What do you think of: All Weather/Winter Tyres?

[am1w]

I am glad this thread has highlighted the importance of using correct tyres in the winter and summer months, but especially in the winter and cold weather conditions (7 degrees centigrade and below).
Best to be safe, take all reasonable precautions, than be sorry. You cannot put a price on safety.
I will definitely have shod Wolfgang with winter footwear as and when I deem it necessary.
As I don't have a garage, I have made tentative arrangements with a Tyre Fitting Company very close to my home who will wrap and store my summer wheels + tyres if and when I purchase my winter ones from them. This is a service they offer to all their 'winter' customers.

[gizzywizzy]

I intend to purchase a set of winter alloys with vredsteins this week.

On sunday we had thick frost followed later in the day by enormous hail stones, so I fear that winter cannot be far away.

I would rather spend a grand on a decent set of winter treads than spend 2 or 3 having trashed my car through a hedge back or worse.

Gizzy

[Hartside]

In certain countries like Germany, if your car isn't shod with winter tyres and you have an accident below a set temperature, your insurance is void. The fact they (and other) European countries put so much emphasis on the use of winter tyres speaks volumes.

A grand on winter tyres is fine if you can afford it, but even a mid range winter tyre is better in cold conditions that a summer tyre, and they would cost significantly less

[MDSS MK6]

Last winter we went skiing to the italian alps, setting off from manchester. My mate had agreed to give us a lift, snowed all morning before the flight, & we tip-toed to the airport, sliding around like crazy in a audi a4 quattro. Eventually made it to milan airport, where it was also snowing heavily, took a look at our taxi, the usual merc barge with r w drive & thought oh no! The driver just smiled & muttered "snow tyre, very good" and off we went, with nothing more than a slight rear end wobble on a sliproad (no pun intendeed). I think I'm getting some this winter, and as I have a dirty great screw in one tyre atm, I think sooner rather than later.


and @R32UK, too right m8, scariest moment i had last winter was me in the r32 & a guy in a bmw x something or other sailing towards each other, both discovering 4w drive counted for very little on the ice rink formerly known as chester road! No harm done, but 2 red faces!

[Ess_Three]

and @R32UK, too right m8, scariest moment i had last winter was me in the r32 & a guy in a bmw x something or other sailing towards each other, both discovering 4w drive counted for very little on the ice rink formerly known as chester road! No harm done, but 2 red faces!

The most frightening thing I've ever experienced was finding out that my S3 would find great traction on snow from it's 225 wide tyres, but had 4 sledges as soon as the brakes were pressed...sometimes 4WD gives you a false sense of security!

Last winter I was scooting about in a Fabia vRS with winter tyres on, laughting at X5 owners getting stranded and slithering about all over the place.

Winter tyres in winter = epic. 

[Wayne]

Wayne...and Khare...you are both well off the mark on this...probably because you two are both southern fairies too!

If you live in rural areas, oop north - or heavens forbid, on the barely cultured side of Hadrian's wall...you may well see the benefits of winter tyres. If you'd tried them, you would know.

I came back onshore last Wednesday to snow. The temperature was below 5 degrees for 4 days...and at 4.5 degrees, Goodyear's finest were shocking...no grip...lots of wheelspin, lots of ESP activation, lots of ABS activation.
Hence, I have taken my BBS CHs with winter tyres down from my wheel rack, and will be fitting them soon.

In areas where roads don't get gritted, where there are no motorways, and light traffic, you need them if you want to go about your business through the winter.
I failed to have winter tyres for 1 out of the last 8 winters..and that one year I had to rely on lifts from people with cars on suitable rubber to get about. Not good.

If you don't get the weather, you don't need winter tyres...but spend 4 months+ below 7 degrees C (often below zero degrees C)
and you'll see the benefit.
Try them, and converted you will be.

Glen for where you are in the country yes they a good idea and well worth fitting but I still fail to see the point in other areas.

We had one bad week of weather and that was about it.

[R32UK]

and @R32UK, too right m8, scariest moment i had last winter was me in the r32 & a guy in a bmw x something or other sailing towards each other, both discovering 4w drive counted for very little on the ice rink formerly known as chester road! No harm done, but 2 red faces!

 

In the words of Mr Clarkson.... "MORE POWER!!!!!"

although it is true about 4wd giving you a false sense of security over FWD/RWD.. as we all see so many times when Mr 4WD is sliding down a hill wondering why his big a$$ car isnt coming to a stop

[MDSS MK6]

Just ordered a set of CONTINENTAL WINTER CONTACT TS810 XL, fitting tomorrow......which should ensure absolutely no snow or ice in the manchester area for this winter

[MAW73]

Just ordered a set of CONTINENTAL WINTER CONTACT TS810 XL, fitting tomorrow......which should ensure absolutely no snow or ice in the manchester area for this winter

^ WINTER TYRES??....... you big wuss 

[moutains]

tested in autoexpress today