dhutch
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 03:55 PM |
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Winter Tyres? What to buy - pair or set?
Is is sensable to consider fitting just a pair of winter tyres to a FWD car?
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I managed to drive 250miles this weekend in the 306 without them, from cheshire to aberystwyth and back to north staffordshire. However ive always
fancied some winter tyres and now had got to be a better time than the end of feb.
I had a rummage through various brands at the end of last week, Vredestein SnowTrac or WinTrac's and the like as well as some cheaper options
and can get a set of wheels for about £60 or steelies for half that. With the plan to swap them back come spring and store them till next year (have
loads of space to store them).
However one thing i was wondering is how feasable it would be to just fit a pair at the front (where all the power and braking goes) and leave the
back. On the surface this sounds plausable in terms of reducing stoping distance and getting up our street and onto the a-roads.
But prehaps increasing the grip on the front alone is not so clever for once your there and driving down the main roads at 40, 50, 60, 70mph in a car
that already has a tendancy to produce lift off oversteer when pushed?
And would you get the same size (185/65 R14) or go narrower?
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Daniel
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Mal
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 04:08 PM |
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This company sell winter tyres fitted on steel wheels, so no
need to change the tyres on the rims.
http://www.mytyres.co.uk/Steel_wheels.html
I would say you need a set of 4 winter tyres to get uniform grip characteristics, front to back.
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MikeCapon
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 04:13 PM |
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I run a pair of Michelin Alpins over here on the front of a Touran. If you do try and use all the front grip that they offer in the snow and ice of
course the rear gets a bit out of shape. But, considering that the primary objective is to have the drive you need to get up snowy hills and maintain
the ability to steer I'd say that yes, it is a sensible proposition on the front of a FWD car.
I run the same size as standard (205/55X16) and thay are fine. That said we are not permitted to change tyre sizes over here from the standard
fitment. The only allowance we get is for snow tyres when we are allowed to drop one speed rating.
HTH
Cheers,
Mike
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Agriv8
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 04:35 PM |
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I would say fronts only on a front wheel drive ( thats what I paln to do on my A6 )
all 4 if it is rear wheel or 4 wheel drive.
regards
Agriv8
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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iank
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 04:37 PM |
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Most tyre places won't fit new tyres only to the front, as more front grip that rear will make you spin on a corner. I don't see why that
wouldn't be the same or worse on snow.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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mcerd1
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 04:39 PM |
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I've got a pair of vredestein quatrac3's of the front of the focus (all season rather than full on snow, but they are pretty good all the
same )
there snowtrac3's do get a good name though...
just got ordinary tyres on the back and I've not had any problems (ran with the same setup last winter too)
[Edited on 29/11/2010 by mcerd1]
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Stott
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 06:07 PM |
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Someone on here said earlier that it's illegal to mix types i.e snow/winter/summer across axles but I don't know if it's true.
Personally I would fit as a set not just 2.
I've bought Vredestein Snowtrac 2s which should be here tomorrow or Wed and they are going on these  :
Can't wait!!!
EDIT: they are 16"s and yes they are fluorescent yellow, ultra bright in the sun 
[Edited on 29/11/10 by Stott]
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JoelP
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 06:31 PM |
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If you get just a pair you are 'meant' to put them on the back for the grip reasons above, however, theres no point buying any in that
case as you are just as likely to get stuck. Provided you appreciate that you are undergripped at the back, i dont see a problem, as you can drive
accordingly.
I didnt bother getting any, on cost grounds. Just replaced with 4 normal tyres.
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T66
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 06:35 PM |
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I ran a diesel Cavalier when I lived near Keilder, and used Colway 165/13s M&S...
I only ever fitted them to the front wheels, not sure what the law says about this, cross the axle is a big no no, but front to back should be ok.
And on that point they make a fantastic difference to the car, but I could never say I noticed any difference in how the car handled.
My little Cavalier was used to go logging every Saturday morning, filled to the limit with Sitka I rarely got stuck in snow on the forest tracks.
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Stott
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 06:39 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by T66
I only ever fitted them to the front wheels, not sure what the law says about this, cross the axle is a big no no, but front to back should be ok.
That's what I meant sorry, I said across axles meaning in my way front to back. I would say across an axle if I meant left/right, but
I'll play the Welsh card here so I can be excused!
[Edited on 29/11/10 by Stott]
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T66
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 07:11 PM |
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There you are then ! Law sorted, go and buy some ....
Skinny tyres are better, although Im sure you know this.
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a4gom
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| posted on 29/11/10 at 11:38 PM |
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i've use loads of colways in the past for the road car and the rally car. a change in work location has had me browsing for a pair of tyre
for the front of mine and it appears colway are no more. if anyone knows different i'd be glad to hear, looks like it might be some medium
compound maxsport remoulds for me.
(anyone got a couple of 15" pug wheels kicking about they want rid of to mount them on?)
Andy
Perfect planning prevents pi$$ poor performance!
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jossey
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| posted on 30/11/10 at 10:27 AM |
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i have a e60 bmw (2005) mine s rubbish in the snow.
but i have spoken to people on the forums from skandinavia etc... and they say for the rear wheel drives get winter tyres on both or just rear at
least and put weight in the boot.
i have bought 5 bags of sand and put them in the boot as close to the rear bumper as possible.
works a million times better but not great?
Good Luck
David
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 30/11/10 at 10:55 AM |
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rwd BMW's are truly awful in the snow.
Some countries get the 4wd versions of the saloons ('x' versions), but not here (probably don't do them in RHD).
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owelly
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| posted on 30/11/10 at 10:59 AM |
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If someone else was buying them, I'd have four new winter tyres fitted at the end of every October. However, I'm a tight arsed
Yorkshireman with an empty wallet so on the Transit Connect, it has two knobbly rally tyres on the front and good normal road tyres on the rear and
I've bought just fitted four secondhand wheels and winter tyre to the Bongo, which is 4X4. The guys at work who run lease cars, either get
winter tyres fitted at the first sign of snow or run all weather tyres all year round. But they're not paying for them!
Vredestein are pretty unbeatable for wear/price/traction etc.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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