Is it about time to start my yearly winter tyres thread :D
21 January 2009, 02:48 PM
#62
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Yes above a certain altitude and during certain months it is the law to fit them in Germany, France, Switzerland and Sweden. Not too sure about elsewhere as I don't spend much time in any other countries during the winter months.
So you're telling me that the road temps only drop below 7degC 5-10 days a year??
To suggest we should all fit Winter tyres and benefit by doing so is crazy. In the South East where I live the weather might often be crap but it's not often anywhere near freezing most of the Winter, so what's the point. I'm certainly not going to invest in Winter tyres/wheels for perhaps 5-10 days a year where they might actually be an improvement over what I have on now, I'll just take it easier on those days.
Were I in Scotland say, or 'oop North, then that would be a different story.
I work for a German company based in Saxony and they all change to Winter tyres about now, but then Winter can be severe over there, and if you have an accident and don't have Winter tyres fitted the insurance claim will be affected in many cases.
Horses for courses. The fact that people fit them in Germany, Switzerland or wherever and think they're great doesn't make you an ignorant prat if you don't fit them here.
Kevin
Were I in Scotland say, or 'oop North, then that would be a different story.
I work for a German company based in Saxony and they all change to Winter tyres about now, but then Winter can be severe over there, and if you have an accident and don't have Winter tyres fitted the insurance claim will be affected in many cases.
Horses for courses. The fact that people fit them in Germany, Switzerland or wherever and think they're great doesn't make you an ignorant prat if you don't fit them here.
Kevin
Last edited by stiler83; 21 January 2009 at 02:51 PM.
21 January 2009, 03:03 PM
#63
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Generally speaking though, the opinion is that if you have a classic car which you want to take out on a dry sunny day in January, then you don't need to fit winter tyres. For your daily drive, winter tyres must be fitted between November and March - even in the North of Germany which shares a similar climate to the UK!
Critically in Germany, the use of winter tyres is backed up by the insurance industry. If you have an accident in the winter without winter tyres fitted, then you are automatically deemed responsible for the accident regardless of what actually happened!
....Jan Feb Mar Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov Dec
Max 5.0 6.0 8.0 11.0 15.0 18.0 19.0 19.0 16.0 13.0 8.0 7.0
Min 1.0 1.0 2.0 4.0. 6.0. 9.0. 11.0 11.0 9.0. 6.0. 3.0 2.0
Hmmm... I know the days are shorter in the winter, but didn't realise there were only 5-10 days between November and March
Last edited by BMWhere?; 21 January 2009 at 03:08 PM.
22 January 2009, 08:45 AM
#65
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Yes above a certain altitude and during certain months it is the law to fit them in Germany, France, Switzerland and Sweden. Not too sure about elsewhere as I don't spend much time in any other countries during the winter months.
So you're telling me that the road temps only drop below 7degC 5-10 days a year??
So you're telling me that the road temps only drop below 7degC 5-10 days a year??
But, it would simply be stupidity to use summer tyres if you plan to run your car all year round here. A recent program on Swiss TV featured a guy with an old Shelby Cobra who only drives it in winter when the temps allow as he runs only summer tyres. He still runs a risk of hitting ice somewhere shady but by law he is allowed to do what he feels right (typical Swiss attitude).
Also, hitting ice. In that situation winter tyres do jack squat. I hit ice 5 years ago with the best set of winter tyres Pirelli could make and I still speared off the road over a bank, ice is for chains or spikes.
Like BMWhere says. If using winters saves one life, then they are certainly worth the cost. I wonder how many scoobynetters would rather go to the funeral of their child than buy a set of winter tyres??
Last edited by swaussie; 22 January 2009 at 08:47 AM.
22 January 2009, 12:14 PM
#66
These winter tyres to work succesfully in adverse conditions usually are of a narrower tread width to the cars manufacturers stated tyre spec. Would insurance company notification be required as you are not fitting O/E spec tyres. After spending a lot of money then if somebody not on winter tyres hits you, your insurance company when assesing your car finds these none spec tyres refuses a payout, which is happening a lot for various non std none disclosed items. On a lighter note £500 would buy a lot taxi rides in our
climate to work & back & keep your pride & joy out of the salt.
climate to work & back & keep your pride & joy out of the salt.
22 January 2009, 12:22 PM
#67
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These winter tyres to work succesfully in adverse conditions usually are of a narrower tread width to the cars manufacturers stated tyre spec. Would insurance company notification be required as you are not fitting O/E spec tyres. After spending a lot of money then if somebody not on winter tyres hits you, your insurance company when assesing your car finds these none spec tyres refuses a payout, which is happening a lot for various non std none disclosed items. On a lighter note £500 would buy a lot taxi rides in our
climate to work & back & keep your pride & joy out of the salt.
climate to work & back & keep your pride & joy out of the salt.
You *could* run narrower tyres if you want, but you don't *have* to. There are plenty of "full sized" winter tyres out there (although sod paying for a set of 235/35/19's... summer tyres are bad enough to get in that size
)
22 January 2009, 03:05 PM
#68
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These winter tyres to work succesfully in adverse conditions usually are of a narrower tread width to the cars manufacturers stated tyre spec. Would insurance company notification be required as you are not fitting O/E spec tyres. After spending a lot of money then if somebody not on winter tyres hits you, your insurance company when assesing your car finds these none spec tyres refuses a payout, which is happening a lot for various non std none disclosed items. On a lighter note £500 would buy a lot taxi rides in our
climate to work & back & keep your pride & joy out of the salt.
climate to work & back & keep your pride & joy out of the salt.
Normally for winter tyres you generally step down both the width and the radius by 1 size, so if you have 225/18" summer tyres, you would normally fit 215/17".
In the UK though, I would personally keep the same width and just step down the diameter i.e. stick on 225/17". The increased sidewall size will permit more movement and help generate heat in the tyre, while maintaining the width will improve traction on dry, lightly wet and icy surfaces at the expense of very wet and snowy surfaces.
Are you really going to get a taxi virtually every day from November to March for the 3 years that a set of winter tyres will last you? Is that really going to cost less than £500?
People really need to get this stupid idea out of their heads that these tyres are only for driving in snow! These tyres will outperform summer tyres in all weather conditions during the winter months! Its not a matter of 10 to 15 days when they are better than summer tyres, its probably more like 10 days max when they are worse!
22 January 2009, 03:15 PM
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Are you really going to get a taxi virtually every day from November to March for the 3 years that a set of winter tyres will last you? Is that really going to cost less than £500?
People really need to get this stupid idea out of their heads that these tyres are only for driving in snow! These tyres will outperform summer tyres in all weather conditions during the winter months! Its not a matter of 10 to 15 days when they are better than summer tyres, its probably more like 10 days max when they are worse!
People really need to get this stupid idea out of their heads that these tyres are only for driving in snow! These tyres will outperform summer tyres in all weather conditions during the winter months! Its not a matter of 10 to 15 days when they are better than summer tyres, its probably more like 10 days max when they are worse!
22 January 2009, 03:48 PM
#70
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In reality, winter tyres cost about the same as equivalent summer tyres (perhaps slightly less), so in the long term you don't pay any more for winter tyres as both sets of tyres will last twice as long as a single set of tyres run all year! The only additional costs are either extra fitting costs or the cost of a 2nd set of wheels and from what I've seen, most people on here have replaced the OEM wheels anyway! The only real problem is the initial outlay (investment) for the extra set of tyres when you perhaps wouldn't normally need to!
22 January 2009, 03:55 PM
#71
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In reality, winter tyres cost about the same as equivalent summer tyres (perhaps slightly less), so in the long term you don't pay any more for winter tyres as both sets of tyres will last twice as long as a single set of tyres run all year! The only additional costs are either extra fitting costs or the cost of a 2nd set of wheels and from what I've seen, most people on here have replaced the OEM wheels anyway! The only real problem is the initial outlay (investment) for the extra set of tyres when you perhaps wouldn't normally need to!
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