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Author Topic: Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?  (Read 2092 times)

Offline Daz Auto

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Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?
« on: 05 January 2018, 13:22 »
This is a question that was asked recently on an Audi forum. I think it is important to discuss it here too.

I am no expert on winter tyres. However, I have done a lot of research on them as I want my wife's car to be as safe as possible in all weather conditions.

I know many people will have fitted winter tyres recently due to the weather conditions. In the past, I have received the wrong advice from 2 different tyre garages! So...

"Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?"

The answer is you should ALWAYS FIT 4 winter tyres.

There are good reasons why you need to fit 4 winter tyres. However, here is one reason everyone will understand. Fitting just 2 winter tyres could invalidate your car insurance if you cause an accident!

Insurance companies know that fitting just 2 winter tyres is potentially dangerous!

I know that my insurance company said they would not cover my car if only 2 winter tyres were fitted. If you know anyone that has fitted just 2 winter tyres - tell them to check with their insurance company that it is ok.
« Last Edit: 05 January 2018, 13:42 by Daz Auto »
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Offline Daz Auto

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Re: Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?
« Reply #1 on: 05 January 2018, 13:35 »
The reason why 2 winter tyres are potentially dangerous -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BscGbMzP3x0

"It would be like disconnecting your rear brakes."

On snow and ice - front winter tyres give lots of grip, rear summer tyres would have virtually no grip. This makes the car very unstable when braking and cornering.
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Offline Paul70

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Re: Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?
« Reply #2 on: 05 January 2018, 18:19 »
This post made me think of 'never mix cross ply and radial tyres!' Showing my age now but still clearly remember the advert!
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Offline CocoPops

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Re: Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?
« Reply #3 on: 05 January 2018, 18:31 »
Would people really on consider fitting 2?! For what possible reason?
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Offline Guzzle

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Re: Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?
« Reply #4 on: 05 January 2018, 18:38 »
Probably in some misguided attempt to save time and money without considering the risks.
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Offline SRGTD

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Re: Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?
« Reply #5 on: 05 January 2018, 19:00 »
Quote from: CocoPops on 05 January 2018, 18:31
Would people really on consider fitting 2?! For what possible reason?

Yes, they would consider it; I’ve seen it asked on various forums over the years. As Guzzle has said, probably a misguided attempt to save money.
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Offline mustard

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Re: Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?
« Reply #6 on: 05 January 2018, 19:05 »
Not that I would even countenance it, but rally cars fit mixed tyres on alternate sides and axles in mixed conditions.
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Offline itavaltalainen

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Re: Should I fit 2 or 4 winter tyres?
« Reply #7 on: 08 January 2018, 12:58 »
I would only ever fit 4 winter tyres.
Dangerous to mix tread patterns and rubber compound, which can lead to some very unpredictable behaviour.
I could already tell difference when I had very soft Dunlop Sportmaxx RT on the front and very hard Pirelli P7 on the back and they are both summer tyres so only main difference was rubber compound.

Same goes for symmetric, asymmetric and rotational tyres as they provide quite different performance, though that is less an issue if you got at least the same on the same axle (all long as they are all summer, all-season or winter tyres).

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