 Poster: A snowHead
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How to check if tyres are snow tires
Just wondering is there a way when looking at tires, is there a way to ascertain if tires are winter/snow tires, is there a symbol on em
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Mud and snow rate tyre have "M+S" on them, and it doesn't mean they came from the supermarket.
Not sure about markings on snow tyres, but they have girt big treads on them that look very gnarley compared to normal tyres.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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kendub,
They should have M&S (Mud and Snow) on the sidewall as a minimum. It is better if they also have a snowflake logo as well because I think this is a higher standard and more specific to winter use. You would be well advised to look up the actual manufacturers website as well and see the spec in there. You can also access tyre test data through websites like mytyres. If you are considering secondhand tyes just remember that snowtyres need more tread depth to work in snow, normally at least about 6mm. They normally have 2 sets of depth markers, one for when their usefulness in snow is ended and a second one where their usefulness in normal conditions is ended.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Ideally you want the mountain with the snowflake in it symbol. If the tyres have M + S but not the mountain / snowflake they may be more of an all season tyre. This will have a more agressive tread than a summer tyre but may be made of a harder summer type compound rather than a softer winter compund.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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You should see very fine cuts in the tread in addition to the deep wide cut patern
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The car is pointing the right way on the road and is the right way up
Mountain with snowflake symbol is I believe the accepted marking for Winter Tyres
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They normally have 2 sets of depth markers, one for when their usefulness in snow is ended and a second one where their usefulness in normal conditions is ended
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Worth paying attention to that, too. Our front snow tyres were still well within the legal limits but were not much use as snow tyres. the new ones, with maximum tread, are in a different league. So the old snow tyres will get used up next summer.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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so are M+S accepted as legal in Austria, rather than the snowflake marked tyres ?
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Proper winter tyres have sipes all over the tyre.You will have your normal tread pattern then the sipes which are very small grooves/cuts,it's these that give you the grip
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Snowflake in a triangle = Snow tyres
M+S not snow tyres - the fundamental difference is the compound, which in a winter tyre is silica rather than carbon based, so it stays softer in the cold. Not sure on Austrian legality, but as I understand it, the Swiss view you as uninsured if you have an accident without winter tyres.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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kendub,
The correct term in Europe is "winter tyres" not "snow tyres".
To be sure this is the symbol you should look for ....
http://bilder.autobild.de/ir_img/58269092_7e39d71e6a.jpg
Tyres with a minimum of 4 mm tread and the "M&S" symbol are generally accepted as winter tyres in Austria.
Your winter tyre size may not be the same size as your summer tyres (winter tyres are often narrower). Various Austrian, German and Swiss auto organizations do tests for winter tyres (e.g. ÖAMTC, ADAC).
The ADAC (german AA equivalent) have stated that for some vehicles (e.g. SUV's) some M&S tyres are actually summer tyres and although the 4 wheel drive helps them to get up hills (better than 2 wheel drive) the braking distance is almost twice as long as a winter tyre and bends are only possible at very slow speeds.
http://www.schlaunews.de/info-test-tipps-20102007/adac-standardmasige-ms-kennung-fuhrt-in-die-irre/
You generally get what you pay for and a good quality all-season tyre will perform better in snow than a bargin basement winter tyre.
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DB,
Thats very interesting about the 4x4 tyres. We have a LandRover Discovery that is running on BF Goodrich AllTerrain T/A 's. They have M&S and the snowflake symbol and they are good in the snow, in fact far better than most of the fancy 4x4's around here manage with their road tyres, but the treads do not seem to clear like the specific snowtyres I have had on my cars. I have looked around at "local" 4x4 's in the french alps and quite a few had Bf Goodrich as well, are there any particular 4x4 tyres that you have noticed local people prefer where you are ?
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I have Continental WinterContact TS 830
Chose these as have good experiences with Continental generally and I believe they came top recently in one of the German or Austrian tests
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Poster: A snowHead
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skitow,
Basically here people go into the local tyre dealer pass over the papers for their car (which states which tyres are allowed and normally two sizes - one for summer one for winter) then they haggle about the quality / price.
It is a very grey area and a tyre with M&S written on the side could perform no better than a summer tyre, likewise the reverse could be true (some allseason tyres do not have M&S written on the side). This is why I advise people to go for the mountain / snowflake symbol with M&S - this is also available on some all season tyres.
Here's a test with 4 different summer tyres (No 2 to 5) v a top quality winter tyre (No 1).
It's in German but the diagrams give a clear indication
Traktionskraft = traction
Anfahren mit Traktionskontrolle = aceleration to 30kmh with traction control
ABS-Bremsen auf Schnee = braking (from 100 kmh I think)
Restgeschwindigkeit = residual speed.
http://www.oeamtc.at/index.php?type=article&menu_active=&id=1138380&display_mode=wide
With some tyres esp. SUV tyres you have to be sure you get the right version for winter. For example these 5 tyres have similar names but in snow 2 are poor, 2 are very poor and one is very good. The offroad tyre has very poor performance in wet conditions. Just because an SUV can plough through muddy fields doesn't mean it has the best tyres to get you through the winter where wet roads are often experienced.
http://www.oeamtc.at/refresh/frameset.php?p=http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/reifentests/suv_konzept_2008/
The top 3 in this list are preferred for SUV winter tyres ....
http://www.oeamtc.at/refresh/frameset.php?p=http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/reifentests/winter2007/SUV/uebersicht.htm
Following a puncture the car I was in during my last ski tour had 3 winter tyres and a summer tyre (on the rear). The winter tyres shed the snow while the summer tyre remain clogged up.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 12-01-10 12:50; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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skitow, I use Verdesteins winter tyres on my Discovery. Got a very good reputation.
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I am using them on my Freelander and they are doing a really great job - very impressed.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Could have done with some snow tyres for my pushbike since the New Year. Really skiddy around here, and pretty scary coming home with the shopping last night, carrier bags tied onto the panniers etc. The most snow I can recall in London since 1963.
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