Winter Tyres - Confused!

[bodger00]

...........I changed all 4

It's wise to change all four. This video demonstrates the point quite clearly!

IMO Adding winter tyres to one axle has no real benefit and can be dangerous as one axle will grip better in a given corner.

[zerolag]

think people for get they are not just snow tyres as they are made to handle better in lower temps than a summer tyre can

they just don't though... ive heard all the below 7*C thing, but the AS2's walk over these Ultragrips in the wet at a similar temp. agin imo.  i may keep the winters in the boot and remove the space saver.

if i was on the way to scotland however, it would be winters on all 4 corners no questions.

[Janner_Sy]

...........I changed all 4

It's wise to change all four. This video demonstrates the point quite clearly!

IMO Adding winter tyres to one axle has no real benefit and can be dangerous as one axle will grip better in a given corner.

Not hugely relevant to us in FWD cars if we were to have winters on the front only.  Ive had cars with both setups in the past.  obviously all 4 is better, no  one will dispute that, but i never had any issues with just the fronts on either.

[Janner_Sy]

Most peeps fit winters to the front, because it helps traction up hill... which it does... but that's about it. 

On our car which axle does the LARGEST share of braking.  front or rear?......

[zerolag]

Most peeps fit winters to the front, because it helps traction up hill... which it does... but that's about it.  

On our car which axle does the LARGEST share of braking.  front or rear?......

Yeap, but then this happens:

50secs:

[bodger00]

Not hugely relevant to us in FWD cars if we were to have winters on the front only.  Ive had cars with both setups in the past.  obviously all 4 is better, no  one will dispute that, but i never had any issues with just the fronts on either.

OK maybe you should watch this video then which IMO is relevant to FWD cars.

Just my opinion.......not looking to try or care to change yours 

[Janner_Sy]

Yeap, however if your lacking grip on the rear your not going to be braking straight, the front will overtake the rear...
I'm talking about snowy conditions here...

if you have no grip on the front which is doing the lions share of the your going to lock up and plow on anyway, so who cares in that situation, your going to crash anyway...... plus if your you wouldnt have the front end grip to make steering changes to avoid an accident.  

IMO there are so many more reasons to go for the front axle over the rear.  I never experienced loosing the rear end in snow in the 9 years i was in germany, and i used winters on the front axle only for 2 winters there.

@ bodger, completely agree, winters all round are unquestionably better.  But consider you wouldnt go around a bend thats covered in snow at that speed, and we have many many more traction and stability control systems than those cars.  Maybe thats why ive never had that issue.

That said this is talking from my experiences in my own cars, not from watching youtube videos.    We all have our opinions.

[Andy]

think people for get they are not just snow tyres as they are made to handle better in lower temps than a summer tyre can

up to you how when you put your winter tyres but every body's car i have fitted tyres to in the winter months feel safer with them on and handles better
they just don't though... ive heard all the below 7*C thing, but the AS2's walk over these Ultragrips in the wet at a similar temp. agin imo.  i may keep the winters in the boot and remove the space saver.

if i was on the way to scotland however, it would be winters on all 4 corners no questions.

[zerolag]

Yeap, however if your lacking grip on the rear your not going to be braking straight, the front will overtake the rear...
I'm talking about snowy conditions here...

9 years i was in germany, and i used winters on the front axle only for 2 winters there.

I'm really surprised it's not a legal requirement to fit winter tyres to both axles over there.  

I bought all 4, so not a problem.

[Janner_Sy]

I'm really surprised it's not a legal requirement to fit winter tyres to both axles over there.  

I bought all 4, so not a problem.

It wasnt law for the Brit forces living there.  But for German nationals it was law.  Just as i left germnay in 2009 they brought in a law to make the brits based there use winters because as is the norm, given the option the majority of people dont bother because it costs money they dont want to spend.

[Nodz]

It never used to be law in Germany but if you was in an accident in winter with summer tyres you basically got blamed for it. It makes sense it's now law, the same most European countries, why we don't do it I never know.

I've never ran winters on any car but I've had works vans so my car never really gets used but as soon as I need my car in winter it's being treated to some.

[Tortaruga]

why we don't do it I never know.

The Gulf Stream. We just don't have such cold winters, in general, as they do in mainland Europe.

[alackofspeed]

OP-You'll certainly notice a drop in fuel consumption if you fit those Pirelli's for an 800 mile trip.

Curiously, I seem to be get better MPG with my winters fitted than my normal tyres when driven similarly, for example the tedious meander to work.

[swgti]

Personally I wouldn't bother - you're going to SW Scotland, not Alaska.

 

Are you joking?  I personally think winter tyres should become law in the UK.  Theres a reason the UK grinds to a halt with the slightest dusting, while mainland Europe and Finland/Denmark etc carry on as normal with minimal delays yet suffer much greater snow fall. 

Winter tyres, pure and simple are worth every bit of the cost.  99% of the people who appose winter tyres haven't tried them and felt the benefits. 

I'm all over that.....as long as the government are going to pay for them........for both our cars.

[R32UK]

I dont think anyone that has had winters fitted has had a bad thing to say about them.... that says enough in itself.

Speaking from experience I have fitted just 2 winters to the front previously. This was on my mothers clio which I borrowed when we had a good 4" of snow. The clio was great and dare I say almost unstoppable..... however going round a long sweeping bend the back end lost traction. This spun me round 180o and parked me parallel to a bench on the other side of the road.

Thankfully there were no cars coming the other way as the weather was so bad. 99% of the time they will be fine, but my advice would be if you are only fitting 2 to the front, be careful....... very careful as there is no comeback from snap oversteer.