 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I think we have less room in the garage than the European for storing a full set of winter tyres.
On the 4x4 I make do with a all-season tyres which is biased toward snow but the tyre model is not commonly available for small-wheel cars.
I think it is suicidal to drive on fat sport high speed low-profile tyres, without the proper snow tread pattern, to ski in the Alps.
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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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| saikee wrote: |
I think we have less room in the garage than the European for storing a full set of winter tyres.
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I doubt that, more people live in flats and apartments here than in the UK so they've rather less storage. Most tyre retailers will store tyres for their customers for a small charge.
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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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J2Dave, Both. I've had winter tyres on my chevvy, and they made a huge difference. OTOH I haven't had any for the last three years or so on the Scorpio. Easy though, if it snows I just walk! 
Seriously, winter tyres make an enormous difference to grip on icy or snowy roads. Particularly for rear wheel drive cars with big wheels and tyres.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ise wrote: |
I doubt that, more people live in flats and apartments here than in the UK so they've rather less storage. Most tyre retailers will store tyres for their customers for a small charge. |
I thought that too Ian, although it is also true that many German and French apartments have their keller or cave in which odd bits of junk can be stored. The impression I get in the Isère is that not many people run winter tires - either that or the skidding and swerving around the road is down to bad driving and too much Pinard Rouge at lunchtime. Come to think of it they swerve around the roads in high summer!
I must get the missus' tires down from our very small attic today and fit them as it is snowing outside now. I usually only keep them on the car during the colder parts of the winter as hot weather doesn't do them much good. They are Continental ThermoGomme M+S tires but there are limits to how good they are - if it is really icy a pair of chains will still get you more places.
In the south of England I can't really see the need for winter tires - after all the problem are roads blocked by other users.
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| Quote: |
| In the south of England I can't really see the need for winter tires - after all the problem are roads blocked by other users. |
Exactly - I sat in my office in Tehran once watching it chucking it down, assuming I'd be OK with my 4WD Nissan Patrol. When going home time came, I was OK. But the buses and the taxis on bald tyres weren't. Since the whole of northern Tehran slopes gently up to the foothills of the Al Borz mountains it was absolute chaos. What should have been a 20 minute journey took me 2 hours of ducking and diving down back routes.
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| davidof wrote: |
| ise wrote: |
I doubt that, more people live in flats and apartments here than in the UK so they've rather less storage. Most tyre retailers will store tyres for their customers for a small charge. |
I thought that too Ian, although it is also true that many German and French apartments have their keller or cave in which odd bits of junk can be stored. The impression I get in the Isère is that not many people run winter tires - either that or the skidding and swerving around the road is down to bad driving and too much Pinard Rouge at lunchtime. Come to think of it they swerve around the roads in high summer!
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Here in Switzerland the cellar's used for automatic weapons of course 
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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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| Quote: |
| I thought that too Ian, although it is also true that many German and French apartments have their keller or cave in which odd bits of junk can be stored. The impression I get in the Isère is that not many people run winter tires - either that or the skidding and swerving around the road is down to bad driving and too much Pinard Rouge at lunchtime. Come to think of it they swerve around the roads in high summer! |
Many people here have only one set of wheels and have the tyre garage change and store the tyres.
I was quite surprised last winter driving over the pass at Mongenevre into France. We followed a Como registered Merc that started to slide around. I backed off but had no problems. We met up with the Merc driver later (he was a Brit actually) who said that he had summer tyres on and that was normal in Italy.
I once worked with a guy who was brought up in Sankt Moritz. He never used snow chains and was well used to driving the Juliapass (2200m and open all year round) in snow in a 2WD car with winter tyres. He had then bought a Subaru so that he wouldn't be forced to put chains on.
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I'm looking for winter tyres on my 4x4 big wheels though 215/65/R16 any one any suggestions 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| redrunmarcus wrote: |
| I'm looking for winter tyres on my 4x4 big wheels though 215/65/R16 any one any suggestions |
That is a big winter tyre, winter tyres are often smaller than summer tyres. It's one of the reasons people have alloy summer wheels and cheaper steel winter wheels. A narrower tyre generally performs better in winter conditions.
Goodyear Ultra Grip 7's are getting top marks (by the Austrian and German AA equivalent). Other top performers were
Dunlop Wintersport 3D
Vredestein Snowtrac 2
Pirelli W 190 Snowcontrol
Conti TS 810 die
Michelin Pilot Alpine PA 2
Snowchain = Pewag Sportmatik (SMX 77 for that size tyre)
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Thu 24-11-05 9:59; edited 1 time in total
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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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I still have some Pirelli Sno & Ice 265/70/R16's which were on a Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado if anyone is interested. I still haven't got round to putting them on ebay!
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I am sure that I am talking to the educated, but the general perception in Britain is that they are buying extra tyres, when all they are really doing is buying their next set a little earlier. Whilst using the snow tyres the summer tyres are not getting worn out. The cost of a repair to any part of the bodywork due to sliding off makes the cost of the extra rims look silly.
M80euf, I'd love to have your tyres for my Toyota but the logistics of getting them to Spain makes it too difficult. 
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You know it makes sense.
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OK Question for you then. I just got a new (secondhand) car recently. A 2001 A4 Quattro. At the moment it has summer tyres so the decision I need to make is to buy winter tyres or not. For the last 2 winters I have been driving my old Corsa with chaines in the boot up and down the mountains each weekend. Very rarely do I have to put the chains on as where I live (Nice) never gets snow. I would say about 6-10 days per year do I need the chains. So would you recommed I get a set of winter tyres for my weekend trips (most of which will be motorway driving) ? I can get a cheap tyre (Nankang) all mounted for 400E but I have to figure out a place to store the summer tyres.
The thought of not buying the tyres and then sliding into the side of the road is really annoying me
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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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Diarmuid, Worth it for the peace of mind, on top of which the rubber compound usually gives better grip in the wet, you can always Ebay them if you change the car 
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Poster: A snowHead
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M80euf, hmm I wonder if those will fit my Mondeo (only need two though). Can't remember, must check and will come back to you, coz I'm interested!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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buy them off ebay in the first place.... there are quite a few listed currently:
http://search.ebay.co.uk/snow-tyres_W0QQfltZ9QQfromZR8 No connection to sellers - for info only 
A H speed rated tyre will be good for I think 130mph which should be fine even for a french autoroute.
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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.
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Had a look on Ebay (.fr as I live in France) for a suitable set of tyres. There is one set of Vredesteins there but to collect would cost me abotu 9hours of travelling at 120E on fuel+tolls.
However looking on the web I found a set of Nankang that will fit my car for 295Euro. fitted for 355. That seems pretty good value. However I can't seem to find much info on Nankang. Anyone heard of them?
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FAQ
