Running summer tyres year-round

[hegemon]

I know this has been done to death so I'll try to keep it short!

I was thinking of getting some Continental Sport Contact 5s, but have had last minute second thoughts about buying a 'summer' tyre intending to run it all year.
Presumably plenty of people do? I don't think many people (though I'm sure there'll be plenty on here) swap their tyres for a winter set when the weather gets worse.

I don't know what the standard tyres on the GTI are off the top of my head, but I'd be willing to bet they're 'summer' ones too.

So... should I get CSC5s or something 'all season' like Vredestein Quatrac 3s?
Or - something else.

[rich83]

Ive only ever ran summer tyres on my cars... all year round.

[CAPTAIN BRITAIN]

I'm having goodyear eagle F1's fitted this week, They are summer tyres and the reviews all say they are good in the wet also.

[RedRobin]

Ive only ever ran summer tyres on my cars... all year round.

....Me too.

Currently Good Year Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's. Both Asymm 1's and 2's are outstanding in the wet.

I never take my car out in the snow anyway! This what happened last time I did so:



^ Compacted snow to ice damaged my front splitter, ripped out a sensor which killed my windscreen demister, all within ~5 miles from home and on an A-road - Never again!

It's advised to fit winter tyres when air temps are below -7ºC and in some European countries it's illegal not to run winter tyres between specified months (Germany). But in the UK the only reason to run on winter tyres is if you have to travel in a heavy white period of weather and you feel safer doing so. Get an old Land-Rover as a backup ride?

[Baz300]

I'm Debating whether to keep my monza 2's or sell them and buy 16s and winter tyres.

I fitted new eagle f1s to my monzas a few months ago so don't really want to sell the wheels at a loss.

Winter is so unpredictable it's a hard decision

[gazon69]

Ive only ever ran summer tyres on my cars... all year round.

....Me too.

Currently Good Year Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's. Both Asymm 1's and 2's are outstanding in the wet.

I never take my car out in the snow anyway! This what happened last time I did so:



^ Compacted snow to ice damaged my front splitter, ripped out a sensor which killed my windscreen demister, all within ~5 miles from home and on an A-road - Never again!

It's advised to fit winter tyres when air temps are below -7ºC and in some European countries it's illegal not to run winter tyres between specified months (Germany). But in the UK the only reason to run on winter tyres is if you have to travel in a heavy white period of weather and you feel safer doing so. Get an old Land-Rover as a backup ride?

I think i would have exactly the same problems as you robin as i have the rieger fitted. I'll just use the missus's car if it gets too bad

[Ree]

Been running Good Year Eagle F1 Asymmetric Ver 1, since  May 2011 excellent in the wet, outstanding in the dry, only once a little wheels slip in deep snow round a corner !

[Gene Hunt]

Ive only ever ran summer tyres on my cars... all year round.

............& me.

[Matto]

I run winter wheels and tyres because I don't want to ruin my nice Charlestons. They are a fragile breed at the best of times so do my best to keep the salt away. I has Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D's. I don't recommended them 

[Tfsi_Mike]

Even without snow and just very low winter temperatures the difference between summer and winter tyres are worlds apart.

England comes to a standstill when we get the white stuff, insurance claims go through the roof and the Germans drive round on snow that would see people over here abandon there cars in the road like its normal.

Although it would be another expense I wish we were forced into being more responsible over here by being fined like in Germany

Between November - March if you don't drive with winter tyres you aren't breaking the law.  But if you drive in snow/ ice and cause an obstruction or have an accident and you don't have winter tyres you will be fined.
I'd like to see the same over here but perhaps between months that reflect our milder winters.

[RedRobin]

Although it would be another expense I wish we were forced into being more responsible over here by being fined like in Germany

Between November - March if you don't drive with winter tyres you aren't breaking the law.  But if you drive in snow/ ice and cause an obstruction or have an accident and you don't have winter tyres you will be fined.

I'd like to see the same over here but perhaps between months that reflect our milder winters.

....Thanks for correcting me about the legality/fines for not having winter tyres in Germany 

If the UK did this the logic would be to follow Germany's regulation but I don't see that happening unless other European countries also do so and it becomes an EC thingy.

Say the UK did go November-March you can imagine what would happen if there was a major climate change - The British government wouldn't change its regulation for at least 50 years after the event! Look at the British Summertime clock changing the hour back and forth! UK weather is famously fickle anyway - Look at the heavy rains this 'Summer'.

As modern asymmetric tyres are so good in any weather except snow and ice, I would hate to have to run winter tyres when there actually wasn't any snow on the ground (snow is much less common down here on the SouthWest coast I'm glad to say). I think I would risk the fine.

[Tfsi_Mike]

I see your point robin.  I ran summer / all season tyres too until the clear winter came but the seasons seemed more defined over there with nice warm summers and white winter months

With very regular temps below 7degrees I could feel the improved grip on the avon ice tourings over my summer tyres grip in the warm/dry (albeit my summer tyres at the time were falkens  )

[RedRobin]

.
Perhaps it will be possible in the future for the tyre manufacturers to improve the rubber technology to perform better at lower temperatures as well as higher. it might be asking too much though. The average motorist, not driving enthusiasts like us, probably runs 'winter' spec tyres all year anyway and doesn't even know there is a difference!

[AndyED30]

I was crapping it prior to last winter running Michelin PS2's but worked out just fine all through the winter up and down the M1 5 days per week. They were actually pretty grippy to my surprise!

Winters would have been even better NO DOUBT but if you're just using them on normal roads then I don't think you'll have any issues at all.

Andy.
 

[Tortaruga]

being fined like in Germany

Between November - March if you don't drive with winter tyres you aren't breaking the law.  But if you drive in snow/ ice and cause an obstruction or have an accident and you don't have winter tyres you will be fined.

Interesting - my gf is German and told me there were fines for not having winter tyres. I always thought you could be fined by just being stopped and caught without winter tyres by the Polizei. I've learned something today - always good. Thanks!

She also tells me you're not allowed to wash your car in your driveway and must go to a car wash. Presumably unless you have an oil intercepter under your drive!!