What turned up in the post today

[novacabrio]

Utter crap, Winter tyres are well worth it. Why would most European countries use them and in some countries the use be compulsary with fines for not fitting them!
See here... http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/wi...nd-legislation
If you have ever driven a BMW or other rear wheel drive in the snow on summer tyres you would know. That is the problem with this country, we never prepare for bad weather and then we moan when it snows and blame everyone else instead of ourselvs when the country grinds to a halt. Other countries manage that experience worse weather than us because they are prepared.
I have paid £400 for a set of new Pirelli winter runflats and delivery mileage genuine BMW alloys. The ame set from BMW would be over £1000! I could use these for 2-3 winter and still sell them for a profit. Part worn sets are fetching over £500 on Ebay!
Winter tyre are made of a different compound which stays soft below 7 Degrees Celcius where summer tyre rubber starts to go hard. They also have a different tread pattern with Sipes to help grip in the snow better and are better at dispersing water.
I would rather pay out £400 and know my missus stands a better chance of controlling her car in the bad weather.

Or buy a Land Rover

[phunkynova]

Winter tyres must be the biggest con going ATM

Really can't see the point in it all tbh, just seems as complete waste of time and cash to me

Tyre shops and manufacturers must be laughing all the way to the bank

It's not like they've made rubber suddenly stick to ice

You really don't know nothing about tires do you.
I live in central Europe and here winter tires make one hell of a difference come the snow and ice a massive improvement on summer tires in all ways.
Please educate your self before making such a statement again.
And YES THE RUBBER DOES STICK TO THE ICE a lot better than summer tires

[Edd]

Fair enough

I could never justify it, it's very rarely icey down here, if it is, it's so bad no one should be on the road IMO

Just seems alot of cost to me for hardly any gain as rubber is never going to stick to ice, and if it's that icey it's too dangerous to drive anyway
But few years back I never ever heard about winter tyres

But no I never drove a rear wheel drive car in bad conditions, so I can't really judge there, so spending money to keep your lady safe is what anyone would do

[Edd]

You really don't know nothing about tires do you.
I live in central Europe and here winter tires make one hell of a difference come the snow and ice a massive improvement on summer tires in all ways.
Please educate your self before making such a statement again.
And YES THE RUBBER DOES STICK TO THE ICE a lot better than summer tires

I don't need education to tell me that £500 for a set of tyres I will only use 2/3 days of the year would be a complete waste of money

[Stuart]

Winter tyres must be the biggest con going ATM

Really can't see the point in it all tbh, just seems as complete waste of time and cash to me

Tyre shops and manufacturers must be laughing all the way to the bank

It's not like they've made rubber suddenly stick to ice

We have 3 Astons at work and they all get put on winters this time of year..... The sheer fact you can accelerate at near dry grip speeds on ice and then brake to a short stop proves their use/worth/not con. Summer tyres are just plain dangerous (your fave word) at sub 3 degrees.

[Stuart]

Also fwiw winter tyres don't die when used in the summer, just you have a shade less grip which is comedy. So you can haul more than a few days from a set

[Stuart]

Or buy a Land Rover

A Landy on summer tyres will still get stuck

[phunkynova]

Edd trust me they really do make a big difference as the summer rubber goes hard in the cold and is no long supple and mailable giving a feeling like diving with Iron wheels were as the winter rubber has a different compound and chemicals in them which keep the rubber soft, supple and mailable. We dive on snow and ice all the time here in winter no problem, sounds crazy and mad but we are all doing 60 mph plus on the motorways which are snow covered with pileups dew to winter tiers.
PS I was only talk about tiers before some wish guy jumps in

[phunkynova]

It has nothing to do with snow and ice it's all about temperature and the tier rubber going rock hard, dry or wet

[Edd]

Well I ain't paying for a set of tyres for the winter that cost more than my daily car smash it up buy a new one