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[feeutfo]

Just a word for anyone with continental sports contact 3's, a very good summer tyre. From personal experience these are absolutely lethal in Snow, and Auto express tested these against winter tyres.

In braking tests for 30mph on fresh snow, all the winter tyres had stopped, while the sc3 was still doing 23mph  !

Hopeless.

[cem_devecioglu]

Winter tyres are not just about snow, but also about temperature. The rubber mixture used on summer tyres hardens out from 7 degrees C and loses more and more grip, the colder it gets. So even on a dry or just wet cold winter road they can make the difference of stopping in time or hitting something.

On snow even the cheapest snow tyre will be better than the most expensive summer tyre. But in the cold, on a dry/wet road is where the differences between a cheap and premium winter tyre become apparent.

The economic argument isnt valid either. Firstly your summer tyres wont be used in winter and will last longer. The winter tyres can be re-used for perhaps the next 2-4 winters depending on mileage/driving style. And if you use cheap steelies for the winters, then you avoid risking damage to your precious alloys as well.

completely agreed.. 
 
its not just about snow.. even under rain and cold weather they are much better.. besides there are many days that roads are covered with half frost in early mornings which is another trap for drivers..

[cem_devecioglu]

Just a word for anyone with continental sports contact 3's, a very good summer tyre. From personal experience these are absolutely lethal in Snow, and Auto express tested these against winter tyres.

In braking tests for 30mph on fresh snow, all the winter tyres had stopped, while the sc3 was still doing 23mph  !

Hopeless.

the reason why they make snow tires.. 
 
its silica compound and micro teeths are different..

[cem_devecioglu]

if you accept kumhos as budget tires, I can recommend KW19 ..tested on a snowy mountain road..
 
and its ok for the job..

Kumho make good mid range tyres.

Budgets are Wanli, LingLong etc...

personally Kumho is the lowest denominator for me.. Wanli, Linglong not worth the money spend for tires , wheels and balance etc..

[D]

Budget tyres are ditchfinders in all weathers, IMHO. Decent quality normal tyres grip nicely at all temperatures if the surface is free from snow and ice. Most of what we face in this country in the winter is just wet, something that budget tyres cope with particularly badly.

Unless you're going to swap tyres for the couple of days per year when the snow is band, and those days only, stick with a decent all-round tyre and a set of snow chains IMHO.

I have to disagree with that. Frost forms on surfaces including roads as early as 4 degr centigrade. Most winter mornings involve me defrosting my windscreen. Now I would be foolish to assume that at the same time the roads will be perfect and free from ice/frost/slush. Drive out onto a road with ambient temps around 3 degr and you would be at risk straight away.

The rubber of a winter tyre contains much more silica, which keeps them softer and grippy, even down to negative temperatures. The softer compound also helps when flexibility is required to grant snow grip. They also have multiple fine sipes in each tread block, which in combination with the softer rubber keep opening and closing during use, hence allowing to better adapt to the road surface and also constantly creating little edges, which also account for the better snow and slush grip. They also improve the aquaplaning scenario in a straight line. Lateral aquaplaning isnt improved.

Somebody else mentioned the physics of tyres warming up. Sure if you feel brave enough to drive fast enough on slippery surfaces to generate enough heat to get from negative temps to a temp greater than 7 degr centigrade then clearly you are in the minority of drivers I know. Most people would have spun off and crashed by then.

[D]

Winter tyres are not just about snow, but also about temperature. The rubber mixture used on summer tyres hardens out from 7 degrees C and loses more and more grip, the colder it gets. So even on a dry or just wet cold winter road they can make the difference of stopping in time or hitting something.

On snow even the cheapest snow tyre will be better than the most expensive summer tyre. But in the cold, on a dry/wet road is where the differences between a cheap and premium winter tyre become apparent.

The economic argument isnt valid either. Firstly your summer tyres wont be used in winter and will last longer. The winter tyres can be re-used for perhaps the next 2-4 winters depending on mileage/driving style. And if you use cheap steelies for the winters, then you avoid risking damage to your precious alloys as well.

The economic argument is extremely valid in my case and I'm not into modifications, so fitting a set of steelies to my Omega is completely out of the question 

You dont have to fit steelies. Instead choose a cheap pair of omega alloys for approx £50 - £100 from ebay. Also consider that a crash due to having poorly suited tyres will cost you a lot more than a set of winter tyres.

In my case I have my wife and baby in my car and there is no way that £500 is going to win when pitted against their safety. However I do understand that current financial trends mean that a lot of folk cannot afford to splash out on something like winter tyres + alloys at one go.

If you plan to keep the car for a few years, the costs will even out. My winter tyres go on to my cars mid-november and get taken off around march/april. That is 5 months of wear that my summer tyres save. Think of it as 2 sets of tyres that you rotate around and it will seem less of an expense.

Last year when we were based in Sevenoaks and there was a week of snow and chaos. I remember being one of the few people who could get out of our drive. Everyone else inc X5's and Q7s were spinning their wheels and going nowhere. On the road the difference that the snow tyres made was unbelievable, so much so that friends I gave a lift to have all gone ahead and purchased snow tyres.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I'm not doubting that winter tyres have more grip than ordinary tyres, because all the research and testing is out there.......  What I do doubt however is 'weather' they're strictly necessary in this country.   

I've said this in another thread. What does worry me about winter tyres is that there will be numpties out there who won't adjust their driving style to the conditions, because they've got spangly new snow tyres....      If you drive round like it's a hot summers day in the ice and snow, you're going to come a cropper whatever you got on your wheels!! 

Here's another thing.  Does the softer rubber on winter tyres wear out quicker than ordinary tyres? 

[Lazydocker]

The other argument is, unfortunately, that most insurance companies will deem 15" steel wheels and winter tyres as a modification so if it isn't de33clared they may try to wriggle out

Someone enquired last winter and was told it would be a modification and void their insurance 

[Lazydocker]

The other argument is, unfortunately, that most insurance companies will deem 15" steel wheels and winter tyres as a modification so if it isn't de33clared they may try to wriggle out

Someone enquired last winter and was told it would be a modification and void their insurance 

Dunno what happened with the 33 in declared

[aaronjb]

I've said this in another thread. What does worry me about winter tyres is that there will be numpties out there who won't adjust their driving style to the conditions, because they've got spangly new snow tyres....      If you drive round like it's a hot summers day in the ice and snow, you're going to come a cropper whatever you got on your wheels!! 

I think the numpties of which you speak would be driving in exactly the same manner on summer tyres - the only difference being they'll probably fall off the road sooner, but at no lower speed.. heck, it seems to me most people drive with scant regard for the conditions anyway :-/

It seems to me (having read threads like this on every car forum I frequent) that opinions on winter tyres are almost entirely polarised into:

1) I've never needed them before in X years, you're all wasting your money, nobody needs winter tyres in this country!
2) I tried them and they're amazing, you wouldn't believe how much more grip & safety you have.

And ne'er the two groups shall meet..

Not knocking either view - I was firmly in camp 1 until this year when I figured that, in reality, it's cheap insurance on a car I intend to keep a while - £400 or so on a set probably amortizes down to ~£100 a year, and should save me 1/3rd of a years worth of wear on the 'normal' tyres, somewhat offsetting that £100.. Which at this point, is about a tank of fuel..

[cem_devecioglu]

I'm not doubting that winter tyres have more grip than ordinary tyres, because all the research and testing is out there.......  What I do doubt however is 'weather' they're strictly necessary in this country.   

I've said this in another thread. What does worry me about winter tyres is that there will be numpties out there who won't adjust their driving style to the conditions, because they've got spangly new snow tyres....    If you drive round like it's a hot summers day in the ice and snow, you're going to come a cropper whatever you got on your wheels!! 

Here's another thing.  Does the softer rubber on winter tyres wear out quicker than ordinary tyres? 

winter tires above 15 celcius wear quickly than normal summer tires but say maximum 30% more (this is for a dry asphalt) .. but if you are not making hundred miles a day you will notice it after 2-3 years.. and also considering your country is rainy this wear will be minimum imo..
 
of course economy is a major factor for decision,  but even a small skid may cost much more than that without considering other risks..
 
and for other drivers that are on normal tires , yes they may be still dangerous but if someone start to skid against my car I want at least a maneuverable car in my hands to escape if possible..and its a personal responsibility..
 
in my job I generally examine and watch other cars tires and I have seen that %80 of cars at least have winter tires even here snows maximum 10-15 days a year..

[D]

Well said to the last 2 posters.

[Lazydocker]

I must admit, if I had the spare wheels at the moment I'd willingly put a set of winter tyres on them. My car will not see much use this winter because of the new job but I hope that I'll be getting new wheels over the winter and then my current ones will have winter tyres fitted

Mind you, the Neuton's I have fitted to the rear are M+S Rated anyway

[D]

Here's another thing.  Does the softer rubber on winter tyres wear out quicker than ordinary tyres? 

They would if you were to carry on using them during the summer months and probably cost more in terms of fuel as the rolling resistance would be a lot higher in summer.

With regards to insurance, I use a spare set of alloys which are omega standard fitment and my insurance wants me to declare the point when I change them but I do not have to pay anything extra.

[aaronjb]

Mind you, the Neuton's I have fitted to the rear are M+S Rated anyway

They certainly don't grip like it in the wet!  (I'm still hoping that's just the release agent still being on the tyres..)