Winter tyres....would you?

[Squadrone Rosso]

Given that our Country grinds to a halt at the first sign of the white stuff, would you vote for compulsory winter tyres like the do in parts of Europe

I am convinced that they would bring added safety, not only in the snow but in the generally cold and wet weather too.

Put simply, summer tyres harden as the weather approaches zero where as winter tyres don't

[Will]

Don't think we have the extremes of weather to justify them. We'd have them on for about two weeks max and then we'd have them off again. Don't think they are practical for year round use or are they?

Not convinced to be honest.

I would suggest doing away with run-flat tyres on BMWs because of their apparently poor performance in the snow but it's so much fun watching them slip and slide around whilst lesser vehicles (like unladen RWD transits with cheapo plastic tyres from China that never wear out) glide serenely by.

[Will]

Don't know why but I had no probs at all this morning with the Merc and it's a big rear wheel drive automatic. Tyres are pretty big as well but it gripped fine up fairly steep incline. The little punto in front of me wasn't having the same luck though, it's wheels wrere spinning at the lights. I thought it would be the other way round.

[AlfaDrivingFan]

In Europe they are required to have winter tyres on from October. To benefit from winter tyres it doesn't need to be snowing and -5, you get better grip in heavy rain, better grip on frosty days and generally better handling in bad weather. Summer tyres are not as reliable once the temperature gets down towards freezing. Also they use their winter tyres on steel wheels to protect their expensive and vulnerable alloys, I saw loads of Mito 120 and 155s running around on steel wheels in Luxembourg and Germany recently. I think winter tyres are a very good idea.

[Will]

Originally Posted by alfadrivingfan

In Europe they are required to have winter tyres on from October. To benefit from winter tyres it doesn't need to be snowing and -5, you get better grip in heavy rain, better grip on frosty days and generally better handling in bad weather. Summer tyres are not as reliable once the temperature gets down towards freezing. Also they use their winter tyres on steel wheels to protect their expensive and vulnerable alloys, I saw loads of Mito 120 and 155s running around on steel wheels in Luxembourg and Germany recently. I think winter tyres are a very good idea.

Hmmm, you might be on to something there....

[swanny]

No - pointless.
We only get a few days/weeks when they are really needed anyway and the cost would be prohibitive .

I always aim to have a fresh set of tyres on towards the end of November anyway as loads of tread on a normal tyre makes a huge difference in heavy rain/standing water and helps in snow.

[wayne-dear]

They are just not needed here, hmmmm so why did it cross my mind to get some this morning.
I think it should be compulsory to have lessons in adverse/severe weather conditions, the amount of people that simply could not even pull away or stop at lights this morning (sheet ice)was shocking

The recent snowfall is so rare in Manchester, that it couldn't be justified

[NineOneSix]

I would, but that will remove some of the fun then depends which car i'm in TBH

[tomfromtelford]

Mine are winter spec but not specific snow tyres

MAZ4's great grip in rain and dry

Presuming that you would need two sets of wheels for this to work.........

Where would you keep the set not in use if you don't have a shed or garage?

I don't do clutter and have got rid of most of my junk on eBay or Freecycle, the idea of having 4 car tyres sat in the flat is a truly abhorrent one

If it stops me doing handbrake turns on supermarket car parks I'm dead against.

Imagine the scene as I'm skating around getting whoops of delight from my son whilst my daughter says, completely deadpan, "You're such a child."

[bazza]

My handbrake, while being perfectly stable for actually parking, doesn't seem to lock the wheels while used in motion. It just slows the car down in a controlled manner.

[Gibbo]

When saying 'in Europe they have winter tyres' is that in all of Europe or just
the countries that have worse weather than us and for longer?

It's hard enough to get a huge proportion of the motoring public to insure their
cars even though it is compulsory. The chances of getting everyone to comply
to using winter tyres for a couple of days a year is nil to zero I should think.

never considered it...

[steveisfrowning]

i want spikes

Originally Posted by bazza

My handbrake, while being perfectly stable for actually parking, doesn't seem to lock the wheels while used in motion. It just slows the car down in a controlled manner.

Mine is the best handbrake I've had on a car with rear discs by a country mile. Mine's only got piddly little 15" wheels though.

[NineOneSix]

that's why I love the 33, drums on the rears

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by swanny

No - pointless.
We only get a few days/weeks when they are really needed anyway and the cost would be prohibitive .

I always aim to have a fresh set of tyres on towards the end of November anyway as loads of tread on a normal tyre makes a huge difference in heavy rain/standing water and helps in snow.

I agree entirely.

I get through front tyres in a year and replace them at MOT time (November) - perfect timing. The rears tend to last twice as long - so half worn or new each November.

Originally Posted by NineOneSix

that's why I love the 33, drums on the rears

I wish! Cheap to fix, no seized handbrakes, do the job perfectly.

Quite why FWD cars need discs on the back is quite beyond me to be honest.

[philoldsmobile]

the problem isn't tyres in this part of the world, its peoples lack of training and skill. I have no problems driving in any weather, and i'm no special driver, so neither should anyone else..

[mikeyjae]

Its seems a little pointless as like said above our weather is not bad enough. Its like a hose pipe ban in the summer, no need.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Been looking into this in advance of the winter.

Basically, below 7 degrees they significantly out perform standard tyres.

Good V rated ones for my car (Brera Q4) are similar in price to standard tyres so when my are due a change (estimate November), I'm going to run a set

[Gibbo]

Blimey Simon, are you doing your Christmas shopping too