Winter tyres

[crank]

Hello guys,
I have heard that most of you don't drive on Winter tyres these days. Also I saw pretty much pictures of your cars standing in the snow on lovely rims. Isn't it usual to change wheels before the first snow like here in Germany? There is even a law here to do this. Thank you for answering

 

[Lal B3N]

Nope, sadly over here in the UK it is not a law.

Can use winter tyres all year round, or summer tyres all year round.

 

[Matt W]

Because of the couple of days of snow we get a year, they are not required by law.

Although the whole country comes to a standstill!

 

[Pride07]

It looks live we've reached the end of the snow days here.

 

[Dan_j1]

It looks live we've reached the end of the snow days here.

Its still giving us a pasting here in brum.

 

[Pride07]

Its still giving us a pasting here in brum.

I wish to retract my previous statement, it has just started snowing

 

[Chip-mk1]

I use winter tyres as I drive a lot, I fit them in december and remove them in march normally.

But generally most people in this country dont.

We dont really get harsh enough winters for it to be a big issue, even before I fitted winter tyres I never really had any major problems although a few hills were impassible and forced me to make detours etc.

 

[James23]

I do ~30k miles per year so I put winter tyres on, quite surprising how much better they are than summer tyres when there is snow/lots of rain about.

 

[Chip-mk1]

I do ~30k miles per year so I put winter tyres on, quite surprising how much better they are than summer tyres when there is snow/lots of rain about.

Same as me then mate, I have 2 winter and 4 summer tyres for my car, costs no more in the long run as obviously each set needs replacing less often cause you are lowering the use on each set.

 

[Lal B3N]

Got them on mine they are great.

Went up near hardknott pass the other night in them, they come into their own league when its snow on snow contact. The stopping power from them is funny, can pretty much hammer the brakes on like its dry roads.

Excellent over standing water too.

Got up some seriously steep hills the other night, just attempting to see if it would struggle anywhere.

 

[crank]

AW: Winter tyres

Will the insurance pay your damage if you crashed your car with Summer tyres in the snow caused of longer brake distance?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Re: AW: Winter tyres

Will the insurance pay your damage if you crashed your car with Summer tyres in the snow caused of longer brake distance?

Unfortunately, they probably would.

Only if insurance companies INSISTED on winter tyres, would people actually change.

Not paying out on snow/ice would save the industry (and in turn the consumer) an absolute fortune.

 

[Lal B3N]

I can see it becoming law in few years time to be honest.

Although the amount of people that would break that law would be massive, the cost of winters in some sizes are crazy so would put a lot of people off.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

I can see it becoming law in few years time to be honest.

Although the amount of people that would break that law would be massive, the cost of winters in some sizes are crazy so would put a lot of people off.

It should be .. but it won't be. Not a chance. Not until we get 3ft of snow from Nov-March every year for a decade.

The only way it'll change people's ways is if insurance stipulates they are not covered to drive in 'wintry conditions' without M&S marked tyres... and that'll never happen either.

 

[LiamR172]

I put winter tyres on my car this year... and we havent had any bloody snow yet!!

 

[plymcl172]

I have not needed winter tyres yet and I don't drive enough to get use out of them

Plus I have not had a mm of snow where I live ! Yet 2 miles away they have had loads wtf?

 

[Short Norman]

I have them on my 3 series, they are ace (that's a technical term used in Yorkshire).

I went out in my wife's 500 Abarth with normal tyres on the other day and was surprised at the difference in grip.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

I have them on my 3 series, they are ace (that's a technical term used in Yorkshire).

I went out in my wife's 500 Abarth with normal tyres on the other day and was surprised at the difference in grip.

This is the thing. Unless there's actual snow on the ground, you don't realise they're doing such a good job.

I've got to work, then nearly fell out of the car with the ground so slippery .. just being cold/frosty. Don't need 3ft of snow to make them worthwhile.

Until people use them, their opinions are never going to change.

 

[Short Norman]

This is the thing. Unless there's actual snow on the ground, you don't realise they're doing such a good job.

I've got to work, then nearly fell out of the car with the ground so slippery .. just being cold/frosty. Don't need 3ft of snow to make them worthwhile.

Until people use them, their opinions are never going to change.

very true, the level of grip on greasy or wet roads from them is way above what normal tyres give. There's always people waiting to say we don't get enough snow to make them worth while but their ability on snow is only a small part of why I have them.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Agreed. in standing water they are epic too.

 

[Munson]

Mine slice through slush and standing water like a hot knife through butter. Brilliant tyres. Although it was 14c today and they felt a bit sludgy in steering response.

 

[BIGASH]

Have winter tyres on my RWD daily and everyone takes the piss saying crap car in the snow etc but I towed friends that were stuck the other week, drove straight past many stranded cars etc. It transforms the grip in the sub 7 degree's temps and ensures the car remains steering and braking in even heavy snow. I'm not fussed about traction as you can manage that even with summer tyres in the snow but they don't like stopping or turning. The only cost is the initial outlay but they don't cost anymore in the long run.

I did a back to back braking test on the ice hill at Silverstone today between summer tyres and winter tyres on identical cars and the results even blew me away and i'm a big fan of the tyres anyway