So who's preparing for winter this year?

Dr Who · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:00

[TW]Fox;20141120 said:
And none of which seems to feature UHP tyres

On ice Why couldnt they have repeated the test on tarmac

Because on tarmac the difference is marginal as I stated, it is on Ice where the difference is significant enough.

Like I stated in my post, it's seriously adverse conditions where winter tyres are worthwhile, not on wet roads with a bit of salt slime.

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:02

Dr Who said:
Like I stated in my post, it's seriously adverse conditions where winter tyres are worthwhile, not on wet roads with a bit of salt slime.

So we share the same opinion. Others argue that its worth buying winter tyres for the paltry amount of snow we get because they are loads better than UHP tyres in the wet as well...

Dr Who · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:09

[TW]Fox;20141564 said:
So we share the same opinion. Others argue that its worth buying winter tyres for the paltry amount of snow we get because they are loads better than UHP tyres in the wet as well...

Well Fox, it is rare we disagree on most things, and this is another example of us agreeing

MikeHiow · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:12

I don't think I've seen anyone say they are loads better in the wet.

They offer benefits in the cold and wet - how cold is debatable to a point, which is when it starts getting close to freezing.

My "be careful, ice OMG you might die" light came on just about every day for well over a month last winter. These are conditions where winter tyres will help - especially in the wet.

I had a brown trouser moment in the ST where on a dry road I encountered a stream of icey water across the road mid-corner. Fortunately the ESP did most of the work and sorted things out there, but three other people crashed in the same location that and the following night.

Kenai · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:16

MikeHiow said:
These are conditions where winter tyres will help - especially in the wet.

Well isn't this exactly what Fox is asking for proof of?

Everyone is saying it but all the tests people have pointed to in aid to prove this are either winter vs mid-range summer or winter vs summer on an ice rink, which isn't really indicative of the kind of conditions we tend to see. It gets cold but the roads don't often turn into a skating rink.

Nobody seems to have found a test of decent winter vs decent summer in just cold conditions, wet or dry, without it being on sheet ice or something too.

daveydave · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:17

Howard said:
I'm ready

Dammit I'm going to miss those buttons!!

therealnerd2 · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:30

Winter tyres??? How will I do J-turns in the ice with grip??

Usel · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:43

Jonnycoupe said:
I block half my radiator in winter!

You have a hybrid don't you? Did you notice any difference?

Dandle · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:13

Performance winter tyres are better though out winter than UHP summer tyres in my experience. I found that the Continental Wintercontact TS810S tyres were far batter than the Goodyear GSD3s they replaced on the A3 and that was in a Oct when the weather hadn't got really cold. As for people have only been talking about winter tyres for a couple of years thats rubbish too, I had them fitted in 2006 and we havent had a good winter since before then. The grip is unreal from them when it did get colder and they certainly held on further than I was prepared to push them. I didn't buy them either so theres no purchase defence in my opinion. We had them on a Golf last year and again we drove that around in the cold rather than my BMW because it was much more sure footed.

All the talk about them only being good in ice or snow is rubbish, the tyres we are targeted with here in the UK market are designed for out climate not for use in Norways or Canadas winters. Also winter tyres are just like summer tyres there are different tyres designed for peoples different criteria. If you compare performance winter tyres against performance summer tyres they are far better in the cold not just the wet, slush or ice.

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:26

Dandle said:
If you compare performance winter tyres against performance summer tyres they are far better in the cold not just the wet, slush or ice.

It would be cool if you could provide a link to such a comparison please, I'd find it very interesting reading and it could well change my opinion

Also you should note that even if this is the case, half the internet is busy fitting winter tyres at the moment in place of often UHP Summer tyres. But they are not fitting UHP Winter tyres, they are fitting part worn Nankangs or Avon Icetourings etc etc and then go on to swear blind that these are more suited to a British winter than a Contisport Contact5P or a Pilot Super Sport or similar. What is your take on this?

The general opinion, which you are met with disdain if you dare question, is that any winter tyre is more suitable than any summer tyre for a British winter. And this just seems like blanket nonesense I can't agree with.

Firestar_3x · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:32

If anything wouldn't a UHP summer tyre suffer more when the temperatue drops? The compounds that make them really good UHP summer tyres should work against them during the winter months.

Dandle · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:39

I don't have to provide a link, I can go by my own experience.

Even normal winter tyres are better than UHPs when it gets to near freezing, I wouldn't say 7 degrees but certainly by 2-3 degrees. The golf was only fitted with 195/65-15 and we stopped using my car because the Golf was so much better, my car was shod with SC3 at the time so not rubbish tyres. By normal I mean tyres like the Conti TS810 which were only £65 a corner in that size, so not budget but not bank breaking either.

I'm not telling anyone to fit them but I know the benefit they give and certainly wouldn't put any one off buying them.

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:40

Dandle said:
I don't have to provide a link, I can go by my own experience.

You kinda do when my entire point is that there seems to be nothing bar opinion to support these claims.

All anyone seems to be able to present is theory and opinion.

The tyre manufacturers could quite easily prove this by setting up a test at the Contidrome and saying 'There we go'.

Yet they don't?

Winter tyres merits over summer tyres when it isn't snowy and icy seems a bit like a religion..

Firestar_3x · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:44

Continental claim on it's very own website much reduced braking distances.

http://www.conti-online.com/generat...inter-tyres/why_winter/4x4_why_winter_en.html

Why don't you send them an e-mail and ask what continental tyre this was tested against?

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:50

Firestar_3x said:
Continental claim on it's very own website much reduced braking distances.

http://www.conti-online.com/generat...inter-tyres/why_winter/4x4_why_winter_en.html

Why don't you send them an e-mail and ask what continental tyre this was tested against?

That highlights my point perfectly. It's all just so wooly isn't it? What sort of a test doesn't actually explain what the test subject was?!

The graph only shows snow and ice performance anyway which I've said a billion times now I don't dispute.

Dandle · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:50

But its only you Fox that's so against them. No ones telling you to fit them but your trying to tell everyone else they are a waste of time in the UK. No one who's had them fitted have said they are a waste of time and there are people now who are even leaving them on over summer at BMWland. The market hasn't been created for no reason otherwise they would sell.

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:52

Dandle said:
But its only you Fox that's so against them. No ones telling you to fit them but your trying to tell everyone else they are a waste of time in the UK.

I'm posting my opinions in a thread asking who is preparing for winter this year.

It's not only me who doesn't feel they are worthwhile once you discount snow and ice at all, however questioning winter tyres in the UK is rapidly become like questioning religion. People are simply amazed you even try but cannot ever produce any fact to support what they say?

Where are the facts to demonstrate the superiority of a winter tyre over a UHP Summer tyre when its 3c and not snowing? Show me them?

Why do I not suffer from this apparent abundant lack of grip whenever it's 2c? Why am I not catching slides off roundabouts and lighting up the DSC as a result of the drop in temperatures? It's not because I wouldn't notice such a thing - after all, I noticed it enough to throw away a set of Dunlops once!

No one who's had them fitted have said they are a waste of time

Yea, like they'd do that? Most people don't explore the limits of tyres anyway so they probably don't even know any different but placebo effect will kick in and they'll begin to swear blind that actually the Pilot Super SPort they used to have felt like a Linglong at 5c..

Firestar_3x · 24 Sep 2011 at 15:04

[TW]Fox;20142304 said:
That highlights my point perfectly. It's all just so wooly isn't it? What sort of a test doesn't actually explain what the test subject was?!

The graph only shows snow and ice performance anyway which I've said a billion times now I don't dispute.

It is rather, that's why it would be nice to know the tyres.

Best test i've managed to find is the 2010 Auto Bild All Season tyre test, but even then it's not using the best summer tyres.

Simon · 24 Sep 2011 at 16:43

Linglongs will do in summer. Just like summer tyres will do in the winter...

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2011 at 16:52

Simon said:
Linglongs will do in summer. Just like summer tyres will do in the winter...

Fit a set of Linglongs in the Summer and you'll instantly feel the lack of grip. This is not something I've found so far in a winter on a dry or wet road with my UHP tyres. If I found the grip from my tyres was anything less than excellent, snow excepted, then I'd order some replacements - just like I've done in the past.

Ordered your winters then Simon?