Winter tyres. Discuss.

[rossybee]

4wd gets things going, but I wouldn't like to try to stop a big car on summer tyres quickly.

From my experience, a FWD car on winters is more effective than a 4WD on summer tyres. A 4WD on winters is very impressive in poor conditions, but I reckon 2wd on winters is as much as will realistically required for our typical winters.

My old Volvo V50 on winters was very impressive. Cheap Chinese tyres tho, so were crap in milder non-snow/ice situations

[Kinger]

I’ve got Toyo winters on the Elise and they are magic, I was out playing in the snow at the Lecht today. I feels great in the snow but got to be very careful on ice.
Just before Xmas we had about 1” of snow on top of ice, to get to the main road I’ve got to go up a wee bit of a hill, my neighbor in his Q5 was stuck at 45 degrees against the kerb. The Elise just trundled up the hill past him, later he told me he was so embarrassed getting stuck and Elise simply drove past.

The Elise on winters feels way better than the 4WD Volvo V90 on summers.

[Stephen]

Since I started using winters the only problem I have ever had has been ground clearance, even with the 2wd A4.

[campbell]

Nankangs on our MINI Clubman couple years ago. Very good and very cheap.

[douglasgdmw]

Currently looking at an XC60 and considering the 2wd manual as it looks to have the best fuel economy. If anyone has any views/ experience is be glad to hear them.

A lot of the scandi Volvo's have been fwd for years so I am sure it would be fine with winter tyres. If the saloons can cope then I am sure their SUV's would too. Suspect in only the worst conditions would it struggle over a 4x4 version.

Real good thing I like about my Defender is the low ratio box which is really useful for navigating down icy hills (and has come in very useful for towing cars out of ditches in icy/snowy conditions). So would check to see whether the FWD version lacks in any technical features to help you out of bad conditions (like Land Rover Hill Descent Control).

Not driven the XC60 but have heard they are a nice place to be.

Only reservation I would have over the FWD version is resale as suspect the majority of people would elect to get the 4x4 version (unless of course our goverment bans them due to environmental impact such is their ridiculous view on anything motoring). So you may save more in fuel costs but longer term lose out. Just something to check out.

George

[Stephen]

Cheers George. I have an ugly 90 for when it gets really bad.

[Stevoraith]

First winter in a few years where I feel I’ve had real benefit from the winter tyres.

No slip at all on the ice-rink that my street has become, even in the rwd auto BMW, while plenty of standard low powered fwd cars have been getting stuck on the speed bumps and hills.

[neil]

First winter in a few years where I feel I’ve had real benefit from the winter tyres.

No slip at all on the ice-rink that my street has become, even in the rwd auto BMW, while plenty of standard low powered fwd cars have been getting stuck on the speed bumps and hills.

For added fun hit the DTC button and find yourself a roundabout

[ScottJ-PS]

Nankangs on our MINI Clubman couple years ago. Very good and very cheap.

well I thought our MINI Clubman was doing rather well in the snow until we crashed it on Sunday, call at 9am this morning, total loss, but thankfully paying out market value . So lesson learned, winter tyres next winter .

[campbell]

Very, very sad to hear that. I know what such calls are like

[Stephen]

Hi no! Hope no-one was hurt. Cars are replaceable.

[Stu160]

Nankangs on our MINI Clubman couple years ago. Very good and very cheap.

I gave the winters to my son Steven this winter, missing them....the first morning of the snow, I nearly got stuck in the Clubvan, so parked it , and it's not moved since.
borrowed my dad's Forester, it needed an MOT and run anyway., it has done 68 miles since last year's MOT

Stu

[Sanjøy]

Nankangs on our MINI Clubman couple years ago. Very good and very cheap.

I gave the winters to my son Steven this winter, missing them....the first morning of the snow, I nearly got stuck in the Clubvan, so parked it , and it's not moved since.
borrowed my dad's Forester, it needed an MOT and run anyway., it has done 68 miles since last year's MOT

Stu

He should sell it to Tut who is looking for one.

[campbell]

Nankangs on our MINI Clubman couple years ago. Very good and very cheap.

I gave the winters to my son Steven this winter, missing them....the first morning of the snow, I nearly got stuck in the Clubvan, so parked it , and it's not moved since.
borrowed my dad's Forester, it needed an MOT and run anyway., it has done 68 miles since last year's MOT

Stu

Epic fail, Stu

[captain]

I’ve got Toyo winters on the Elise and they are magic, I was out playing in the snow at the Lecht today. I feels great in the snow but got to be very careful on ice.
Just before Xmas we had about 1” of snow on top of ice, to get to the main road I’ve got to go up a wee bit of a hill, my neighbor in his Q5 was stuck at 45 degrees against the kerb. The Elise just trundled up the hill past him, later he told me he was so embarrassed getting stuck and Elise simply drove past.

The Elise on winters feels way better than the 4WD Volvo V90 on summers.

Pleased to hear it! They are great - bit squidgy and vague on warm roads but that's not what they're for.

Even on cold and very wet roads they are excellent - i always used AD08R on my Elise and got through one winter of pretty much every day use with those winter toyos.