Winter Tyres - When to fit?

[rdfcpete]

So, my Nankang SV2s arrived today. Pretty excited 

The question is, when is the definitive time to fit them?

Do you check the weather forecast weekly, or go for a set date in stone each year to catch the almost sure snow filled and icy spells?
Is that End of October, middle of November, end of November, in December, or not until January? 

The turnaround time on getting tyres fitted is pretty flexible and probably 48 hours at most for me, so do I just wait for the rumour mill to quote "t'colds a coomin'?"

Thanks.

[sub39h]

Iirc the advice is when it's below 10 degrees?

Edit: Kwik fit says 7 deg.

[andrewparker]

For me it's when the temperature struggles to get above 5-6°C.

[stealthwolf]

When temps are below 7*C - that's when they start to excel where summer tyres don't.

[Tfsi_Mike]

When temps are below 7*C - that's when they start to excel where summer tyres don't.

  my Avon ice tourings were notably better sub 7°C

Germany had more defined seasons and the advised time over there is Nov - Mar but like mentioned you can get them fitted at the drop of a hat so no great drama  

Wise purchase in my opinion.  

[andrewparker]

I'd advise caution with the SV2s in wet, greasy conditions. They are superb when it is freezing and dry, and they amazed me in snow - they are properly "go anywhere" tyres, however when pressing on in the wet you do get alarming amounts of understeer. It's all nicely controllable, but worth watching out for.

[berg]

if you fit them too soon it will piss you off because if it is too mild they will perform worse than your tyres now, so dont fit at 8-10 degress, has to be 6 and below i found last year fro them to be better.

[Andy]

For me it's when the temperature struggles to get above 5-6°C.

this is what advise customers at work--

[rdfcpete]

Thanks all for the guidance 

I'd advise caution with the SV2s in wet, greasy conditions. They are superb when it is freezing and dry, and they amazed me in snow - they are properly "go anywhere" tyres, however when pressing on in the wet you do get alarming amounts of understeer. It's all nicely controllable, but worth watching out for.

Thanks AP. No sweat, these are purely for soft & daily use. No hard or quick use when in damp or wet conditions but useful to know at the same time. I'm pretty ginger on the ContiSport 3's as soon as road conditions fall below 'dry'.

You've hit the exact reason I've bought them in truth - the ability in ice and snow. I've seen a few videos of their use on various hatchbacks in the British winter and they look to outperform their price tag tbh.

[rdfcpete]

And ironically, as if by fate, it's 5.5 degrees celcius here tonight 

[Andy]

And ironically, as if by fate, it's 5.5 degrees celcius here tonight 

still to early to fit them

[RobH]

I totaly disagree with the 7 degrees on summer tyres vs winters. I left my winter tyres on all year as i havnt driven the car much up until recently and in the mornings its been below 5 degrees and ive just changed to some goodyear f1s and there miles better and i mean miles better even at those temps.

Until its properly icy and snowy if you have two sets of alloys like me, i wouldnt bother until then. Even at around 0 degrees id bet the goodyear f1's in the dry would be way better than any snow tyre!

It doesnt take long for the f1's to warm up

I wont be thinking about putting my winters back on until snow is forcast.

[rllmuk]

You are correct to a point. The 7 degrees thing is a bit of misnomer in my experience too however the Eagle F1s are spectacularly useless when there is an modicum of ice on ground, let alone snow. It's for that reason alone that I put my winters on November to March, and adjust my driving accordingly.

[R32UK]

I do most of my driving early mornings or evenings when the temperature is now usually below 7 degrees.... I will probably wait until around mid to late november before I put mine on 

[Eccie]

I generally put them on/take them off in line with the shift in BST, but will watch the forecast this year with interest, last year was quite mild compared with the last few winters.

I live semi-rural, so its always an 3 degrees colder than the city temps the forecasters give you - or an 'overcoat' colder as my mother says