve. For that I bought a set of wheels via eBay and had them professionally checked and refurbished before fitting the winter tyres. We swap the wheels over Nov / March (or thereabouts) storing the set that is off the car in the garage. Whilst there is clearly some additional spend, it does mean you spread your mileage over two sets of tyres so over the longer term one could argue it is just the cost of an extra set of wheels.

In my personal view, it is so much more convenient to buy an extra set of rims and on a car like the Panda, they are going to be at the cheaper end of the scale - especially if you can find some steels, rather than alloys.

We will have to see how things go with the Panda Mk4 - I've not driven on M&S tyres for a while now, so can't recall how well (or otherwise) they perform.

Hope this is of some interest

 

[306maxi]

Frank, the MK4 panda comes standard with continental cross contacts.

@306maxi has winter tyres on his 4x4 mk3 Panda, and it's proving to be unstoppable this winter

there's a good winter tyre thread here if you have a few days on your hands to take it all in

Yeah, my 4x4 has been fantastic on the snow with its winter tyres

 

[deeyup]

Frank, the MK4 panda comes standard with continental cross contacts.

306maxi has winter tyres on his 4x4 mk3 Panda, and it's proving to be unstoppable this winter

there's a good winter tyre thread here if you have a few days on your hands to take it all in

Just thought how that read. When I said unstoppable I mean going forward. Not when putting your brakes on going down a hill toward a crowded bus stop

 

[crossman]

Hi there, have just changed all four tyres on my Panda Cross after 15000 miles from Continental winter tyres to Pirelli P3000. I know they are not winter tyres but my brother in law owns a tyre company so I will fit some more Conti's for next winter. They have been excellent tyres, but just to say we had alot of snow yesterday morning so was first test for Pirelli's and to be honest they felt very good to say there was quite a bit of ice as well.
But still would recommend M+S tyres. I have also ordererd a new MJ 4X4 and on test which I did in snow the tyres and vehicle performed brilliantly, can't praise both vehicles enough.

 

[deeyup]

Did you watch the video up above?

 

[crossman]

The video is impressive, but I wasn't actually saying that there was no difference between standard and winter tyres. I have had winter tyres before on 2wd vehicles and they do make a vast difference. As the 4x4 system on the Pandas is very good it probably still makes up well for any shortfall in the tyres its running on, thats probably why it still feels very capable with standard tyres fitted.

 

[306maxi]

did you actually watch the video?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

But still would recommend M+S tyres.

Winter rated tyres are the way to go, a fair few M&S tyres are not winter tyres

 

[crossman]

Just for the record I did watch the video, and I don't have a problem with what it's saying as it is quite correct. All I was saying is that my Cross still felt pretty good with standard tyres on.

 

[306maxi]

A 4x4 Panda on standard tyres will brake and corner as badly as a 2wd Panda on the same tyres. Met cars will feel pretty good until you go into the back of someone in the snow.

 

[impromptuandy]

Interesting video, but I would have liked to have seen a 3rd Yeti with 4x4 and winter tyres.

A 4th Yeti (of the abominable snowman variety) eating the presenter would also be good viewing.

 

[Pluton]

Hi there, I am new in the forum as just purchased a 4x4 new panda diesel. On the first week of my ownership of the Panda I had to visit a village up to the greek mountains for some photoshooting. Didnt miss the opportunity to test the car on snow/ icey roads and play a little bit with it! The result was quite impressive and must say that was not expecting such a good traction from the Panda. Needless to say I didnt even have to push the ELD button! My question here is: Since in Med countries during the summer the temps do often reach the 35-40 degrees celcius, do we have to change the continental tyres with standard road tyres for these 4-5 summer temperature months?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

My question here is: Since in Med countries during the summer the temps do often reach the 35-40 degrees celcius, do we have to change the continental tyres with standard road tyres for these 4-5 summer temperature months?

Ideally yes, if you don't it just means they'll wear out a lot quicker.

Welcome to FF BTW

 

[Pluton]

Thanks! Nice to join your forum!

 

[deeyup]

Hey Pluton
Welcome to the forum. Do you have some photos of your car we can see please?

 

[Pluton]

There you are. Taken last week...