BMW drivers

Sporky

Even ignoring snow I'd still put winters on - there's noticeably more grip in the cold and wet vs decent summer tyres.

And yet again, it's cost neutral because you're not wearing down your summer tyres.

If it snowed regularly then it'd be an absolute no-brainer, but even without snow they make a positive difference with no overall cost.

FX_Munkee

I put Nokian Weatherproof tyres on our XC90 at the beginning of this year. Winter and Summer tyres in one.
I was my normal skeptical self but so far they've been absolutely fine, definitely better than normal winter tyres in the summer (you can do that in a fat 4x4).
https://www.nokiantyres.com/company/news-article/nokian-weatherproof-all-weather-tyres-safe-year-round-driving-comfort/
If we get some snow this year I'll report back on how I got stuck/didn't get stuck.

Not sure if I'd put them on my BMW though..

Sporky

The Continental Cross Contacts (I think that's the name) look interesting too - M&S rated summer tyres.

dern

Snap said:

@octatonic ; -thats the point I was trying to make really: most people don't need them in this country. We don't get regular bad weather, and when we do get it, its only for a few days. That's why I think the whole thing (in the UK) is a marketing ploy.

I think the point we were trying to make is that that is bollocks

FX_Munkee

Sporky said:

The Continental Cross Contacts (I think that's the name) look interesting too - M&S rated summer tyres.

Cross Contacts are summer only and not that good IMHO. The Nokian ones are unique as far as I last checked.
They also work (well) in rain unlike most winter tyres. Which is my number one priority being a UK resident.

Snap

Sporky said:

Even ignoring snow I'd still put winters on - there's noticeably more grip in the cold and wet vs decent summer tyres.

And yet again, it's cost neutral because you're not wearing down your summer tyres.

If it snowed regularly then it'd be an absolute no-brainer, but even without snow they make a positive difference with no overall cost.

and the point I was making earlier is that for me its not cost neutral cos it is likely I would have changed my car before the tyres were due for replacement. Usually, I get away with one set of tyres. I get about 30k out of a set.

Aren't winter tyres noisier than "normal" tyres too? Cos of the different tread.

Snap

FX_Munkee said:

They also work (well) in rain unlike most winter tyres. Which is my number one priority being a UK resident.

hang on, I thought that was part of the point of winter tyres- grip. So now we have a concept of a tyre that is only extra useful in snow or mud, but worse than your standard tyres in rain.

I mean its not like we get much rain is it.....?

This man cries snake oil!

Get Rocker in the topic with his regulated mains for hifi.....

(no offence to Rocker, he's a good lad)

Snap

oh,

I've just bought a replacement x6 for the one my neighbourly old dear wrote off.

the M5.0D

I might go through tyres more often now.

FX_Munkee

Snap said:

FX_Munkee said:

They also work (well) in rain unlike most winter tyres. Which is my number one priority being a UK resident.

hang on, I thought that was part of the point of winter tyres- grip. So now we have a concept of a tyre that is only extra useful in snow or mud, but worse than your standard tyres in rain.

I mean its not like we get much rain is it.....?

This man cries snake oil!

Get Rocker in the topic with his regulated mains for hifi.....

(no offence to Rocker, he's a good lad)

Generally they're not as good in the wet as summer tyres, I assume due to having "blocks" as oppose to the "channels" that summer tyres use to disperse water.

BTW I drive a BMW 325D in winter on summer tyres, I simply adjust my driving to compensate for the lack of grip. I honestly think that everybody should have a go on crap tyres at some point, just so they can learn that a car is constantly sliding about on the tyres it's just matters of degrees.
I did learn to drive in a RWD car on grass and mud so maybe that explains something?

Sporky

Snap said:

and the point I was making earlier is that for me its not cost neutral cos it is likely I would have changed my car before the tyres were due for replacement. Usually, I get away with one set of tyres. I get about 30k out of a set.

Aren't winter tyres noisier than "normal" tyres too? Cos of the different tread.

Gotcha on the cost.

I don't think my winters were noticeably noisier. A bit boingier being 16s instead of 17s, but only a teeny bit.

I also found they were great in the rain - massive water displacement channels.