stilover

Well, after the last 2 years of bad snow, I was going to buy some new wheels and winter tyres.

Glad I saved my £1000 now. 1 day of snow, and that's it. Would have been one expensive day.

zip106

Wasn't referring to your comment at all - just saying that my M+s tyres work fine, and I know they're not just snow tyres- hence the 'mud' part of their name.

Gigsy

...and this is symptomatic of why the country grinds to a halt when it does actually snow.

As mentioned once or twice previously, winter tyres are not (just) for snow, they'll out perform summer tyres at temperatures below 7 degrees, which we tend to get quite regularly between November and March.

Plus, since you're only using them 4 months of the year, winter tyres tend to last around four years which works out at £250 a year to be safe in winter weather... that's £250 which could make a big difference if, for instance, a child were to run out in front of you on a cold, dark morning.

Fair do's

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

What happens above 7 degrees? ie mild day when it's wet?

I had a fresh import Evo 5 years ago, it came in with some proper snow tyres (not just winter) they were fine in the dry but deadly in the wet. My mrs was using it and she text me saying something along the lines of "it goes sideways a bit easily" This was the first time it'd been used in the wet by us. I actually told her off, then I took it out and realised the snow tyres needed to go lol.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Winter tyres are excellent in the wet.

They are good above 7deg just have a higher wear rate.

Lots of confusion on this thread about winter tyres!!!!

hodgy0_2

set of decent winter tyres for the X5!, surely it would be cheaper to move to Spain

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

the mud terrains on my 90 work ok in the snow

Dingdongler

Ok, so why don't we just use winter tyres all year long? Don't they work as well as regular tyres when its above 7 degrees?

zip106

http://www.classicandperformancecar....ter_tyres.html

stilover

1) You assume I'd keep a car 4 years? I don't.

2) If your stupid enough to run out in front of my car, then you get what you deserve.

Gigsy

What he said... they still work but summer tyres will give better grip.

If you only run one set of tyres through the year, running winter tyres in the summer is less of a compromise than running summer tyres in winter.

Gigsy

No assumptions made previously, but making a few of you now.

stilover

I swap my cars as often as I knock small children over who decide to run out in front of my car.

Body shops can grass you up. Much better to change the car.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

They are still pretty good but have much higher wear rates once it gets warm and dry.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

About £800

4x4 Winter Contacts from Continental

Gigsy

See, now don't smilies make all the difference... with deer and moose, I was always taught to aim for the back legs, not sure how that rule applies with children but sounds like you have a bit more experience in that area

Gigsy

That's a great price for winter tyres on an X5... summer tyres are more than that for a set on Mrs G's X3.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Indeed - hardly enough to fund moving to Whitley Bay, never mind Spain

zip106

Ah, but where he lives, even the kids have back legs.

alistair

I run winter tyres on a Range Rover and on a Mini Cooper S

On the RR, the winters feel the same when it's warmer, but on the Mini, they don't grip as well over about 15 degrees - I put it down to lack of feel on the RR and expect that the tyres on that grip less well also.

I have spare rims for both cars, so only run the winters from the start of Dec until end Mar. During that time, there are more sub 7 degree days than over 15 degree days so I'm happy.

On compacted snow & ice, the difference is pretty significant.

I'm on my second RR and will keep the Mini a few years, so it doesn't cost much more in the long run and I feel much safer.

I also have a Jeep Wrangler with Mud Terrains - they work well in fresh snow, but are absolutely pants in the wet or on ice.

As for M&S tyres - that just refers to the tread pattern, not the rubber compound - so they work well on fresh snow, but don't help in cold temperatures.

Proper winter tyres have a higher silica content so are more flexible in colder temperatures. The tread pattern is also noticably different - lots of sipes cut in which means lots more blocks of tread to move and grip.

zip106

As I've said before, my M+S all terrains are fine in the wet, brilliant in the snow.
The reason your mud terrains are crap will be because they are most probably remoulds like 99% of all muds.

I've been off roading now for 6/7 years using just AT's and all my mates who ran mud terrains couldn't control their trucks on road at any speed over 50 mph

I will add though, that I've never found the need to change my M+S tyres for winters - just not needed whatsoever.

mattvortex

I think you,re completely wrong to say "99% of mud tyres are remoulds"

Not every one goes out and buys those god-awful cheap ones ( is it calways or something like that) I Had a set of Cooper stt mud terrains on my Ford Ranger pickup for 3 years now, and the truck handles fine above 50mph ( same as standard). There even good in the wet.
I suggest your mates go and buy some decent muds- and you as AT'S are tame- call yourself an off-roader!!!!!!!!

zip106

Well done - you've found the 1% of mud tyres that aren't remoulds.
I rest my case.

Ford Ranger? :


Yep, AT's for off roading.
I don't need anything else as I'm a very capable driver without MUDs

mattvortex

Yep, brilliant pickup and great in the mud/rocks-also with 7ft load area and 1 ton payload- yeeeeehaaaaaaaaa!

Mitsi Pinin (arent they the midget ones favoured by gheyers and ladies) Stop being a poof and get a Patrol or such like!! Disgraceful!!!

MMT WRX

Yes and its usually sat on the drive next to his Boxster...no it really is.






Sorry Zip

zip106

You're quite right - the Pinin's the wifes winter car - saves the Alpina from getting ****ted up

I also have an L200 that goes off-road (not so much now).

I almost bought a Ranger 6 years ago but found it, like the Isuzu, a bit to agricultural, and as at the time it was my only vehicle I needed something a bit comfier.
They're pretty decent trucks though

And Mick - the Boxster lives in the garage.......driveway - as if!

MMT WRX

alistair

I'm fairly certain BFG MT's aren't remoulds & they run fine at 80 - I drove it down to Bordeaux last year without a problem.

Most people who have never run winter tyres don't think they have the need & 99% of the time you may be right, but personally, I'd rather have shorter stopping distances in the cold & better grip on ice, but each to their own. Winter tyres are a legal requirement in properly cold countries for a reason.

If you're off roading with AT's without a problem, you can't be trying hard enough

Me last weekend -

Luan Pra bang

I used m&s tyres on a 89 golf in temperatures dropping to -27 and highs of -8. They were brilliant so i would not get too hung up on rubber compounds.

alistair

Right - so rubber compounds make f**k all difference where tyre grip is concerned

I suppose your Golf didn't need 4wd either - what a complete waste of time that is too if you can get by perfectly well without it.

I agree completely that you can get away with running the same tyres all year and in any weather - they are just not the best. How much you value that & whether you can be bothered is something different.

I wouldn't bother putting 'wets' on if it was raining, but then again, neither would I claim that my all purpose tyres were 'brilliant' in the wet - they may be perfectly acceptable for the way I intend to drive though.....