Winter Tyres guide
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 11:38 am
Having driven in several mild winters and several cold and snowy winters with FWD on summer tyres, FWD on winter tyres, FWD on CrossClimates, 4WD on all season M+S tyres and 4WD on winter tyres, I am well placed to offer guidance on this subject
For those unfamiliar with these, then these key points may help.
1. In any conditions where the temperature is +7C or lower, winter tyres offer superior levels of grip and braking
2. This level of superiority will increase further when tested on cold wet roads or good old snow
3. Cars sit there with wheels spinning in snow because they are on summer tyres, not because they haven't got 4WD
4. Summer tyres go hard like plastic in cold conditions and cannot grip whereas winter tyres remain flexible and special 'sipes' dig into the snow or cold tarmac and deliver great grip and braking
5. They are expensive though aren't they?! It's all relative. I paid £175.08 for a full set of Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 for the Polo which are the leaders on snow apparently and 2nd only overall to the much more expensive Continentals. The key thing is that while they are fitted, I am not wearing out the normal tyres and vice versa.
6. Real world example? Yes. When I used to own a Land Rover Freelander 2, I had winter tyres and there I was taking it steady through town when someone who foolishly tried braking on snow, slid out of a side street into my path. I had no choice but to brake hard and I pulled up in time. Would have crashed without winter tyres which also justifies the cost of them!
I also have dashcam footage from my Fiesta days (Continental winter tyres) and Audi days (Avon winter tyres) which demonstrate the abilities on snow so please send me a PM if you would like to view the footage.
7. How much to have them fitted, and balanced etc.? I used a mobile fitter last time and it cost £40 all in. Some go for a spare set of wheels for their tyres instead.
8. I am interested, where can I buy? Local tyre garages will help you find some or buy online at places such as love tyres or tyre pneus
9. If I want to fit them straight onto my existing wheels, how do I know the right size? Look on the tyre wall. My winter tyres are 185/65 R15. Width, height and rim size
10. Can I see them in action?! Check out the below videos!
**And no matter what you drive, whether it has ABS, winter tyres, 4WD or whatever, drive according to the road conditions as all too many drivers seem to think that technology will counteract everything and anything they do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cgtmmt ... e=youtu.be
For those unfamiliar with these, then these key points may help.
1. In any conditions where the temperature is +7C or lower, winter tyres offer superior levels of grip and braking
2. This level of superiority will increase further when tested on cold wet roads or good old snow
3. Cars sit there with wheels spinning in snow because they are on summer tyres, not because they haven't got 4WD
4. Summer tyres go hard like plastic in cold conditions and cannot grip whereas winter tyres remain flexible and special 'sipes' dig into the snow or cold tarmac and deliver great grip and braking
5. They are expensive though aren't they?! It's all relative. I paid £175.08 for a full set of Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 for the Polo which are the leaders on snow apparently and 2nd only overall to the much more expensive Continentals. The key thing is that while they are fitted, I am not wearing out the normal tyres and vice versa.
6. Real world example? Yes. When I used to own a Land Rover Freelander 2, I had winter tyres and there I was taking it steady through town when someone who foolishly tried braking on snow, slid out of a side street into my path. I had no choice but to brake hard and I pulled up in time. Would have crashed without winter tyres which also justifies the cost of them!
I also have dashcam footage from my Fiesta days (Continental winter tyres) and Audi days (Avon winter tyres) which demonstrate the abilities on snow so please send me a PM if you would like to view the footage.
7. How much to have them fitted, and balanced etc.? I used a mobile fitter last time and it cost £40 all in. Some go for a spare set of wheels for their tyres instead.
8. I am interested, where can I buy? Local tyre garages will help you find some or buy online at places such as love tyres or tyre pneus
9. If I want to fit them straight onto my existing wheels, how do I know the right size? Look on the tyre wall. My winter tyres are 185/65 R15. Width, height and rim size
10. Can I see them in action?! Check out the below videos!
**And no matter what you drive, whether it has ABS, winter tyres, 4WD or whatever, drive according to the road conditions as all too many drivers seem to think that technology will counteract everything and anything they do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cgtmmt ... e=youtu.be