Too soon for winter tyres...?

cyclonebri1

sunshinetours wrote: »

Word is certainly getting out there now about winter tyres, my dealer said they have had huge enquiries already about them this year.

It's just a panic situatation, full stop !!.

Winters are not new, the older generation are laughing at you. They just subsided and came back with a vengeance last year, and probably/hopefully only last year;)

But there is an issue, there is a whole generation of car drivers that have no experience of driving in true winter conditions.

To be honest, and this is simply a very considered observation, most recent drivers couldn't be be better advised by a brick on the head

They are a hazard to themselves and to the rest of us.

sunshinetours

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

It's just a panic situatation, full stop !!.

Winters are not new, the older generation are laughing at you. They just subsided and came back with a vengeance last year, and probably/hopefully only last year;)

But there is an issue, there is a whole generation of car drivers that have no experience of driving in true winter conditions.

To be honest, and this is simply a very considered observation, most recent drivers couldn't be be better advised by a brick on the head

They are a hazard to themselves and to the rest of us.

Wow "full stop" - must be true then.....

Nothing to do with ever increasing tyre sizes and drivers aids removing "feel" in cars these days as well then? Nothing to do with extra low profile tyres and directional tyres then? Totally agree driver ability plays a large part, so all the more reason to have safer options for tyres then no?

They say that laughter is good for stress levels and health, so anything that helps keep down the NHS bill for our OAP's is fine by me thanks

cyclonebri1

sunshinetours wrote: »

Wow "full stop" - must be true then.....

Nothing to do with ever increasing tyre sizes and drivers aids removing "feel" in cars these days as well then? Nothing to do with extra low profile tyres and directional tyres then? Totally agree driver ability plays a large part, so all the more reason to have safer options for tyres then no?

They say that laughter is good for stress levels and health, so anything that helps keep down the NHS bill for our OAP's is fine by me thanks

Take a step back and look at what I'm saying "friend"

I think you must have missunderstood me or or needing a target for your moan.

I'm the one that put the issue of tyre sizes forward as to be the problem.
Where's the bangs head emoticon gone? , ok, that'll do

My last post had nothing to do with cars/tyres or any other motoring issues, just a prompter that after (1) bad winter we are all being made to believe that this is the second coming of the ice age, boillox is my view, it's just getting the realisation that winter still exists, and can come back anytime to bite you on the asss

sunshinetours

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Take a step back and look at what I'm saying "friend"

I think you must have missunderstood me or or needing a target for your moan.

I'm the one that put the issue of tyre sizes forward as to be the problem.
Where's the bangs head emoticon gone? , ok, that'll do

My last post had nothing to do with cars/tyres or any other motoring issues, just a prompter that after (1) bad winter we are all being made to believe that this is the second coming of the ice age, boillox is my view, it's just getting the realisation that winter still exists, and can come back anytime to bite you on the asss

I understood fully thanks "friend"

You call it a panic I call it greater awareness of advances in technology. You keep saying 1 bad winter (corrected your formatting for you ) but that does rather depend on where you are in country I guess

As the winter tyres are far superior in low temps and general slippy conditions why would you not go for them if you can afford to?

I totally take your point about driver ability and agree its a contributory factor (a large one as well) , but not one you can easily change. Changing tyres however is easy

What would your view on Holland be, and their past huge increase in winter tyre sales. Hardly a hostile climate and not a hill in sight? Greater awareness or panic buying?

For what its worth I think all season tyres will be ever more popular here in UK as these are arguably the best compromise for a the bulk of the UK's general winter climate

All these arguments have been done to death previously anyway last year. Some will agree some won't - that's fine by me

jase1

It's not just the width of tyres.

How many tyres had a tread pattern similar to the Continental SportContact 2 twenty years ago?

Such tyres are great in clear weather, but the merest hint of snow or ice and they completely lose traction.

I've noted a couple of guys at work have gone out and bought remoulds as an alternative to winter tyres, but I am far from convinced this will work, especially as one of them has bought Profil tyres that are very similar to some summer Michelins which have the same tread pattern type as the Continentals.

I guess we'll see what happens.

FWIW I'm starting to see some advantages of winter tyres from a cost perspective in any case. I tend to travel more in the summer months than the winter, and typically brand new summer tyres fitted in March are down to 3mm by late October. By replacing them with winters at this point, the replacements don't have to be a distress purchase and I save money by just getting round to replacing the summer tyres as and when a bargain turns up. The winter tyres are no more expensive than the summers if bought at the right time, I have two sets of steel wheels and can store the unused ones in the shed.

I'd also raise one further point, semi-related. Cheap, far-Eastern summer tyres tend to be much worse in winter than top-brand ones, but in all honesty when the temperature is above ten degrees or so I don't see a problem with them. So with that in mind I have bought some *very* cheap "Autogrip" tyres for replacement in March. Whereas I'd normally spend £50-60 each on Toyos, these cost me £58 for the pair (205-55/R16). If it works out I'll be doing the same in future, and just avoid using them in winter. We'll see.

cyclonebri1

sunshinetours wrote: »

As the winter tyres are far superior in low temps and general slippy conditions why would you not go for them if you can afford to?

Hmmm, I'm not sure if some of that isn't a placebo effect or simply the effect of running brand new tyres with maximum tread depth.

I posted on this last year as this is how my tyres were used last year, let me explain;

We only had 2 heavy snowfalls up here last year. At the time of the 1st my car was still running on it's original Michelin Energy tyres. They were well legal and are still in "reserve" for later use.
I had a brand new set of the same alloys and tyres in the garage, as I'd come accross a set on ebay that had delivery mileage and had been changed for aftermarket gear, they still had all the pimples.

Between the 1st and 2nd snowfall I decided to change the tyres. The difference really was amazing, and if they hadn't been identical but new, I would have been convinced I'd put a superior tyre brand on. Had they been winter tyres I would have been a convert. :A

mikey72

We'll never convince you. You'll have to try them for yourself one year when you need a couple of new tyres.

neilmcl

Well I'm self-employed and the extra cost for tyres to keep me on the road far outweighs the losses I will and have incurred if I'm forced to stay at home due to bad weather.

Lum

Plus it's not really a loss as while you are wearing out the winter tyres you are not wearing out your summers.

As for placebo effect due to having more tread, the only credible response I can give to that is: LOL

Seriously, just drive a car with some fitted and you'll see what I mean.

cyclonebri1

Lum wrote: »

Plus it's not really a loss as while you are wearing out the winter tyres you are not wearing out your summers.

As for placebo effect due to having more tread, the only credible response I can give to that is: LOL

Seriously, just drive a car with some fitted and you'll see what I mean.

No no, placebo effect of expecting winter tyres to be better than whatever you had on :rotfl:


I think you guys have misunderstood me somewhat.
I'll try again, in response to the header "Is it too soon for winter tyres?" or words to that effect. My reply was a little tongue in cheek, without checking back I think I mentioned that, but my serious point was that yes it's already the middle of November, but in direct contrast to last year we are experiencing absolutely the opposite conditions, dry warm weather as against the snowfalls already by this time last year. For my money at the present time, conditions dictating there has been little need for winter tyres YET.
I didn't say don't get them, I did say it may be too late to get them at the best price;)

Ok, do I use winter tyres, well no not specifically, but I do use M&S or Rally tyres.
Do I use them on the road?, no not specifically. However you may recall earlier that I posted a couple of times about choices of 4wheel drive estates, again not for road use.
What I do use these for is mild off roading.
I'm out fishing/shooting quite a bit and have access down farm tracks/lanes and flood meadows/grassland where it's perfectly passable in summer, but spring and autumn can be dodgy. M&S tyres fit the bill and extend my season without the expence of 4wd.

I have to say driving to and from such places in dry conditions on these I find the drive seriously compromised, ie, noise and comfort.
Why haven't I bought out and out winter tyres?, because I don't have a problem without;)