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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> what tyres for winter??
        
(Message started by: invernessguy on Dec 11^th, 2004, 4:49pm)

Title: what tyres for winter??
Post by invernessguy on Dec 11^th, 2004, 4:49pm

just wondered what tyres every one else was using for winter, i have an ultima with 15" alloys, needing 4 tryes soon, its gonna get icy up here soon, and i will definately have to do some snow driving >:( so any recommendations?
I do about 50000 a year, so if they last the winter i will be happy! budget is important, but im prepared to put up with some noise, and or higher wear, if it keeps me mobile in the snow and ice!

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by scorpio_man on Dec 11^th, 2004, 5:17pm

hi there

now you're asking! don't think many of us in the uk have had to drive very far on snow/ice, so normal tyres are fine. i can't say i've had any problems any time i've had to do it, though. you'll get better answers from members overseas, i think. ;)

have a look at http://www.mytyres.co.uk

hth

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by waders on Dec 11^th, 2004, 5:30pm

Hi,

I have just put Goodyear :o Eagle NTC5's all round AGAIN.

6 years in 3 scorps 8) (1 mk3, 2 Ultima) and I swear by them ;). They have never had any unpredictable tendencies, they wear well and even living in the south, I got to test them in the snow last Jan and I "just drove home" 8) (ABS,TCS aided) whilst watching others slide all over ::).

Obviously this is my own opinion, but I bought them again ::)

I paid £70 a pop fitted, balanced etc.

8) ;D 8) ;D 8)

Waders.

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by Mmonster on Dec 12^th, 2004, 12:26am

Hello invernessguy,

I do not know where you live, so i am not sure if my experience helps you.
I am living in Finland, and we really have winter here :(.. I have Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 185/60/15, with spikes for winter. I am driving with 2.9/24V.

You can't use "summer" tyre in low temps(lower than -10C), because the material of that tyre gets too hard to greate grip. You also need thinner tyre to have more pressure between road and tyre.

It's amazing how good these tyres are, even the older Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2 model i had, were more silent that my summertyres. (Continental 225/50/16)
Just remember that even the best wintertyres can't make summer. So be prepared for longer braking distance and practice carhandling in empty parking areas etc, so you don't need to think when you are fishtailing in 60miles/h on icy road.

Regards,
Mmonster

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by invernessguy on Dec 12^th, 2004, 5:55pm

thanks for your thoughts guys... i am in the north of scotland, and use my scorpio as a taxi... its not unusual for me to end up in the skiing resorts here over the winter, so apart from the usual bad weater, i could possibly end up in the hills with a VERY thick covering of snow, also, out of town roads are not usually gritted at night.
still not sure what tyres to buy... but will welcome more thoughts on the subject ;)

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by invernessguy on Dec 12^th, 2004, 5:57pm

by the way... its a 2.3 ultima, yes abs, but no tcs >:(

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by mr._floppy on Dec 12^th, 2004, 8:20pm

Well, it's always worth investing in tyre chains if you find yourself snowbound in Tomontoul.

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by JohnJ on Dec 12^th, 2004, 9:20pm

I have tried the scorpio on snow last year and the beast is amazingly stable in it, the ABS is brilliant.

Wish I had the TCS in conjuction with the ABS,.

Apparently we are going to get a white Christmas this year so we can give it a go...maybe :-/

JJ :)

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by invernessguy on Dec 12^th, 2004, 9:22pm

snow chains is an option, but means getting out and fitting them when its really cold! but seriously, just need decent tyres, might just go to the garage and see what they recommend, thanks for all your thoughts guys

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by scorpio_man on Dec 12^th, 2004, 9:34pm

hi there

just to point out that snow chains are only for the 15" wheels ( ok in this case). i run the vredestein sportrac2 tyres. http://www.vredestein.com/english/
these are a really great tyre but as in all directional tyres, doesn't get a good write up in the snow. although i haven't tried them in the snow yet, i'm sure they'll/ i cope.

hth

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by mr._floppy on Dec 12^th, 2004, 9:42pm

Your mention of Directional Tyres has set me thinking, I spent some time the other day swapping tyres round on the Scorpio. Pardon my ignorance but is there a sign on the tyres to indicate that they are Directional?

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by waders on Dec 12^th, 2004, 9:45pm

Hi,
also the Ford Handbook says snow chains are only to be used on 195 tyres :o!

Mr.floppy, look for arrow on the side wall ::)

8) ;D 8) ;D 8)

Waders.

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by invernessguy on Dec 12^th, 2004, 9:55pm

its 195 65 15 tyres thats on the car now, and has to stay at that size for the taxi meter! or i might end up overcharging my customers ;D
i dont really like the idea of having to use snow chains, i would rather have decent tyres that will cope with lots of ice and snow

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by scorpio_man on Dec 12^th, 2004, 9:58pm

hi there

on the sportrac2 tyres, the tread has v's pointing in the direction of forward travel. on the outside wall, you should see arrows pointing in the correct direction. remember some tyres are 'sided' ie conti sport contact. these can only be swaped on the same side.

hope that helps a bit.
http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/tyre_bible.html

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by Mmonster on Dec 12^th, 2004, 11:06pm

Hi,

If you are really looking tyres for winter, take real wintertyres. Spesialy because you are taxi and carry peoples.
Check web site: http://www.nokiantyres.com/english
These Hakkapeliitas are really good on snow and ice.
(i think you can't choose spikes, so SRi is the choise )
Another quite popular tyre for winter here is Bridgestone Blizzak(yes, we all have 2 sets of wheels and tyres, because we have to use wintertyres from December to end of Febryary by law :o )

Regards,
Mmonster

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by Tamworth_Mafia on Dec 16^th, 2004, 2:35am

Hi, just to let ya know ive just whacked two new Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 tyres on the back of my 24v. And can i get the back to step out on a wet road?! can i heck! the traction control refuses to cut in atall indicating that even when driving like a total nutter they are still clinging onto the road like engine oil to ur fav sweater!

We had a brief sprinkling of snow a few weeks back (ie 2-3inches), and i was testing the new tyres out at the motorway services and even with some pretty 'enthusiastic' driving the tyres refused to spin or slide around WITH THE TC TURNED OFF. so if you can afford to part with £130 a corner id recommend these beastys. Also worth mentioning that road noise is low for such a grippy tyre and obviously dry weather handling is untouchable.

Whatever you fit, have a safe and prosperous winter m8y.
Cheers. Mike.

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by invernessguy on Dec 16^th, 2004, 2:48am

thanks for all your views guys, i will price up a set of eagle f1's, but for a taxi, maybe its a little excessive!

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by Tamworth_Mafia on Dec 16^th, 2004, 8:18pm

excessive :) whats that ;) ;D
u cant put a price on life n limb n u did want good tyres ;D

lol take care m8y

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by Scorpioen84 on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 12:17pm

HEY.
Not, and i will definately have to do some snow driving >:(

But, and i will definately have to do some snow driving ;D

hehe...

I had Nokian Hakkap. 2 spike, and now i have Pirelli Winter Carving spike, now that ive been driving in 20cm snow and ice with wather i feel the Pirelli is better than the Hakkap. 2. Dont know about the Hakkap. 4 thow.. Feels like im paying more for the Hakkapilita brand, than the gripp of the tyres..

Pirelli was cheap and better.. I was thinking of putting in Van spikes, spikes for small Busses if you know what i mean.? (Bad Eng.) Costed the same, but more noice.. (So chose not to.)

Has the Snow Sock Come to Eng. Yet.?

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by Mmonster on Dec 27^th, 2004, 4:57pm

Hi fellows,

Saturday evening i noticed one feature from traction control, when i was driving home in heavy snowstorm.. (before that the temperature went up from -13C to -2C, so the roads were icy)
When there is enough snow on the road the TC will slow you down to 10-15miles/h, because rear wheels will turn faster than front ones, otherwise you don´t move at all.
So i have to turn TC off to get moving. I didin´t stop and measure how mutch there was snow on the road and didin´t see my tracks from mirrors because that white stuff keep falling so mutch, but i feel that bottom plate was skimming on the snow.
Scorp was still quite steady and manourable even in 60miles/h because of it´s weight.

Scorpionen84: Hakkap. 4 has diamond shape spikes <> gives better grip on ice and better noice handling overall than Hakkap. 2
I notised that 4 don´t feel so steady in fast cornering on dry than 2 ones, but my scorp has also changed(for heavyer model) so that may cause it.
Unfortynaly the spikes are not legal in UK. (or am i wrong...?)
Pirelli Winter Carving ? Are you sure of that model? Never heard of that. Weblink? If it´s good and price is low, i am interested to have it tested in the track. ;)

Have fun
Mmonster

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by Scorpioen84 on Dec 28^th, 2004, 6:36am

Greatings Finland... Hehe...

This is a lot of text but...

Winter Carving radials are Pirelli’s Studdable Winter tires that were developed for the drivers of sport cars, coupes and sedans. They are designed to employ traditional methods of enhancing packed snow and ice traction during winter driving.

Winter Carving radials use Pirelli's Adaptive Compound Technology (ACT) to blend winter performance with wear resistance. They feature a directional tread design with rounded shoulders to increase hydroplaning resistance on wet and slush-covered roads while enhancing dry road handling. High density lateral siping across the face of the tire enhances packed snow starting and stopping traction while alternating rows of metal studs in the shoulder tread blocks and center zone increase traction on icy roads.

Pirelli Winter Carving tires meet the industry’s severe snow service requirements however, not all sizes are branded with the snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol. They feature blackwall styling and are available from The Tire Rack in T-speed rated (except the 225/45R17 91H size), 55-, 60 and 65-series sizes for 15" through 17” wheel diameters.

Picture of a non spiked Pirelli Tyre...
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/pirelli/pi_winter_carving_ci2_l.jpg

Website http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=Winter+Carving

Title: Re: what tyres for winter??
Post by Mmonster on Dec 28^th, 2004, 3:00pm

Hello Norway,

At least now the wrong side driving island fellows see that there is life in scandinavia too. ;D

I didnt hear that model in our market at all. Quikc check shows that Pirelli offers Ice Sport and Snowcontrol moldes only. I asked my frend to get one set set of these from his sponsor(Pirelli). So i can have a spin on the track by his Sport2000 saloon race car. If they are good, i will keep them. ;D Easy!

Just get tired to that stuped traction controll... I take it out of order. Well.. there goes ABS as well, but managed to drive and race near 20years without them now.. so i will manage it in future as well..
At least i am moving...
::)

Take care,
Mmonster