Winter tyres

[BAN430G]

Guys,

Am wondering who here has used winter tyres?

I need to replace all 4 of mine now for MOT next week.
Am thinking considering its Oct do I go for winter tyres.
Thing is I do very low mileage so what to do when spring comes - I guess buy a 2nd set of wheels but might have to still use them in summer for a bit.

Anyone have experience with winter tyres?

thanks
Paul

 

[desertstorm]

I have used them for the last 4-5 years . When the weather was like it was last year with very few really cold days you can get by OK on summer tyres. Winter tyres really come into there own in the snow, this is what they are optimised to deal with and the difference between summer and winter tyres is very marked.


There are always compromises though so winter tyres don't tend to have the same ultimate grip as a summer tyre, they can be noisier and also not quite as good in the wet.I use Nokian tyres on mine and the wifes car and really rate them. Try and keep away from the cheap Chinese winter tyres as these can be really hit and miss and some quite dangerous.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Nokian-WR-D4-Launched.htm

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-Auto-Bild-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm

Tyreleader is a great site for cheap tyres, I get all mine from there.
https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/

 

[The Doctor]

Yes, I have a set of winter wheels (standard 17" avus alloys) & tyres (Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D) which I fit from October-March. I only do around 6,500 miles/yr but this involves some fast country roads which can be covered in cr4p and slippy even if conditions aren't freezing. Sure, the 4WD and electronic aids all help with traction & stability, but at the end of the day it's still 4 small patches of rubber keeping my baby on the straight & narrow.

 

[Sean_S3]

I have Nangang Snow SV2 winter tyres on my spare 17" avus wheels which are surprisingly good in cold conditions for a budget tyre.

 

[desertstorm]

Those Nankangs don't come out well in tests.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Nankang/SV2.htm

Pretty much always in the bottom few of any test, sometimes last. 46th out of 50 in one test based on braking distances in the wet.
Honestly if you think those are good you would be blown away with a decent tyre. If you are going to the trouble of fitting different tyres for difficult conditions spend a little more and fit some decent rubber.
Nankang sv2 £61.50 in a 235 / 45 /17 size
https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/nankang/snow-viva-sv-2/235-45-r17-97v-53575

Falken Eurowinter HS449 £76.19 in a 235/45/17 size , a much better tyre that performs a lot better in all the tests.
https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/falken/eurowinter-hs449/235-45-r17-97v-72719
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falken/Eurowinter-HS449.htm

Karl.

 

[Sean_S3]

I've been using them for a few years and not had any issues , there a step up from a summer tyre in cold conditions. No doubt there's better tyres on the market at a higher price. Positive user reviews made me decide on the Nankangs.

 

[tomjol]

Getting some fitted (not the Nankangs!) in a few weeks, my first winters in the UK. Had them on various hired cars in Denmark where I've spent a fair bit of time the last few years for work, and been extremely impressed with the grip available in really low temperatures.

Feeling pretty smug with all these "36 days of snow/ice this winter!" headlines

 

[snowy]

might have to still use them in summer for a bit.

Don't worry about this

A half-decent winter can cope with warm dry tarmac better than a summer copes with cold/wet tarmac

Winters don't melt/shred themselves in summer temps

 

[45bvtc]

Don't worry about this

A half-decent winter can cope with warm dry tarmac better than a summer copes with cold/wet tarmac

Winters don't melt/shred themselves in summer temps

So true. Most tyre manufacturers for mom and dad type tarmac-road driving would recommend using winter/cold weather tyres for ALL year round use here in the UK rather than using summer/warm weather tyres here in the UK.

 

[snowy]

A more modern two-tyre setup:

Decent winters for all-year daily use

Decent road-legal semi-slicks for hot summer w/end blasts/track days

-the semi-slick being the expensive tyre, so you don't waste it on daily driving

 

[desertstorm]

I run a 3 tyre setup, Goodyear Eagle F1's for summer use , Nokian WR A3 winter use, Federal 595RSR for track days.
The Nokians as good as they are just wouldn't cut it on my car in the summer.

 

[Essflee]

As good as winter tyres are I've never felt the need to have them on the S3 the past 7 years, even in the bad snow we had a 3 or 4 years ago, sensible driving and she's coped really well.

 

[rhubarb4]

Iv been running ContiWinterContacts TS830P I find the amazing in the cold wet weather and really feel great to drive on.

 

[The Doctor]

Yes I've had the Contis before - great tyres.