Winter Wheels and Tyres

[Owls11]

Hi

Thanks for comments, Four winters are obviously better than four summers but are two winters (front) & two summer (back) better than no winters ?

Thanks

Owls11

[Rhyso]

Hi

Thanks for comments, Four winters are obviously better than four summers but are two winters (front) & two summer (back) better than no winters ?

Thanks

Owls11

Rolfie ran just two winters on the front of her car last year and never got stuck!  She lives up in Scotland so that's a good indication of how well they perform 

[Daz Auto]

Hi

Thanks for comments, Four winters are obviously better than four summers but are two winters (front) & two summer (back) better than no winters ?

Thanks

Owls11

... it will definitely help get you moving. The problem will be turning and stopping - especially in an emergency.

The risk with having only 2 winter tyres on the front is "snap oversteer" if you turn too quickly. Not even the stability control will help if only 2 tyres have grip.

Same problem if you have to break sharply in a corner. The rear end of the car will swing round.

I decided it was not worth the risk. I opted for 4 winters. But then I have had an accident due to the rear end of my motorbike trying to overtake the front end, which had more grip, resulting in a 'highside'. I was not speeding and was lucky not to be injured. That must be why I am so particular about the tyres I use.

[Owls11]

Thanks for all info.

Just to put a different slant on this, forgetting winter if you run on summer tyres and the fronts get worn, so you change fronts to back leaving 7mm front 3mm on back would this give you the same issue ?

[Daz Auto]

Thanks for all info.

Just to put a different slant on this, forgetting winter if you run on summer tyres and the fronts get worn, so you change fronts to back leaving 7mm front 3mm on back would this give you the same issue ?

Tests have shown that it is safer to fit 2 new tyres to the rear of a car and not the front.

Though with both tyres worn I doubt it would make much difference. Unless there were other factors such as wet/slippy roads.

[p3eps]

Here's my winters... Continental WinterContacts.  18" - so slightly smaller than my usual 19's... and 1/2" less width on the road too.
To be honest I can't really tell you how they perform as I got them on this January, had them on until April... and they didn't really see any snow!
They're currently sitting in their VW wheel bags all ready to go at the first sign of snowfall.  I had them re-balanced the other day too!  They'll be going on at the beginning of November even if there is no snow as the temp will be constantly less than 8 degC.

[Daz Auto]

Thanks for all info.

Just to put a different slant on this, forgetting winter if you run on summer tyres and the fronts get worn, so you change fronts to back leaving 7mm front 3mm on back would this give you the same issue ?

Tests have shown that it is safer to fit 2 new tyres to the rear of a car and not the front.

Though with both tyres worn I doubt it would make much difference. Unless there were other factors such as wet/slippy roads.

I was wrong. Always fit the better tyres on the rear...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5YsQ_a_ijA

[R32UK]

^^ oh dear! here we go again 

[Owls11]

P3eps: Rims look good !
Daz auto: cheers for comments

My options are:

1) stick with Re050's through winter ?
2) put just 2 winters on front ?
3) get 2 autosocks ?

I would love to get 4 new rims with winters but budget / storage area doesn't allow

[Buck]

My Vredestein's have arrived and Neil is back from his jaunt to the 'ring (lucky man!) so will be fully prep'd by the end of next week.

@Owls - out of your three options, I'd say go for two winters on the front and then buy two more next year but just remember they will give an improvement in traction and drive but this will increase the grip differential between front and rears which could create more challenge in low traction scenarios.