I've had that a few times recently - the yellow snakes appearing on the dash! I do try to moderate my driving style for wet/cold conditions but even a slightly brisk turn out of a junction can cause it.
I'm using Goodyear Assy 2s - great tyres - but has anyone found that 'winter tyres' make a difference?
I was thinking about investing in a set for possible snow, but it maybe worth it for these conditions.
I know the tyre manufacturers and motoring writers bang on about them - but does anyone have real, practical experience?
Winter tyres make a real difference, below 7 degrees where normal tyres are hardening and have less grip the winter tyres are still soft and grippy. You can definitely feel the extra grip, and when it actually shows they're in another league, its not BS they really ate better.
I may now invest! Out of interest, which ones are you or have you used?
Hi mate
Regarding winter tyres on the golf GTI I actually bought my car last year with Dunlop Wintersport 3D tyres fitted all round and I wouldn't recommend it.
To be brutally honest the Dunlops don't offer a great deal of grip in the dry particularly round corners and again its much the same in the wet. I had wheel spin driving home tonight and I was not booting it in the slightest. These days I don't do a great deal of miles (approx 8k per year) otherwise I would have worn them out very quickly due to the soft compound they are made from but I shall be changing them for standard tyres in the next 2 or 3 months.
For me by far the worse point is the road noise you get, it gets on your nerves on the motorway with its constant drone but in the last few months I've noticed a constant whomp, whomp, whomp sound when you pull away which gets louder and higher pitched the faster you drive. Initially I was convinced that I had a faulty wheel bearing but my garage checked all of them over at the last service as well as doing a laser wheel alignment and it didn't solve the noise issue. The car has just sailed through its MOT 2 weeks ago as well and the mechanic at my garage is sure it's just down to the tyres, maybe I've just been unlucky with a rogue set but it's put me off.
I know that car magazines mention that winter tyres operate much better under 6-7 degrees and on a snow ridden track they probably do come into their element but honestly there really aren't that many days in the UK where you'll get your moneys worth. Maybe if you had a second set of alloy wheels its worth considering (like my work colleague who drives a BMW 330i coupe does) but that's about it.
Anyway that's my experience from the last year and a bit, hope this helps
Cheers
George
