Proper Winter Tyres. Urgent advice Required!

Hi. A funny thing happened to me a couple of days ago.
It was the first properly cold day we’ve had and I was on my way to work, I decided to use the quiet back roads cos I have a lovely 110 utility wagon, I’ve been told they can go anywhere. Unfortunately there was a little tiny bit of ice on a gentle S bend, which I approached at about 20MPH. Can you see where this is going, I could see where it was going, straight through the hedge, regardless what I did with the steering wheel.
Before you criticise my driving I honestly wasn’t going fast, I know this because I was able to shout ‘F$^%ing Hell’ 3 times before I hit the hedge.
My tyres are virtually new General Grabber TR 235 85 16 on alloys with only 2k miles use on them. They are badged Mud+Snow but they are obviously not a winter compound, and I have no faith in the tyres any more, they have to go or the car has to go (now devalued by hedge damage).
I have had a hunt on the tinterweb and I was stunned to find there are no proper winter tyres in this size!!!!!!!!!
What to do? I beg for proper advice, although I imagine there’s going to be a bit of P taking and people advising me to drop the tyre pressure and learn to drive. I drive 99.99999% on road and don’t require anything too knobbly.
On a separate note: does anyone want to buy a set of 4 or 5 very nearly new G Grabber TR’s?

Winter tyres won't grip on ice, they're not magic, they just have more grips in the tyres to add traction in snow

Yep hit ice and it won't matter what tyres you have fitted - well unless they are studded ice tyres

Sorry to have to contradict you both, But from previous experience on me old subaru, proper winter tyres make a HUGE difference.

Seriously I cant trust the car on these tyres. Advice on wheels and tyres please.

If you know better why are you asking on here???

Get a set of real studless tyres winter tyres won't help they have to be studless winter tyres as they are the nearest thing to full blown spiked tyres.

onelifesodit said:

Hi. A funny thing happened to me a couple of days ago.
It was the first properly cold day we’ve had and I was on my way to work, I decided to use the quiet back roads cos I have a lovely 110 utility wagon, I’ve been told they can go anywhere. Unfortunately there was a little tiny bit of ice on a gentle S bend, which I approached at about 20MPH. Can you see where this is going, I could see where it was going, straight through the hedge, regardless what I did with the steering wheel.
Before you criticise my driving I honestly wasn’t going fast, I know this because I was able to shout ‘F$^%ing Hell’ 3 times before I hit the hedge.
My tyres are virtually new General Grabber TR 235 85 16 on alloys with only 2k miles use on them. They are badged Mud+Snow but they are obviously not a winter compound, and I have no faith in the tyres any more, they have to go or the car has to go (now devalued by hedge damage).
I have had a hunt on the tinterweb and I was stunned to find there are no proper winter tyres in this size!!!!!!!!!
What to do? I beg for proper advice, although I imagine there’s going to be a bit of P taking and people advising me to drop the tyre pressure and learn to drive. I drive 99.99999% on road and don’t require anything too knobbly.
On a separate note: does anyone want to buy a set of 4 or 5 very nearly new G Grabber TR’s?

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Really and honestly you were driving to fast for conditions really.

weight, speed, and lose of traction........... inertia got you.......... for every action there is a reaction. Have had it where 2mph was to fast

You tube winter tyre test. As the post above states in that setup you where going too fast. Winter tyres are great for any vehicle.

SnowmanV8 said:

You tube winter tyre test. As the post above states in that setup you where going too fast. Winter tyres are great for any vehicle.

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Linky M8

Thanks for that. Vans and cars were managing just fine on the same icy corners.
Im tempted to sell the thing and get a fiesta.
Advice on wheels and Tyres PLEASE!

Cheers

Sell it and buy a sledge

You can't compare a Landrover 110 with a SAAB in any way apart from they both have tyres :doh:

16" Subaru tyres may fit

Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice - YouTube linky mate

Thats a stunning link. Thanks SnowmanV8
Anyone who says winter tyres dont make a difference on ice realy dont know what they are talking about. and the heavier the vehicle the more important it is to have propper winter tyres. Not Mud and Snow M+S tyres, not all season Tyres but proper Winter Tyres.
The question is Where can I get some that actualy fit a Defender.Have a search to 235-85-16 Winter tyres and you will come back with nothing for sale in the UK.
What to do?
Thanks again for the excelent link. J

onelifesodit said:

Thats a stunning link. Thanks SnowmanV8
Anyone who says winter tyres dont make a difference on ice realy dont know what they are talking about. and the heavier the vehicle the more important it is to have propper winter tyres. Not Mud and Snow M+S tyres, not all season Tyres but proper Winter Tyres.
The question is Where can I get some that actualy fit a Defender.Have a search to 235-85-16 Winter tyres and you will come back with nothing for sale in the UK.
What to do?

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Park it up til the weather gets better and get the bus

235/85/16 : Winter - Snow - Cold Weather - SUV/4x4 Tyres - 16" R16" - 235/85/16, 235/85R16

Well done Defender-90DAZ. Ive searched high and low for a winter tyre to fit.
Unfortunatly BF Goodriches own site does not list this tyre as a winter tyre. ooooooooh!
The Bus idea is starting to sound favourite
Cheers

I have the same problem, I have a Defender with the same size tires. I am running on Trac Edge AT. They are OK in a straight line but useless when turning. I did have a set of Cooper AT which were much better in the snow. My next set will be General Graber AT's as from the research I did they seemed to be the best bet according to the test they did in Germany. I couldn't fine any Snow tires for that size wheel. I live in the Rhone Alps in France where we regularly have heavy snow during the winter months. Our postman runs a Renault Kango with snow tires and he can go anywhere the Defender goes. In fact on one occasion my friends Defender slid into a ditch on the snow and he couldn't get it out. The post man offered him a tow. The other thing you have to keep in mind is a 110 Defender weighs in around 2 tonne. The Kango I think is less than a tonne which makes a big difference when cornering. The old Citroen 2CV were brilliant in the snow because they were so light and had very narrow tires. I think your only options would be to either drive slower when cornering or read up on then General Grabber AT's or change your wheel size to something where you can get snow tires. There was an interesting article in the August edition of Landrover owner international No 09. about various tires. Snow tires will give you better grip on slush and ice. On the continent drivers often keep a winter and normal set of tires.

Thanks mikescuba.
That's what we really want, solid advice from someone with experience of the situation, and not just a load of insults masquerading as ill informed opinion. Sorry, I went on a bit of a rant there.
Anyhow, I'll look into the test you mentioned, and the GG AT's. though the GG TR's are soooooooo bad, to the point of being lethal, that I've gone off the brand, like buying a McDonald's and finding it contains a cats head, you really wouldn't fancy another one just to see if it was better.
Renault kangoo's start off at about a grand, better road holding, more comfortable, better load space. You e put an idea in my head.
Cheers. John