Winter boots on?

[raysearles]

Has anyone switched over to winter tyres yet. If so what are you running? Curious to hear your experiences....

[peterch]

Sorry wrong board should be X308




I have an uprated X308 XJR (on LPG) with Pirelli P Zero tyres and because I spend most of the time poodling around London they never get hot and first gear always spins the wheels when pushed. I rarely go above 70 mph because of average speed cameras now on the North Circular.

I have also fitted the wider XKR rims with 285 35 18's on the back. I have now decided to run winter tyres all year round and the only ones made for this size are Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D. (for real snow I have an old 4wd 2.5L V6 Manual X-type).

[Boswell]

My 2015 XJ Portfolio wears winter tyres year round.
Bought these in the Summer, so UK winter tyres difficult to get.
As a result I was unable to get 4 of the sizes required (front and rear are different sizes) but managed to get 2 sets of two, with very similar tread pattern.
2 x 45/40R20 99WXL Nokian WRA4 and 2 x 275/35R20 102W XL Michelin Alpin PA4
They are excellent tyres, great tread, grip and very quiet. Very pleased. Ordered from OPONEO online, fitted locally (A9 tyres of Perth) at £10 each tyre including balancing etc. Tyre valves were no problem at all.

[J44EAG]

Tell me?

Winter tyres in the summer? How do they perform? Any reasons why they shouldn`t stay on a car all year?

Mike K

[3.8etypephil]

Tell me?

Winter tyres in the summer? How do they perform? Any reasons why they shouldn`t stay on a car all year?

Mike K

Once the ambient temperature rises above 18c, the performance of Winter tyres falls off quite dramatically. Grip level is lower and wear rate is higher.
If you drive sedately, in a vehicle of modest performance, and live in Lillehammer, you're probably ok on Winters all year round, but I am fairly sure that none of these apply any more to you than I they do to me.

[Rictus]

Tell me?

Winter tyres in the summer? How do they perform? Any reasons why they shouldn`t stay on a car all year?

Mike K

Once the ambient temperature rises above 18c, the performance of Winter tyres falls off quite dramatically. Grip level is lower and wear rate is higher.
If you drive sedately, in a vehicle of modest performance, and live in Lillehammer, you're probably ok on Winters all year round, but I am fairly sure that none of these apply any more to you than I they do to me.

It varies with the tyre. Those with the softest compounds (and therefore best when really cold) do get the jitters in hot temperatures when they will wear more quickly, but Nokians are an excellent compromise and are equally happy in the summer. This is useful when getting slightly worn as a winter tyre needs a good tread depth to be most effective and so they can be "run-out" during the summer.

[J44EAG]

Thanks, Peter.

Most informative.

Mike

[3.8etypephil]

Tell me?

Winter tyres in the summer? How do they perform? Any reasons why they shouldn`t stay on a car all year?

Mike K

Once the ambient temperature rises above 18c, the performance of Winter tyres falls off quite dramatically. Grip level is lower and wear rate is higher.
If you drive sedately, in a vehicle of modest performance, and live in Lillehammer, you're probably ok on Winters all year round, but I am fairly sure that none of these apply any more to you than I they do to me.

It varies with the tyre. Those with the softest compounds (and therefore best when really cold) do get the jitters in hot temperatures when they will wear more quickly, but Nokians are an excellent compromise and are equally happy in the summer. This is useful when getting slightly worn as a winter tyre needs a good tread depth to be most effective and so they can be "run-out" during the summer.

Some of our motoring is in Central Europe where temperatures range from -20c in the Winter, to + 40c in the Summer.
We use Nokian Winters, having found them to be the best, irrespective of price; not that surprising given that they're Finnish, and the Finns have proper Winters.
I wouldn't say that they are equally happy in the Summer though; I notice the same marked improvement in grip when I swap back to Summer wheels and tyres as temperatures rise, as I do when going to Winter wheels and tyres as it gets colder. I take your point about tread depth being important especially on wet roads, but tend to change tyres before they approach illegality in any case.
It's a fag having to fork out for a spare set of wheels and tyres for each car, but we tend to keep cars for a long time, so it averages out okay eventually.

[Rictus]

Opinions will always vary. I have used Nokians for 8 years, keep them on a spare set of rims and find them as good (and much cheaper) as my Goodyear F1s in the summer, although I am not a spirited driver. I kept my previous set of WRD3s on for over 20k miles through three winters and one summer and they were quiet, hard-wearing and competent. I am now on WRD4s but have noticed no improvement over the previous version. They are excellent on snow but fairly average on ice and slush, though much better than a summer tyre. Hopefully they also exceed a summer tyre on braking in cold weather but I drive carefully so have not had to put that to the test!

[raysearles]

I have now the snow has cleared fitted a set of Kumho Wintercrafts to my original spec 19 inch wheels. Only down a few miles but so far so good. They cost £125 per corner which I considered enough to give given they will only be on for 3-4 months every year, I fully expect them to outlast the car in my ownership ...