Winter Tyres 2013/2014 Thread

Iceweasel

Here's another site with helpful info:

http://conti-central.co.uk/winter-tyres/

bigjl

marlot wrote: »

I too am a convert. I have a set of GoodYear UltraGrip 8 on Honda Jazz steel wheels in the garage which won't fit the new car. I'll put them on eBay when it gets a little colder!

I refused to throw out the old steels when i put alloys on the wifes Clio a few years ago.

Think i will dig them out and get winters fitted.

God knows the alloys could do with a refurb! :rotfl:

Ultrasonic

Iceweasel wrote: »

Here's another site with helpful info:

http://conti-central.co.uk/winter-tyres/

It's hardly bias free, but it is interesting to see the winter/summer tyre comparison at 5°C. I rarely drive on snow so I'm not much bothered by performance there, but cold, wet roads are rather more common! I'd be interested in any similar non-biased tests if anyone knows of any?

I can't get my head around the following claim though:

Did you know that you are six times more likely to have a prang in your car during the winter months? Slippery leaves on wet roads, followed by snow and ice, create hazardous driving conditions and increase accidents on the road by as much as 267%!

How can a 267% increase make accidents six times more likely? That would be 3.67 times more likely, wouldn't it?

Iceweasel

I can't explain the '6 times more likely' bit either. LOL

I agree it's biased - all tyre companies sites are the same of course.

But the info on driving in Europe in Winter is pretty informative and correct as far as I'm aware.

http://conti-central.co.uk/winter-tyres/winter-driving-laws-across-western-europe/

AdrianC

Ultrasonic wrote: »

It's hardly bias free, but it is interesting to see the winter/summer tyre comparison at 5°C. I rarely drive on snow so I'm not much bothered by performance there, but cold, wet roads are rather more common! I'd be interested in any similar non-biased tests if anyone knows of any?

Only anecdotal, but ^ as I said up there, I found a noticable increase in grip below about 5degC, even on dry tarmac. The reason is that the rubber compound is different. Many modern tyres have very high silica levels in the rubber, AIUI, with the compound adjusted for ultimate grip on performance-oriented tyres or low rolling resistance on bunny-hug tyres. Neither of those compounds work well at low temperatures, which is why the winter tyre is becoming more and more relevant in the UK.

Ignore "M+S" markings, btw - they only "prove" that there's a certain %age of open space in the tread design, and grooves that go clear across the tread. Many off-brand budget tyres are "M+S" marked. And, yes, some of them are better in winter conditions than better-brand/quality normal/summer tyres. But not because of that M+S marking - rather, largely because they're a much more compromised compound of rubber. They're equally mediocre at everything, rather than being strong in some directions but poor in others.

The normal tyres we buy in this country are what other countries think of as "summer tyres". There are "All-season" tyres, as well as "winter tyres". AS are not so common in the UK yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if we do start to see them. Certainly, round here in the Welsh borders, I've noticed a lot of cars with winter rubber on all year round. It might be that the difference between winter & AS is relevant, but I'd expect that AS would be a better compromise generally, for people for whom summers aren't good enough in the winter, but who don't want to or can't swap twice a year.

I can't get my head around the following claim though:

How can a 267% increase make accidents six times more likely? That would be 3.67 times more likely, wouldn't it?

Ah, the joys of sloppy press-release statistics! If it's 267% above the annual average rate, then - yes - it could be 6x the summer rate, I s'pose.

GolfBravo

Ultrasonic wrote: »

It's hardly bias free, but it is interesting to see the winter/summer tyre comparison at 5°C. I rarely drive on snow so I'm not much bothered by performance there, but cold, wet roads are rather more common! I'd be interested in any similar non-biased tests if anyone knows of any?

Latest ADAC 2013 winter tyre tests
225 45 r17
185 60 r15

PS
The 185/60 tyre test includes a video (under Bilder & Videos), it is all in German obviously, but about 2/3 in there is a very interesting braking comparison: white Audi with the best tested winter tyres, and red Audi with the worst.

Gloomendoom

AdrianC wrote: »

The normal tyres we buy in this country are what other countries think of as "summer tyres". There are "All-season" tyres, as well as "winter tyres". AS are not so common in the UK yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if we do start to see them. Certainly, round here in the Welsh borders, I've noticed a lot of cars with winter rubber on all year round. It might be that the difference between winter & AS is relevant, but I'd expect that AS would be a better compromise generally, for people for whom summers aren't good enough in the winter, but who don't want to or can't swap twice a year.

I run 'branded' all season tyres on my car and I would agree that they are a compromise. Dry grip is good, snow grip is good but, oddly, they aren't wonderful in the wet. Too much power in the rain results in mucho fishtailing.

When they wear out, they will be replaced by more AS tyres.

Ultrasonic

GolfBravo wrote: »

Latest ADAC 2013 winter tyre tests
225 45 r17
185 60 r15

PS
The 185/60 tyre test includes a video (under Bilder & Videos), it is all in German obviously, but about 2/3 in there is a very interesting braking comparison: white Audi with the best tested winter tyres, and red Audi with the worst.

I think you misunderstood what I was after, which is comparisons of performance of summer and winter tyres on cold, wet roads?

Ultrasonic

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I run 'branded' all season tyres on my car and I would agree that they are a compromise. Dry grip is good, snow grip is good but, oddly, they aren't wonderful in the wet. Too much power in the rain results in mucho fishtailing.

When they wear out, they will be replaced by more AS tyres.

This is an interesting comparison for anyone considering all season tyres:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Summer-VS-Winter-tyres-Warm-weather-performance.htm

ventureuk

Ultrasonic wrote: »

I think you misunderstood what I was after, which is comparisons of performance of summer and winter tyres on cold, wet roads?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=elP_34ltdWI#t=178

Watch from 3 mins for wet road tests.