Winter/all season tyres

MadMac_2

Well the time has come for me to get new tyres - it won't pass the forthcoming MOT with the ones on it so I've been reading up on switching to at least 'all season' tyres, but starting to lean towards decent winter tyres that will take a British summer without too much of a hit. I realise I'll probably have to order them online and then get them fitted somewhere local.

We live in the country and getting rid of the usual 'summer' tyres really does make sense as we see quite a bit of rain/hail/sleet/snow and don't seem to get much of a dry period - but which to go for?

Has anybody made the leap to winter tyres (on a FWD car) and how are you finding them?

Thanks all.

gilbert_and_sullivan

I've been using Winter tyres on a different set of wheels for some years, wouldn't go back to using summer tyres in winter again, the difference is astonishing...talking well researched quality tyres though not the cheapest far east junk out there.

There's 2 tyres that do stand out as competent all season tyres, Vredestein Quatrac 2 and 3.
3 is the newer model and is available in lower profile sizes and higher speed ratings, and is marked with the snowflake symbol meaning it's winter rated, the tread is split between summer and winter compounds which depending on your point of view means either the best of both worlds or not much use in either.
I run Vredestein winter specific tyres on one vehicle and the general cold wet eather grip is quite astonishing enough to warrant their purchase without snow and ice being involved.

To be honest you'll do well to find any quality winter tyres at the moment, the recent weather has seen many people rush out and buy and some on the net are showing as unavailable till next October.

Both my vehicles are RWD (well one is selectable 4WD but hardly needed) and according to many should be stuck everywhere, no such thing.

Markyt

another vote here for Vredestein Quatrac 2. much, much better than the original ones I had on my car, whether on dry, wet or snowy surfaces.

focae

Be aware that if you change from your standard alloys to steel rims or aftermarket alloys with your winter tyres you will have modified your car in the eyes of your insurer - Direct Line wanted £64 extra from me for the privelage of making my car safer in winter - as the change could only have been made for the life of the policy they would also have wanted £15 'admin fee' when I changed back in the spring.:mad:

BenL

Have the guys running them noticed a decrease in the lifespan of them?

Aren't winter tyres softer? I think you can also get mud/snow tyres in between (marked M&S) then snowflake marked winter snow/ice tyres.

I have read about a few people with mud/snow tyres on their motorhomes as due to the lack of mileage the age factor for replacement means you change them before they wear out.

Markyt

I haven't done enough mileage to notice yet, but I expect them to wear out quicker. They were a few quid cheaper than what they replaced though, so it might balance out.

anewman

focae wrote: »

Be aware that if you change from your standard alloys to steel rims or aftermarket alloys with your winter tyres you will have modified your car in the eyes of your insurer

They'll charge you extra for a magic tree hanging from the rear view next!

AdrianHi

I thought winter tyres in summer was a bad idea because they wear so fast in warm temperatures it's more economical to put some cash into a second set of wheels for use with the winter tyres.
You can always sell the second set of (probably cheap steal) wheels later when you sell the car, especially if winter tyres have become fashionable in the UK. You can only wear out one set of tyres at a time, so the real cost of doing this isn't that high.
Bit of a pain storing the other set of wheels though.

What about getting around the insurance company problem by getting a second set of identical wheels?
I think some education is required at Direct Line and similar insurance companies. They really need to take the winter wheel set case without all that nonesense. It's standard practice in some countries.

LandyAndy

AdrianHi wrote: »

You can always sell the second set of (probably cheap steal) wheels later when you sell the car,

The scouse option?

AdrianHi

LandyAndy wrote: »

The scouse option?

The autopilot on my fingers is faulty :rotfl:
STEEL

MadMac_2

Many thanks all, I've also been looking at tyre test results and after comparing the decent ones to what I have on the car now, some are definitely better even on wear:

http://www.tirestest.com/

So I will patiently wait for decent ones to become available and then make the switch, I don't think I'll regret it at all. Decision made!