Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
another winter tyre question
at what point in terms of snow depth, does an AT or MT tyre outperform a winter tyre.
I used to run Cooper STs all year round and they were good in deep snow and mud, and also performed OK in summer and icy conditions
the Grabber ATs on the D4 aren't as good, but if I get a specific winter tyre, id be looking for something that can tow a 1800kgs caravan in a foot of snow and off a muddy field but also be grippy in subzero temps on icy and lightly snow covered tarmac.
what I think I need is a magic tyre that can deal with all winter and muddy conditions...Duncan
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20th Dec 2013 6:24 pm
MHP
Member Since: 31 Dec 2011
Location: lydd
Posts: 2776
we have winteracs (if that's how its spelt?!) And they preformed very well in the mud and wet while in the peaks a while back but don't know about the snow 2009 Discovery 3 HSE - Gone
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20th Dec 2013 6:27 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Would a deep treaded MT tyre just end up digging in, similar to sand, when used in deep snow? Guess it depends on the snow, if it's fresh and light/fluffy or if it's wet heavy snow which would be similar to mud?2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
20th Dec 2013 6:29 pm
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 07 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4190
I can say with great authority that MTR's are utterly useless and indeed dangerous on compacted snow so unless you are the first and last car out there don't use those unless you want to become part of the scenery......
Now purchased from AJS a proper set of Conti snow tyres......
My standard tyred D4 would run rings around my G4 which was invariably in a ditch somewhere ......
20th Dec 2013 6:34 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
Don't know if the duratrac replacement for the mtr are any good in snow.
Ideally I need a winter off-road tyre with good solid sidewalls that doesnt go too hard in subzero tempsDuncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
20th Dec 2013 6:39 pm
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 07 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4190
That would be my choice ....having compared tread pattern between the MTR and Duratracs the latter have many more sipes and appear to be a far better all rounder......
The problem I have is we spend the winter pulling heavy horseboxes across muddy fields ......
20th Dec 2013 6:44 pm
petersw
Member Since: 17 Nov 2012
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 1135
Likewise KM2s, but once it starts compacting you can't beat a winter tyre in my experience. So far the UltraGrips haven't been used on mud of any substance, but hope to change that this weekend and will report back.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
20th Dec 2013 7:44 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23647
I'd agree that MTR's are by far the worst tyre of the 5 different sets that I've driven a D3/4 on in virgin snow, slush, compacted snow, ice etc.
No sipes, a hard compound and big block tread pattern. The total opposite of a winter tyre. Although they were quite good on the 5-6 inch deep fresh virgin snow on my lane. But how often are you driving on virgin snow?
Dunc, I'd say that the best "compromise" tyre for your needs would probably be the Duratrac if you want to tackle big mud. But it will be a compromise as you'll suffer on the mpg and road noise.
I've managed very well on Pirelli ATR's through the last few winters, no problems with most off-road situations. But whilst I didn't actually get stuck, I did a lot of squirming around in some heavy mud on Salisbury Plain, after a few days of heavy rain earlier this year. I'd assume the Duratracs would have been far superior in those conditions.
But mud varies a lot, I remember when my MTR's got clogged up completely on one of the forum trips to Salisbury Plain. It was on the approach to VA's crossing and as result they where no better than others with clogged up Scorpion Zero's.
I'd like to run winter tyres on my D4, if only I could find one that could cope with mud. The Vredestein Wintracs on my friends D3 clogged up instantly when we hit some mud on an off-road track. He reported the same on other off-road trips and like me now runs Pirelli ATR's all year round.
Looking forward to hearing how the Goodyear Ultragrips, that several here are running this winter, perform off-road.
20th Dec 2013 7:46 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23647
Goodyear give an accurate (IMO) description of their tyres:
Not great, 2/5, on wet roads. But it does have the mountain/snowflake symbol.
20th Dec 2013 7:54 pm
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 07 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4190
I'm really pleased that this has come up again....on a previous forum question I asked whether Duratracs were considered a winter tyre.....
We tow horseboxes most weekends across muddy paddocks and fields attending various events and the MTRs are brilliant at coping with this but last year when the going got tough with snow they were brilliant for the first hour before anyone else got out on the roads like Dels photos... After the first hour and for the next couple of weeks they were utterly awful....
Hence the purchase of some winter conti's ..... However they will only be going on once the snow has laid as my fear of mud clogging them remains high......
Unfortunately 99% of the time we deal with mud and more mud......
I think my perfect scenario would be to replace the MTR's with Duratracs which should solve all of my problems....if I could source them.... I know Andy at AJS has a huge backlog of orders that Goodyear can't fulfil....
20th Dec 2013 8:07 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23647
Not that cheap at £209 inc. delivery, but excluding fitting costs. In stock though.
20th Dec 2013 8:17 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72974
Like LT I standardised on ATRs as they did everything I need very well. Only once in deep mud were they shown up by MTs in a ridiculasly boggy area of the LRE centres at Bala, I can live with that. On ice & snow they may not be as good as a winter but i've found them pretty good compared with MTRs & road tyres. I can live with them not being as good as winters are pants in the mud. I don't want to have to change wheels every time I want to go and play.
My thoughts, there are other thoughts out there. Alegedly.
20th Dec 2013 8:25 pm
AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
You will find a small group on this forum who have a liking for the AT/R which is not a bad tyre (not a stock UK tyre). We still find the most popular AT tyre is the General AT.
The Duratrac is a very good tyre for more extreme all round conditions, but a fat lot of good if you can't get the things.
Have again moaned at Goodyear today but a bit like banging one's head on the wall.
There is no one tyre that will fit all of your needs, different tyres for different needs.
Best answer is wait till all the others have compacted the snow and go past them on Wintracs.
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things.
