When do you put your winter tyres on.

[grasmere59]

Those of you with winter tyres,when do you put them on? Temps are starting to drop from mid to low single figures overnight so it might be getting close to winter tyres time.

[steve_earwig]

I generally start thinking about it when Austria does:

Austria:

In Austria, the law states that between 1st of November and the 15th of April, a car - that has a maximum weight 3.5 tonnes - can only drive in winter conditions (i.e. snow, ice, slush, etc) as long as winter tyres have been fitted. If an all-season tyre bears the "M + S" mark on the sidewall, these will be considered as an adequate alternative.

From here http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/winte ... egislation

Note that it doesn't say they must be fitted all the time, just that if you are caught out you'll be for the high jump, which is just like Croatia which has no actual dates, just "if conditions dictate then you must be wearing them (or snow chains) or else..."

I suspect what I'll do is keep an eye to the weather forecast and, if the temperature I'm likely to be driving in is consistently around or below the all-important 7 degrees (the temperature below which winter tyres start to outperform summer tyres) then I'll be swapping over. Obviously if the weather forecast says it'll be 3 degrees at 4 o'clock in the morning it's no reason to panic because (hopefully) you won't be driving then.

[Welly]

Any time soon, I was thinking of getting mine fitted this weekend or next at the latest. I like this system now, I can give the Summer set a rest and they won't wear out trying to gain grip over the winter.

[KozmoNaut]

I usually change over when the average temperature goes below 10C, and then at the first possibility, as I have my extra wheels stored at my parents' place, 130km away :-P

[grasmere59]

I've got the spare rims with the winters on out and dusted off,might do the change over this weekend.

[dieseldave]

Just a word of warning on this folks, check with your insurance if you only plan on fitting two winter tyres, as some police are invalidated by this.

I thought of putting two on the front of my car, and was advised by tyre guy in work to check it out with my insurance.

[steve_earwig]

It's probably still worth checking but I think UK insurers have finally got the message that it's a safety thing, rather than a fancy mod that they can use as an excuse to scam more money out of you. One day you might even have some money off for being so safety-concious! Ooh look, a flying pig!

It'll be interesting to see how much actual snow there is in the UK this year, I think it was Dai that was saying there's less every year, you lucky, lucky... *not looking forward to digging himself out of a snowdrift yet again*

[dieseldave]

Snow forecast for Northern Ireland next week, but we'll see what it amounts too..........

[Welly]

Never fit just 2 x Winter tyres on either end of the car, it will spin round in the snow and without much warning.

[mjb]

I'd have put mine on last weekend if I had any... Noticing it's a hell of a lot easier to get the bimmer to break traction in this weather (especially in the dry!), so I'm watching a set on ebay now.

Previous cars' Firestones were much better in the cold, these Michelins are making dry roads feel wet when it's under 3C out Winter tyres aren't just about better snow traction; the compounds are more suited to having grip in the cold and wet too, and that is why I'm absolutely buying some.

[steve_earwig]

The magic number is 7. Degrees that is, below which summer tyres start going hard and winter tyres come into their elephant.

[Welly]

My Pirelli Summers have a hard compound and feel really light and disconnected on the road now, the Winters should be on tomorrow all being well.

[lozz]

Speaking of winter tyre's.
anyone know if Vredestein- snowtrac 3's are anygood?

going to have 4 put on the wife's car me thinks not sure what to buy yet tho them where my 1st option from local tyre fitter.

[Welly]

To be fair, even the cheapest Winters would be far superior to 'normal' tyres. Vredestein have a very good name - be worth reading a few reviews if you want to make an assessment.

[lozz]

To be fair, even the cheapest Winters would be far superior to 'normal' tyres. Vredestein have a very good name - be worth reading a few reviews if you want to make an assessment.

Thanks.

iwill have them fitted for peace of mind. iwill avoid cheap one's as it will be her 1st winter driving