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All this talk of snow tyres.
zilspeed - 1/12/10 at 10:44 PM

Can't help thinking that a pair of proper rally knobblies on the driven wheels would do the job pretty well, rather than all these sort of slightly wintry looking things.

These are £15 each on ebay.

It's not like you would actually use them very much other than extreme conditions. Mounted up on a pair of old steel wheels.

Tell me the flaw in my logic.

mcerd1 - 1/12/10 at 10:46 PM

couldn't hurt if you can get ones the right size

I've got a pair of old studded tyres with more studs per inch than I've ever seen before - only problem is they are for 12" rims

PSpirine - 1/12/10 at 10:50 PM

No flaw,

Except if those aren't snow tyres you've got pictured, then they'll be useless on icy surfaces. Proper winter tyres offer their greatest advantage in cold, icy conditions - loose snow is usually not a problem for any tyre if it's got lots of tread.

After the last couple of days trying to get to work, I'll be investing in some studded winter jobbies. About £300 for 4, mounted on brand new steels. But the way I see it is they're likely to last at least 3 seasons, so for the sake of £100 a year, I may as well avoid sliding into an oncoming lorry on these hilly b-roads.


It infuriates me that people still go in to tyre shops and ask to buy summer performance tyres at this time of year for their BMW's etc. Creates some work for body shops at least I guess..

BigLee - 1/12/10 at 11:06 PM

Fitted 'Winter Tyres' to my Volvo 3 weeks ago. What a difference! It doesn't mean I can drive like a hoodlum, but they do offer alot more grip in the cold and ice. I am told it is more to do with the compound rather than the tread as normal tyres harden below 4 degrees. Added silica keep them soft so they behave as they should.
It actually worries me a little as when I brake, I slow down at the same rate as if it were just wet. Unfortunately, I don't have as much confidence in the cretin sat 3 feet off my bumper, with no lights on, and pearing through a letter box shaped hole in the ice on their windscreen!!!

dhutch - 1/12/10 at 11:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by BigLee I am told it is more to do with the compound rather than the tread as normal tyres harden below 4 degrees. Added silica keep them soft so they behave as they should.
Thats my understanding also.

Davegtst - 1/12/10 at 11:11 PM

I had snow tyres on a skyline i imported. Never tried them in the snow but they were absolutly useless in the dry. Aren't studded tyres illegal to use on clear roads?

Richard Quinn - 1/12/10 at 11:23 PM

They look more like gravel tyres. Good in mud but not so good in snow and ice. Have a look for Alpin's or Alaska's which are snow tyres (also used for Autograss on harder tracks once the track has "polished" up a bit)

PSpirine - 1/12/10 at 11:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Davegtst
I had snow tyres on a skyline i imported. Never tried them in the snow but they were absolutly useless in the dry. Aren't studded tyres illegal to use on clear roads?


It's illegal to have tyres that damage the road surface, which includes using studded tyres when there isn't any snow or ice. I doubt you'd get done for driving a couple of miles along a clear run between two snowy areas, it's more if you're driving in the warm dry weather with studs.

Don't think you'd want to drive on studs if it's not icy/snowy - they're shocking at dry warm grip.

l0rd - 2/12/10 at 01:17 AM

I have used MS tires (mud and snow) throught the year in Greece due to the extreme conditions during winter.

They were very good at snow and they were very good on hot weather as well during summer. The only problem, during summer they wouldn't last for long.

I cannot be bothered to change tyres.

The only thing you need to change is your driving style and use common sense.


Funniest of all, i have seen a BMW driver fitting chains on the front wheels. I didn't even bother stop to tell him to fit them in the wheels stuck on his arse and not the front ones but had a good laugh and drove off without chains.

Daddylonglegs - 2/12/10 at 03:33 AM

Not got snow tyres, but I modded a pair of snow chains I've had for years so they would fit around the larger wheels I have on the car now. I must admit though I would prefer a properly designed set for the larger wheels as the mods I have done are OK but I'm not sure how robust they are. I'd hate for the things to break and wrap around the drive shaft or seomething

Anyone got a good link for buying some that will fit our Peugeot 308?

Ta

T66 - 2/12/10 at 06:01 AM

quote:
Originally posted by PSpirine
No flaw,

Except if those aren't snow tyres you've got pictured, then they'll be useless on icy surfaces.




Like most current low profile ones then ! - I saw an ancient Saab 99 yesterday with the exact same cut as those tyres in the picture and he was progressing very well....


Only studded tyres do anything on ice, we have wet compressed snow and those knobblies will work a treat.


Ice is lethal to drive on whether your on studded, knobblies or slicks - Its how you drive the car that makes the difference, those tyres will offer less grip on wet surfaces, but with the current amount of snow we have will make a huge difference into his cars performance.


My Lada has mud tyres fitted = knobblies, it will go anywhere in the white stuff.



Fit them and use them if you can - I would

Stott - 2/12/10 at 07:35 AM

quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
Can't help thinking that a pair of proper rally knobblies on the driven wheels would do the job pretty well, rather than all these sort of slightly wintry looking things.

These are £15 each on ebay.

It's not like you would actually use them very much other than extreme conditions. Mounted up on a pair of old steel wheels.

Tell me the flaw in my logic.



They certainly would be good, only they have "for competition use only" on the sidewall of most rally tyres. There are few that are homologated for road use. Some say for competition use, but exclude the "only" bit so there is a grey area there.

So basically your insurance would technically be void. There is a slight exemption for night event cars etc on competition policies which covers us to get to and from events but at a lower level of cover but then on the event you are covered. I wouldn't like to try claim though. They probably will only pay out Third Party but it's ok as if the cars get smacked usually the owner/driver will fix it.

So in short, they are not road legal

matt_claydon - 2/12/10 at 09:19 AM

Forget anything about "Competition use" on the sidewall. If they are 'e' or 'E' marked they are fine (subject to sufficient load and speed rating), if they are not e-marked they are illegal for road use. Simple.

asn163 - 2/12/10 at 05:53 PM

In the early 80's I had a TR7 which was absolutley useless is the snow, no traction what so ever on the normal road tyres, Dunlop SP sport if I remember correctly.

To cure this I fitted a pair of these on the rear (well a Colway version with "Nora" patter) :



Nora
Nora [/img]

Did the trick.

Even if it did get stuck, you could just spin the wheels and the tread would dig its way through until it got traction.

I still have the wheels and tyres lurking at the back of the garage, don't. think I would trust them now though, probably a little perished through age.

Simon