Too soon for winter tyres...?

Pincher

I have been thinking about winter tyres because AutoExpress did an article last week.

I live in London. In the harshest of winter, I would say there are three weeks where it's worth having winter tyres. I drive 4,000 miles a year, and a set of winter tyres will last a life time, but not the car. Even if I buy the same model of car, but later edition, there is no guarantee the tyres will fit.

Costco did a promotional deal on a Michelin plastic snow chain a few months ago, but my size wasn't there. So hoping to pick one up cheap at some point. Something along the lines of the bargain bin in February in Halfords.

Car Club
=====

The ideal solution is for Zipcar to put winter tyres on their cars. They have high usage, so the winter tyres won't be wasted. One set of winter tyres can benefit hundred of drivers November to February.

I would have to join ZipCar on an occassional driver basis, but that's still cheaper than a set of winter tyres with wheels. It's not as crazy as it sounds, because the main car could be in for repairs any time of the year, and short rentals are expensive from regular rental companies.

sunshinetours

Pincher wrote: »

I have been thinking about winter tyres because AutoExpress did an article last week.

I live in London. In the harshest of winter, I would say there are three weeks where it's worth having winter tyres. I drive 4,000 miles a year, and a set of winter tyres will last a life time, but not the car. Even if I buy the same model of car, but later edition, there is no guarantee the tyres will fit.

Costco did a promotional deal on a Michelin plastic snow chain a few months ago, but my size wasn't there. So hoping to pick one up cheap at some point. Something along the lines of the bargain bin in February in Halfords.

Car Club
=====

The ideal solution is for Zipcar to put winter tyres on their cars. They have high usage, so the winter tyres won't be wasted. One set of winter tyres can benefit hundred of drivers November to February.

I would have to join ZipCar on an occassional driver basis, but that's still cheaper than a set of winter tyres with wheels. It's not as crazy as it sounds, because the main car could be in for repairs any time of the year, and short rentals are expensive from regular rental companies.

As you say driving 4k miles a year you don't drive enough to warrant winter tryes on a cost basis and you probably have access to decent public transport as alternative anyway?

They aren't for everyone and as I said all season tyres may well become more and more popular in the the south of UK especially as a useable alternative all year round

sunshinetours

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

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;)

Don't argue with a lot of that to be honest

The fact is you use appropriate tyres for your offroading shows you at least understand the principle of using the right equipment for the conditions, and how doing so can vastly improve your ability to use your car in all conditions?

Relate that to ghaving a modern powerful rear wheel drive car that has very wide and very low profile and directional tyres (Sport Contacts2 as Jase1 mentions the same) and try and use these with confidence, when the road has a covering of frost, snow, ice or simply wet and cold etc
The fitting of suitable winter tyres to this car hugely improve sideways stability and grip both when stopping and when starting during such conditions

There may even as you say be a small placebo effect where the noticeable difference is even more magnified than the actual impoivement - who knows and who cares. The actual operformance is still massively improved either way

Those driving smaller less powerful front wheel drive cars for instance will not get such a dramatic effect I do accept that, until they come to brake on snow or ice - then you understand the difference

And in answer to origianl question yes at present these are not remotely the ideal conditions for winter tyres - its far too warm and if mine were stored at home and could be fitted at will I wouldn't have them on yet

cyclonebri1

sunshinetours wrote: »

Don't argue with a lot of that to be honest

The fact is you use appropriate tyres for your offroading shows you at least understand the principle of using the right equipment for the conditions, and how doing so can vastly improve your ability to use your car in all conditions?

Relate that to ghaving a modern powerful rear wheel drive car that has very wide and very low profile and directional tyres (Sport Contacts2 as Jase1 mentions the same) and try and use these with confidence, when the road has a covering of frost, snow, ice or simply wet and cold etc
The fitting of suitable winter tyres to this car hugely improve sideways stability and grip both when stopping and when starting during such conditions

There may even as you say be a small placebo effect where the noticeable difference is even more magnified than the actual impoivement - who knows and who cares. The actual operformance is still massively improved either way

Those driving smaller less powerful front wheel drive cars for instance will not get such a dramatic effect I do accept that, until they come to brake on snow or ice - then you understand the difference

And in answer to origianl question yes at present these are not remotely the ideal conditions for winter tyres - its far too warm and if mine were stored at home and could be fitted at will I wouldn't have them on yet

I thank you and I rest my case, ;):T

jase1

Far too warm? I guess it depends on where you are living. It has not gone above 10c around here for a few weeks now (and has been hovering around 3-5c for much of it), and seeing as the effects of the tyres can be felt from around 7c downwards I do not think it's 'far' too warm at all.

It's getting there and I'd rather have the tyres on early than have to be putting them on when the frost starts to bite.

In any case, choose the right winter tyres (not the northern European snow tyres but rather the CE winters, which are quite close to all-season tyres in any case) and TBH they can be worn all year around if needs be. I replaced them a couple of weeks back because I started to feel the Toyos losing grip on coldish, wet mornings, and wheel-spinning out of junctions. The Marangonis have fixed that particular problem -- whether that is down to them being new tyres is irrelevant really, the fact is that the Toyos are down to 3mm and were getting to the point where I usually replace them in any case.

sunshinetours

Absolutely - been far too warm here however for ideal conditions (it was 17 degrees on Sunday!) - however as also said you make a choice and fit it round other circumstances, not do it when you hit the perfect weather for changing them. Life is generally a series of compromises - some obviously are better at that acccepting than others as Cyclonebri has demonstrated perfectly!

DCFC79

Been thinking about getting some winter tyres, are they ok to use in the dry

neilmcl

DCFC79 wrote: »

Been thinking about getting some winter tyres, are they ok to drive in the dry

Yes, absolutely. The key aspect for winter tyres is temperature, not whether there's snow, ice or wet weather. Winter tyres are effective below temps of 7C.

jase1

Like any other tyre some are better than others.

I dare say that a good winter tyre is far superior to a poor summer one in a torrential downpour at 35c....

People who argue that winter tyres are only for the snow have no idea. Winter tyres are as suitable as 'all-seasons' as summer ones are.

cyclonebri1

neilmcl wrote: »

Yes, absolutely. The key aspect for winter tyres is temperature, not whether there's snow, ice or wet weather. Winter tyres are effective below temps of 7C.

But it's still 10 to 13c;), even now, a couple of weeks later than the op.