Winter tyres. Discuss.

[BiggestNizzy]

I like in the Kilmarnock bubble so no need for winter tyres. we got Zero snow last year while 25miles up the road it was "snowmageddon"

[alicrozier]

Which tyres did you go for Giles?

Nankang Snow SV-2's on Nicola's MINcer are improving according to her - felt 'loose' when first fitted.
I've yet to try them. I dare say they won't come into their own until it's proper cold.

I drove the Nankang's for the first time today....

They are alarmingly rubbish compared to a summer tyre in reasonable conditions (10deg but wet). They are inconsistent, lack of feel, much lower overall grip and 'floaty' in a straight line. I'll have a play with pressures but they are a much bigger compromise than I thought. Better be good in the snow...

My bro has the same tyre on spare alloys for the M3, the MINcer is one thing but that could be plain frightening!

[Dark]

I drove the Nankang's for the first time today....

They might need a few miles for the release agents to wear off, especially if it was wet!

Fitted last years Nankang's back on my wife's Impreza this morning and took it for a quick spin around the block and couldn't notice any difference to the summers! Although the Avon ZZ3's I took off are well past their best, assuming they ever were any good???

Also put a set of Cooper Weathermaster Snow back my my Impreza STI, made a nice change from last year to be doing it in the sunshine, last year it was -5C and dark!

[kerryxeg]

I drove the Nankang's for the first time today....

They are alarmingly rubbish compared to a summer tyre in reasonable conditions (10deg but wet). They are inconsistent, lack of feel, much lower overall grip and 'floaty' in a straight line. I'll have a play with pressures but they are a much bigger compromise than I thought. Better be good in the snow...

I've not tried a car with Nankangs, but if it's really soft rubber and the whole tyre design is blocked (for snow grip) then you'll feel the blocks moving. A pure snow tyre is obviously designed for drive not cornering in snow, so won't be the best if thrown into a bend. On the upside feel should improve once there is a bit of wear.

The side walls on winter tyres can be a bit soft, so I normally run with higher pressures when it's not wintry and take off about 5psi when I'm looking for grip rather than cornering.

For the M3 - the tyres should still have a reasonable speed rating ie still need to be suited to the car. I had a audi rental in Germany a couple of months ago and noted that it was fitted with 250kph rated all season tyres - so that was my limit for the autobahn

I've fitted Goodyear Eagle Vector 2 all season tyres on an A4 Quattro - steering feels a little lighter, but cornering and normal driving feels unchanged, ride feels better but thats down reduction to 17" wheels vs the previous 18".

[j2 lot]

Last minute change of plan means I have 2 Yokohama w- drive 225/45-17 getting delivered tomorrow that I will be looking to return for a smaller size. If anyone is interested in them at list price let me know.
Brand new from Black Circles. Phoning them tomorrow to see If they will take them back so need quick reply.

[scottishselise]

Which tyres did you go for Giles?

Nankang Snow SV-2's on Nicola's MINcer are improving according to her - felt 'loose' when first fitted.
I've yet to try them. I dare say they won't come into their own until it's proper cold.

I drove the Nankang's for the first time today....

They are alarmingly rubbish compared to a summer tyre in reasonable conditions (10deg but wet). They are inconsistent, lack of feel, much lower overall grip and 'floaty' in a straight line. I'll have a play with pressures but they are a much bigger compromise than I thought. Better be good in the snow...

My bro has the same tyre on spare alloys for the M3, the MINcer is one thing but that could be plain frightening!

I got these as did the other half. They do improve, but yes, they are soft as anything and not very confidence inspiring to say the least. Reviews seem to be reasonable though from people who have used them in snow so fingers crossed. Let me know how you get on with increasing/decreasing pressures.

[KevD]

Nankangs aren't really a premium tyre so not surprised they aren't feeling great, sure once they wear in they'll still be far better in the snow and slush though.

Part of the problem is most normal cars are over-tyred now ( not the m3!) with 17/18" wheels as standard, making the premium options £150+ a tyre. Whereas a 15" tyre would only be £70 for a premium brand. Do we really need 17" tyres on cars with 110bhp?

[campbell]

Do we really need 17" tyres on cars with 110bhp?

I think it's driven by weight increases, driven by "safety features", etc, rather than pure power-to-weight.

[neil]

Do we really need 17" tyres on cars with 110bhp?

I think it's driven by weight increases, driven by "safety features", etc, rather than pure power-to-weight.

No it's not. It's purely a fashion accessory

[Corranga]

Nice to see what I have to look forward to with my Nankangs, and just when the lack of Lotus (SORN and with no seats at the moment) means i've been pressing on in the Seat on the odd short but fun blat.. Of course the decreasing temperatures will put and end to that anyway.

That said, I simply couldn't justify the cost of wheels + even 16 inch premium tyres for a car that's barely worth £1.5k tbh, especially since I coped last year. If they don't work well this year, I'll just sell them on next winter I suppose (possibly along with the Seat )

[Corranga]

Do we really need 17" tyres on cars with 110bhp?

I think it's driven by weight increases, driven by "safety features", etc, rather than pure power-to-weight.

That's backwards though surely. I'd have thought that a heavier car would be better suited to a higher profile (and thus smaller wheeled) car.
I'd imagine that it's also easier to make a wheel stronger if it's smaller, then for the future, for used cars, the cheaper tyre surely means that people are more likely to buy premium brands.

I predict in years to come more accidents on slippery surfaces because high performance hatches like VXRs etc are affordable, but tyres for their 18inch rimz are so expensive more and more people will fit ditch-finders.

I'd say all bling factor.

[woody]

Sorry if this has been covered, haven't paid much attention to this thread, but the prospect of running a RWD car with 245 section tyres on the back end as winter approaces has got me thinking.

Do you need to/is it reccomended to drop a width i.e.225 instead of the 245's when using winter tyres? I remember my 306 having a similar drop in the hand book, but could find nothing for the 3?

TBH, my biggest issue will be getting the car out of our road, the Village and M/A77 beyond are always gritted well... the road to our street can be a day or two behind if the snow's particuarly bad, might just leave the car in the village if it comes to it.

[campbell]

Do we really need 17" tyres on cars with 110bhp?

I think it's driven by weight increases, driven by "safety features", etc, rather than pure power-to-weight.

No it's not. It's purely a fashion accessory

Sorry guys, not on all cyls just now. I read 17" as 205 section, doh.

Yep, agreed, low-profile tyres are nonsense on many a car, however the section width very much has had to grow due to bloating of vehicle weights as I understand it.

[tut]

Anybody else forget to put the clock back on their Profile?

tut

[campbell]

Sorry if this has been covered, haven't paid much attention to this thread, but the prospect of running a RWD car with 245 section tyres on the back end as winter approaces has got me thinking.

Do you need to/is it reccomended to drop a width i.e.225 instead of the 245's when using winter tyres? I remember my 306 having a similar drop in the hand book, but could find nothing for the 3?

TBH, my biggest issue will be getting the car out of our road, the Village and M/A77 beyond are always gritted well... the road to our street can be a day or two behind if the snow's particuarly bad, might just leave the car in the village if it comes to it.

My understanding is yes, drop a width if you can. Theoretically depends on manuf "recommendations" (which if you can't get for a UK edition of a car, you WILL get via the alpine version of the handbook eg for Switzerland, France, Germany). However the physics are that a smaller contact patch exerts proportionally more force on a given area and this is important when friction is being compromised by water or snow. This is why rally cars cover snow stages on almost comically thin tyres.

But as per above, not on all cyls right now so this could be entirely bollox but it's the logic I'd follow if doing "the winters thing" this year.

Campbell