Winter tyres and why.

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thebiglad

thebiglad

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Just came across this, I reckon it's quite dramatic and appears to clearly demonstrate the benefits of proper winter tyres.

Yes it is American, but even so......................


[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEMH10Z4s"]YouTube - Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice[/nomedia]

Dave
 
What would be a decent winter spec tyre for the Discovery, that would be ok all year round?

I don't think I need to go down the AT2 route as I never go off road. Just use my car for towing.

Cheers, Andy
 
andymach23 said:
What would be a decent winter spec tyre for the Discovery, that would be ok all year round?

I don't think I need to go down the AT2 route as I never go off road. Just use my car for towing.

Cheers, Andy
Click to expand...


Winter tyres are just that winter they are no use during summer, or more specifically they would wear out, especially towing a lot, being a softer compound.
On the continent, Poland etc you have to have 2 sets 1 summer and 1 winter

Unless you have deep pockets (Landy owner I know) do the same

I would personally would seriously look at the new grabber at's that are more road patterned but same off road capability (allegedly) as th AT2's
 
andymach23 said:
What would be a decent winter spec tyre for the Discovery, that would be ok all year round?

I don't think I need to go down the AT2 route as I never go off road. Just use my car for towing.

Cheers, Andy
Click to expand...


Andy mate, I think you're missing the point a bit here, with respect.

The whole point about this thread is that you have a 'dedicated' winter tyres - tyres that are designed and constructed to work at temps below 7°. So they are not going to be all year round tyres.


What this bit of video showed me that trying to work with compromise all year round tyres is not really safe and when we look at the news recently it's not hard to understand that they are right. It's not just about traction - braking and steering are at least as important.

I reckon it means we need to have a second set of wheels and tyres, as is quite common throughout mainland, with winter tyres - please note I'm not talking about snow tyres. Winter tyres are designed to be used in all conditions - at low temperatures.

On the subject of cost, a set of steel wheels 2nd hand is cheap to pick up. If you do 15,000mls pa and change wheels 1 October and 1st April, you split you mileage between the two, so no extra cost - overall

I suspect the idea of having a separate set of wheels with dedicated winter tyres is a concept that's hard to accept in the UK, but here in mainland Europe it is not at all unusual and having seen the problems people have had up to now this winter across europe, I'm convinced it is a good idea.

Bear in mind that in some countries in Europe and Scandinavia, they are a legal requirement.
 
andymach23 said:
What would be a decent winter spec tyre for the Discovery, that would be ok all year round?

I don't think I need to go down the AT2 route as I never go off road. Just use my car for towing.

Cheers, Andy
Click to expand...

Tyres as fitted in the factory, your disco would have been supplied with "all season" tyres.
I still use the same tyre manufacture and type that was fitted to my disco in the factory, I'm on my second set and they are H speed rated that's ok for me as I use my disco for fast road use also I haven't had any problems with them in the snow, so great Land Rover knows best.

Tyres are Goodyear Eagles GT which appear to have been discontinued now in favour of Goodyear HP.
 
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elmer_d said:
Winter tyres are just that winter they are no use during summer, or more specifically they would wear out, especially towing a lot, being a softer compound.
On the continent, Poland etc you have to have 2 sets 1 summer and 1 winter

Unless you have deep pockets (Landy owner I know) do the same

I would personally would seriously look at the new grabber at's that are more road patterned but same off road capability (allegedly) as th AT2's
Click to expand...

Not quite, I agree they are a softer compound but D1s and very possibly D2s were supplied from the factory with M+S (all season) tyres ie. Winter Tyre, so if you have a snow flake or M+S on the tyrewall you have a winter tyre.
 
discool said:
Not quite, I agree they are a softer compound but D1s and very possibly D2s were supplied from the factory with M+S (all season) tyres ie. Winter Tyre, so if you have a snow flake or M+S on the tyrewall you have a winter tyre.
Click to expand...



Not quite Discool, all year round tyres are just that, designed to be used all year round.

True winter tyres are, as you said made with a different mix of components and in the above video perform quite differently to a true Winter tyre.

As I suspected, the idea of having dedicated winter tyres is so alien to the majority of British drivers that they just can't cope with/understand the concept or the need. It's a great shame because if they were used more widely, all would benefit by less accidents and injuries, better traffic flow, less excuse for the Ins Company robbing bâstards to jack up their premiums etc etc.


Oh well.........................................................


Dave
 
I've just fitted a set of winter tyres on my brothers RR for him to take back to Norway.There you have to have them by law - Norway or no way ;)
he reckons they make a huge difference,in Norway there are "Wheel Hotels" where you pay rent to store your second set of wheels.
As an aside,every time we have snow here in the UK,am I alone in shouting "****s" at the telly when we are shown people trying to go up/down steep hills - or even level roads on snow/ice in 2wd cars with not a hope of traction/control ? :doh:
 
Depends what age you R :) I remember when there was thick snow every year in the UK I use to ride a bike in the stuff and later a motor bike and would change the rear tyre and the same with our (mates) cars. I spent 4 years in Germany and things didn't stop for trains, trucks or anything else.

So YES and the "****s" if they can't move any more they just leave their vehicles where ever they finnish up, that doesn't help :amen:
 
Some good points here guys, cheers:)

I suppose 'All Season' tyres is what I am looking for. Anyone know what tyres my D2 would have had from new?

I have the 8 inch rims on a year 2000 TD5 GS and am currently running 255 65 16 Avon Rangers.
 
andymach23 said:
Some good points here guys, cheers:)

I suppose 'All Season' tyres is what I am looking for. Anyone know what tyres my D2 would have had from new?

I have the 8 inch rims on a year 2000 TD5 GS and am currently running 255 65 16 Avon Rangers.
Click to expand...


Hi Andy, did you not see the results for 'All season' tyres in the test? You might almost just have summer tyres on, all year round.

The only way to get the 'winter tyre' test result, which is what we would all like isn't it, is to have a set of winter tyres.

Pick up a set of steel wheel for about £40, put some proper winter tyres and you're laughing. Save those pretty alloy wheels for the better weather and avoid the salt on them.
 
I'm a big believer in winter tyres. Over a year ago I bought a set of second-hand set of alloy wheels (for our other car) on ebay - second-hand off a 2004 Volvo XC90. Had them fitted with Vredestein WINTRAC tyres - now got summer and winter tyres...

Car's an XC70, so it's got 4WD anyway...

With it's Winter Wheels, setting off for Quinag (North of Ullapool), 20th Feb 2010:
4376312266_6fd4238919.jpg


With it's Summer tyres/wheels:
4020080374_5acf7d773d.jpg


The winter wheels (and 4WD) were fantastic in the winter weather.

However the Discovery (td5) with AT2's will still go when the Volvo can't - in low ratio with all the ground clearance, nothing has stopped it in the snow...yet... Not sure about braking though...I am sure the Volvo stops quicker on the WINTRAC tyres on Scotland's winter roads...
 
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eightinavee said:
As an aside,every time we have snow here in the UK,am I alone in shouting "****s" at the telly when we are shown people trying to go up/down steep hills - or even level roads on snow/ice in 2wd cars with not a hope of traction/control ? :doh:
Click to expand...

No your not, but like landy's it has a lot to do with the nut behind the wheel. Before me Disco I drove various Saab 900's from single carbs to T16's they are front wheel drive and never had any problems. Used to drive round the other T###'s when they got stuck. The Saab's would not get me everywhere a D1 will but on the roads I never got stuck :D

Sky
 
I have to agree with Skyblue, the nut behind the wheel is without doubt the primary factor. I also own a 1985 Jaguar Sovereign fitted with Pirelli P5000's and driving in snow and ice conditions has never caused me any undue problems. It goes without saying I wouldn't attempt to drive the Jag in all the places I would my Disco. I must add while I was getting used to my Disco there were a couple of times when it was just a 3500lb sledge.
 
discool said:
"If you have a snow flake or M+S on the tyrewall you have a winter tyre".

Please look at Winter tyre and snow chain requirements para 4 & 6 of this link Compulsory equipment : snow chains and winter tyre requirements for ski resorts - The AA

It appears that for the last 23 years i've been running on winter tyres, now I know why I don't have any problems with the white stuff.
Click to expand...


To be honest all that shows is that the AA knows bog-all about tyres and driving in winter conditions whether in the UK or Europe.

Incidently, "m&s" stands for mud and sand - not mud & snow as is often thought.
 
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