When to switch to winters?

[RMK87]

Hi All,

When do you switch to winters? Which tyres would you recommend?

[dronners]

i'd probably switch when the temperature is consistently below or around 10*c

[rich83]

Never. 

[Andy]

switch tyres when the temperature drops on a night and a morning but the last few years have been pretty warm

[xs2man]

switch tyres when the temperature drops on a night and a morning but the last few years have been pretty warm

Pretty much this.  Consistant morning temps below 4-5 deg is usually when I switch.

Nokian Winters if you're about to buy a set.  Although I have had good results with Continental and Dunlop too.

[Misschief]

I can honestly say I've never used Winter tyres on any car and even in central Scotland never crashed or got stuck. Even when we've had six inches of the white stuff and my street is a cul de sac which isn't ploughed or gritted I've always managed to get out and get to work.

[slix]

I can honestly say I've never used Winter tyres on any car and even in central Scotland never crashed or got stuck. Even when we've had six inches of the white stuff and my street is a cul de sac which isn't ploughed or gritted I've always managed to get out and get to work.

Same. Never bothered with winter tyres and never will.

[Gmac]

I'll be switching to winters when the temp is constantly below 7 degrees during the day.  I'll not go a winter on summers again.  They make a huge difference when things start to get snowy/wet/slushy. 

I know some say, you can get away with out using winters, and I'd agree, but if i was on snow, which is often on my rural commute from Aberdeenshire in to Dyce/Aberdeen airport, and I had to suddenly brake hard due to someone who was sliding around due to lack of talent, summer tyres, experience etc, then the winters can really make all the difference.  Winters work better in cold conditions, and you are saving your summers from when it's warmer.  Makes complete sense to me.

[bonelorry]

Never. 

Me too, never had a set on any of my cars.

Never got stuck in the snow either, I live right on the edge of the Woodhead pass so we get it fairly bad here.

[Frodo-anni]

I'll be switching to winters when the temp is constantly below 7 degrees during the day.  I'll not go a winter on summers again.  They make a huge difference when things start to get snowy/wet/slushy. 

I know some say, you can get away with out using winters, and I'd agree, but if i was on snow, which is often on my rural commute from Aberdeenshire in to Dyce/Aberdeen airport, and I had to suddenly brake hard due to someone who was sliding around due to lack of talent, summer tyres, experience etc, then the winters can really make all the difference.  Winters work better in cold conditions, and you are saving your summers from when it's warmer.  Makes complete sense to me.

  used them for at least the last 7 if not 8 years. Have a spare set of alloys so it makes it really easy. Often put them on when my commute times stay below 7c, which is usually November early December the last few years. Currently running hankook icebears had them on over 3 winters so about 12-15k on them, still loads of life left. Would look to go to Goodyear/continentals/Pirelli get good reviews etc...

[bigeyd]

I am beginning to question my sanity over putting on federal semi slicks on just now 

[sixsr]

Normally put winters on once it gets below 7 degrees.

Just put Michelin cross climate tyres on my wife's car which I'm hoping will avoid having to swap to proper winter tyres when the worse weather comes.

[FJ1000]

Thinking about winter's.

I'm not too worried about snow/ice (don't get much where i am), but winter tyres are supposedly significantly better than summers in cold and wet conditions

This vid isn't very scientific, but in this instance a RWD car with winters has more traction than a 4WD on summers!

[pudding]

The only thing I found with winters, is they're horribly squishy if you get a sunny day that pushes the temp up to double digits.  Full winters seem to work best around freezing and below, and when you actually get them on snow / ice, there's no comparison!

I might bung mine on this winter (16s) just out curiosity.  Not tried them on a MK5 before.

[unzippy]

Well yes.  The rubber compound is completely different.  The rubber is able to remain softer, which makes it more flexible, allowing the tire to conform to the road better in extremely cold conditions. This feature, along with deeper tread depths and specialised tread designs, are what make snow/winter tires ideal for inclement winter weather and extreme cold driving conditions.