[parapaul]

Anyone switched back?

I haven't yet, mostly because of time constraints, but I have a week off work at the end of the month so I plan to do it then, and give the winters a good clean before I put them away.

Feel utterly cheated this winter, despite leaving for work before 6am, I can count on one hand the number of mornings I've had to defrost the car since switching to the winters at the beginning of December.

Of course, putting the nice summer wheels back on should guarantee a nice heavy April snowfall, right?

[ACM335xi]

how long do you guys usually have snow for?

[M4rius]

Originally Posted by ACM335xi

how long do you guys usually have snow for?

Usually it's 1-2 days a year if we lucky

[E92Dan]

Most mornings over the winter in Oxfordshire it was below 7deg on my commute. Saying that I swapped back a week ago

[doughboy]

Parapaul, we're only 15 minutes from Stoke. Loads of icy mornings in the sticks.

White over and -4 this morning at 7am. Thick ice to scrape off the van again.

I had meant to take the winters off this weekend, but no time again.

Maybe next weekend.

[Jules59]

I put my summers back a few weeks ago - mildest winter I can recall.
Beautiful morning today - cycled to work - lovely and crisp.
Raining tomorrow so will take the car.

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Parapaul, we're only 15 minutes from Stoke. Loads of icy mornings in the sticks.

White over and -4 this morning at 7am. Thick ice to scrape off the van again.

I had meant to take the winters off this weekend, but no time again.

Maybe next weekend.

What a difference! In Stafford when I finished work at 7am it was frozen over, but only -1 on the dash display, which soon climbed to +1 over the following 20 minute drive.

[sylonien]

Never owned winter tyres in the past 10 years I've been driving.... hehe

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by parapaul

What a difference! In Stafford when I finished work at 7am it was frozen over, but only -1 on the dash display, which soon climbed to +1 over the following 20 minute drive.

Agree, it has been very mild this year, but the summer tyres and wheels have been clean warm(er) and dry in the barn and have been spared the battering of salt and excessive cold weather wear and ageing, so they'll now last at at least another 6 months longer, while the winters have not worn at all and will do many years more.

As a long term proposition, winters save you money and make cold weather driving fun (and if on the odd chance there's any snow, then even more fun!!). Win Win and ocassional MEGA win!

Remember the forecasted and average temps are "warmer" townie temperatures. It's often at least 5deg colder in low lying coutryside, if not much more, and morning averages are much lower due to heat loss at night.

Eg yesterday, -4 on white over ungritted roads at home and +2 by the time I got to Stone 10 minutes later!

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by sylonien

Never owned winter tyres in the past 10 years I've been driving.... hehe

Only 10 yrs? aahh, just a wee boy.

You'll learn

I'd been driving for 20 years before I went for winters, and that was 5 years ago!

[windymissile]

I really don't understand some people's attitude to winter tyres...
My summers will go back on at Easter, as always.

WM

[doughboy]

+1 WM

I usually aim for clock change, but if it stays like it is now I'll just leave the winters on (the van)

I've only got summers for the E63 (285/30/19 UHP Conti 5's on the rear) and they're still not a pleasant place to be right now!

[Desmondo]

20 years driving and never had a set of winter tyres. Even with a few days of cold, ice and snow, I don't think it's warranted unless you do a LOT of miles.

[doughboy]

let the debate continue.....

20+ years ago your average car ran "town and country" tyres which were chunky old things. Maybe the odd P6 which was like a tractor tyre compared to todays rubber.

Now your average car runs UHP summer part slick rubber, much more focused and warm weather specific than ever before.

It can be an expensive outlay at first, vehicle dependant, of course.

But on our van the premium winters (inc steel wheels) cost less than a set of loose summer rubber, so for less money we have longer life and the bonus of better cold weather performance, handling and confidence.

As tyres last longer when used in their correct temperature band, you get better life from both, so long term (say 3 years +) it's a real winner.

If you live in a rural area, then the added comfort of never worrying about the weather is worth a bit too.

[parapaul]

And despite the winters being made of a softer compound, there's hardly any wear on mine after nearly 10 months and 12k, compared to the Goodyear F1 Assy summers which are about done after the same use.

Even though these are only Kumho winters, they've been absolutely brilliant and I'm very tempted, once the summers need changing, to just run premium winter tyres all year round on my CSL reps.

[E92Dan]

Oh no, here we go again!
Should you, shouldn't you

[marknjayne]

Originally Posted by sylonien

Never owned winter tyres in the past 10 years I've been driving.... hehe

me neither in the past 20

[lolololol]

Originally Posted by marknjayne

me neither in the past 20

Did we have a winter ?

Never had winter tyres myself either - glad to be alive really ;-)

[gangzoom]

Winters on both cars this year...all I can say is what a waste of time/money, switched back to summer set ages ago.

Only good thing about the winter set was better ride due to smaller diameter wheels. Now thinking about selling my summer wheels for smaller wheels

[ndj]

Switching back today.

Don't want to get into the do/don't debate of winter tyres, and clearly this year they were of limited benefit, but isn't the whole point being prepared for the unknowns our unpredictable winters can bring?

[windymissile]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

Winters on both cars this year...all I can say is what a waste of time/money, switched back to summer set ages ago.

I give in. I'm not biting any more..
Please continue 'rollin' on your summers....

WM

[Dan-danGT]

I can only see the point on a rwd car, as all fwd cars i have owned drive perfectly fine in snow and ice. Just people can't drive / anticipate properly so end up wheel spining and locking up!

But saying that last year I had road tyres and never struggled in the snow.