Winter Tyres and why they really are so expensive

[Scottymon]

So we all know that Winter boots are quite pricey, but having just read up a bit more about this... your not meant to use them at below 4mm tread.  So at half worn they are next to useless!...

What we are actually buying is a set of 4mm tyres brand new, and bin them when they get to 4mm!?  That makes them VERY expensive.

I've got a set of Winter tyres, all very close to 4mm; thought I'd be using them this year (I still will, if only to test) but what are your thoughts on this, seems crazy. 

[skard]

They become inneffective under 4mm as they aren't really biting down as much.

Plus, when they get older the compound changes and the handling gets worse, the ones on our other car will be going thejouney after this winter even though they have 5mm+ (they won't fit her next car anyway).

I personally see it as a necessary expense every few years, I need them for where I live.

[Oli]

I know the 4mm minimum tread is a legal requirement to Germany and Austria, but I see no issue running winter  tyres lower than 4mm, in fact we did last year and there were still effective

[Janner_Sy]

Buy your winter tyres in the summer and you'll only pay about half the price.

[Marc-5-GTI]

What ever the depth... They'll be still be better than the equivalent summer so I wouldn't be too fussed...?

[Eccie]

I know the 4mm minimum tread is a legal requirement to Germany and Austria, but I see no issue running winter  tyres lower than 4mm, in fact we did last year and there were still effective

This would be my strategy - for optimum performance you'd want brand new tyres with around 10mm tread, but since we don't generally get as much snow as the alps, i think it would be sensible and cost effective to run them lower than 4mm

[Human Joist]

I will be putting my mk5 gti on the garage and getting my mk4 R32 out for the snow. Tyres won't matter then....... Just sayin

[Scottymon]

Pepsi challenge 4WD Summered vs 2WD Wintered in the Snow. Glorious to have the R32 available like that though.

I'm on two minds to grab a pair of New Winters, or just see how it goes... you know whatever is decided the opposite is bound to happen.

Going to Plastidip my winters and buy some yellow Lamin-x and yellow FTP bulbs... hahahaha.

[GrayMK5GTI]

I will be putting my mk5 gti on the garage and getting my mk4 R32 out for the snow. Tyres won't matter then....... Just sayin

What about when you try to brake down a slippy hill  

Your haldex won't save you then  

Fwd with winters will always be better than 4wd on summers. Plenty of videos on youtube that back up that point

Even a RWD BMW was better up a snowy hill than a jeep in one video

[skard]

True ^^

Just bought a Tiguan with Haldex and four winter tyres will be my first mod.

Used to rescue people in winter with my mate in his offroad Discovery - plenty Jeep's and 4wd cars with summers at the mercy of hard packed snow and ice.

[Human Joist]

Was only messing. Got some snow sock for the mrs for the really bad snow. As a general rule as long as your careful you will get most places. I used to have a 2000 reg S3 and the only time I nearly got stuck was on a snowy hill when I was forced to stop behind someone and struggled to get going because I could not turn off the traction in that. As the r:2 does not cover many miles can't justify winter wheels and tyres and it will go nearly everywhere with summers. If I lived on the hills of Scotland for example I would get winters too