Winter Tyres .......
19 February 2013, 01:44 PM
#542
How cold are your summer tyres?
Just thought I'd add some fuel 
Thinking about Formula one and how teams are always obsessed with tyre temperatures, using blankets and having to do warm up laps etc. I wondered...how warm does a standard summer road tyre get when driven in sub zero temperature ?
Well, quick blast on the few miles to work and a look at the laser thermometer revealed this:
Pic one is temperature on the dash display: -1C degrees
Pic two is the temperature of the front bumper: -2.2C degrees (excuse my thumb
)
Pic three is the front offside tyre: 13.4C degrees
Pic four is the rear offside tyre: 13.8C degrees
So my tyres are more or less 13 degrees, remind me what is the threashold point where their cold performance deteriorates?
Thinking about Formula one and how teams are always obsessed with tyre temperatures, using blankets and having to do warm up laps etc. I wondered...how warm does a standard summer road tyre get when driven in sub zero temperature ?
Well, quick blast on the few miles to work and a look at the laser thermometer revealed this:
Pic one is temperature on the dash display: -1C degrees
Pic two is the temperature of the front bumper: -2.2C degrees (excuse my thumb
)Pic three is the front offside tyre: 13.4C degrees
Pic four is the rear offside tyre: 13.8C degrees
So my tyres are more or less 13 degrees, remind me what is the threashold point where their cold performance deteriorates?
19 February 2013, 02:01 PM
#543
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: .
Posts: 20,035
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just thought I'd add some fuel
Thinking about Formula one and how teams are always obsessed with tyre temperatures, using blankets and having to do warm up laps etc. I wondered...how warm does a standard summer road tyre get when driven in sub zero temperature ?
Well, quick blast on the few miles to work and a look at the laser thermometer revealed this:
Pic one is temperature on the dash display: -1C degrees
Pic two is the temperature of the front bumper: -2.2C degrees (excuse my thumb)
Pic three is the front offside tyre: 13.4C degrees
Pic four is the rear offside tyre: 13.8C degrees
So my tyres are more or less 13 degrees, remind me what is the threashold point where their cold performance deteriorates?
Thinking about Formula one and how teams are always obsessed with tyre temperatures, using blankets and having to do warm up laps etc. I wondered...how warm does a standard summer road tyre get when driven in sub zero temperature ?
Well, quick blast on the few miles to work and a look at the laser thermometer revealed this:
Pic one is temperature on the dash display: -1C degrees
Pic two is the temperature of the front bumper: -2.2C degrees (excuse my thumb
)Pic three is the front offside tyre: 13.4C degrees
Pic four is the rear offside tyre: 13.8C degrees
So my tyres are more or less 13 degrees, remind me what is the threashold point where their cold performance deteriorates?
Take the temp of your tyres in summer for a comparison
Last edited by f1_fan; 19 February 2013 at 02:47 PM.
19 February 2013, 02:34 PM
#544
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 39,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
21 February 2013, 10:54 AM
#549
Scooby Regular
Still going then?
I've spent the past 5 years in the Scottish highlands. Where its not unusual to see minus 20 in the winters. One week in February a few years ago the warmest it got for ten days was minus 7.
At those temps, winter tyres (I used 265/70/16 Avon Ranger Ice) make a massive difference. However, at anything below 5 degrees air temp, and in wet, damp greasy conditions they were significantly better in terms of traction and lateral grip than the 285/55/18 Pirelli Scorpions I used in the summer.
In ice or snow of any type (either fresh, wet, powder or hard packed) the pirellis were, frankly rubbish and the Avon's quite simply outstanding. To the point where on most snow I could happily run around in rear wheel drive only on the Avons which was simply not possible on the Pirellis.
Its not just about temperature - for snow, no matter how much, its about tread pattern.
But fro most of the uk, its about temperature and damp, cold greasy roads, and the difference a winter compoundand tread pattern makes is absolutely worth the expenditure at anything below 5 to 7 degrees air temp.
I've spent the past 5 years in the Scottish highlands. Where its not unusual to see minus 20 in the winters. One week in February a few years ago the warmest it got for ten days was minus 7.
At those temps, winter tyres (I used 265/70/16 Avon Ranger Ice) make a massive difference. However, at anything below 5 degrees air temp, and in wet, damp greasy conditions they were significantly better in terms of traction and lateral grip than the 285/55/18 Pirelli Scorpions I used in the summer.
In ice or snow of any type (either fresh, wet, powder or hard packed) the pirellis were, frankly rubbish and the Avon's quite simply outstanding. To the point where on most snow I could happily run around in rear wheel drive only on the Avons which was simply not possible on the Pirellis.
Its not just about temperature - for snow, no matter how much, its about tread pattern.
But fro most of the uk, its about temperature and damp, cold greasy roads, and the difference a winter compoundand tread pattern makes is absolutely worth the expenditure at anything below 5 to 7 degrees air temp.
21 February 2013, 12:31 PM
#550
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: .
Posts: 20,035
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Still going then?
I've spent the past 5 years in the Scottish highlands. Where its not unusual to see minus 20 in the winters. One week in February a few years ago the warmest it got for ten days was minus 7.
At those temps, winter tyres (I used 265/70/16 Avon Ranger Ice) make a massive difference. However, at anything below 5 degrees air temp, and in wet, damp greasy conditions they were significantly better in terms of traction and lateral grip than the 285/55/18 Pirelli Scorpions I used in the summer.
In ice or snow of any type (either fresh, wet, powder or hard packed) the pirellis were, frankly rubbish and the Avon's quite simply outstanding. To the point where on most snow I could happily run around in rear wheel drive only on the Avons which was simply not possible on the Pirellis.
Its not just about temperature - for snow, no matter how much, its about tread pattern.
But fro most of the uk, its about temperature and damp, cold greasy roads, and the difference a winter compoundand tread pattern makes is absolutely worth the expenditure at anything below 5 to 7 degrees air temp.
I've spent the past 5 years in the Scottish highlands. Where its not unusual to see minus 20 in the winters. One week in February a few years ago the warmest it got for ten days was minus 7.
At those temps, winter tyres (I used 265/70/16 Avon Ranger Ice) make a massive difference. However, at anything below 5 degrees air temp, and in wet, damp greasy conditions they were significantly better in terms of traction and lateral grip than the 285/55/18 Pirelli Scorpions I used in the summer.
In ice or snow of any type (either fresh, wet, powder or hard packed) the pirellis were, frankly rubbish and the Avon's quite simply outstanding. To the point where on most snow I could happily run around in rear wheel drive only on the Avons which was simply not possible on the Pirellis.
Its not just about temperature - for snow, no matter how much, its about tread pattern.
But fro most of the uk, its about temperature and damp, cold greasy roads, and the difference a winter compoundand tread pattern makes is absolutely worth the expenditure at anything below 5 to 7 degrees air temp.
Why? Because of course they don't need to as their driving skills make the difference
22 February 2013, 02:59 PM
#555
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Oct 1998
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I got through winter on a bike once - doesn't make me big or clever, nor would I recommend it as the best option for anyone else.
I'm sure you can drive on slicks in the rain too
It's simple, if you want the best grip in the winter months, then fit winter tyres. If you can't afford to, then compromise and run what you have, but please don't pretend they are a waste of time, because they simply aren't.
I'm sure you can drive on slicks in the rain too
It's simple, if you want the best grip in the winter months, then fit winter tyres. If you can't afford to, then compromise and run what you have, but please don't pretend they are a waste of time, because they simply aren't.
23 February 2013, 08:32 AM
#556
Just thought I'd add some fuel
Thinking about Formula one and how teams are always obsessed with tyre temperatures, using blankets and having to do warm up laps etc. I wondered...how warm does a standard summer road tyre get when driven in sub zero temperature ?
Well, quick blast on the few miles to work and a look at the laser thermometer revealed this:
Pic one is temperature on the dash display: -1C degrees
Pic two is the temperature of the front bumper: -2.2C degrees (excuse my thumb)
Pic three is the front offside tyre: 13.4C degrees
Pic four is the rear offside tyre: 13.8C degrees
So my tyres are more or less 13 degrees, remind me what is the threashold point where their cold performance deteriorates?
Thinking about Formula one and how teams are always obsessed with tyre temperatures, using blankets and having to do warm up laps etc. I wondered...how warm does a standard summer road tyre get when driven in sub zero temperature ?
Well, quick blast on the few miles to work and a look at the laser thermometer revealed this:
Pic one is temperature on the dash display: -1C degrees
Pic two is the temperature of the front bumper: -2.2C degrees (excuse my thumb
)Pic three is the front offside tyre: 13.4C degrees
Pic four is the rear offside tyre: 13.8C degrees
So my tyres are more or less 13 degrees, remind me what is the threashold point where their cold performance deteriorates?
How much of a difference in those readings would you expect/guess to see on a mild/warm summer day (not a hot summers day, in other words normal UK summer day temp)
Last week the ambient was 1° and I drove 50 miles down to Bishops Castle (from Stourbridge) which is a spirited run in any book. My winter fronts felt slightly warmer than ambient, while the rears couldn't feel much difference
I can't see a summer tyre warming enough in that scenario to 'work' properly
23 February 2013, 09:17 AM
#557
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Far Corfe
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to thank Pete for starting this thread, its been both entertaining and enlightening at the same time. I lok forward to seeing it being added to or still going next winter.
23 March 2013, 11:59 AM
#558
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: .
Posts: 20,035
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thread resuurection time.
Just driven round some daft bint in a Fiesta trying to drive up the uber steep hill near my house on 5 inches of comapcted snow. Had to hurry as she was not far off from getting her car stuck sideways and blocking the road. I got out and asked her to cease trying for a minute and went back to my car. I think she thought I was somehow going to help her, but instead I just drove round her
I did wave though.
Just driven round some daft bint in a Fiesta trying to drive up the uber steep hill near my house on 5 inches of comapcted snow. Had to hurry as she was not far off from getting her car stuck sideways and blocking the road. I got out and asked her to cease trying for a minute and went back to my car. I think she thought I was somehow going to help her, but instead I just drove round her
I did wave though.
23 March 2013, 03:22 PM
#559
Scooby Regular
Thread resuurection time.
Just driven round some daft bint in a Fiesta trying to drive up the uber steep hill near my house on 5 inches of comapcted snow. Had to hurry as she was not far off from getting her car stuck sideways and blocking the road. I got out and asked her to cease trying for a minute and went back to my car. I think she thought I was somehow going to help her, but instead I just drove round her I did wave though.
Just driven round some daft bint in a Fiesta trying to drive up the uber steep hill near my house on 5 inches of comapcted snow. Had to hurry as she was not far off from getting her car stuck sideways and blocking the road. I got out and asked her to cease trying for a minute and went back to my car. I think she thought I was somehow going to help her, but instead I just drove round her
I did wave though. 
23 March 2013, 03:46 PM
#560
Must admit, when I bought my spec d fitted with potenza re70s I did think I'd need winters fitting. But it's got me every where even up our big hill throught a 1ft snow drift lol.
Do dramas at all.
Do dramas at all.
23 March 2013, 07:12 PM
#561
Thread resuurection time.
Just driven round some daft bint in a Fiesta trying to drive up the uber steep hill near my house on 5 inches of comapcted snow. Had to hurry as she was not far off from getting her car stuck sideways and blocking the road. I got out and asked her to cease trying for a minute and went back to my car. I think she thought I was somehow going to help her, but instead I just drove round her I did wave though.
Just driven round some daft bint in a Fiesta trying to drive up the uber steep hill near my house on 5 inches of comapcted snow. Had to hurry as she was not far off from getting her car stuck sideways and blocking the road. I got out and asked her to cease trying for a minute and went back to my car. I think she thought I was somehow going to help her, but instead I just drove round her
I did wave though. (thing = Fiesta, tit= engine
)If so, maybe offer a hint at learning to drive in the snow, or to take some off-road driving days may be of better use
Some idiot dumped a 1 series BMW outside my house because he couldn't get up the hill...I took our 530GT out and couldn't see what the problem was. All I did was turn off the DSC (which I usually do in the snow) and put the autobox into 2nd gear when pulling away then dropping it into 3rd gear once moving, it just a happily plodded its way up the road without even hinting at breaking traction.
Yes, I should have used the Golf instead as it has AWD, but seriously...it wasn't bad enough to warrant taking it out the garage (seeing I just cleaned it a few days before
)
Last edited by ALi-B; 23 March 2013 at 07:15 PM.
23 March 2013, 08:08 PM
#562
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: .
Posts: 20,035
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well it was a 2011 Fiesta diesel. She was trying to set off slowly but as soon as it began to slip she panicked and revved the **** off it... cue lots of diesel smoke and no forward progress ..... it was quite comical until I realised that slowly but surely the car was turning sideways more and more the harder she tried. Then I needed to get by as otherwisse she would have blocked the road completely.
24 March 2013, 01:43 AM
#563
Scooby Regular
Winter tyres still serving me well, the pile of $h!t£ they're attached to on the other hand isn't ! On the way to work tonight the front o/s coil spring collapsed 
Foofing VAG shoddy worthless made of nowt pile of turd bloody Skoda's 
Foofing VAG shoddy worthless made of nowt pile of turd bloody Skoda's
17 October 2013, 11:28 AM
#570
Scooby Senior
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wildberg, Germany/Reading, UK
Posts: 9,706
Likes: 0
Received 73 Likes
on
54 Posts
