Winter Tyres - any good?

[Gritt23]

I've thought about it before, especially as my rear-wheel drive car is gubbins when the snow arrives. This year, my tyres are looking in need of changing at just the right time, so ... are winter tyres any good, and do they differ much from one brand to another?

Essentially, I only want them if it means my Merc has an improved chance of actually being drivable in snowy conditions. Stopping distances, yeah great, but my problem is getting moving.

 

[Coleby1007]

Will definitely improve your driving ability in wet and icy conditions. They do differ between brands and price ranges, obviously the better brands and higher prices usually mean they will be harder wearing, last longer and give you greater traction

 

[beorhthelm]

couple of 50kg bags of sand in the boot is probably more usful for getting started.

 

[Gritt23]

couple of 50kg bags of sand in the boot is probably more usful for getting started.

That was going to be my plan this winter. I was thinking of bags of grit, as that would be pretty handy when I do grind to an inevitable halt.

 

[ees complicated no?]

just put something heavy in your boot I just wack in a couple gas bottles, unless you buy expensive winter tyers, from experience I dont see much difference, so I just put a gas bottle or 2 in the boot and snow chains when needed

 

[Gritt23]

just put something heavy in your boot I just wack in a couple gas bottles, unless you buy expensive winter tyers, from experience I dont see much difference, so I just put a gas bottle or 2 in the boot and snow chains when needed

How tricky, and time consumer are snow chains to put on? Work on the basis of my DIY skills being just about as poor as anyone (man or woman) that you've ever known.

 

[strings]

Somebody told me that you have to inform your insurance company if you put on winter tyres, as it counts as a modification to your car - is this true?

 

[ees complicated no?]

How tricky, and time consumer are snow chains to put on? Work on the basis of my DIY skills being just about as poor as anyone (man or woman) that you've ever known.

I think 1st time I done them took around 30 mins as I hadnt a clue (I did this when snow wasnt about for experience) but then when I undone them and redone them It took around 5 mins, then when snow did come only took 10 mins as I knew what to do. so aslong as you try in dry weather before the snow and ice hits us you should be fine in fixing them on

 

[ees complicated no?]

How tricky, and time consumer are snow chains to put on? Work on the basis of my DIY skills being just about as poor as anyone (man or woman) that you've ever known.

I think 1st time I done them took around 30 mins as I hadnt a clue (I did this when snow wasnt about for experience) but then when I undone them and redone them It took around 5 mins, then when snow did come only took 10 mins as I knew what to do. so aslong as you try in dry weather before the snow and ice hits us you should be fine in fixing them on.

 

[Coleby1007]

Somebody told me that you have to inform your insurance company if you put on winter tyres, as it counts as a modification to your car - is this true?

Yep, load of bollox. Anything alterations to the car from the original stock setting means you have to tell your insurance company, who will probably try and bend you over and charge you extra. They'll claim that either it enhances performance or makes it more lucrative to theives.

As you can tell I dont like insurance companies. Pretty much legalised theft

 

[VAL1850]

Winter tyres are good but you may be limited by tyre sizes for wheels and can mean having a separate set of wheels

Snow chains are a nightmare to get on as usually you are sitting in a pile of freezing slush at the time - not good for your tyres except on snow

At end of day if car in front has no chains or winter tyres you go now where fast

 

[Coleby1007]

Somebody told me that you have to inform your insurance company if you put on winter tyres, as it counts as a modification to your car - is this true?

Yep, load of bollox. Any alterations to the car from the original stock setting means you have to tell your insurance company, who will probably try and bend you over and charge you extra. They'll claim that either it enhances performance or makes it more lucrative to theives.

As you can tell I dont like insurance companies. Pretty much legalised theft

 

[Gritt23]

Somebody told me that you have to inform your insurance company if you put on winter tyres, as it counts as a modification to your car - is this true?

No it's not true. I checked with our insurance broker when that got mentioned on here (I think) last winter, and they said ....


Me: Also ….. could be a load of garbage, but a few people in the office reckon that if you put winter tyres on your car, that classes as “modifying” and you need to inform your insurance company of it, or risk not being covered. Surely that’s rubbish isn’t it?

Broker: Anyway you are quite correct load of garbage.

 

[PHCgull]

winter tyres will give you less miles to the gallon. So will driving round with 100kg of sand in the boot. get some cheapy chains and some old carpet and if you ever get stuck, use them to get you out.

If you go to the alps, however, winter tyres are a MUST. The swiss police will stop you if you dont have winter tyres and throw you in a dungeon. probably.

 

[Gritt23]

some old carpet and if you ever get stuck, use them to get you out.

The merc gets stuck constantly. I'd need to carpet the whole drive to work and back.

 

[PHCgull]

basically winter tryres have much more tread (and are asymmettric usually) - they do give you grip on icy roads but they wont turn a heavy old merc into a 4-by-4. I have them on a subaru legacy - we live down an unmade road so when it snows/ices that just breezes out...

chains are overkill unless there is an inch of snow on the road or more, although they are bloody useful if you just need to get through a sticky patch and onto a gritted road

 

[willyfantastic]

Had winter tyres on my Mum's automatic Toyota Yaris last year (when it was really bad) and the difference is incredible. They live on the side of a hill in Devon that was covered in snow and made it all but impossible for most vehicles to get out, but the tyres worked wonders.

We informed the insurance company but all it took was a phone call and that was it.

My dad bought a pair for his old car which he then sold. Managed to sell them on eBay for more than what he bought them for during the same winter period.

 

[willyfantastic]

basically winter tryres have much more tread (and are asymmettric usually) - they do give you grip on icy roads but they wont turn a heavy old merc into a 4-by-4. I have them on a subaru legacy - we live down an unmade road so when it snows/ices that just breezes out...

chains are overkill unless there is an inch of snow on the road or more, although they are bloody useful if you just need to get through a sticky patch and onto a gritted road

I think they also work under much colder temperatures compared to normal tyres too, but don't quote me on it..

 

[Direct Dave]

I used winter tyres last winter and found them to work really well. I found myself trying to get the car stuck in snow, just to see how well they really did work. Also winter tyres are not just for snow & ice, their compound are designed to operate best in temperatures below 7 degrees c. Unlike standard tyres which will struggle to operate properly below these temps.
From my experience winter tyres work very well indeed, offering greater traction even on a slightly colder wet morning as for driving in the snow & ice, they offer so much more traction compared with the summer tyres.
As for weighing the car down with bags of grit etc, all that'll do is create a unbalanced car when steering and and braking especially when it comes to trying to negotiate hilly roads covered in snow. I bought a full second hand set of wheels from ebay and the tyres from my tyres online, I got a mate to fit them for me, this makes it much easier to swap all the whole lot over when I want. The tyres cost a little more than standard tyres but then you're still only wearing one set out at a time.

 

[Direct Dave]

I did read that the AA say you're safer to fit none rather than just 2.