Anyone getting/using winter tyres this year?

[Steve Rogers]

The potential for yet another milder than average winter isn't enough to put me off winter tyres. Any conditions at +7C and below and they are better than summer tyres but in the wet I think they are better even when temps are a bit above that. Major difference in snow obviously.

Having weighed up the premium brands and reviews, I concluded that I'd go for a less obvious choice. I have previous good experience with Avon tyres from the Land Rover days and so I've purchased their WV7 winter tyre (205 55 16 91V) for £45.53 per tyre with Black Circles which beats other sites easily. £193.62 total with delivery and I'll get the mobile tyre fitter I've used over the years to come and fit and balance them for £40 all in.

It's a superb tyre according to the reviews and makes for very good savings over the premium brands. The tread looks very impressive and should prove very effective in the inevitable heavy rain  and even more effective in highly unlikely snowfall  

 

 

[niedzial1983]

All depends where you live in uk. In the south i dont think there is a need for them apart from an odd day when it snows and everyone panics lol . Overall they are much safer for the winter .

But i hope it snows this year so i can test my quattro system :) 

[Steve Q]

2 hours ago, Steve Rogers said:

The potential for yet another milder than average winter isn't enough to put me off winter tyres. Any conditions at +7C and below and they are better than summer tyres but in the wet I think they are better even when temps are a bit above that. Major difference in snow obviously.

Having weighed up the premium brands and reviews, I concluded that I'd go for a less obvious choice. I have previous good experience with Avon tyres from the Land Rover days and so I've purchased their WV7 winter tyre (205 55 16 91V) for £45.53 per tyre with Black Circles which beats other sites easily. £193.62 total with delivery and I'll get the mobile tyre fitter I've used over the years to come and fit and balance them for £40 all in.

It's a superb tyre according to the reviews and makes for very good savings over the premium brands. The tread looks very impressive and should prove very effective in the inevitable heavy rain  and even more effective in highly unlikely snowfall  

 

 

Nice one Dave :) nice to see you're looking ahead :)  can't say I've ever used winter tyres to be honest. Have you noticed out winter's seem to appear in January-february time. 

[Steve Rogers]

Yes late winters are the thing normally. Look at March 2013 for example. 

I had winter tyres on my Fiesta in 2014 when we had a large snowfall Boxing Day night. I enjoyed watching it fall whilst I sat watching the Avengers on BBC1 lol! 

I tried them the following morning in thick snow and they were absolutely superb. I’ve got some footage I’ll have to upload to show them in action. On one video, I stopped the car on a hill covered in compacted snow that had frozen over as it was about 7am. 

I had my doubts that I could get going again to be honest but after a small amount of wheelspin it did. A 4WD car on summer tyres would have been stuffed. As the Scandinavians say, winter tyres first 4WD second. 

The grip in heavy rain even when it’s milder is noticeable too. 

[Steve Q]

Do you remember the winter of 2010 or 2011 which was the same? 

I was still.using my Ford escort as a daily then and I came to it one morning h with the doors iced shut, windscreen iced over both inside and out, pedals iced over and dials iced over! 

That was a fun drive I can tell ya! The dials we're frozen to the point that only the speedo worked lol. 

I may have e to consider some winter tyres, even if it gives me an excuse to get different style wheels lol 

[Steve Rogers]

Oh yes! I had the Freelander 2 on winter tyres in the 2010 winter which actually started late November and into December. -17C was recorded on the car readout and much snow was duly ploughed through. Deepest snow for many years.

Here are the videos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Steve Q]

4 hours ago, Steve Rogers said:

Oh yes! I had the Freelander 2 on winter tyres in the 2010 winter which actually started late November and into December. -17C was recorded on the car readout and much snow was duly ploughed through. Deepest snow for many years.

Here are the videos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow! I think.it was -12 round my way! I'm surprised my Ford escort kept going lol I have to say I was freezing! I was sat in it whilst driving g with 3 layers on!! 

Hard choice whether to put the poor heater to my feet, hands or windscreen! 

[Fatbloke]

Winter tyres are great in all winter weather, not just snow.

Full set of Continental WinterContact TS860's fitted on 16" alloys in Cairngorm near Aviemore.

 

[Steve Rogers]

 

[Steve Rogers]

 

[Steve Q]

Great videos and pics Dave :) glad you're getting on well with the continental winter tyres :) 

[Mawal]

Has anyone tried all season tyres?  Thinking of using on a 2014 C7 A6 Allroad. 235 55 18. Thanks

[Nacnud]

Have a couple of Michelin Cross Climates on my Merc, estate, excellent tyres. I've run Michelin Alpines for the last 5 years, I don't bother changing them over, do about 10k/year, all with no problems. Grip well in all weather, wear well etc.

[Mawal]

I put the Michelin cross climates on just before recent snow. Our inaccessible village didn’t cause me any problems. Had to work hard to get wheels to spin at all. Tyres worked very well. Now weather has been wet and dry I’ve had chance to try them in a few conditions. In dry you notice a little flex over the 19” that used to be on it but grip is fine, I compensate by using sport mode more often. In heavy rain they are fine, clear water well to give confidence. A lot quieter than 19” option and have done about 1500 miles on them so far.