Winter tyres - not your usual question

[Husbandofstinky]

For those already running around on winter tyres (obviously not Leon specific obviously but where else can it go) but how do you feel about the tread movement?

TBH I'm finding it quite disconcerting when the physics kicks in and the blocks move. Nothing too silly either and its movement and backing off.

Just an ask to how you get on with it and whether you ease off or continue with it?

Expecting a nil response as it disappears into the ether of the MK I Leon section.

 

[dav3]

I can't really comment on how they handle as never used them. But aren't they meant to be used in snow/ice and heavy rain. In dry conditions they will not work as they are meant to

 

[DannyC87]

I drove on mud/snow rally tyres on the road a couple of months back between rally stages of a local amateur rally. This was in a kitted out volvo 440 rather than the LCR but it wandered all over the road; it was fairly disconcerting to start with but you got used to it; it was more like directing a boat than driving a car! They do grip still once the blocks have moved and settled in again; the Volvo happily plodded along at motorway + speeds on them.. both on the road and through the forest

 

[mjt]

i'm running ContiWinterContact TS810s and even with 4wd you can feel it.
They're designed for snow really, they wear quite quickly on dry tarmac

 

[Craig Senior]

I've noticed it but not so much as it's caused my to back off at all (Maybe I haven't been driving it that hard) The tyres are noticably softer than summer tyres, it's suprising how soft they feel and how much you can move the tread just by pressing it with your thumb!

Mine are 245/45 R17 Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes by the way.

 

[Husbandofstinky]

I should mention that the Dunlop winter sports tyre is not some nobbly off road and is classed as a winter performance tyre:

http://www.dunloptires.com/catalog/winter.html

Dave Winter tyres are not snow tyres. Winter tyres have more rubber in them to maintain grip at cooler temps (below 7oC) and a different assymetric tread pattern to dispel snow and water. There are many summer tyres with assymetric patterns.

Reading up about them I was aware of block movement, I know what it is now and its not the end of the world, but its just a little disconcerting now that road conditions have improved and speed has picked up. It feels like low tyre pressure/dodgy tcrs/ball joints.

I should emphasise that this is when carrying a bit of speed (sounds laddish I know). What I would could normal/usual plus a bit more cornering speed its not an issue.

It was merely an observation, you know its there and ready for it, but you still find it unerving when it happens - a bit like blinking when popping a balloon.

 

[DannyC87]

not quite these that I was talking about then?
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=MSPORT&pcode=M/R1457012RB1/H

 

[Craig Senior]

not quite these that I was talking about then?
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=MSPORT&pcode=M/R1457012RB1/H

They certainly look a bit different to the Vredesteins that I'm using.
http://www.vredestein.co.uk/Banden_Bandtypes.asp?UsersessionID=41390193&BandgroepID=2&BandtypeID=7#

 

[Husbandofstinky]

I nearly went for those. ^^^^

 

[Tartan58]

well that's solved a mystery for me! I've been using Dunlop Winter Sports since November and have noticed the car feeling a bit more wobbly and having a tendancy to tramline more, now I know why. Still it was worth it during the 4 weeks of snow we had!

 

[DannyC87]

They certainly look a bit different to the Vredesteins that I'm using.
http://www.vredestein.co.uk/Banden_Bandtypes.asp?UsersessionID=41390193&BandgroepID=2&BandtypeID=7#

Yes but I imagine the terrain for you is a bit different too! http://chelmsfordmc.co.uk/Preston

 

[redlinemike]

currently running dunlop SP85 gravel tyres on my ibiza & its ok aslong as you dont go nuts but you can feel the tyre squirming under hard cornering

 

[Zuhnu99]

I have a Continental WinterViking 2 winter tyres in my FR. I use those from november to the end of march. Must use those because cold climate. In this morning temperature was -22 Celsius.

Use google to find out what kind of tyres those WinterViking 2's are. Metal spikes are safer in icy roads.

 

[mjt]

I have a Continental WinterViking 2 winter tyres in my FR. I use those from november to the end of march. Must use those because cold climate. In this morning temperature was -22 Celsius.

Use google to find out what kind of tyres those WinterViking 2's are. Metal spikes are safer in icy roads.

Where do you live?
Studded tyres are pretty much illegal in the UK as they're not allowed on Tarmac.
And there's never enough ice and snow to keep the roads white for long enough.

 

[turbin]

I bought some 17" rims off a TT which already had some studded Hankook i-pike W409 on them for the winter season in Sweden / Norway. As I drive quite a lot on ice and compressed snow I need studded tires. On wet tarmac the grip is way below my BF Goodrich summer tires.

 

[Zuhnu99]

Where do you live?
Studded tyres are pretty much illegal in the UK as they're not allowed on Tarmac.
And there's never enough ice and snow to keep the roads white for long enough.

I'm living in Finland.
In here we must use winter tyres from december to the end of february. It's in the law.
In here 80% of all sold winter tyres are studded tyres. Most of our road's have a ice layer throught allmost whole winter. Even main road's have thin ice layer because car tyres press snow to the ice between tarmac and tyre.