Mixing winter/normal tyres

agrinnall

I've just found a nail in one of my rear tyres :mad:. There's no loss of pressure but i don't know if it'll be fixable as it's pretty close to the sidewall.

I have winter tyres fitted at the moment, if it can't be repaired and needs to be replaced I don't know if my local (not very, 17 miles away) tyre fitter will have one in stock. If he doesn't would it be a problem to just replace it with an inexpensive standard tyre for the next 6 weeks or so, when I'll be switching back to my alloys and summer tyres? I can't really switch the rear wheels only yet as the alloys are a different diameter to the steelies.

sunshinetours

Not on same axle no and I doubt if any decent tyre fitter would do it either. Differemt levels of grip on each axle is potnetially tricky enough but on same axle is pretty much distastrous for handling purposes

Look online to see if your tyres are available as that will give you a guide and if it can;t be repaired get your regular fitter to order one in or order online

take you chances and put your regualr summer wheels back on if fancy taking a gamble with weather warming up a bit and then buy a winter tyre in warmer months when prices will be lower?

mikey72

Isn't the rolling radius still going to be similar?

Low profile tyres on the alloys, and higher on the smaller steels?

I may chance 2 + 2 if it was.

marlot

You're not allowed to mix different size tyres on the same axle.

As long as the snow has cleared around you, I'd change back to the summer alloys now and aim to get a new winter tyre before next year.

agrinnall

marlot wrote: »

You're not allowed to mix different size tyres on the same axle.

As long as the snow has cleared around you, I'd change back to the summer alloys now and aim to get a new winter tyre before next year.

I wasn't suggesting mixing different sizes on the same axle, I was asking about different compounds.

No snow at the moment but the temperature here is rarely above 7C at this time of year and we could still get considerable amounts of snow for a while longer.

agrinnall

mikey72 wrote: »

Isn't the rolling radius still going to be similar?

Low profile tyres on the alloys, and higher on the smaller steels?

I may chance 2 + 2 if it was.

Yes, you're probably right that it won't make a lot of difference. I think I might do that, which will at least leave winter tyres on the front for drive and steering.

useless_git_requires_wife

My car just aced an MOT with different compounds on the same axle.

(no idea what the official regs are)

sunshinetours

useless_git_requires_wife wrote: »

My car just aced an MOT with different compounds on the same axle.

(no idea what the official regs are)

Doesn't make it safe though. Brake hard on a bend and you will see why

jase1

I have been thinking about this one over the winter -- my spare is a standard summer tyre (a Pirelli P7 at that -- pretty much the worst tyre known to man in the snow).

I intend to find some sort of cheap winter spare this coming year -- I have a spare wheel for it.

Don't particularly want to spend another £70 on one though. Cheap Chinese winter tyre to go in the boot or part-worn of the same type I have now? Or even perhaps a cheapish all-season and leave it there?

Decisions decisions...

jase1

sunshinetours wrote: »

Doesn't make it safe though. Brake hard on a bend and you will see why

Depends on how "different" they are I would have thought.

Continental on one side, Bridgestone on the other, both brand new = most likely completely predictable.

Two different types of budget tyre, both winters = probably OK.

One Continental SportContact2, one Linglong Winter Hero = recipe for disaster (although it's not going to be the "ditchfinder" that'll have you in the ditch if it's snowing in this case!).

jimbo_the_jetset

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/9069423/Why-you-should-fit-winter-tyres-to-all-four-wheels.html

You might only find out if you have no grip from that tyre when you need it!!