Winter tyres

[GainfulShrimp]

I know what you mean.

The hardest part of the journey for me is walking from the work car park into the office... and my wife is currently stuck working from home having slipped and broken her elbow at the weekend while walking down the road. I wish Continental made snow boots...
On the other hand, she doesn't have winter tyres on her (non-Quattro) Audi A4, so I'm actually pretty glad she's not allowed to drive for at least 10 days!

 

[trebormint]

Ouch! That sounds painful...though maybe best if we could all work from home!

Continental snow boots or trainers would be an excellent idea.

Maybe the insurance industry could give discounts to cars with winter tyres on between Nov and March? I mean almost a half of accidents happen then. Think of the cost savings to the industry (and the economy).

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Yeah I think it's odd how the tyre industry doesn't try and push winter tyres into the conscience of the general public with a few telly ads or whatever. I don't know anyone who's tried winter tyres who's not been converted but hardly anyone - even tyre fitters and insurance companies - seem to think that winter tyres are useful in this country!?

When I called to tell my insurer about me fitting steel wheels and winter tyres to my FR, they were adamant that they didn't give a toss which tyres I used - just that I needed to declare any aftermarket alloy wheels and always use wheels of a manufacturer approved size. But I bet choice of tyres plays more into the cost - as accidents in winter - than use of alloys affects the attractiveness to thieves?
I would think offering discounts to people who fitted winter tyres would save them money overall. Then again, that's probably why I don't work as an actuary...

As for working from home, I can theoretically do that although if both myself and SWMBO worked from home, we'd have our 3yr old daughter preventing us both from getting anything done. I have to drive to work to drop her off at nursery, otherwise I'd be at home right now.

 

[rllmuk]

I too don't understand why the insurance company is not either rewarding those of you that have winter tyres or increasing premiums for those that don't. They are normally first to jump on anything that means they can charge a bit more cash across the board. I'm happy for them to leave it as is, insurance is insane anyhow.

Both our cars are kitted out with winter tyres this time round (only mine was last year) and I'm working from home. Everyone else can't get in so no need for me to risk roads with drivers on summer tyres, is there!

Funny thing yesterday when the wife went to Morrisons in the Freetrack (incidentaly winter tyres with 4WD is very weird, I thought my Leon had tons of grip but the Freetrack is a beast now) after no-one else could get out of the close at all - she just drove straight out past stranded cars on the slight hill out of the close. People on sleds looked a bit puzzled.

 

[Husbandofstinky]

Auto express having been campaigning for winter tyres this year.

 

[Rickst3r]

Well the Nokian's are out of stock with no eta on delivery etc. They did offer me an alternative in the Nankang SV1 Winter Plus tyre, so I just accepted them.

They will certainally be a damn site better than the summer tyres I'm currently using!

All the other tyre types are rocketing up in price!!

 

[muddyboots]

I have to say, these Continental TS830s are awesome tyres. In snow, I think they're better than the Wintersport 3Ds were (although it's hard to compare new tyres with old ones that you last used several months ago).

Just climbed up a steep snow-covered carpark in the local town, in which the only other 2 vehicles were Navaras. Their owners looked quite surprised....!

 

[GainfulShrimp]

I have to say, these Continental TS830s are awesome tyres.

+1!

My sentiments exactly. I've been extremely impressed with the TS830s so far. Possibly a bit noisier than the Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3, but they chew through deep snow much more effectively. Incredible grip on hard packed snow and icy roads too. If anything, I would say they are dangerously good as it's easy to forget that conditions are dodgy (and of course 99% of other cars have hardly any grip).

Not sure whether they'll offer the economy / LRR benefits of the Michelins but I don't much care about that when faced with a snowy road and little one in the back.

 

[muddyboots]

If anything, I would say they are dangerously good as it's easy to forget that conditions are dodgy

Indeed - I got too carried away belting up a very snowy country lane yesterday morning where no other cars had been, got over a mile and a half uphill then stuffed the car headfirst into a huge snowdrift, well and truly beached, front wheels were practically off the ground. Had to get a tractor to pull me out....

All my own fault, and lesson learned . Car OK thankfully.

 

[Fl@pper]

+ higher insurance premium

did i hear right on the radio about some companies using them to get out paying claims etc ?

 

[trebormint]

It might be if people change the actual size of the wheels, i.e. go from 17" down to 16"

Or from alloys to steel

They seem to try and get out of paying whenever they can.

I'm gonna check with Adrian Flux to make sure they are ok with winter tyres.

 

[MWG]

It might be if people change the actual size of the wheels, i.e. go from 17" down to 16"

Or from alloys to steel

They seem to try and get out of paying whenever they can.

I'm gonna check with Adrian Flux to make sure they are ok with winter tyres.

Seems to be the fact that people are changing the entire wheel and not just the tyres which is why its classed as a modification. The size is irrelevant from what i can tell

 

[Seatmann]

I've been told the nankings are rubbish which is probably why they're still in stock.

 

[SteveTDCi]

I thought the snow version was ok? someone on here is running them and said they are fine.

 

[vRSy]

I've been told the nankings are rubbish which is probably why they're still in stock.

ive used vredestein snowtrac or wintrac tyres every year for the last 9 years. i can honestly say these Nankang SV-2's are not that far behind in performance at all.

we have had horrendous snow here and i havent had one issue at all. i live at the top of a hill, most have parked at the bottom because they cant get up the hill. ive been up and down the hill a good 5-6 times a day.

a guy has one a review on them here http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,22302.0.html

 

[SimonM]

I was thinking about getting some winter tyres, but after checking today i think i will wait till summer next year when the price has dropped. Vredestein SNOWTRAC 3 205/55 R16 91H M+S marking were roughly £75 each when i first started looking weeks ago, just checked today and they were £130 each!!! Thats more expensive then when i was looking at the tyre with steel wheel!

Supply and demand!

 

[SteveTDCi]

I was thinking about getting some winter tyres, but after checking today i think i will wait till summer next year when the price has dropped. Vredestein SNOWTRAC 3 205/55 R16 91H M+S marking were roughly £75 each when i first started looking weeks ago, just checked today and they were £130 each!!! Thats more expensive then when i was looking at the tyre with steel wheel!

Supply and demand!

thats what i'm going to do.

 

[vRSy]

i bought mine on friday last week, checked again on saturday and they had more than doubled in price.

 

[Leigh15]

The Dunlops on steel wheels I bought in October have gone up 67%!

I just wish I'd bought slightly earlier myself - a month earlier they were even cheaper!

 

[trebormint]

I contacted my insurance company and Adrian Flux replied saying I need to inform them that I'm using winter tyres, even though same alloy and tyre size!

Its just noted on the policy, no premium alteration.