Winter driving advice from Volkswagen - Summer vs Winter Tyres

[Daz Auto]

I know there are already several threads on winter tyres, but they are getting long and important information can get lost.

Here is video from Volkswagen on the subject of winter tyres. It even has 2 mk6 golfs 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OkICiXQ8tE

Other information we discovered tonight...

"While budget winter tyres can offer vastly superior snow performance to any summer tyre, budget winter tyres can struggle when the roads are wet or warm. Premium manufactuers spend hundreds of millions of pounds a year on R&D and testing, ensuring their tyres can meet the demands of one criteria, without significantly sacrificing other performance. With the average winter in the UK being 40% dry, 45% wet and 15% snow, we'd think twice before fitting a budget winter tyre which might only be an advantage for 15% of the winter!"

Source... http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Winter-Tyre-Buying-Guide.htm

I also discovered that a tyre that wins R16 tests may not be the best tyre for R17 or R18 wheels. Compare the above R16 review with the one below for R17 tyres.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Auto-Bild-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm

Safe motoring everyone.

[Daz Auto]

Here is another great video on the subject...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEMH10Z4s

[am1w]

Very convincing videos. Thanks Daz.

[AndyC]

Very convincing videos. Thanks Daz.

Any chance you will be doing an winter tyre buying guide like your summer? am1w?

Great Videos Daz Auto

[am1w]

Very convincing videos. Thanks Daz.

Any chance you will be doing an winter tyre buying guide like your summer? am1w?
Great Videos Daz Auto

Andy:

I was thinking about it. But I am a bit unsure because I have very little experience of driving cars with winter tyres. On the other, as I have driven a few cars with different summer tyres, I felt I could say something about summer tyres.

What I'll attempt to do, whilst I am convalescing after my operation, is try and put something together for information purpses for our forum. But I think it will be a let down. 

I do feel Daz Auto will be much better at this.

[Daz Auto]

I do feel Daz Auto will be much better at this.

 

I have never driven on winter tyres before. Though I will be happy to give my opinion on the 205/55/ R16 Goodyear Ultragrip 8. Problem is I won't be fitting them for a month. And there is unlikely to be snow where I live before Christmas.

Most of my research was done on this website http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/ It is useful to look at the web page for one specific tyre. The full page gives a list of reviews for that tyre only and the position it finished in each review (1st, 2nd, etc). Also the size of tyre reviewed eg. 225/45/R16

Look for a tyre that consistently finishes high in reviews for the size you want.

[am1w]

Daz:
Put all your research into one thread and I'm certain Doc could make it into a sticky. It would be a great quick reference guide for us.

[Daz Auto]

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/winter-tyres-tested/be-prepared/259257

Is that the review you were talking about am1w?

They used a VW Golf for their tests. A lot of the tyre reviews I have read seem to use the Golf.

[am1w]

Yes, that's the one Daz.

[The Doc]

Go Daz go 

I picked up Mrs Docs winter wheels (16" steel) and tyres (Conti 4x4 contact M&S) for her Tig yesterday, just need some snow now