It's not black & white though, especially as temperatures rise and roads dry. On cold wet roads the winter tyres have materially better lateral grip, stopping and starting.____
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24th Oct 2011 4:45 pm
DG Site Moderator
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Andy I had all of my usual misgivings about the hype when it came to winter tyres. I know what you are saying about the perception of mixed season tyres not really causing many problems during winter conditions ...I believe that this is because you adjust your driving to suit and therefore if you have got your compensation for braking, cornering, ascending or descending right then they may appear to perform fairly well.
I then bought some Pirelli Ice & snow off Ken last winter and the vehicle dynamics and handling was considerably improved in my eyes providing much greater confidence in the motor on the road. I would recommend them without a doubt 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
24th Oct 2011 4:48 pm
Robbie
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No brainer for me as running a second set of tyres is effectively free, albeit with upfront costs. Cars such as ours cost tens of thousands so why skimp on the 4 objects that actually make a valuable car do its job.
Living in Germany was a real eye opener as to the performance of winter tyres and I cannot dream of being without them. It would be like deliberately removing the rear brakes just because a bloke in the pub told you that they were not needed!
Put it another way, if you were buying a new £40k+ car and there was a magic box with blue LEDs on the option list that would stop the car in a fraction of the distance and allow it to pull away in when really needed yet only cost £200 (made-up figure to represent fitting charges over a number of years) who would not tick it?Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
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Would anybody running Cooper STT's be happy to use them all Winter?
24th Oct 2011 5:04 pm
Russell
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Just a thought, if winter tyres offer so much more grip and make the vehicle stop/control much better, why do we not see emergency vehicles having a wheel swop at the start of the winter and having winter tyres put on. The fire service locally certainly do not, they run the same tyres all year round as do the police and ambulance service.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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24th Oct 2011 5:19 pm
Gazellio
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I Germany and other Northern European countries Winter Tyres are a legal requirement for 6 months of the year and our Winters are currently very similar....
24th Oct 2011 5:21 pm
DG Site Moderator
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Russell wrote:
why do we not see emergency vehicles
I don't think we do ..do we Russell ? when we had a few inches of snow last year all the Surrey services called their vehicles off the road and went "4x4 only" for around 36 hours.
It could be a cost and logistics issue? ....as I indicated above you can drive well on normal tyres if you adapt and concentrate. ...on winter tyres you still have to adapt and concentrate but with much more confidence 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
24th Oct 2011 5:28 pm
J@mes
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I thought it was a load of until I drove my D3 with AT2's on packed ice in Austria, and then drove an M class with winter tyres the day after. It was like night and day to be honest, the difference in braking, cornering and the confidence they gave was amazing. Sure, the vehicles were different but they are both big, heavy 4x4 vehicles.
That said, I still won't be fitting them to mine. I adjust my driving to suit the conditions, carry a spade and a piece of carpet if I get stuck, and know a few local farmers if I get really stuck.
I was going to suggest that the missus gets them for her A3, but generally if conditions are that bad then I give her a lift to work if I'm able to.
With the range of tyres on offer, you could have a set for each season. You don't really see people taking off their MTR's or AT2/R's in summer to run Scorpion Zeros based on the increased grip they offer, you just accept that you may need to corner a little slower or take that roundabout a little more gentle. A bit like using all weather tyres in the depths of winter.2014 D4 XS
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24th Oct 2011 5:45 pm
packingstrips
Member Since: 24 Mar 2010
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No traction means no traction, it doesnt matter if you have 4 wheel drive or not, the only difference is if you have traction control etc. More agressive tryes are the best way to compensate for this.
I remember watching some Steyr Puch Haflingers many years ago at a 4 wheel drive meet, in some places the the agressive V treads were not allowed and the drivers always struggles with the normal tyres.
Tyres are the simplist way to improve traction,4x4 or not.
24th Oct 2011 5:58 pm
CFB
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gazellio wrote:
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....
Sorry I meant the difference between all season and winter.2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
24th Oct 2011 6:17 pm
laplander
Member Since: 11 Feb 2010
Location: Lapland
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I moved to Finland (Lapland) four years ago. I stupidly presumed my standard all road tyres would be fine. As soon as the snow fell i was in trouble. As great as the four wheel drive system is it was no help whatsoever! I had to buy winter tyres with metal studs. Believe me tyres make a huge difference in cold temperatures! Even the tyres here without metal studs make a big difference as the compound is so much softer.
24th Oct 2011 9:09 pm
CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
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I think your winters are perhaps a tad colder and longer than ours though 2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
24th Oct 2011 9:22 pm
blue meanie D3 Decade
Member Since: 04 Aug 2005
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It's all about the stopping and staying in control with winter tyres from my point of view and nothing to do with the getting stuck side of things
Pirelli Ice and snows going back on mine soon.....and theeeeennn......???
24th Oct 2011 9:29 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
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gazellio wrote:
Would anybody running Cooper STT's be happy to use them all Winter?
I have got some STT's, and I have used them all winter. They were ok in fresh snow, but on ice or compacted snow they were not so good.
Last winter I left the Wranglers on, and bought some snow chains. I went to the Alps and despite lots of snow and ice I never fitted them. I did fit them for a 'play' in the fresh snow at home, and they did help the car a lot. The most noticeable difference the chains made was in the stopping distance and the steering control.
Its normal tyres, and chains if needed for me from now on
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when we had a few inches of snow last year all the Surrey services called their vehicles off the road and went "4x4 only" for around 36 hours.
until I drove my D3 with AT2's on packed ice in Austria, and then drove an M class with winter tyres the day after. It was like night and day to be honest, the difference in braking, cornering and the confidence they gave was amazing. Sure, the vehicles were different but they are both big, heavy 4x4 vehicles.
