Just put on winter wheels

DXP55 · 20 Nov 2015 at 08:33

Took off the 225/40/18 alloys and put on winter wheels 205/55/16.

What a difference it makes to the car - steering is much lighter - car doesn't tram line and seems to be slightly less road noise although winter tyres are XL's

Unfortunately now I have changed we will have warmest driest winter ever. :rolleyes:

Redgie · 20 Nov 2015 at 09:11

*Looks outside*

I think you may be early

craig_t · 20 Nov 2015 at 10:43

Apparently there is a lot of snow coming today...?

MadMouse101 · 20 Nov 2015 at 10:48

craig_t said:
Apparently there is a lot of snow coming today...?

Not down here, just rain again.

SDK^ · 20 Nov 2015 at 10:55

craig_t said:
Apparently there is a lot of snow coming today...?

A lot of snow today? Are you at a Ski resort?!?!.
In the UK the forecast today is sleet mixed with light snow only in North Scotland on the high ground.

craig_t · 20 Nov 2015 at 11:33

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-weather-britain-could-hit-6854395

No, but apparently we're to be worse than Moscow...

AtreuS · 20 Nov 2015 at 11:34

craig_t said:
Apparently there is a lot of snow coming today...?

Do you read the daily fail by any chance?

No doubt the article had words like "COULD!.... MAY!..... POSSIBLE!..... UPTO!!" in it..

jellybeard999 · 20 Nov 2015 at 13:06

DXP55 said:
Took off the 225/40/18 alloys and put on winter wheels 205/55/16.

What a difference it makes to the car - steering is much lighter - car doesn't tram line and seems to be slightly less road noise although winter tyres are XL's

Unfortunately now I have changed we will have warmest driest winter ever.

It's probably the drop from 18s to narrower 16s that's improved the handling, rather than the tyres

SDK^ · 20 Nov 2015 at 13:14

craig_t said:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-weather-britain-could-hit-6854395

No, but apparently we're to be worse than Moscow...

Quoted from the article. When you say 'we're' it doesn't relate to the whole of the UK

More so specific areas of Scotland's hills/mountains

High ground in the north of the country could be covered in a thick snow

Captain Fizz · 20 Nov 2015 at 13:55

Er, 3°C this morning, ave temp in mornings has dipped below 7°C...
Changing to winter tyres this weekend.

Also, I notice the handling get worse with the 205/55/16 vs the 245/40/17

Tramlining = you may need new summer tyres soon.

xs2man · 20 Nov 2015 at 15:47

Thinking of swapping over to winters on both cars this weekend myself. Last year I waited until it actually snowed, and I really couldn't be bothered doing it, but had to before I could leave the house.

This year I may as well be more prepared. Since the wheels / tyres are sitting here anyway.

SDK^ · 20 Nov 2015 at 15:58

The recommended operating range for winter tyres is 7c and below. We have a couple of chilly days (Sat/Sun) and everyone goes winter tyre crazy. The forecast for next week for most of the country is temps around 8-10c. Looks like you'll be doing a lot of tyre swapping

Unless you live in snow bound hill tops then I don't see the point of winter tyres in the UK.

Captain Fizz · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:02

SDK^ said:
Unless you live in snow bound hill tops then I don't see the point of winter tyres in the UK.

Last year I saw other RWD cars spinning around...
I was fine.

Also braking distance under 7°C is better with winter tyres

pepsilol · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:14

I've stuck mine on......cause I can afford to

craig_t · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:16

AtreuS said:
Do you read the daily fail by any chance?

No doubt the article had words like "COULD!.... MAY!..... POSSIBLE!..... UPTO!!" in it..

craig_t said:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-weather-britain-could-hit-6854395

No, but apparently we're to be worse than Moscow...

No - hence above reply which is a link to the mirror, it's on others too.

SDK^ said:
Quoted from the article. When you say 'we're' it doesn't relate to the whole of the UK More so specific areas of Scotland's hills/mountains

Well, I live in the North East England and there are met office warnings out and we're specifically mentioned on the Chronicle to have up to 4cm on lower ground tonight.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-braced-cold-snap-10473782

The weather is never reliable, but it's a possibility with it getting so cold.

Cleisthenes · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:19

pepsilol said:
I've stuck mine on......cause my daddy can afford to

Fixed?

SDK^ · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:26

Captain Fizz said:
Also braking distance under 7°C is better with winter tyres

Yeah I get they are better at or below 7c than summer tyres

But

What are winter tyres bad at?
At temperatures above 7C they offer significantly poorer grip in dry conditions than the best summer tyres. This can mean a marked increase in braking distances and poorer handling and grip in bends.

When the day temp is between 7-11 degrees is it really worth running winter tyres ?!?!

pugheaven · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:28

I've just stuck a lovely set of Conti Sport Contact 5's to my RX8, balls to winter tyres lol. Even here, it's just solid rain etc, and don't expect a single drop of snow until February.

fadetoblack · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:30

SDK^ said:
The recommended operating range for winter tyres is 7c and below. We have a couple of chilly days (Sat/Sun) and everyone goes winter tyre crazy. The forecast for next week for most of the country is temps around 8-10c. Looks like you'll be doing a lot of tyre swapping

Unless you live in snow bound hill tops then I don't see the point of winter tyres in the UK.

Best of both worlds just fit Michelin cross climate tyres job done

Kreeeee · 20 Nov 2015 at 16:31

I had to put on my winter wheels. We are expecting 2 feet of snow this weekend though