Winter Tyres

[Irish Love Toy]

I have the ordinary 17" alloys, much to the disdain of a lot of posters here.  I just don't get off on looking at the wheels of my car when it's parked.  I'm also not paranoid about kerbing the damn things, life's too short.

Agree.

The dealer tried to tell me that a set of 18" alloys would look really good on the car. I thought the original alloys looked fine. I'd rather spend the money on something useful rather than cosmetic.

[Ben Lessani]

Oh, and for the record, I'm glad I've only got a MK2 and a Mini, it means less time spent in here, around *some* of the pretentious MK6 owners - who can't differentiate between fact and opinion.

[Hartside]

I'm starting to get really pissed off with the crap your spouting and can only think your just trying to bait people. For gawds sake man give it a rest.

[Ben Lessani]

I'm starting to get really pissed off with the crap your spouting and can only think your just trying to bait people. For gawds sake man give it a rest.

Bait nothing. Tell me what "crap" I've spouted exactly?

[DDRFan]

... Before you go for these (cheapskate!), read the AutoSocks page.

Awww fake DVDs, fake computer games, PSP games consoles, fake cameras, fake banknotes, fake bankers drafts, fake cola, fake nappies, fake baby milk, fake Gibson Les Paul copies, fake teeth, fake boobs, fake orgasms and now fake Autosocks *sad-face*
have they made a fake GTI yet?

[scotsgolfer]

Get back to the 80's Ben my man.

[mac7]

Bait nothing. Tell me what "crap" I've spouted exactly?

Ben, it's not the "facts" you're spouting, it's the "opinion" you have on the dangers of fitting winter tyres to the front axle. Some of us are obviously less risk-averse than you are. Perhaps sometimes it's better to accept that others have a different opinion to you rather than suggest they are moronic.

[Ben Lessani]

Bait nothing. Tell me what "crap" I've spouted exactly?

Ben, it's not the "facts" you're spouting, it's the "opinion" you have on the dangers of fitting winter tyres to the front axle. Some of us are obviously less risk-averse than you are. Perhaps sometimes it's better to accept that others have a different opinion to you rather than suggest they are moronic.

Its not my opinion, its a fact.

I've already said those people are entitled to their opinion, just don't recommend it to others - its dangerous.

Ignore me all you like - decide I'm wrong, stupid, argumentative, but for the love of god, don't go recommending dangerous set-ups to others (and that's all I'm trying to prevent).

Spend 10 mins watching these in sequence, if they really don't convince you that fitting winters only on the front, I give up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P03wqClnq-0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX1UmYG1nyk&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKw3HffVJrk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFYXOJ5KEXM&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdtAm7RsTmE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqDJdYc8OYc&feature=fvw

[Rolfe]

I don't know whether you are choosing to ignore this or not, but I keep saying, fitting winter tyres on the rear - will not in any way enhance the overall grip in snow. No, you won't be able to put "pull out the drive", no, you won't be able to climb hills, and yes, you will get overtaken by other drivers with winter tyres on the front. They won't enhance your winter driving experience one bit, BUT the key difference is that you haven't altered the way the car was designed to drive.

So why the %$*&£ did you repeatedly suggest that people fit winter tyres to the rear wheels?  Why even raise the subject?  Nobody else did.

Fitting winter tyres on the rear, according to your latest post, will do precisely bugger-all as compared to just leaving the summer tyres on.

So again I ask, why did you repeatedly suggest that people who were too cheap to buy four winter tyres, should buy two and fit them to the rear?

You're mad, you know.

Now, about this dangerous practice of fitting winter tyres to the front only.  Could you point me to one country (where winters are not mandatory) where this practice is illegal?  Any explanation of why it's common in America, even though Americans will sue you at the merest hint of liability?  Any explanation of why so many people seem to find it a perfectly workable solution?

Got any accident statistics to show how often cars with front-only winters are involved in incidents in comparison to all-summer wheels in winter time, say?

Or are you just parroting "facts" you've read elsewhere and give credence to, without any practical experience of the issue?

Rolfe.

[Hyperspace]

Having a drastic difference in grip between the front and rear axle is highly unadvisable. Avoid this situation if you can at all help it.

When it comes to fitting two new tyres (whether it be summer, all-season, winter or snow tyres) to whichever axle, let it be clear there is no such thing as "the better" option, it is more about the "least worst" option.


The German Automobile Club (ADAC) conducted a test, by fitting gripper tyres on the FRONT axle, and ended up with the following results:

Pros
- Reduced aquaplaning when cornering.
- Significant reduction in braking distances when slippery.
- Slight reduction in braking distances when dry.

Cons
- Significant likelihood of snap oversteer (on cars without ESP).
- Likelihood of snap oversteer on cars with ESP is reduced, but if the limits of the ESP are breached (they cannot bend the laws of physics) then the ensuing break in traction tends to be more violent and uncontrollable.

The conclusion reached by ADAC is to fit gripper tyres on the rear axle. Hence, the recommendation of tyre manufacturers and motoring organisations stems from their goal to prevent any situation which could lead to snap oversteer in slippery conditions, which in their opinion overrides the benefits from fitting gripper tyres on the front axle. Essentially, their priority is ensuring and maintaining stability on the road.

My opinion - you're pretty much f***ed either way.


However, different drivers have different priorities, and if you're intelligent and mature enough to look all the facts, and take into account local conditions, then you can probably make your own decision accordingly.