Winter tyres/chains/studs/stay-at-home

[RogerS]

Has anyone done much research lately?

Are winter tyres that much better than normal tyres?

My sense is that because we usually end up with a mixture of partly/fully cleared roads that one would be forever putting on chains and removing them.

 

[knappers]

Winter tyres definitely work. Huge difference. As to whether we get enough snow in the UK to justify the cost of an extra set of wheels / tyres is debatable. In the North, maybe, but in the girly Midlands / South, probably not. No point in you being able to move if the road is blocked by muppets in their 3 series's anyway!!

Si.

 

[Dibs-h]

Rog

Just ordered my winter tyres - set of 4. Thankfully I have a set of spare wheels so will just swap them over come March.

Apparently the winter tyres outperform Summer tyres at temps below 7degrees C and on Snow & Ice.

As to the cost - depends on whether getting to work has cost implications or coming a cropper as the tyres probably cost less than the impact on most folks insurance (excess & increased premiums).

HIH

Dibs

 

[Titus A Duxass]

I second that.
Winter tyres are the norm over here.
They are not mandatory but....

I run Hankook WR400, they give more road noise but are sure footed in snow.

 

[flounder]

As Dibs states, Winter tyres should be thought of more in terms of cold weather tyres rather than snow tyres. I work for a motor manufacturer and we carried out some tests last year in mid winter and in just cold and wet weather the difference was impressive, but in snow it was remarkable. It is worth noting that in warmer conditions the performance is worse than regular tyres. The cost of the tyres, although initially is an additional investment, over the course of time the overall costs are similar as when you are wearing out your winter tyres you are not wearing out your regular ones. For most people the other issue to consider is where to store a set of 4 wheels and tyres!

 

[RogerS]

This review looks useful

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/20 ... e-Test.htm

 

[dedee]

Roger,

stock up the larder and the drinks cupboard and stay at home. My FIL users snow tyres here for his annual sojourn to the mountains and undoubtedly they are excellent. In the UK though I reckon if you go out the roads will either be blocked as mentioned already or some muppet will lose control and drive into you. Different of course if you really must go out for work etc but unless they are compulsory and everyone uses them whats the point - the snow will clear after a few days anyway.

Andy

 

[Steve Jones]

Anybody use snow socks ?

I did notice the local paramedic car using them in this area last winter, don't know how effective they are.

Steve

 

[RogerS]

Just had a quote for four Vredesten Wintrak 4 Extreme (don't you just love marketing speak!) for £460 all in.. Gulp... :shock:

He was also trying to sell me the idea of getting 235 x 70R16 instead of 225 (because I think that that was what he had in stock). Does it make any odds to go up to 235 ?

 

[Dibs-h]

Just had a quote for four Vredesten Wintrak 4 Extreme (don't you just love marketing speak!) for £460 all in.. Gulp... :shock:

I went for 4 Kumho KW27's which aren't exactly at the cr@p end of the spectrum and they're £320 delivered for 17" wheels.

HIH

Dibs

p.s. Or some Hankook in 225's for £73 each (delivered). Drop me a PM if you want the details of the supplier.

 

[RogerS]

Silly question but how did you fit them? Yourself?

 

[Dibs-h]

Silly question but how did you fit them? Yourself?

My chum with a tyre place will swap them over for £5 each. Most places - other than the big chains shouldn't charge more than £10 each - that's to swap them over and balance, etc.

Dibs

 

[Shane]

Anybody use snow socks ?

I did notice the local paramedic car using them in this area last winter, don't know how effective they are.

Steve

I'll let you know in due course. I ordered a pair last year but by the time they arrived through the post the snow had cleared :lol:

 

[dickm]

Fitted mine today! Bought a set a couple of years ago, complete with wheels, from a guy who had swapped his Golf for something bigger. Cost under £100, and I can swap them on and off for myself. Put them on when the first snow is forecast, and off again the following April when the worst should be past!
I've no real idea whether they are that much more effective than "normal" tyres, as it's difficult to test it for yourself. My impression during the snow last year was that they were better on snow, but no real improvement on solid ice. I've got Vredestein Snow Tracs on the back and Falken something on the front. Had to buy two extra wheels for SWMBOs Polo, which have Matador winter tyres fitted by the local tyre guys - more expensive up here than the south, it seems!
When the snow really gets going, I keep a set of chains in the car just so as to be able to get up the hill to our house if the worst comes to the worst, but so far haven't had to use them.

 

[paulm]

Isn't the point of winter tyres that they dramatically improve grip and braking distances in cold and wet weather generally, and of course therefore in snow as well, so you would use them throughout the winter season and not just when snow is expected, they have significant benefits in winter even when there is no snow ?

I've recently changed to a Jeep so hoping to get some snow to have a play and see how much difference the 4wd and low ratio makes compared to my old car I'll be gutted if we don't get some bad weather to try it out properly :lol:

Cheers, Paul

 

[jasonB]

You don't really want to be using low range in snow, keep it for where you need high torque like very steep hills, towing/pulling or where engine braking is best for decending steep hills without having to touch the brakes.

In 4 low you are more likely to spin up the wheels and loose traction or when decending the engine will not allow the wheels to turn fast enough when decending effectively making the skid, this is when you have to accelerate going down hill to let them catch up with teh road speed.

If it has a central or axle diff locks then they will be of use but unlock as soon as you get onto anything grippy.

Jason

 

[Dodge]

I've been put on standby with 4x4 response to assist the ambulance service etc if we get lots of the white stuff.

My Landrover is all ready to play - lets just hope we get the snow over here in Norfolk

Rog

 

[blurk99]

Anybody use snow socks ?

I did notice the local paramedic car using them in this area last winter, don't know how effective they are.

Steve

had mine delivered right in the middle of the worst of it last year - best invention that i've seen in years, got the little car up some really steep snow covered hills around chipping norton whilst everyone else was staring at me, just remember to take them off when you reach a gritted surface, and i don't know how well they'd work on RWD - maybe you need 1 for each wheel?? anyway, they're going in the boot this week ~ last year i went to work in bright sunshine and then spent 5 hours trying to get the last 2 miles home

 

[paulm]

You don't really want to be using low range in snow, keep it for where you need high torque like very steep hills, towing/pulling or where engine braking is best for decending steep hills without having to touch the brakes.

In 4 low you are more likely to spin up the wheels and loose traction or when decending the engine will not allow the wheels to turn fast enough when decending effectively making the skid, this is when you have to accelerate going down hill to let them catch up with teh road speed.

If it has a central or axle diff locks then they will be of use but unlock as soon as you get onto anything grippy.

Jason

Thanks for the advice Jason, only had it a couple of weeks so much still to learn. Like driving it so far though

Cheers, Paul

 

[Ironballs]

I invested in a set of steel rims and winter tyres last year (Nokians), best decision ever. My Focus is one of the worst cars in snow and ice, comparable to a sledge, once winter tyres were fitted it was able to outperform most 4x4s and ate snowy hill starts for breakfast.

Still struggle on sheet ice but do have more grip than ordinary tyres, ie I made it down the hill and round the corner, the Jag in front of me didn't. I plan to run them Nov to Mar and fitted mine again 2 weeks ago