Winter tyres?

[TripleD]

So it’s that time of year where I normally consider putting winter tyres on, but given how mild winter is, is it actually worth it?

Living in East Anglia last winter wasn’t harsh last year, now I have Quattro so that helps.
I am planning on visiting Scotland for Christmas.

What’s people’s thoughts? And how many actually make the change? Where and how do you store the summer tyres?

 

[Daggerit]

So it’s that time of year where I normally consider putting winter tyres on, but given how mild winter is, is it actually worth it?

Living in East Anglia last winter wasn’t harsh last year, now I have Quattro so that helps.
I am planning on visiting Scotland for Christmas.

What’s people’s thoughts? And how many actually make the change? Where and how do you store the summer tyres?

Apparently anything under 7 degrees and they work better than summer tyres but I don’t push them hard enough generally to check that specific difference. Definitely know in snow they make a mahoosive difference.

I just have a cheap set of alloys I bought off eBay but they have some decent Dunlop rubber on them so I can just swap out the totes rather than having to go get tyres swapped each time.


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[TripleD]

Apparently anything under 7 degrees and they work better than summer tyres but I don’t push them hard enough generally to check that specific difference. Definitely know in snow they make a mahoosive difference.

I just have a cheap set of alloys I bought off eBay but they have some decent Dunlop rubber on them so I can just swap out the totes rather than having to go get tyres swapped each time.


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After market alloys? What size did you go for 18 or 19?

 

[Daggerit]

After market alloys? What size did you go for 18 or 19?

I got some 18” A5 alloys with a fairly aggressive offset so that they got over the brakes at the front. I need to check they fit actually, but I’m pretty confident. Haha. Tyres are 245/40/18 Dunlop Alpin’s so a standard 18” for tyre.


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[cuke2u]

Possibly all season tyres might be better in our milder climate and it seems tyre manufacturers are focussing on these http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/access...re-test-20172018-top-all-weather-tyres-tested I have never once felt the need for winter tyres, even when I lived in the gloriously named market town of Penistone in the late eighties and nineties when snow was common in november and it used to be totally cut off for short times. But then that was proper snow and people just got on with it.

 

[RichardMMM]

I had 2 BMW 3 series tourings before the S4 and I bought a set of winter wheels/tyres for those and during the last 5 winters I don't think I really needed them once. Rarely is the temperature low enough to feel the benefit and most days the grip was worse than the standard wider tyres. Living in the south east we just don't get the weather to need them.

 

[gone]

I have a set of winters ready to put on, the originals are down to 2mm after 7k miles, I’m a bit reluctant to put them on yet, we have had 3 frosty mornings so far, currently 7 here on the edge of the Moors.
Even on greasy salted roads the car has felt very sure footed and hung on admirably when provoked, I’ll wait for the temps to drop a little more as I don’t want to drop the tread too much and then find we get loads of snow early next year.
Winter tyres for most people do seem unnecessary, most cars will cope with an inch or two, most drivers don’t, the real test comes on bends and coming to a stop, that is where they show their true purpose. That said, it is all well and good stopping smartly only to find Mrs Miggins following has a clapped out Fiesta fitted with worn Wanli tyres...

 

[RichardMMM]

I should have added, I have driven in Iceland in a FWD car with snow/ice on the roads (especially in the remote areas) and the winter tyres were amazing. The car didn't loose grip once.

 

[Broonie]

I’m another that doesn’t see the point in winter tyres, never used them and never will, I’ve never had a car that I’ve felt I’ve no control over in the snow or ice, it’s quite simple, drive to the conditions! If someone is behind you in their clapped out car with bald tyres and they do run into you then they’re at fault, that’s why we have insurance!

I live in north east Scotland and out in the countryside where we usually get a bit of snow and a lot of frost, even the wife manages to bring the car home in one piece during heavy snow on normal tyres and her driving is terrible! I’ve also never owned a fwd Audi and never will, terrible things even in the dry, so can’t comment on how they drive in winter conditions

 

[Thundercliffe81]

As Cale says, All season could be best in your location but Scotland (especially further north) can be quite bad. Even here in West and North Yorkshire it is even now. In the mornings. Regularly below 5 degrees, even 2 degrees and only getting colder. I commute over the hills so I made the choice to get some Nokian WRA4s. Really liking them.


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[Daggerit]

For me it’s not the getting stuck but that I’m worried about, it’s the braking and turning where the winter tyres are much better in snowy conditions. Having slid down a hill in my B8.5 at a walking pace on summer tyres I changed to the winters and had no issues on the same section of road. That’s the kind of situation I have them for.

Also, I find in the long run they pay for themselves by needing new tyres half as often overall.


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[Thundercliffe81]

I’m another that doesn’t see the point in winter tyres, never used them and never will, I’ve never had a car that I’ve felt I’ve no control over in the snow or ice, it’s quite simple, drive to the conditions! If someone is behind you in their clapped out car with bald tyres and they do run into you then they’re at fault, that’s why we have insurance!

I live in north east Scotland and out in the countryside where we usually get a bit of snow and a lot of frost, even the wife manages to bring the car home in one piece during heavy snow on normal tyres and her driving is terrible! I’ve also never owned a fwd Audi and never will, terrible things even in the dry, so can’t comment on how they drive in winter conditions

It's a pretty good case. But, last year in light snow, I passed 8 cars that spun out or slid back going up a 'fairly' steep hill. Summer tyres are mince in the snow and ice. Advise anybody to watch the reviews and demos.

End of the day, if there isn't a flatter, alternative route to work from your home, get winters. Driving like an idiot in any weather is dangerous. But Quattro with summer tyres in snow is not great. Got my S4 last December with brand new Hankooks and they were useless in these conditions. I couldn't have been driving any safer either.


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[JG220]

I was thinking a set of these. As said above, it just reduces wear on the summer tyres, so it doesn't actually cost anything (apart from the upfront investment and the cost to change and balance twice a year)
https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-details/nokian-wr-a4-245-35-r19-93-w-xl#160788860

 

[TripleD]

I have a set of winters ready to put on, the originals are down to 2mm after 7k miles

Saaayyyy wwhhhaaatttt?.....

You’ve got through a set quickly! I’m on 12k still on originals

 

[JG220]

The fronts on my A6 never last more than 10k miles. I'm not expecting good mileage from the s4

 

[Thundercliffe81]

I was thinking a set of these. As said above, it just reduces wear on the summer tyres, so it doesn't actually cost anything (apart from the upfront investment and the cost to change and balance twice a year)
https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-details/nokian-wr-a4-245-35-r19-93-w-xl#160788860

They're the badgers Very good indeed. Bit noisy but expected given the tread.


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[Thundercliffe81]

Saaayyyy wwhhhaaatttt?.....

You’ve got through a set quickly! I’m on 12k still on originals

I know. Crazy haha. I got 16k out of mine with 3mm on them still.


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[gone]

Saaayyyy wwhhhaaatttt?.....

You’ve got through a set quickly! I’m on 12k still on originals

I am enjoying the performance somewhat

 

[Thundercliffe81]

I am enjoying the performance somewhat

Light'em up!!


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[ub7rm]

I live in North East Scotland and have found winter tyres to be fantastic in snow, was stuck behind a bunch of cars trying to slither up a 1:10 hill last winter and I just waited until they had all stopped then breezed up past them.

So they do work very well. Would I consider them in 'milder' locations? Probably not. Summer tyres are more than good enough if its 'just' cold or water you have to deal with. I've now put Michelin cross climates on my golf rather than mess about changing wheels twice a year.

I haven't put them on the S4 yet, so far its been pretty mild. If needs be I'll change them over.

One good thing is that (with a spare set of wheels) it saves fragile diamond faced wheels from exposure to salt.

 

[Daggerit]

I live in North East Scotland and have found winter tyres to be fantastic in snow, was stuck behind a bunch of cars trying to slither up a 1:10 hill last winter and I just waited until they had all stopped then breezed up past them.

So they do work very well. Would I consider them in 'milder' locations? Probably not. Summer tyres are more than good enough if its 'just' cold or water you have to deal with. I've now put Michelin cross climates on my golf rather than mess about changing wheels twice a year.

I haven't put them on the S4 yet, so far its been pretty mild. If needs be I'll change them over.

One good thing is that (with a spare set of wheels) it saves fragile diamond faced wheels from exposure to salt.

The salt exposure is definitely something I hadn’t thought of... Glad I have the spare wheels!


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[cuke2u]

Do you guys who change to winter tyres inform your insurance companies and does it reduce your premium?

 

[Thundercliffe81]

Do you guys who change to winter tyres inform your insurance companies and does it reduce your premium?

Hadn't even thought of that. Would it?


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[gone]

Yes/No, from experience on another forum, it varies across providers, what was interesting is that some said it would increase the premium as it was a modification, when looking behind the scenes there are only a handful of insurance underwriters, the companies we use are middlemen and I suspect it is money grabbing by the middlemen when wanting to charge more, often it is the same underwriter when one company says no increase and the other wants an extra £50.
If your insurer wants more ... change.

 

[Daggerit]

Do you guys who change to winter tyres inform your insurance companies and does it reduce your premium?

Not me, it’s a consumable/replaceable part. I wouldn’t tell them if I changed to a different brand, changed brake pads, clutch, etc.


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[france71]

I always buy a set of spare alloys and winter tyres (not snow tyres unless you are sure that your Winter is mostly snow). I found out the hard way that braking distance is useless with summer tyres. I always buy a Quattro version on my Audi but without the special tyres it will not perform better than a fwd with winter tyres. Fit the winter tyres and you'll be laughing the first time it snows and others are slithering all over the place. The difference is just amazing. Of course the tyres are designed to work well when the temperature drops below 7 deg C (in the UK that is any month outside June and July LOL).

I have just bought a set of 5 double spoke alloys and fitted them with Nokian WR D4 tyres - ready for my new Allroad when it arrives. This means I'll not be getting into any Winter difficulties and my diamond cut alloys will not get damaged with winter salt or road de-icing chemicals.

It is a big outlay but you will save on not using the summer rubber.

Of course you'll still need to cope with the morons that haven't listened to the weather forecast and are driving a car not capable of dealing with the prevailing conditions.

 

[cuke2u]

Hadn't even thought of that. Would it?


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Possibly if you use a different size of wheel and tyre, I guess there isn't a example of any precedent out there...

 

[france71]

Possibly if you use a different size of wheel and tyre, I guess there isn't a example of any precedent out there...

I had an ex-girl friend who had an old shape Ford Focus diesel on 16 inch wheels and winter tyres. 5cm of hard packed snow. My A4 quattro on 17 inch summer tyres couldn't get moving on a moderate slope. Her FWD Focus drove up the hill and steeper without even deflecting from the road direction. That was the day I saw the light on winter tyres and never looked back.

 

[cuke2u]

A front wheel drive car with winter tyres will always outperform a four wheel drive with summer tyres in certain conditions, that goes without saying but what that has to do with my quote about insurance companies seeing fitting different sized wheels and tyres I don't know.
I bet my old dyane 6 would be better in snow than a quattro...

 

[Thundercliffe81]

[QUOTE="france71, post: 3134359, member: 126699"

Of course you'll still need to cope with the morons that haven't listened to the weather forecast and are driving a car not capable of dealing with the prevailing conditions.[/QUOTE]

I've suffered because of this in the past.


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[france71]

A front wheel drive car with winter tyres will always outperform a four wheel drive with summer tyres in certain conditions, that goes without saying but what that has to do with my quote about insurance companies seeing fitting different sized wheels and tyres I don't know.
I bet my old dyane 6 would be better in snow than a quattro...

The subject of the thread was the merit of fitting winter tyres and not saving a few quid on insurance quotes. So that explains the post I made....

 

[Thundercliffe81]

The subject of the thread was the merit of fitting winter tyres and not saving a few quid on insurance quotes. So that explains the post I made....

Get snow? Get Ice? Fit winters


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[Daggerit]

Possibly if you use a different size of wheel and tyre, I guess there isn't a example of any precedent out there...

Possibly. Can’t see there being any issue so long as you’re using a tyre spec that is/could be supplied with the car.


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[ub7rm]

Stick to the sizes on the sticker by the door and all is well.


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[Gazwould]

Naaaaa , you know 185's bite the snow better

 

[gone]

Pirelli winter





Pirelli Summer


It’s not rocket science or whether you’ve never needed them, I’ve never needed a condom, *** it’s common sense, be safe or be sorry, you learn the hard way the first time it goes wrong.

 

[Concerned Cat]

I always buy a set of spare alloys and winter tyres (not snow tyres unless you are sure that your Winter is mostly snow). I found out the hard way that braking distance is useless with summer tyres. I always buy a Quattro version on my Audi but without the special tyres it will not perform better than a fwd with winter tyres. Fit the winter tyres and you'll be laughing the first time it snows and others are slithering all over the place. The difference is just amazing. Of course the tyres are designed to work well when the temperature drops below 7 deg C (in the UK that is any month outside June and July LOL).

I have just bought a set of 5 double spoke alloys and fitted them with Nokian WR D4 tyres - ready for my new Allroad when it arrives. This means I'll not be getting into any Winter difficulties and my diamond cut alloys will not get damaged with winter salt or road de-icing chemicals.

It is a big outlay but you will save on not using the summer rubber.

Of course you'll still need to cope with the morons that haven't listened to the weather forecast and are driving a car not capable of dealing with the prevailing conditions.

Morons? Really?

 

[Thundercliffe81]

View attachment 141416 Pirelli winter





Pirelli Summer
View attachment 141415

It’s not rocket science or whether you’ve never needed them, I’ve never needed a condom, *** it’s common sense, be safe or be sorry, you learn the hard way the first time it goes wrong.

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[cuke2u]

Why I asked about declaring a change in wheel or tyre size to a 'winter spec' is because on the A3 forum it is noted that some insurance companies are stating that even factory fitted options are modifications that need to be declared. I was speculating that a change in size of wheel and tyre is a deviation to the spec the car was supplied from the factory thus this needs to be declared also. Fair enough if no one agrees but insurance companies do have a reputation of worming their way out of paying for a claim if they can.

 

[RaZ A4]

Would recommend Nokian Weatherproof all seasons as a very good compromise if you don't want to swap tyres. Having run all seasons on last three cars in Scotland cannot recommend highly enough. Mate has Michy CrossClimates and raves about them also.