Member Since: 18 Mar 2007
Location: Dorset
Posts: 5011
Am I mad?
Just as it finally hits a sweltering 29º here I've fitted winter tyres! Thanks to the guys down at AJS I'm now sporting some lovely 275/45 R20 Wintrac Xtreme's and I'm wondering how many sets of those they sell this week?
There is a little bit of method to my madness... the plan is to run these all year round, with the thought that it's better to run winter tyres in the summer than summer tyres in the winter! I was thinking about trying the Cooper LTZ's like ronp's but then my insurance co started getting funny about 'S' rated tyres on a car that was capable of higher speed? It probably would've been better to swap onto these into the autumn, but the original pirelli's were past their best and I'm only hoping for a years use anyway.
I agonised over the size issue for a while but Andy was ever helpful and impartial with good advice. In the end I went for 275's because they offer a bit more protection to the Landmark rims, slightly higher load rating and more importantly, look like the dogs. Loving the extra presence they give the car with tyres that suit the rims and finally fill the arches.
At the moment (on-hot-road) they feel much better than the Pirelli's (they should as they're still new), just as quiet and probably a little harder due to the fact that we're running them 4psi over.
I'll see what I think a year from now when I'll have a better idea if I'm mad or not.
Thanks to Andy at AJS, pleasure to deal with - sorry it took me so long!
Click image to enlarge
26th Jul 2012 4:44 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72912
Re: Am I mad?
crews control wrote:
Am I mad?
Probably, it generally helps.
26th Jul 2012 4:53 pm
zook69
Member Since: 18 Apr 2011
Location: Horsham
Posts: 242
.... if it snows next week .... I'm blaming you Despite the cost of living, it remains as popular as ever!
26th Jul 2012 9:43 pm
devonchilliman
Member Since: 03 Nov 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 5224
They look the dogs .....
26th Jul 2012 9:46 pm
AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
Re: Am I mad?
Long range forcast says it's going to snow........................maybe be not down here for a while.
Nice car, have you had more thoughts on a little wrap ????
Great to meet you too, many thanks for your business.
27th Jul 2012 12:27 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23548
The compound of cold weather tyres make for a smooth and quiet ride. Just be aware that at higher temperatures the braking distances on both wet and particularly dry roads will be increased.
On the second page, the first diagram is a comparison of braking distances at 20C and 5C on dry and wet roads.
I'd expect these margins to be increased with a heavy vehicle such as a D3/4.
But then I'd also expect similar margins when comparing a road tyre to say an MT tyre.
I have driven and been driven in a friends D3, bought used from a mate in Scotland, that came shod with Wintracs. Great on road in the winter, but not for me (or him) in the summer. But that's my opinion, each to their own etc.
27th Jul 2012 12:38 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72912
Did someone say snow?? Just a little Internet air conditioning:
Click image to enlarge
27th Jul 2012 12:41 pm
AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
LT wrote:
But then I'd also expect similar margins when comparing a road tyre to say an MT tyre.
Would be far happier on Wintracs on wet roads than MT tyres, IMHO.
27th Jul 2012 12:45 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23548
Was hoping for the legendary wheelie bin photo Del. July the 27th, is that a forum record for showing one of your snow piccies prior to winter?
27th Jul 2012 12:46 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72912
The wheelie bin's in there, sneaked in on the left. No records for early wheelie bin pics, they're a year round experience.
However, for the purists:
A wheelie bin in white
Click image to enlarge
Where have my legs gone?
Click image to enlarge
and
SWMBO's Jazz, somewhere
Click image to enlarge
27th Jul 2012 12:54 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23548
That's the beauty
I think the met office should adopt the lid of a wheelie bin method for reporting on snow fall.
27th Jul 2012 1:12 pm
Ent
Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6485
As mad as a bottle of chips if not madder!Club Exped trailer
Club Timed Climate
Club Flappy paddle steering wheel
Club 300bhp
Club Prospeed test pilot/lab rat
Club National Luna Stella conditioner
27th Jul 2012 1:55 pm
AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
I support you and understand why you have gone this route.
Lets keep it a secret. ............spill the beans at a later date.
28th Jul 2012 9:24 am
crews control
Member Since: 18 Mar 2007
Location: Dorset
Posts: 5011
Will do
Feels a lot cooler today so they're just getting better!
28th Jul 2012 11:07 am
johndefenderman
Member Since: 31 May 2012
Location: durham
Posts: 3
all,
I am looking for advice about 19" tyres, currently have pirelli scoirpions wirth about 4 mm treads and will vbe looking for good allroud tyres to replace by this coming winter. Should I get ATs or MTs, I dfont want to get stuck in the snow.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Was hoping for the legendary wheelie bin photo Del. July the 27th, is that a forum record for showing one of your snow piccies prior to winter?
............spill the beans at a later date. 
