HELP, can't find winter tyres

CJhaughey

I was under the impression that winters were excessive for our relatively mild climate here in West Cork, frost was until last year a rarity, maybe 2-3 days a year and said as much to Matt Simis.
I thought that wet performance was a better bet than cold performance
and usually run Pirelli All seasons P2500 4S on my wifes car and to be honest they performed quite well last year in fresh snow(They are M+S +Snowflake rated)
But this winter after the first cold spell I decided that a set of true winters wouldn't be a bad investment and ordered a set of Nokian WRG2's from Eiretyres, these I got fitted to a set of wheels from a scrapped car, so they can be easily swapped over come March or whenever road conditions and temps improve.
I couldn't believe the difference between the All-seasons and the Winters, like night and day. Before on packed snow a touch of the brakes and you could provoke a slide, now it needs a lot more heavy footedness before the car feels any bit unstable under brakes.
Cornering on wet/damp and cold roads is like running on rails the car just sticks to the line and doesn't feel like deviating.
I am sold on winters and for the price of a set 234 delivered +35 fitting I feel it is peace of mind when it comes to challenging conditions.
Why make it harder on yourself by using tyres that don't perform optimally at cold temps?

Matt Simis

Another one joins the darkside eh?
Now prepare to spent the rest of your life explaining your purchase to the non-believers. :pac:

Satts

Matt Simis wrote: »

Another one joins the darkside eh?
Now prepare to spent the rest of your life explaining your purchase to the non-believers. :pac:

Me too. :cool:

I've had three journeys on my new Nokian W+ tyres so far. Well pleased.

I've drove up hills with out any bother that I failed to drive up in the last few weeks and last winter.

Drove down hill this morning, no probs.

Before I bought them I was thinking of getting a 4x4, but if they keep on doing what they are doing, I don't think i will need one.

I hope I don't turn in to a winter tyre evangelist.

Absurdum

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/winter-tyres-in-the-uk.html

rcdk1

zuzutje wrote: »

Thanks to all for your information.

But I'm still convinced to buy winter tires. And the winter this year proves it.
I found some all seasons to fit on my small C3 in Cork. Yes even in Cork we could make good use of a good set. Found them by recommendation here online and a tyre centre has fitted them. The price was very good, but regret not to buy winter tires....

R+R (Jerry Murphy) Tyres in Ballincollig still have winter tyres in stock.

peasant

Satts wrote: »

Before I bought them I was thinking of getting a 4x4, but if they keep on doing what they are doing, I don't think i will need one.

You should try a 4x4 WITH winter tyres :D:D

Fishtits

Winter tyres are a waste of money if you don't have ground clearance.

CJhaughey

Fishtits wrote: »

Winter tyres are a waste of money if you don't have ground clearance.

Thats a little simplistic, lots if time a car will lose traction because of the tyre choice before it runs out of GC.
The only time large GC is needed on a car is if it is travelling through large deep drifts of snow.
I have a Toyota LC90 and a Corolla and have never wanted more GC on the Corolla. I don't drive through deep drifts of snow because you don't know what is under them.
If conditions are that bad that a car will belly out on snow, I use the 'cruiser.

CJhaughey

peasant wrote: »

You should try a 4x4 WITH winter tyres :D:D

Might try that next winter, I have BFG AT KO and they are actually M+S and snowflake rated, I rate them in most winter conditions that I have used them in.
Although true winters would be interesting.....

zuzutje

CJhaughey wrote: »

...

I couldn't believe the difference between the All-seasons and the Winters, like night and day. Before on packed snow a touch of the brakes and you could provoke a slide, now it needs a lot more heavy footedness before the car feels any bit unstable under brakes.
Cornering on wet/damp and cold roads is like running on rails the car just sticks to the line and doesn't feel like deviating.
I am sold on winters and for the price of a set 234 delivered +35 fitting I feel it is peace of mind when it comes to challenging conditions.
Why make it harder on yourself by using tyres that don't perform optimally at cold temps?

Agree completely, Fore those nonbelievers: Try it out you will be very surprised.

gondorff

They'd sell you autumn tyres and spring tyres if they could convince you to buy them.

Satts

peasant wrote: »

You should try a 4x4 WITH winter tyres :D:D

I will certainly consider my options when my NCT is up next year.
Will have to see how I get on for the rest of the winter with the new tyres.

CJhaughey

gondorff wrote: »

They'd sell you autumn tyres and spring tyres if they could convince you to buy them.

And the defining weather conditions in Autumn and Spring are?....
This isn't marketing, its real life.
What do you use on your car, assuming you have one?

gondorff

CJhaughey wrote: »

What do you use on your car, assuming you have one?

Common sense and adapting driving style according to weather conditions. What do you use?

Satts

gondorff wrote: »

They'd sell you autumn tyres and spring tyres if they could convince you to buy them.

It's black and white for me.

Last week I could not get up a particular hill no matter what "driving style" I took. The last two nights with winter tyres I sailed up with out a single wheel spin, it was like as if the road was bone dry.

peasant

gondorff wrote: »

Common sense and adapting driving style according to weather conditions. What do you use?

That's like saying you won't wear a life vest when going out on a boat as you will use "common sense and an adaptive swimming style" should you fall overboard

True ..few people do actually ever fall overboard ...but the again we hardly get any winters worth talking about here either, or do we?

GTE

gondorff wrote: »

They'd sell you autumn tyres and spring tyres if they could convince you to buy them.

Of course they would but in terms of a tyres performance relative to the road conditions caused by the weather it is a very clear and definitive issue.

CJhaughey

gondorff wrote: »

What do you use?

Common sense and adapting driving style according to weather conditions. Plus Winter tyres, this gives me an advantage I feel 3-2
Seriously try some winter tyres out, you woulkd be amazed, where before a sudden avoidance swerve would mean that you ended up being part of the scenery now you could perform the same maneuver and actually come out the other side rubber side down.
Todays Sunday Business Post has a section in the Volvo test about winter tyres. If you are interested.