CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
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I'm slightly amused at all the hype going on around winter tyres at present. Having driven a 4x4 for the last 20 years and through some pretty harsh Yorkshire winters I've never felt the need for specialist winter tyres. I've no doubt that in a back to back test they may perform better in low temperatures but I really do question the need.
If my brother-in-law can get up a very steep hill covered in packed snow in his Merc R-Class 4x4 car shod with 20" road going all season boots then I'm not convinced I need to spend/waste the money.
Prepared to be shot down on this one but I reckon as long as your tyres have good amounts of tread and are maintained at the correct pressures, the D3 is more than capable of coping with the worst weather the UK can deliver. 2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
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 24th Oct 2011 3:59 pm |
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ZacSmith
Member Since: 26 Aug 2010
Location: Dover
Posts: 709
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I guess it depends whether the extra 9m of braking distance you need means that you are 9m closer to the car in front or sitting with your engine block buried in their boot? Haven't needed them myself but I think everyone else should have them, especially if they are going to be driving behind me. VIN: A175A328***
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:07 pm |
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CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
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That's a bit of a broad brush statement though, 9m extra at what speed and in what conditiions?
Decent drivers will adapt to the road and weather conditions and drive accordingly, although I accept that rules out a high percentage of the UK's drivers though  2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:11 pm |
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Moo
D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14373
  
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If you work on the principle that most people can't drive in snow then anything to keep the roads moving is welcome so making winter tyres compulsory has my vote.
As for the D3/4, I'm with you on the 'not sure for a 4x4' and drive according to the conditions. So far so good - my AT2s were brilliant and hopefully my Mickey Ts will be equally as good.
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:16 pm |
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Pottsy
Member Since: 09 Oct 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 27
 
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Andy,
Winter tyres are excellent in winter. All-season tyres (M+S) are ok in a UK winter. But the summer tyres fitted to nearly every regular car are hopeless and dangerous.
Luckily most "rugged" 4x4 vehicles are fitted with M+S tyres, so there's no real need to change. The last few winters I have left the M+S tyres on our CR-V and it has been fine. But not nearly as good as my RWD new E class diesel auto Merc which can out accelerate, corner and brake it in snow.  I'll be interested to see how the D4 compares to the Merc though. Maybe some fun video opportunities if it snows!
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:17 pm |
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geoff.
Member Since: 24 Jan 2010
Location: West kent
Posts: 8531
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i agree with you Andy a good AT tyre is all thats needed in this country 
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:17 pm |
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CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
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I should say that I was questioning the need to fit them on a D3/4 (or other decent 4x4), I can see the merit on a RWD BMW or Merc or other lightweight Eurobox. 2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:19 pm |
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ZacSmith
Member Since: 26 Aug 2010
Location: Dover
Posts: 709
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I can't remeber where I got 9m from! However:
Quote:Autoexpress 2010 test
The results showed the fastest braking tyre was Goodyear’s Ultragrip 7+ which managed to stop in less than 18 metres. The Continental Sport Contact 2 summer tyre took 43.14 metres in like for like testing. This equates to around 6 car lengths. The Continental summer tyres was still traveling at 20 mph at the point where the Goodyear Ultragrip 7+ had stopped !!
That said, perfectly happy with my AT2s last year. VIN: A175A328***
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:24 pm |
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Gazellio
Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
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I think this is a little like watching a D3 with road tyres perform at an offroad centre. It does the job adequately because of the terrain response and electronic braking systems but if you compare this performance to the same model with AT or Mud Tyres then the huge performance difference is obvious to see....
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:26 pm |
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heapster
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Sussex
Posts: 257
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I noticed a real difference going from Goodyear HPs to Vredstein Wintracs - especially on our lane which was not gritted so had a covering of compressed snow/ice for a couple of weeks. Greater grip going uphill and shorter braking distances.
The 110 struggled with BFG ATs when it got really slippy (but was great when it was fresh).
I have GG ATs on the Disco now and it would be interesting to see how they deal with frost and snow - I may leave them on until we see some white stuff just to compare.
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:27 pm |
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Donny
Member Since: 05 Mar 2009
Location: South Yorks & Merseyside
Posts: 178
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I too had been running 4x4s for years without winter tyres with no issues but last autumn mine needed some new boots and I was offered a good deal on some Wintracs so thought why not - I intended to either run them all year until they were dead. Anyway they performed so well during last winter that I took them off and put them away - replacing them with another set of rims and some GGATs. My Wintracs will be back out soon for winter duties again so fair to say I am a convert. The ATs will winter in the garage and then reappear next spring.
Regarding costs - you only have to consider if you can afford the initial £ outlay now - as the Wintracs wear well and you are doing the same miles - just across two sets of tyres - so they last twice as long.
The benefits of winter tyres are well documented and even without snow they start to perform better once we are down to 7oC i.e. most of our winter - so why not
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:28 pm |
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Gazellio
Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
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Not sure my Cooper STT's will be great on sheet ice but should be amazing in fresh snow..... 
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:29 pm |
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CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
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gazellio wrote:I think this is a little like watching a D3 with road tyres perform at an offroad centre. It does the job adequately because of the terrain response and electronic braking systems but if you compare this performance to the same model with AT or Mud Tyres then the huge performance difference is obvious to see....
That's perhaps a fair comment, wonder if the difference is really that much though. 2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:30 pm |
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Gazellio
Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
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It is from what I have seen. Road tyres do a lot of slipping before they grip going up steep muddy slopes whereas Mud tyres grip from the outset not having to rely on the cars electronics anything like as much....
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:33 pm |
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A1GSS
Member Since: 12 Sep 2010
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 4691
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Whatcar have done a test that makes for interesting reading - not on 4x4s but on bog standard family cars.
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/winter-tyres-tested/259257
I used Vreds on my D3 last winter and felt that the car was very sure footed. I've just bought a set for the FFRR and have recommended the use of Winter tyres to others. ____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey
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| 24th Oct 2011 4:37 pm |
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