Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: cem_devecioglu on 02 December 2010, 15:01:27

Title: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 02 December 2010, 15:01:27
http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/winter+tires+worth/3771919/story.html

Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 02 December 2010, 15:12:19
I hope this will also be useful
http://beta.edmunds.com/car-safety/driving-on-snow-and-ice-10-safety-tips.html?articleid=124638
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 December 2010, 15:17:05
They certainly are... If you live in Calgary. ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 02 December 2010, 17:49:33
Quote
They certainly are... If you live in Calgary. ;)

Kevin

;D :y
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Lazydocker on 02 December 2010, 19:20:45
Quote
"If you had good tires that were not winter tires and it was around zero, -5 C, you'd probably get similar performance," he says. "But even in that case the winter tires would be softer than the standard tire and give slightly better performance.

"But once you get past that point of the magical temperature where the rubber becomes hard, then there's no comparison."

Exactly... Decent, relatively new tyres will be almost as effective ;) ;) :y :y
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Vamps on 02 December 2010, 19:47:33
I am begining to think so...... :-/ :-/ :-/
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 02 December 2010, 20:15:57
Never used them yet, and probably never will unless England goes Artic! :D :D :D ;)
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 02 December 2010, 20:19:11
Quote
Never used them yet, and probably never will unless England goes Artic! :D :D :D ;)

Lizzie , on an empty road, please check your brake distances :-/
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 02 December 2010, 20:23:24
Quote
Quote
"If you had good tires that were not winter tires and it was around zero, -5 C, you'd probably get similar performance," he says. "But even in that case the winter tires would be softer than the standard tire and give slightly better performance.

"But once you get past that point of the magical temperature where the rubber becomes hard, then there's no comparison."

Exactly... Decent, relatively new tyres will be almost as effective ;) ;) :y :y

That would also depend on the tread pattern.  Today we have tyres designed more for performance.  20 years ago they were more bloky with the tread.



I had a Viva estate as a spare car in the late 80's, put a pair of colway remoulds on with M+S Remoulds on 3 series BMW steel rims and if I still had the car now I would be out there playing in the snow.


Bet a brand new range rover is crap in the snow and the reason being performance road tyres.

Few exanples of type of tread here.

http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=colway+mud+and+snow+remoulds&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=880&bih=409
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: aaronjb on 02 December 2010, 20:26:04
Nice link - the first page of hits for me has a link back to here with a shot of .. Debs? Omega  ;D
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Bixy1 on 02 December 2010, 20:26:41

Thats more like it...proper knobbly tyres! Invaluable. :y
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 02 December 2010, 20:27:40
Found some on ebay

Not the same tread as I used to have though.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m570&_nkw=Colway+Remould
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 02 December 2010, 20:53:28
Quote
Quote
Never used them yet, and probably never will unless England goes Artic! :D :D :D ;)

Lizzie , on an empty road, please check your brake distances :-/


The thing is Cem we rarely get snow / ice lasting on the main roads for longer than a few days, if that.  So I adopt the system I have used whilst driving a million miles on business.

Always drive to allow for the road conditions and the condition of my car.

Use headlights when visability is reduced.

In snow and ice take great care keeping speed down to what the road conditions allow.

Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front, behind, and at the side, especially when passing lorries on the motorway, with the continual monitoring of the overall traffic situation as far ahead, and behind, as possible.

Maintain the road tyres to the correct pressures, ensuring the tread is at least 3mm, if not replace tyres before winter with a leading quality brand.

If necessary use your skid pan training, including the driver training given to me by a police 'A' driver, and experience to the full.
 
Keep fully alert for all eventualities, especially if driving at speed, allowing for other peoples errors.

These are obviously my rules, but as I said Cem, they have done me well when professionally driving, often at high speed. ;) ;)

Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: aaronjb on 02 December 2010, 21:41:43
Someone needs to buy Cem this...

(http://coolrecordplayers.com/library/cleaner2.jpg)

;D

(I hope you're all old enough to get that reference.. and Cem, no offence intended, it just came to mind because every thread seems to have you mentioning winter tyres in it ;D not that I disagree entirely with the recommendation!)
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 02 December 2010, 21:50:18
Quote
Someone needs to buy Cem this...

(http://coolrecordplayers.com/library/cleaner2.jpg)

;D

(I hope you're all old enough to get that reference.. and Cem, no offence intended, it just came to mind because every thread seems to have you mentioning winter tyres in it ;D not that I disagree entirely with the recommendation!)

 ;D ;D

trust me I'm patient enough to repeat every year until all members agree with me ;D :y

Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: aaronjb on 02 December 2010, 21:54:21
Quote
;D ;D

trust me I'm patient enough to repeat every year until all members agree with me ;D :y

;D I'm glad you have a sense of humour Cem ;)
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 02 December 2010, 21:55:45
Quote
Quote
;D ;D

trust me I'm patient enough to repeat every year until all members agree with me ;D :y

;D I'm glad you have a sense of humour Cem ;)

no worries .. 

nice find by the way.. :y
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Lazydocker on 02 December 2010, 21:56:28
I agree with Lizzie... Although I am slightly younger than her (so I'm told... I thought she was 21 :-* ::)) I have well in excess of a million miles under my belt and follow similar rules. With one big addition... I hardly use the brakes in these poor conditions, just cover them to show the stop lights :y :y

SWMBO commented earlier that one of the heath roads seemed pretty good as I was slowing comfortably with no ABS interference... So I pressed the pedal a fraction harder for her ;D ;D

Having some fun with the sideways action though ::) :D :D
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: aaronjb on 02 December 2010, 22:47:25
Who needs winter tyres.. all you need is a septic tank truck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sc00fVFx5D0
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 02 December 2010, 22:49:28
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDEDHKHsec8&feature=related[/media]
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 03 December 2010, 08:26:15
Quote
I agree with Lizzie... Although I am slightly younger than her (so I'm told... I thought she was 21 :-* ::)) I have well in excess of a million miles under my belt and follow similar rules. With one big addition... I hardly use the brakes in these poor conditions, just cover them to show the stop lights :y :y

SWMBO commented earlier that one of the heath roads seemed pretty good as I was slowing comfortably with no ABS interference... So I pressed the pedal a fraction harder for her ;D ;D

Having some fun with the sideways action though ::) :D :D



That is a very good point LD, and that is another reason for staying well back from any vehicles in front when driving on snow :y :y :y :y :y :y :y


I do love the fun you can have driving in the snow........and testing out the ABS! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

By the way I am only 21.....................................especially when I can throw a car around a bit testing my skid control! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;) ;) ;) ;)

Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 03 December 2010, 08:36:14
Quote
Someone needs to buy Cem this...

http://coolrecordplayers.com/library/cleaner2.jpg

;D

(I hope you're all old enough to get that reference.......


I certainly do - I received not only a cartridge, complete with stylus, but cleaning fluid and a carbon fibre brush from a vendor on eBay just last week. :y
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Banjax on 03 December 2010, 08:53:50
definitely worth considering as the last 3 years we've had "proper" winters  :o
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Psychoca on 03 December 2010, 09:08:49
I agree with Lizzie...

Even with the Winter that we had last year, where, in my area, there was snow on the ground for about 3 weeks.  On the roads however, they were clear for about 14 days...

I am aware that my braking distance is increased during the cold weather hence I will leave a much greater distance behind the vehicle infront...
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 03 December 2010, 09:44:39
Quote
definitely worth considering as the last 3 years we've had "proper" winters  :o

Not sure I can compare 3 years ago with what we have now, last year was proof it was going to get worse, so no excuses for next years weather, we have all had a sample of it now.
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 03 December 2010, 10:10:42
Quote
Quote
Someone needs to buy Cem this...

http://coolrecordplayers.com/library/cleaner2.jpg

;D

(I hope you're all old enough to get that reference.......


I certainly do - I received not only a cartridge, complete with stylus, but cleaning fluid and a carbon fibre brush from a vendor on eBay just last week. :y

That reminds me.. Need to resurrect my turntable (and build a phono stage so I can listen to it again) ::).

As for Cem, I think he needs an iPod to make sure there is no recurrence of this issue. ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 03 December 2010, 10:17:43
Quote
definitely worth considering as the last 3 years we've had "proper" winters  :o

finally I see someone is close to be convinced :) :y

as far as I understand most of you live on flat areas ,

so you dont have much trouble..

but I have bad experiences in snow , and as I live in a very crowded city there is no way to avoid cars close to you  :( and you need good brakes which normal summer tires are crap on those snowy,icy roads..

tried many sorts of stuff and decided snow tires are the most practical and as a result ,  the way to go ..

many days here in winter is rainy or wet from melted snow but turns to ice suddenly after the sun goes.. so its a must here..








Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Psychoca on 03 December 2010, 10:38:20
Britain isn't that flat...  The Fenland areas are flat (where I live), but, we still get snow and ice...  We just don't get the sustained bad weather conditions to warrant the use of winter tyres...

Banjax lives in Scotland, which I am certain does get hit harder during the winter time and as such he does see the possible benefits of them, but, in the main part of the country, I still would say that we don't get the prolonged conditions to warrant them...
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: albitz on 03 December 2010, 10:41:16
Quote
Quote
Quote
Someone needs to buy Cem this...

http://coolrecordplayers.com/library/cleaner2.jpg

;D

(I hope you're all old enough to get that reference.......


I certainly do - I received not only a cartridge, complete with stylus, but cleaning fluid and a carbon fibre brush from a vendor on eBay just last week. :y

That reminds me.. Need to resurrect my turntable (and build a phono stage so I can listen to it again) ::).

As for Cem, I think he needs an iPod to make sure there is no recurrence of this issue. ;D

Kevin
I have been threatening to resurrect my old Bang and Olufsen turntable and amp for about 10 years (needs a stylus) but I gave in to reality last week and chucked it in the bin. ::) :'(
Some day I will get another, as I am absolutely convinced that records will always sound better than cold clinical digitalised sound. ;)
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Chris_H on 03 December 2010, 10:41:55
We've got some way to go before winter tyres are worthwhile for the majority here in the UK.  It's like the hard/soft dilemma in F1; you can shred a soft set in no time if the snow & ice clears.

I did like the link in Reply #1.  There was some good stuff in there although I don't quite agree with the cadence braking description.  I think it can be done better than that.
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Lazydocker on 03 December 2010, 11:07:39
Quote
Britain isn't that flat...  The Fenland areas are flat (where I live), but, we still get snow and ice...  We just don't get the sustained bad weather conditions to warrant the use of winter tyres...

Banjax lives in Scotland, which I am certain does get hit harder during the winter time and as such he does see the possible benefits of them, but, in the main part of the country, I still would say that we don't get the prolonged conditions to warrant them...

Exactly... With the travelling I do I would shred snow tyres within a season without trying  ;) ;)
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 03 December 2010, 11:57:13
To put things into some context, certainly for Kent, most Southern counties, and even much of the Midlands, we may see for an average winter an average snowfall of maybe 3 to 6 inches, maybe slightly more if we are lucky, outside of the 1947 and 1962/63 winters.  Many winters in the south have seen no, or virtually, no snow at all in recent decades!

These are the approximate United States of America state snowfall amounts.  No wonder they have a certain time of the year when many motorists fit winter tyres!

    Virginia                               48 inches
    West Virginia               43 inches
    Maryland                       33 inches
    Pennsylvania               30 inches
    New Jersey                       28 inches
    New York                       28 inches
    Connecticut                       27 inches
    Kentucky                       27 inches
    North Carolina               25 inches
    District of Columbia       24 inches
    Ohio                               17 inches
    Massachusetts               17 inches
    Georgia                       12 inches

City snowfall records

    Philadelphia, PA                30 inches
    Newark, NJ                        28 inches
    New York, NY                20 inches
    Charleston, WV                19 inches
    Cincinnati, OH                14 inches

 ;) ;)





Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 03 December 2010, 12:33:11
Quote


That reminds me.. Need to resurrect my turntable (and build a phono stage so I can listen to it again) ::).

As for Cem, I think he needs an iPod to make sure there is no recurrence of this issue. ;D

Kevin

I've cleared out my garage (pics shortly) and have installed bits and pieces of old kit (not the Quad) to provide some entertainment when I'm out there.

I can play all my Yes, Wakeman and assorted vinyl without being asked, "Really, must you play that?" ;D ;D

Also laid a cat5 in so have the MCE and OOF as well. 8-)

Happy days.
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 03 December 2010, 12:54:32
Quote
I've cleared out my garage (pics shortly) and have installed bits and pieces of old kit (not the Quad) to provide some entertainment when I'm out there.

I can play all my Yes, Wakeman and assorted vinyl without being asked, "Really, must you play that?" ;D ;D

Also laid a cat5 in so have the MCE and OOF as well. 8-)

Happy days.

Sounds like you're being chucked moving out to me. ;)

Quote
Ohio                              17 inches

That surprises me. :o

I got "snowed in" in Cincinnati during a business trip about 15 years ago and the place was total chaos. Got into a taxi and the driver was bragging about the 484 he had under the "hood" while I was trying not to laugh at his attempts to keep the damned thing on the road.  ;D

Still, when we arrived at the hotel in one piece we found it full of stewardesses who had also been delayed :-*, and it was happy hour at the bar, so all's well that ends well. :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 03 December 2010, 14:15:48
ok..

I think its really necessary to correct a
mis-understanding/misnomer .. :-/

 snow/winter tires are not only for snow or ice ,
 they are designed to be used for a wide range of temperatures and speeds in cold, either wet or dry conditions..

the tire firms design them to handle dry/rainy conditions and resist for wear .. they can handle high speeds like summer tires .. however by their nature , their wear rates are higher on dry as you can estimate, but that doesnt mean you will finish them on a dry run  ;D .. most tire shops and firms advice you not to make high speeds to keep their teeth! (or thread depth) to use them under urgent conditions..

another factor is that their grip is also incomparable on rainy/muddy roads..

so claims that for areas that dont have snow or rarely snow ,they cant benefit from the purchase,
is totally wrong..

you can use them below 17-18 celcius like any tire , however their advantages start to show them below 7 celcius..

the only drawback is that they increase fuel consumption about %5-8 .. and of course brake pad wear increase will be similiar ..

 :) :y





Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: jerry on 03 December 2010, 23:49:58
well I have to agree with cem, recently purchased some nockian winter tyres as had more than a few tricky moments last winter and they reckon poor winters go in 3s so um and aghed about it and invested in some. Wish Id done it last year. The grip is far better and feel far more confident. Doesnt mean you dont do all the normal stuff (slow and steady/weight in the boot etc)but can certainly vouch for the difference they make. As for the old record thing, reminds me to put a new turntable on my xmas list as Ive exhausted my supply of styluses now and their now obselete. The better half got me one of those turntables that you connect to your Pc to transfer your old vinyl to Cd but whilst the turntable is pretty good  and you can connect it to amp/speakers it hasnt got a bloody lid!Tbh I view the old vinyl album v CD the same as kindle books to proper books. When you bought an album you felt like you'd got something of value but cds seem far more disposable. Must be the ludite in me but even prefer that old analogue sound, seems warmer somehow and less sterile. Or maybe I just miss all those crackles and cleaning the fluff off the needle ;D
Title: Re: Are winter tires worth the purchase ?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 04 December 2010, 10:00:48
Quote
well I have to agree with cem, recently purchased some nockian winter tyres as had more than a few tricky moments last winter and they reckon poor winters go in 3s so um and aghed about it and invested in some. Wish Id done it last year. The grip is far better and feel far more confident. Doesnt mean you dont do all the normal stuff (slow and steady/weight in the boot etc)but can certainly vouch for the difference they make. As for the old record thing, reminds me to put a new turntable on my xmas list as Ive exhausted my supply of styluses now and their now obselete. The better half got me one of those turntables that you connect to your Pc to transfer your old vinyl to Cd but whilst the turntable is pretty good  and you can connect it to amp/speakers it hasnt got a bloody lid!Tbh I view the old vinyl album v CD the same as kindle books to proper books. When you bought an album you felt like you'd got something of value but cds seem far more disposable. Must be the ludite in me but even prefer that old analogue sound, seems warmer somehow and less sterile. Or maybe I just miss all those crackles and cleaning the fluff off the needle ;D

 :) :y :y