ABS in the snow

[Hyperspace]

I don't think it's possible to be infinitely, or even significantly, more mobile than I am at present.  And if there is a safety issue, I'm not convinced it's all that marked either.

I suspect the front tyres have taken me to 90%.  It's just a question of whether I want the other 10% or not, when I haven't found the limits of what I've got yet.

Rolfe.

It'll only reach upwards of 90% under very heavy braking, which would only leave 10% left for the rears, and that isn't much for a winter tyre to work with, let alone a summer tyre! But of course in that situation the ESP system should kick into gear.

It'll be more like 60-80% under gentle to moderate braking, which leaves more grip available for the rears. And from what I can gather, I suspect you've yet to breach these levels because of way you drive (which is good).

[Hartside]

Your other option Rolfe is to fit a couple of cheaper winter tyres on the back, rather than a premium brand. Just keep the load rating the same.

[Rolfe]

I've been told that what I have is not a "premium brand"!

I only ended up with two because that's what my cheapskate garage owner got me, as he thought I was going over the top and surely we weren't going to have another winter like last year....   

Well he found out about four days after he'd fitted them that he was wrong about the last bit.

Now (precisely 14 days after fitting them) we're up to our eyeballs in snow and the temperature at dusk today was a balmy -18.5^oC.  God only knows what it is now.  If I walked into the garage and said, OK Andrew, who's right?, I want rear ones as well, he'd shuffle in embarrassment and fit them.

But what would I actually say?  What defect in performance would I point to to justify the request?  The instability attributable to the mismatched tyres is fairly slight, and since the whole set-up feels several million per cent safer than the summer tyres, saying it wasn't safe would be ridiculous.  The stunt I pulled this afternoon turning out of Broomlee Mains was completely ridiculous, but a Land Rover couldn't have done it any better.

That's my problem.  The desire for a full set of winter tyres is at the moment entirely theoretical, ideological, purist if you like.  Yes, it's "better".  But I can't point to any actual problem I'm having with the half-setup to justify doing anything.  "I want to drive like a raving lunatic in the snow" doesn't really seem like a sensible attitude, and it wouldn't even be true.

Why am I complaining?  I'm not complaining!  I'm ecstatically happy!

Did I mention I was ecstatically happy?

Rolfe the ecstatically happy.

[Hartside]

What did you have fitted again, Hankook Ice Bear 440's? Certainly not the cheapest tyre out there and they get a decent review. I've just ordered a set of these for my wifes car from a local tyre fitter and as long as he's not bulling about being able to get them, I should have them by the weekend. After reading your report it convinced me to get them for her

[Rolfe]

Yes, that's right.  £120 each.  I don't know what the "premium brands" are like, but these things are like caterpillar tracks compared to the summer tyres.

Rolfe.

[Ess_Three]

Yes, that's right.  £120 each.  I don't know what the "premium brands" are like, but these things are like caterpillar tracks compared to the summer tyres.

Rolfe.

I have used 3 makes of winter tyres over the years, and would struggle to tell any difference between them on snow/slush/ice because you just drive accordingly.

There may be differences at +2 to +5, or in the rain, but you'd only tell when you start pressing on...which you sure as hell won't be doing in the depths of winter.

They aren't like summer tyres, where it's easy to find the limits on fast roads or the track.
For winter tyres, in my view, if you fit ANY proper winter compound tyres from a maker you have heard of (doesn't matter if they are 'premium' or not) you'll make such a quantum leap in performance and safety over summer tyres that the differences between brands seems irrelevant.

[Rolfe]

They aren't like summer tyres, where it's easy to find the limits on fast roads or the track.
For winter tyres, in my view, if you fit ANY proper winter compound tyres from a maker you have heard of (doesn't matter if they are 'premium' or not) you'll make such a quantum leap in performance and safety over summer tyres that the differences between brands seems irrelevant.

To be honest, I hadn't heard of Hankook before I looked at the tyres that had been fitted.  Googling them shows a well-known, reputable profile though.

I had heard that winter tyres vary a lot between brands, but as I've only tried this one set then I've got nothing to compare them to.  I certainly couldn't be happier with what I was sold.  Did a little bit of sliding this morning, again at -18.5^oC in packed/loose snow, but no wheelspin and the car just kept going.  So many of the roads are practically-speaking single track at the moment, and you have to move over into the sheuch if someone else is coming the other way.  I'd have been terrified to do that on the Bridgestones for fear I wouldn't have been able to get out and back on the tyre tracks.  Now I just pull over politely and give the other driver a friendly wave.

There are three of us at work with winter tyres fitted, and we're all going on about them with evangelical zeal.  Katie only has the front pair as well, and is completely happy.  Bryn has a set of four because his garage was runnnig a special offer of 3 for the price of 2, so he decided just to pay for one extra tyre and get the set.  He says he still gets a bit of slide on ice, but on snow he has magnificent traction.

Fiona, in a Golf with summer tyres, isn't here yet....

Rolfe.

[R32UK]

You should all count yourselves lucky!!! i am driving around with no esp/abs/tc at all at the moment 


Great for when the roads are dry on a nice crisp day like to day though

[Daz Auto]

What did you have fitted again, Hankook Ice Bear 440's? Certainly not the cheapest tyre out there and they get a decent review.

That's what a guy at work has on his car. His, nearly new, C5 came with them on. He would not have spent the money on them otherwise. I'll have to ask him if he would consider getting them again.

[Hartside]

Just back from getting the 4 Hankook Ice Bear 440's fitted on my wifes car and they are great, as good as the Kuhmo KW27's fitted on my Golf. £75 each from a local tyre shop fitted onto the steel wheels I sourced and swapped over for me as well. Can't complain! Tyre shop was full of customers all getting 2 winter tyres fitted to their drive wheels. Tyre guy was saying as soon as they get them in, winter tyres are selling out.