Winter/Snow Tyres?

Hi All,

Done a search on this and there's some mixed opinions, so thought I would just ask for myself.

Whilst it's not overly cold at the moment, I reckon we'll be getting a fairly harsh late Jan to March\April and I reckon we'll get a semi-reasonable dollop of snow.

I currently run Kingpin Mud Terrains (265/75) and I know people give them mixed thoughts but I've not had any trouble with them. I do over 300 miles a week just getting to work and back, then weekend play time and they've never faulted.

I'm no slouch and they rarely let go unless you're being very silly and even in some of the torrential rain we've had, they have coped very well. I have noticed in the rain, they steer slightly to the left, but in my opinion, I reckon that is due to the axle which is due for replacement as everything is very worn and tired (Re-Building a spare axle).

What I'm wondering is, will these be completely useless in the snow, be it fresh or compacted and frost?

I am considering picking up some A/T tyres, or even the Kingpin Amazon M+S.

I don't however want to get them if they should get me through a winter as I cant really afford it, but then, an overdraft is there for emergencies and if my current tyres are going to put me in some sticky situations, I'd class that as an emergency.

Just after peoples thoughts and opinions on the matter.

Kind regards to all.

Slow down

I'm not overly quick and 98% of the time, I'm not pushing the tyres, I just wanted to see if the style of tyre was appropriate.

I'm pretty sensible over the winter time. The past 7 years I've taken Sports Bikes through the winters and you'll be surprised how far I could get them being careful. Last year was the first time I failed to get to work one day, so that was the decision to finally get the 4-Wheeler sorted and through the next (this) winter.

I just want to make sure I've not shot myself in the foot with the tyre choice.

My boss has a brand new 110 on stock wheels and tyres and don't want to go getting stuck in what he can get through ! Though he does have the advantage of ABS/ETC!

The only muds I driven on in the snow are insa special tracks which were worse than useless.
At's will be better, but nothing beats a good winter tyre in the snow and ice.

I had winter tyres on my m3 and it turned it from a total death trap in bad conditions into a very grippy car indeed.

in fresh/deep soft stuff you will be fine, in compacted/ice they will be useless

Hmm ... Bugger ...

This is starting to look like I may have to order some more rubber! Damn!

I still have Trac edge on my Defender. Where I live we regularly have snow during the winter although it has been mild at the moment. The Trac edge are rated as mud and snow but to be honest they aren't much good in the snow. When I come round to changing them I will go for the Grabber AT'2s. They seem to be the best for snow according to all the German reviews I have read. A good snow Tyre has a soft compound which you should only use when the temperature is below 9C. Above that they wear out much quicker. I have snow tires on our Toyota Auris and in the snow it will go where ever the Defender will go on Tarmac. The At'2 should also give good mileage. In compact ice all tires are useless and will slide especially with 2 tons on them.

imo, it totally depends on where you are.

mainly on gritted or up in the hills where ploughs don't dare venture.

i'd wait and risk it and take a shovel

Snow chains.

Half the journey is Dual carriageway and main road, the other half is back road and country roads with some steep climbs and falls.

The end of the journey is a city. But a city which last year became a complete slalom around slip sliding cars.

If I get myself stuck or get myself into bother than I don't mind, it's my own fault, what I don't want to be doing is slip sliding into other people and/or cars, that's my main reasoning for considering a change.

I'd be more comfortable taking the MT's through fresh deep stuff as the teeth has something to dig into, being fresh and deep. It's the thin slushy slippery stuff I worry about, be it on untreated main roads and/or dual carriageways.

The big chunky blocks will almost ride on top without digging in giving it a surface to slip on. Or is my theory slightly out of joint?

Plus the gaps between the blocks has more room for snow to compact and actually build up, causing an almost slick surface.

The only decent budget deal I can find at the moment is the Pirelli Scorpion ATR's ... £560 on new steels. Or £390 odd if I fit them to the couple month old steels the Kingpins currently sit on.

Cant even find many "Budget" or "Re-Moulds" with a decent winter tread beating that!

Just cant decide!

I also have some snow chains coming already. But they'd be no good running through the slush!

taazzukcb said:

Half the journey is Dual carriageway and main road, the other half is back road and country roads with some steep climbs and falls.

The end of the journey is a city. But a city which last year became a complete slalom around slip sliding cars.

If I get myself stuck or get myself into bother than I don't mind, it's my own fault, what I don't want to be doing is slip sliding into other people and/or cars, that's my main reasoning for considering a change.

I'd be more comfortable taking the MT's through fresh deep stuff as the teeth has something to dig into, being fresh and deep. It's the thin slushy slippery stuff I worry about, be it on untreated main roads and/or dual carriageways.

The big chunky blocks will almost ride on top without digging in giving it a surface to slip on. Or is my theory slightly out of joint?

Plus the gaps between the blocks has more room for snow to compact and actually build up, causing an almost slick surface.

The only decent budget deal I can find at the moment is the Pirelli Scorpion ATR's ... £560 on new steels. Or £390 odd if I fit them to the couple month old steels the Kingpins currently sit on.

Cant even find many "Budget" or "Re-Moulds" with a decent winter tread beating that!

Just cant decide!

I also have some snow chains coming already. But they'd be no good running through the slush!

Click to expand...

sounds like you want new at's

if you wanted to save cash, you can usually pickup a set of part worn ats on ebay for 150/200.

(remember that they won't save you on ice)

I've been running these for the last two years and I think they are fantastic all year round.

Kumho KL78 Tyres - Cheap Kumho KL78 Tyres Online | Blackcircles.com

Kumho KL78 All Terrains

Great off road on the Bye ways and fantastic in the snow in country lanes as well as my home town.
Last year when every one was stuck in the town spinning their wheels and going no where while being pushed, I just weaved around them all.
I,ve never been let down by them and I will be buying them again.
If budget can finance it they also do a mud terrain for off road play
as a second set.
KL71
Kumho KL71 Tyres - Cheap Kumho KL71 Tyres Online | Blackcircles.com

Better price maybe -
http://www.paddockspares.com/23585r16kkl78-235-85r16-kumho-kl78-at-tyre-only.html

Can find cheaper but thats your job !

Dont get yourself in such a sweat , dont bother with snow tyres , they're more or less for 2wd vehicles , they are a new bling gimmick , we didnt have them for the proper winters 63 , 87 etc i was driving a series on cross plies , and got everywhere i wanted. i currently run BFG MT and even pulled a snow plough out last year . If you are wanting a insurance then spend a few quid on chains , as they will get you thru where all the other stuff has given up , the only downside is having to fit them , but it needs to get really bad before you get to that point , and your boss will have given up before then anyway . i havent had to fit chains even with my snow plow on

I've got snows on my 4x4 Audi, I was pulling stuck range rovers last year I did try and pull a truck, I failed so bought a defender as well

The guy I got my Defender off went into a ditch, slid on the snow and ice, he couldn't get out. The postman in his Renault Kango with snow tires towed him out.
Where I live in Rhone Alps in France our normal winter is like a bad UK winter. From November to March we run our vehicles on snow tires. The best all round AT's I have read reviews on are the Grabbers AT2's; The trouble with snow chains is they tear you tires up and you can only use them in snow, as soon as you hit a bit of a clear road or a road with little snow they start damaging your tires and you are limited on your speed. From my experience here my next choice will be Grabber AT2's http://www.paddockspares.com/23585r16ggat2-235-85r16-general-grabber-at2-tyre-only.html
Which are All Terrain tires but did well in the snow. They might be a new bling as someone put it but they work. Its not only pulling power you need but also steering and braking in the snow and ice.
If you click on my profile pic, that was taken in November just gone. Our winter hadn't started then.

It's difficult to describe just how good a car on winter tyres is in the snow and hard ice.
If I lived somewhere where the weather was worse I.e. Not Essex I would have a set for the defender.

For me it's cost effective, the snows cost less than my summers, my only overhead was a set of £100 eBay alloys

The Kingpins cost me £450 (3 months ago) odd including fitting to new steels, not sure I'd get snows for that!

Been looking at various tyres all evening and cant find anything near that. General Grabbers command a high price to as I run 265/75 or 285/75's ...

The steels I can get for £30 a pop ish 16 x 7 or 16 x 8, so not to fussed about those, just trying to find some cost effective, yet semi-decent AT's or Snow/Winters.

you might consider reducing the air pressure in the tyres especially in the front,for better steering and braking in fresh or compacted snow,but beware of cornering at speed on flater tyres, can be unforgiving,
steve

jaygti said:

It's difficult to describe just how good a car on winter tyres is in the snow and hard ice.
If I lived somewhere where the weather was worse I.e. Not Essex I would have a set for the defender.

Click to expand...

I have Michelin Alpine tires on our Toyota Auris. Without Snows we can't get the car out of our drive onto the road; (our drive is about 25 meters long) We have friends who live up at 900 meters higher in the snow line. With snow tires we can get up there; No chance without them. The Poste here in France run all there vehicles with snow tires here in the countryside and they go everywhere. It still surprises me just how well they do. I have driven down narrow country lanes in my Defender and they pull over into the ditch as they are confident they can drive out with there snows.
If I lived in the UK I could not justify the expense of having snow tires for the short periods of snow you have there. The Defender doesn't get stuck in the snow, its the cornering and braking where you have to be cautious.
I would spend a little more and go for a good AT that does well in the snow. Up until recently I haven't been able to find snow tires for a Defender. Kumho now do one in some sizes that will fit a Defender but they are very expensive. And a good snow tire is normally made of a soft compound which is useless when the temperature goes above 9 degrees C. They wear out much quicker. My Trac Edge's are supposed to be Mud & Snow rated but they are not very good in the snow, no where near as good as The Michelin Alpine. My wife will out pace me in her Toyota in the snow, she has better cornering and braking. The Defender just slides all over the place.