Tyres Shocker

[Ivor Mk4 Turbo]

I'd just be careful running 2 winter tyres on the front/2 summer's on the back, as you might get a false sense of security going around an icy bend!  The fronts will bite nicely, then before you know it, the rear will be swinging around like a conker on a string!

[mcmaddy]

No one has said about running winters and summer tyres together.

[itavaltalainen]

Go for 17" or if you can 16" wheels for winter.... more comfort and if you run into kerb at least it's only the tyre
Also beneficiary to run slightly narrower tyre for traction in snow (I've gone for 205 55 16 on Audi A3 16" Speedline wheels).

For summer tyre life I can recommend the Pirelli P7... they lasted 24k on the front, Dunlop sport maxx rt were down after about 15k.
Winters I will only run for trips abroad since I have to pay for them myself (company car) so wear should not be much of an issue on them.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Back to OP.

Tests show winter tyres are excellent but our climate fluctuates too much. For example it could be 12-14 degrees for days and days, then it could dip to 3-4 for a day and then back up to seasonal norms. In the mean time your soft compound winters tyres will be wearing our more rapidly than if you lived in a Scandinavian country where it stays at a cooler temperatures for months.

I think it's tricky to make a judgement in this country. Plus, hardly any other buggers fit them in the UK so if you break hard in snow, ice or wet and stop quickly - others will be ploughing into the back of you!

[itavaltalainen]

At one point I used to run winter tyres and later all season tyres on my mk3s... all year, the difference in tyre wear between summer and winter was pretty negligible.

Only if you drive them at temperatures above 15~20 degrees depending on rubber composition you see real differences. Below 7 degrees winter tyres always win, even on dry roads. Between 7 and about 15 you will see a little difference in terms of wear unless you drive them very hard (that's my own empirical study having lived in Austria, Finland and the UK). If you get slightly smaller winter tyres then works out the same in terms of cost (they wear a bit quicker but comparing the price of a 225 45 17 to a 205 55 16 the overall cost for tyres is the same).

Always surprised people don't get fined (more) for not having a "roadworthy" car when they rear end other cars with summer tyres in snow.... with the craze about health and safety about literally everything else in the UK.

[pjr]

No one has said about running winters and summer tyres together.

The OP read to me like they were considering that. The Conti Sport 5 front tyres had worn out, and they were thinking of 2 winter tyres.

Maybe that's not what they meant, but I would certainly recommend having all winters or all summers. I don't have any choice as my winters are a different size and my car would look pretty strange with little wheels on the front and big ones on the back. 

[Finglonga]

Am I the only one that checks tyres condition and pressures weekly then? Only ask this as not only the OP found his were bald but a visitor next door is running with illegal tyres on the front and didn't realise it is 3points for every defective tyre.

As for mine it has done 13500 and the fronts are just off the wear indicators so around 2½mm left so I will replace them soon. Never mix winter and other tyres as you are asking for trouble and I would be surprised if any decent fitter would only put them on one axle.

[Mr Savage]

Am I the only one that checks tyres condition and pressures weekly then? Only ask this as not only the OP found his were bald but a visitor next door is running with illegal tyres on the front and didn't realise it is 3points for every defective tyre.

As for mine it has done 13500 and the fronts are just off the wear indicators so around 2½mm left so I will replace them soon. Never mix winter and other tyres as you are asking for trouble and I would be surprised if any decent fitter would only put them on one axle.

I check them fairly regularly, but to be honest my tyres have only needed air once after over a year of being on the car. They seem to hold their pressures very well and since we all have Tyre Pressure Monitoring system then the car will soon tell us when they drop by around 5PSI, assuming it's been set up properly.

I also noticed that some kid has stole my valve caps...again. I'm so tempted to cover them with security paint this time. Little gremlins.

[mcmaddy]

I check mine every week but it's a tad difficult when it gets cold putting the correct pressures in.

[Gnasher]

Am I the only one that thinks the OP has nothing to worry about with his front tyres wearing out at 14k?

My GTI PP has less than 6k on it and I've got 2-3mm left on the fronts and I drive pretty steadily as well as running the thing in for around 1500 miles.

That said, I've gone through a Cypriot summer (40-45 degrees most days at the height of it) which might have accelerated the wear slightly.