Winter Wheels and Tyres

[mkviken]

sod it

my gti is all washed, waxed and spanking clean and in the garage for the winter. don't think i want to get it dirty/salty and risk it in the crap conditions.

think I'm going to keep it in there till the weather picks up (about april??!!)

[p3eps]

If they are quieter, more grip in the winter and just as good in the wet, is there any reason to buy "all season" tyres in the future?

Should we not just run with these throughout the year or is there a marked difference in the warm weather?

Regular tyres are designed to operate at +4°C.  Winter tyres are designed to be used at below 8°C.  At above 8°C winter tyres degrade faster and provide less grip as they are a softer compound.  Vice versa for the summer tyres in winter.  Plus you end up wearing your summer tyres in winter quicker with all the wheel spinning 

[p3asa]

So if both have pros and cons I wonder what would be best for all year round? Summer or winter.

[p3eps]

There are some 'all season' tyres available - but I imagine they'd be mediocre in summer and winter!

If you want performance in all seasons then I'm afraid you need to spend 60% of the year in summer tyres, and the other 40% in winter tyres.
And when I say that - I'm talking about the outdoor temperatures, not the actual weather... since it feels like winter here 75% of the time!!

[dubber36]

My theory is that after the initial outlay, having both winter and summer tyres will not cost any extra money. I am hoping that I will get three winters out of my new set of winter tyres. In the time that they are on, I will not be suffering increased wear throughout the winter on sumer tyres, therefore increasing the longevity of them.

I can only wear out one set of tyres at a time, so it makes sence to use the best performing tyres with the least wear rate for the appropriate season. The savings in tyre wear, should pay for having the tyres swapped over come spring time and then next winter.

[Mr_F]

My theory is that after the initial outlay, having both winter and summer tyres will not cost any extra money. I am hoping that I will get three winters out of my new set of winter tyres. In the time that they are on, I will not be suffering increased wear throughout the winter on summer tyres, therefore increasing the longevity of them.

I can only wear out one set of tyres at a time, so it makes sense to use the best performing tyres with the least wear rate for the appropriate season. The savings in tyre wear, should pay for having the tyres swapped over come spring time and then next winter.

+1 for all the above, although I took the logic that little bit further and totted up the cost of someone fitting 18" rubber onto my existing rims for a few winters and offset that against the cost of new rims! It also gave me the opportunity to downsize the winter rubber required by using new 17" rims, thus extra savings.  Now I can swap myself!

[dubber36]

My theory is that after the initial outlay, having both winter and summer tyres will not cost any extra money. I am hoping that I will get three winters out of my new set of winter tyres. In the time that they are on, I will not be suffering increased wear throughout the winter on summer tyres, therefore increasing the longevity of them.

I can only wear out one set of tyres at a time, so it makes sense to use the best performing tyres with the least wear rate for the appropriate season. The savings in tyre wear, should pay for having the tyres swapped over come spring time and then next winter.

+1 for all the above, although I took the logic that little bit further and totted up the cost of someone fitting 18" rubber onto my existing rims for a few winters and offset that against the cost of new rims! It also gave me the opportunity to downsize the winter rubber required by using new 17" rims, thus extra savings.  Now I can swap myself!

I've got them on my Passat, so they are 17" wheels anyway. I am now considering getting a second set of original Phoenix wheels and having them refurbed over the winter, ready to fit new summer tyres to in the spring. That way I can do my own wheel swapping come next winter too.

[p3asa]

It definitely makes sense to have a winter set and a summer set. There is no denying that and yeah I can see you can only wear out one set at a time so financially you wouldn't really be out of pocket apart from the initial outlay of a new set of wheels for the winter tyres or the cost to change them over.

What I was trying to get at was, if you could only have one set of tyres on your car throughout the year, would it make more sense to have summer tyres on throughout the season or winter tyres on throughout the season. Just for normal driving, not to take the car to its limits 

[dubber36]

Having just one set of tyres, I would do what I have done for the last 24 years and have a set of premium summer tyres and just put up with the poor capabilities through the winter.

[Buck]

Agree wtih Dubber on this - the key as well is not just the tyre but knowing your limits as a driver and the behaviour of your car.

Mix all those together and you will still be a safe driver but will have to manage increased risk in winter with stopping distances, traction and overall performance.