Winter/Summer Tyres - Front/Back

Iceweasel

Having the newest/deepest tread tyres on the rear is correct - but only if all 4 tyres are the same type.

Personally I'd be putting on the 4mm tread winters - both front and rear.

I think that a 4mm winter would still have more grip than a 7mm summer tyre.

fred246

So what do you suggest. Best ones on the rear but if you see any ice jump out and swap them over?

Iceweasel

fred246 wrote: »

So what do you suggest. Best ones on the rear but if you see any ice jump out and swap them over?

Who is this post directed at? Me?

I'm certainly not advocating 'best ones on the rear' in the OP's case.

The OP would be best to have 4 winter tyres - no matter they are a worn ones with only 4mm tread left.

I am aware that in Austria if a winter tyre has less than 4mm it no longer meets the legal requirement to have winter tyres at all times from November to April - but despite that I still think that half worn winters will be better in a UK winter than a summer tyre.

neilmcl

Pretty pointless putting on winters with just 4mm. At that depth the tyre is no longer effective as a winter tyre. A lot of winter rubber have 2 sets of wear indicators, once they're past the first mark then they're more or less just like any other tyre.

vikingaero

Plenty of people in Southern Scotland used to put winters on front and leave normal summers on their FWD cars. Sure if you swerve the car will get out of shape, but most people are sitting in traffic and tiptoeing around rather than driving exuberantly.

The main reason for this is traction to get going and to stop when braking.

agrinnall

neilmcl wrote: »

Pretty pointless putting on winters with just 4mm. At that depth the tyre is no longer effective as a winter tyre. A lot of winter rubber have 2 sets of wear indicators, once they're last the first mark then they're more or less just like any other tyre.

I don't see how that can be completely true, the compound in winter tyres that works better below 7C than that used in summer tyres is still there regardless of tread depth. I'd agree that the ability to clear water may be considerably reduced, but I'd always have 4mm winter tyres in cold weather rather than 4mm summer tyres.

gord115

We have winter tyres just on the front of our Suzuki swift. In the snow they work great.

The back wheels just follow along with no great drama.

neilmcl

agrinnall wrote: »

I don't see how that can be completely true, the compound in winter tyres that works better below 7C than that used in summer tyres is still there regardless of tread depth. I'd agree that the ability to clear water may be considerably reduced, but I'd always have 4mm winter tyres in cold weather rather than 4mm summer tyres.

The tyre compound may be better below 7C but the main reason for winter tyres is the grip in wet or icy conditions and once you start to lose the special sips in the tread then the tyre becomes as good as any other tyre with 4mm. Personally I'd rather have 7mm full tread depth on a summer tyre than 4mm on a winter.

Don't get me wrong I'm not a naysayer when it comes to winter rubber so if you can afford it stick 4 new winter tyres on rather than mix and match.

getmore4less

How many tires have you got?

If you have 4 winters with 4mm I would go with those and keep the money for now saving up for a new full set next winter.

Wig

I agree with above post, that's what I was going to ask...

What have you got now? and why are you optioning about 4x 4mm winter or 2 x 7mm winter? Are you thinking of buying 2 new winters? over your 4 x 4mm winters you have in the garage?

Are the storage winters on wheels or will you have to have them fitted (to wheels) ?

If I had 4 spare wheels with 4mm winter tread, then I would put those on my car for the winter. As long as they still have the sips they will grip far better than any summer tyre.

If I had only 2 winters with sips, I would put them on the front of a FWD car.