Are winter tyres worth it?

[Cliotoby]

Asking on behalf of my grandparents. They have a new merc C280 which obviously is RWD. Currently have Contisports on the car. Over the snowy period they spent about 2 weeks inside the house. Because of where they live, up a hill, they cannot get back up the drive.

Do Winter tyres make that much a difference? I mean is there a significant gain in the amount of traction they give? Or is it Negligible ?

 

[LowLife.]

Search button.

 

[Sam@NP]

Think about it this way. It is law to have them during winter month in lots of main land Europe countries. So they must do something.

 

[Jay Payne]

They are amazing, driven in snow with them and never got stuck. Was like driving on a wet road with 'normal' tyres

However, RWD, Hill, Snow................... Its anyones guess

 

[david hodson]

Yes , have them on my clio 172 , big difference

 

[keirravn]

same, have them on my cup the difference is huuuuuuuuge, but as rwd hill? weight over the drive wheels might be an issue there

 

[Cliotoby]

Yeah hence why i was asking. Its not a steep hill as such but its enough to cause problems.

 

[david hodson]

get some bags of road salt as balast as well as winters

 

[The Boosh!]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?549142-Winter-tyres&highlight=winter+tyres

 

[Kam.]

you have answered your own question. They were stuck for 2 weeks so its well worth it. Look at getting low model wheels as the thinner tyres cope better on snow due to the different contact patch and taller tyre.

 

[ForceIndia]

Just be careful about the speed rating. If it's lower than standard insurance need informing. I'm sure merc will be able to supply approved stuff n

 

[ripp]

yes the difference is huge. I tried to go up a hill having summer tires on, and at some point when it got steeper I was hopeless. the next day I fitted winter tyres and came back to the same location. I even stopped where the slope was bad and pulled of with no hint of wheel spin. surface was hard snow

 

[slindborg]

Took an AM Rapide out on winter tyres..... it was like driving on dry tarmac