Winter Tyres

[Ess_Three]

However, I'd like to see what would happen to that car in the AutoSocks clip, if the things were put on the rear wheels.  My bet is it wouldn't be any different from the "before" performance.

I'll tell you:
Foxy redhead fits Autosocks to rear wheels, Golf remains precisely where it is, wheelspinning, going nowhere....exactly as shown in the 'before' clip.

[Rolfe]

Ben needs to stick to arguing that changing all four wheels is better than just doing two.  Which is obviously true.

Whether one is prepared to accept the compromise inherent in doing only the front two, and adjust one's driving accordingly, is to a large extent an individual choice.  Just having the front ones changed is obviously likely to cause the rear end to become unstable if you brake too hard or corner too fast.

The idea that there's any case at all to be made for doing the rear wheels only is still batcrap insane, any way you slice it.  Give it up, Ben.

Rolfe.

[Ben Lessani]

Ben needs to stick to arguing that changing all four wheels is better than just doing two.  Which is obviously true.

Whether one is prepared to accept the compromise inherent in doing only the front two, and adjust one's driving accordingly, is to a large extent an individual choice.  Just having the front ones changed is obviously likely to cause the rear end to become unstable if you brake too hard or corner too fast.

The idea that there's any case at all to be made for doing the rear wheels only is still batcrap insane, any way you slice it.  Give it up, Ben.

Rolfe.

When on earth did I say change the rear wheels only!??!?!

No, I'm afraid I'm not. It really isn't up for debate - you ALWAYS change rear tyres first, understeer is controllable, snap oversteer isn't.
...
But as mentioned, for winter tyres, it is always recommended to fit 4 at once.

Nevertheless, as I said, you're all driving £15k+ cars, why on earth would you only replace 2 tyres anyway!? It's all 4, or if you are **that** cheap, just the rears - there is no justification to change the fronts only.

No, you have to change the rears first, then the fronts.

I've been fairly consistent with what I've been saying.

Change all 4 ... or if you insist on changing some, change the rears - so as to not compromise the stability of the car.

[Ben Lessani]

- making you liable in the event of an accident.

Let's get one thing clear. Winter tyres are not mandatory in the UK...therefore, as long as your tyres - summer or otherwise - are legal, you will be no more or less liable in the event of an accident.
That's just the way it is in the UK.

Its nothing to do with rules/regs. You have deliberately set up your car in a dangerous fashion, with less grip over the rear wheels and IF you have an accident with your car sliding sideways into another car - you could become equally liable or even wholly liable.

Either way if the insurers found out you changed one set only, I'm 100% they'd pounce.

[Ben Lessani]

...  More importantly, the test doesn't compare winters on front to winters on rear ...

Pretty sure they did, watch them again ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cBSWEhimdA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdtAm7RsTmE

[GolfTi]

Ben
You are either a wind up merchant or totally bonkers.

[GolfTi]

I reckon for a lot of people its not so much the cash as the hassle....if you happen to live in a flat, where are you going to store 4 tyres? If we adopted the european approach whereby your local garage/dealer will quite happily store your winter setup & swap them over for you, a damn sight more people would bother. Also, once you've been in a properly booted car in this weather, you see the point within yards! As more people fit them, more will get to try them & (if you'll excuse the pun) things will snowball from there.

Kwik Fit now do this in their 'tyre hotels'. (About time too)

[am1w]

He has an Italian sounding name.
All I can say to him, 'Shatupa you face'.

Ben Lessani - You are a Bloody Loon. You do, however, entertain.

[Ess_Three]

Its nothing to do with rules/regs. You have deliberately set up your car in a dangerous fashion, with less grip over the rear wheels and IF you have an accident with your car sliding sideways into another car - you could become equally liable or even wholly liable.

Either way if the insurers found out you changed one set only, I'm 100% they'd pounce.

You know, you just can't reason with some people.

It DOES NOT MATTER what tyres you have fitted in an accident, as long as they are LEGAL.
Fitting winter tyres to the front is NOT setting your car up dangerously...it's being sensible, and trying to go about your business without whining about the weather.

If your reasoning held any water at all, the French Hot Hatch market would have been outlawed back in 1986.

[Ben Lessani]

You know, you just can't reason with some people.

I'm starting to realise this ... you're a stubborn bunch.