When are you putting your winter wheels back on?

[Ziggy122]

Wondering when everybody else is going to swap to winter mode?

Im still waiting for some more rubber to arrive, so im not swapping yet

 

[Eklipze3k]

I managed fine last year without them, and the year before, etc etc. Not going to bother this year either.

 

[dave]

I managed fine for nearly 30 years with out them, but last year decided to leave the moaning at council for not gritting roads group and fitted winters instead, totally transformed winter driving, instead of having to do 5mph down country roads you can do 20-30 instead of joining the slow moving traffic in the 1 cleared lane of multi lane road you can use the unclear lane and still stop and steer at a reasonable speed

 

[portland_bill]

The usual recommendation is when the temp is below 7 degrees. Below that figure, standard tyres start to harden and lose grip and flexibility. Above that figure, winter compound will suffer higher wear rates.

 

[varesecrazy]

The usual recommendation is when the temp is below 7 degrees. Below that figure, standard tyres start to harden and lose grip and flexibility. Above that figure, winter compound will suffer higher wear rates.

completely agree,

bulk of my wintertime driving is in the dark,
7 am start ( chilly) and return @ 5pm,

and lots of slow-moving main-roads
so very little chance of cooking the rubber..

Charlie

 

[scout]

Got to love yet another thread about winter tyres, seems to be an obsession on this forum.

 

[skippy89]

Winter Tyres? In the UK? Not needed! Why?

Cause we live in a country that doesn't suffer from drastic winters, our temperatures don't drop low enough for the requirement of winter rubber, as previously mentioned minus 7 degrees as I far as I remember where I live we've only seen 0 degrees!! I've driven in the winter with my normal tyres on and I have no problems whatsoever, it just drives like it does in the summer/autumn etc etc

Winter rubber in the UK overrated, if you live in a cold country then winter rubber all the way!

 

[dave]

imo anyone who drives the same in the snow as they do in the summer on any tyres is overrating both them selves the car and the tyres*




*unless they drive at 5mph all summer

 

[portland_bill]

Winter Tyres? In the UK? Not needed! Why?

Cause we live in a country that doesn't suffer from drastic winters, our temperatures don't drop low enough for the requirement of winter rubber, as previously mentioned minus 7 degrees as I far as I remember where I live we've only seen 0 degrees!! I've driven in the winter with my normal tyres on and I have no problems whatsoever, it just drives like it does in the summer/autumn etc etc

Winter rubber in the UK overrated, if you live in a cold country then winter rubber all the way!

The recommendation is when temp is below 7 degrees, not 7 degrees below. This is 7 degrees above freezing, which is most of the winter. At this temp, normal tyres start to lose some flexibility, and therefore grip. Winter tyres are made of a different compound that works at these lower temperatures, giving increased levels of grip compared to normal tyres, a worthwhile gain in comfort and safety. Especially useful in hillier areas. Using these when the weather warms up brings a loss of feel and higher wear rates, which is why it is recommended to swap them. It is true that these have been promoted in this country more the last few years, but most who've tried them have been pleased. Don't feel pressurised to get some if you don't want to.

 

[varesecrazy]

Winter Tyres? In the UK? Not needed! Why?

Cause we live in a country that doesn't suffer from drastic winters, our temperatures don't drop low enough for the requirement of winter rubber, as previously mentioned minus 7 degrees as I far as I remember where I live we've only seen 0 degrees!! I've driven in the winter with my normal tyres on and I have no problems whatsoever, it just drives like it does in the summer/autumn etc etc

Winter rubber in the UK overrated, if you live in a cold country then winter rubber all the way!

"COLD Countrys use Studded tyres , because they are driving on Packed snow for @ 4 months a year,
we in our Temperate climate just have 3 COLD months , so can get away with "all-weather" tyres as a compromise,
or choose to employ "seasonal" tyres for optimal grip / handling.

must admit I wasn't sold on the idea until I put Winters on my old Punto2,
one December,
Beautiful bright winters day - DRY roads,
and the difference in grip was like night + day,

Softer compounds = MORE grip simples..., why do you think they have tyre changing in F1..,
Charlie

 

[Dragon Man]

if my standard 4x4 rims were all painted up with nice tyres, i would stick them on... narrow tyres in the snow...

cant see that happening this year though so i'll stick with the ones i have on.

just drive to the road conditions

 

[Ziggy122]

There are 2 reasons why i like winter tyres

A - i can save my alloys from winter grime and been pushed into kerbs
B - If im changing from Summer tyres which mine are, then they aren't going to work too well in the winter are they?
C - It spreads my tyre wear out further Running on cheaper tyres for 4months and is more suitable to changing conditions over more expensive wider tyres
D - It easy to lock up in the wet and snow, better rubber should help with stopping and help with me and controlling

At the end of the day - either you like them - or hate them

Ziggy

 

[scout]

I have no strong feelings either way, I'm just curious about this forums obsession with them.

I have never been on a car forum that dedicates so much time to them before.

If you put winter tyres in the search engine on this site it comes back with 40 pages of threads that mention them. Surely thats more threads than some of the more obscure Fiat models get in their sections.

 

[dave]

global warming people reckon our winters are getting worse n worse so winter tyres will be seen more, we already see the press reporting about them more.
we are just a bit more advanced than other forums

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

In answer to OP, as soon as temp is into single figures regularly during the periods of the day I use the car.

The usual recommendation is when the temp is below 7 degrees. Below that figure, standard tyres start to harden and lose grip and flexibility. Above that figure, winter compound will suffer higher wear rates.

7 is too late, a few degrees above ideally just to keep a happy medium I find

Winter Tyres? In the UK? Not needed! Why?

Cause we live in a country that doesn't suffer from drastic winters, our temperatures don't drop low enough for the requirement of winter rubber, as previously mentioned minus 7 degrees as I far as I remember where I live we've only seen 0 degrees!! I've driven in the winter with my normal tyres on and I have no problems whatsoever, it just drives like it does in the summer/autumn etc etc

Winter rubber in the UK overrated, if you live in a cold country then winter rubber all the way!

You really have no idea! And obviously haven't driven with both types of tyre in the winter (when the temperature is a good <4C) because you'd know exactly how they handle differently!

 

[benny279]

If someone doesn't want to use winter tyres that's their problem not anyone else's
I might at some point buy a set of winter rubbers this time though I didn't really have problems using my old tyres as I had to drive to a few places here and there during the snow and never had problems, not once did I skid out etc

At the end of the day, it's personal preference some people don't see the point and some do.

That's how I see it anyway.

Ben

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

If someone doesn't want to use winter tyres that's their problem not anyone else's

Except if as a result they have an accident with you or cause an obstruction

I might at some point buy a set of winter rubbers this time though I didn't really have problems using my old tyres as I had to drive to a few places here and there during the snow and never had problems, not once did I skid out etc

Its not about snow necessarily though, its road temperature more than anything in the UK.

 

[dave]

it is snow as well, we see all the time in the snow people stuck on roads for hours even days, if everyone had winters whould that still happen as much? :chin:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Driv...tory-18391677-detail/story.html#axzz2fepeKmG2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21208795

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21209619

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/w...-vehicles-stranded-overnight-on-motorway.html

all these people thought they didn't need winter tyres

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

it is snow as well, we see all the time in the snow people stuck on roads for hours even days, if everyone had winters whould that still happen as much? :chin:

Indeed, and I agree, but those without knowledge think that they're only for snow, when they're not. I'd still have them even if we never had any snow fall.

 

[Dragon Man]

If, i had the money.

i would have 3 sets of 5x wheels + tyres:
Summer / wet weather tyre set
Winter set
....
Mud set :slayer: