Decided against winter tyres...

[d_a_n1979]

I've decided not to get winter tyres for my ZT-T... Seeing as I do around 2k miles a year, for me, their costs/outlay doesnt justify their minimal useage. If the weathers that bad we'll walk or simply not go out

In saying that my wifes Focus diesel is brilliant in the snow with its hard, thin tyres! Got us back from Edinburgh in Dec 2010 from the last leg of our honeymoon... Everyone else was stuck in the snow/ice on the Royal Mile; the focus, in 2nd gear, just trundled up the Royal Mile with its head held high

My E60 M5 was put away yesterday to sleep until early March (if the weathers dry) so it's nicely tucked up away at its secure/insured lock-up; wheels off and on axle stands under a timed BMW 'warmer blanket'

I'll be selling it next year as I'm hankering for a Jag V8 but also the money will come in handy for the kitchen extension!

Anyways... Tyres!

I'm getting 2 Nexen N8000's fitted this afternoon on the rears as one tyre has a bulge in the sidewall; already got ConitSport Contact 5's up front etc...

£75 each inc fitting and that's a mobile fitter too; sourced them from: http://www.tyresonthedrive.com/

They seem to get rave reviews too so it'll be interesting to see how they get on!

[GrandTourer]

I can understand your reasons with such low mileage it's not worth it.

For myself I'm on the lookout for some part-worn winter tyres and spare wheels - I had winter tyres on a Rover a few years ago and they were brilliant in snow.

[Yella Fella]

Normal (or summer) tyres are fine in the winter as long as the temperature is above 7 or 8c. The compound in winter tyres are different from summer tyres and work best at lower temperatures. Winter tyres are not really about snow, they are about 'temperature'.

[d_a_n1979]

Originally Posted by Yella Fella

Normal (or summer) tyres are fine in the winter as long as the temperature is above 7 or 8c. The compound in winter tyres are different from summer tyres and work best at lower temperatures. Winter tyres are not really about snow, they are about 'temperature'.

I know and fully appreciate that but it's an expensive buy for them to be hardly used!

Even part worns I'd be looking at c£200 with fitting; just not worth it IMO

I'm a careful and sensible driver and have NEVER had any issues driving in the snow/ice on normal tyres even with the winters we had in 2009/2010 etc

If I don't think it's safe to drive, we walk or stay in

If I did more mileage I'd buy them in a heartbeat!

I had a spare set of 16" alloys for my E38 with winter tyres on; they never got used!

[d_a_n1979]

Originally Posted by GrandTourer

I can understand your reasons with such low mileage it's not worth it.

For myself I'm on the lookout for some part-worn winter tyres and spare wheels - I had winter tyres on a Rover a few years ago and they were brilliant in snow.

That was my plan; pick up a cheap set of straights/hairpins off eBay, respray them satin black after a quick sanding and stick either budget or part-worn winter tyres on...

[Phil-Hex]

you can pick part worns up for around £30 each fitted if you shop around, i ran down to Rochdale the other day for a full set of 17" yokohama winter tyres with 7mm of tread for £120

[d_a_n1979]

Originally Posted by Phil-Hex

you can pick part worns up for around £30 each fitted if you shop around, i ran down to Rochdale the other day for a full set of 17" yokohama winter tyres with 7mm of tread for £120

Thats ok but as I've a 190; I need the 18" alloys to fit over the brakes and the 225/45/18 tyres are fairly pricy!

[hamster19]

I am a slow and careful driver, but it did not stop my vehicle getting written off and me getting broken ribs in my Fourtrak 4 years ago, doing about 15mph in a queue of traffic, crawling along I hit black ice, went into oncoming traffic, also wrote off a newish Disco.
Winter tyres on both the cars every year even though we don't do a high mileage-for me it is a no brainer. :xmas-smiley-024:

[d_a_n1979]

Originally Posted by hamster19

I am a slow and careful driver, but it did not stop my vehicle getting written off and me getting broken ribs in my Fourtrak 4 years ago, doing about 15mph in a queue of traffic, crawling along I hit black ice, went into oncoming traffic, also wrote off a newish Disco.
Winter tyres on both the cars every year even though we don't do a high mileage-for me it is a no brainer. :xmas-smiley-024:

Thats fair enough... Each to their own

[DMGRS]

I find that as long as decent tyres are fitted, winter tyres aren't strictly needed.
No tyre is going to grip on polished black ice - while winter tyres are designed to give better traction in snow, you can't change physics. A shiny, polished surface with zero traction won't be helped with different rubber.

Instead I tend to just slow my driving right down, leave double the usual gap and crawl around roundabouts etc. Not done any harm in the 7 years I've been on the road.