Should we be using winter tyres in the UK?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by donKey jote

err not quite... they are neither proper snow tyres or high performance summer tyres. Wet/damp depends more on the tread compound than anything else, and all-season tyres don't usually have top wet grip compounds as they tend to be designed with extra focus on mileage, specially on your side of the puddle. :)


I have to refine your comment: The Blizzak 4x4 may be/have been good in snow, the other Blizzaks I've seen are nowhere near the top, period ;)

---

Tell the gents who sell tires, they supplied me with the information.

I can tell you though that mileage has zero to do with the purchase of "all-season" tires on this side of pond, far too many do believe it means they are for winter use, which is why sellers make sure to debunk that myth.

The magazines, directed at automotive tire business, that several have in the waiting room, do give a lot of information tidbits though that is not found else where.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

Tell the gents who sell tires, they supplied me with the information.

I can tell you though that mileage has zero to do with the purchase of "all-season" tires on this side of pond, far too many do believe it means they are for winter use, which is why sellers make sure to debunk that myth.

The magazines, directed at automotive tire business, that several have in the waiting room, do give a lot of information tidbits though that is not found else where.

---

In case you don't know, Donkey Jote works for a rather large European tyre company so he knows his stuff ;) If Donkey Jote says Blizzak 4x4's are good then they are and if he says the regular ones aren't then they most likely aren't ;)

I didn't say they are good, I'll leave that to the Goodyear salesmen :laugh:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daniel

So no driving at 191kph for extended periods of time? :(

---

Sure there are ample safety margins, but you wouldn't be covered :)

Just got this email from etyres.co.uk

Quote:

---

Dear Customer,
Winter has definitely arrived early with blankets of snow and ice spreading across the UK - so don’t let tyre safety slip your mind.
There’s a big debate at the moment about whether switching to winter tyres is worth the money and effort. Many of our customers want to know if they will have to go back to all-season tyres in the spring?
Well the fact is, there’s no reason why you can’t use winter tyres all year round in the UK now - and you can take our managing director’s word for that.
He had winter tyres fitted to his Mercedes two years ago and they are still delivering excellent grip and comfort all year round.
We have got a great range of winter tyres available to supply and fit at your home or work, including premium and mid range brands. And, as you know, our prices are always low - up to 40% cheaper than the leading high street chains.
If you need winter tyres you can order online www.etyres.co.uk or call our national sales team on 0800 028 9000 where we will be can answer your questions and offer advice.
Finally, even if you think your tyres don’t need replacing, it’s still advisable to give them a thorough inspection every few weeks - especially ahead of long journeys. Check the air pressure and make sure there are no signs of cuts, bulges or any other damage. And don’t forget to check the spare - you never know when you might need it!
Kind regards
etyres

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mark

Just got this email from etyres.co.uk

---

Meh. I could feel the difference in performance when it was 15 degrees or so. When I was in France and it was getting towards 40 degres I could feel the Potenza's getting soft and getting really sticky. In that weather the winter tyres would have been daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangerously craptastic.

Is the [color=black] just HTML or a sales pitch for the tyres?

We've just escaped from a law that obliges us to use winter tyres. It was postponed for next winter. I used to laugh at my colleagues who generally live in blocks of flats and wondered where could they store the summer tyres during winter ( and viceversa ).

Strange really that etyres are pushing winter tyres so much and then don't stock any for my car!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daniel

Meh. I could feel the difference in performance when it was 15 degrees or so. When I was in France and it was getting towards 40 degres I could feel the Potenza's getting soft and getting really sticky. In that weather the winter tyres would have been daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangerously craptastic.

---

In your case, your summer tires have to go come winter. In my world, most of the general all season radials do cope decently with snow and ice. They are no hell as performance tires, but on a car that my wife drives to work and back and up north, we are not talking carving corners and the joy of driving...we are talking basic transportation. First ice and snow of the year this week, and the new tires I put on the car (Cooper tires all season Hercules brand) coped decently with it. They were quiet and decent in the early fall when it was still warm too..so again, a compromise tire worked for me.

This insistence that people by LAW buy winter tires of course sounds great if you are a tire manufacturer but as Gadjo Dijo points out, apartment dwellers don't often have a way of storing the off season tires. There will be people willing to STORE them for a COST of course. So once again, a well meaning government makes money for the tire manufacturers and some guy with a ware house, but in the end, is the public REALLY safer? Yes...sorta...but again, smart drivers with a decent all around tire can manage....