UK Weather/Tyre

[Wolflinn]

Started looking into winter tyres, after the snow we had early in the year and what seems like an ever-increasing unpredictable UK climate.
At that time I was driving a Seat Leon 2.0 turbo sport with traction control and Goodyear eagle F1, most of the time I could not get out of the snow, the rest of the time I tip toed around scared to death.
I did not want the same thing again in my Vectra (without traction control)
Anyway after more research a winter tyre looks a bit silly for use in the UK. I can not afford to have 2 sets of tyres.
So next I moved on to an all season tyre, the choice is small and seems to favour the winter without great results, and with very unreliable results in the dry.
Until
Ok they do not come in 215/50/17 in the UK at least
But one or two places have them in 225/45/17 at under £100 a corner.
Could be the answer to all year round safety/performance?

http://www.hankooktire-eu.com/about/...html?tx_ttnews[backPid]=191&cHash=de1b68a1b5

[Derek Mc]

Winter rubber makes a world of difference to a car honestly loads of the Saabisti use them and tell me it is like driving on normal roads when everyone else is a bit like an elephant on ice skates looking at a mouse

[Big Sig]

Have a look HERE as its quite well covered on there

[Das]

I can not afford to have 2 sets of tyres.

Depends on whether you are thinking about keeping the car or not. I have been thinking about this issue too. I think one of the main problems these days is the width of tyres we go about on. My last car had 185/70 14's on it and did an admiral job in the snow. My Vec now has 215/55 16's, and some have up to 235 width tyres, and tbh im not really looking forward to a winter of last years proportions even though I have just put a full set of new tyres on my car. I was thinking about getting a couple of wheels and then, buying a pair of winter tyres purely for running on the front. Well lets face it thats where all the steering and traction is on the Vec.

[Big Sig]

I was thinking about getting a couple of wheels and then, buying a pair of winter tyres purely for running on the front. Well lets face it thats where all the steering and traction is on the Vec.

You would just need to remember when doing any cornering at any speed on really icy/snow covered roads that the rear could break free at any time. Doesn't really sound safe to me.

You also need to remember that they are better in damp or wet conditions too - not just snow and ice. In this country that's October - April, sometimes longer. So its more often wet than dry - does this mean "summer" tyres are actually the false economy?

[Wolflinn]

I have seen some bad videos about the use of winter tyres just on the front or back. Looks very dodgy.
Thats why the Hankook looked so good, they seem to tick all the boxes for the kind of weather we get over here.
However I am clueless about how creditable the reviewer is.

[lee gsi]

Only problem I can see is going outside in the snow and jacking up the car to change them on the snow

[Wolflinn]

Only problem I can see is going outside in the snow and jacking up the car to change them on the snow

I would use them all year round, to review seems to point towards them being good as a summer tyre as well as winter.

[m8internet]

I personally wouldn't bother with "winter" tyres
No sooner will you have fitted them, then you will have to take them off
Equally, you will need to store them between Spring and Autumn
Then there is the issue of degradation during storage

Instead invest in a set of snow chains
Yes, expensive but much easier to fit, replace, and store
You can carry them in the boot throughout the winter period
So if you are on a longer journey you are equipped throughout

[Big Sig]

What about these?

Remember, winter tyres ARE NOT JUST FOR SNOW!