xanderjones

With all the snow we've had today it's got me thinking. Does anyone know where you can buy some of the really thin rally spec wheels the teams use on snow events? Would be handy to have a set knocking about in the garage for the odd day every five years we get this weather!

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

I was thinking that too. Handy only for a couple of days a yer, but handy all the same.

GC8

Space savers.

wrx287

iTrader: (8)

I know you can get snow tyres from Deemon Tweeks. Not sure about wheels though

vindaloo

Big Brakes?

Adam K

There's 400 studs on every tyre, they need gravel road or ice covering the tarmac, they doesn't do it on snow alone (unless it's frozen to almost ice)
Scandinavian style winter tyres is the s*it on a normal winter, in northern europe, imo...

VeilsideWRXUK

iTrader: (5)

GC8 Space savers comment


Imagine the fun you could have getting caught in the ruts...s***!! I want to go left.....

v8voodoo

I was after some 16's for my Hawkeye STI to slap some M&S tyres on, but I've come up against a brick wall because of the brake clearance.

I spied some of the hawkeye SWRT recce cars in Spain using 16's, but was advised on here that they were able to because they use different (smaller) brake set ups to the standard road cars.

My option now if I keep the car is to shell out on 17" M&S tyres on the standard wheels and then buy a set of 18" wheels and tyres when the current 17" summer tyres need replacing or another pair of 17" alloys for the summer tyres. Either way, it isn't going to be cheap.

Having used M&S tyres on 16's on my old WRX, the difference is like night and day...

BMWhere?

I used the original 17" wheels on my 03STI for winter tyres and bought a set of Prodrive 18" wheels for summer use!

Now with the 08 STI, I use the standard BBS 18" wheels for summer and got myself a cheap set of Hawkeye STI wheels for winter use.

17" with 215 tyres is fine for winter tyre use on New Age cars - Not ideal for snow but still much better than summer tyres and 215/17 is just about perfect for normal (non snow) winter conditions!

Sti Guy

Ok, hate to point this out again.

I live in south Germany, and a total reeducation about tyre choice occurs, once you leave the UK.

1. Snow tyres are as the name suggest, for snow and the metal studded ones are illegal in most European countries due to the metal studs ripping up road surfaces.

2. Summer tyres do not work correctly under 7C and significantly increase breaking distance and reduce road holding, regardles of ice or snow.

3. Winter tyres are much softer compound and much more tread pattern and above 14C significantly increase breaking distance and reduce road holding, but below 7C drastically reduce breaking distances and grip over somer tyres.

4. It is compulsory in many countries and/or high areas here to carry snow chains, so that if the winter tyres don't work you simply slip on the chains until the roads have no snow again.

Lesson here is change your tyres every season when temperatures get steadily bellow or above 14C/7C depending on the season.

It does not cost any more money than running one set of tyres year round except, either a spare set of wheels, or the cost of changing the tyres on the rims. Yet it may, and probably will, save you from a serious accident or death.

NOTE: You cannot wear your summer tyres out when you have your winter tyres on!

Try it, the difference is amazing, Germany would not have ground to a halt like the UK did the other day, and it didn't a couple weeks ago when we had continuous snow for 3 days either!

Plus the fun you can have in snow with the extra grip will put a smile on your face like the Cheshire cat!

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

No comment !!!

rbaz

iTrader: (1)

Get some snow chains for your 17s
Just use normal tyres until you get stuck or its really bad chains are unbelievable but there has to be plenty of snow and slow speeds.

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

There is no point telling them this as they would all have forgotten it by next year when it gets cold, snows and they start crashing their cars again.

austinwrx

I had a VW T4 or transporter camper van until recently.

I had a full set of mud and snow tyres on steel rims for it.

11 months of the year, it ran on its alloys and normal tyres.


the M & S tyres: they were/are fantastic. really good for winter camping- muddy fields/tracks etc etc. Pretty good in the snow too- remember massive van and not 4 x 4.


the reality- can you ever be arsed to swap yr set of shiney alloys over for yr wheels ????

its rare, likewise, being arsed in crap weather to go outside and do it.

GC8

People who can only run their spare on the rear should disregard my suggestion.

Ginge !

iTrader: (1)

why didnt you post this info up on sunday night !!!!

pmsl

BMWhere?

This information has been posted many times by myself, Wurzel, Guy and numerous others but falls every time on deaf ears!

One day the people on here may take some advice and then maybe there will be one or two less bent Scoobies whenever is snows!

swaussie

Its not the bent cars that is the problem, its the deaths that would have occurred in the past few days from people thinking they can drive on snow and ice with summer tyres

Its like shoes, you dont go out wearing leather soled shoes on ice, you put on shoes with soft rubber soles so you can get grip and not fall on your ar$è.

This weather was forcasted for a few days, switching to winter tyres would have saved many people from injury and death.

Buying suitable cold weather tyres is for your safety and also the safety of those on the roads around you. The Dutch use winter tyres and have similar winter conditions to England so its not a stupid un-necessary idea...

I think its time the UK woke up to the fact they live in Europe where weather is not always nice in winter and they should start thinking sensibly.

Like I asked before, who would rather go to the funeral of one of your family than buy winter tyres?

stockcar

think i have some 16" snow/gravel rims knocking around..........came with one of the rallycars, 5" and 6" opyions from memory - could be parted with for sensible beer tokens

use 15" speddlines on the forester with gravel tyres on this time of year, just have to get used to the "humming" like a landrover....LOL

alyn

madmonk

How long have the Dutch been using winter tyres? thats a new one on me

We have weather like this every 15 yrs now so no arguement to buy winter tyres

anyway we start breeding at 15 (unlike the Dutch who could teach us a thing or two about contraception, if not winter tyres) so we can afford to lose a few family members.
but I recall disruption on the roads not major deaths this past week.

Anyway Mr Swiss your countries road deaths are 50 % worse than ours even with your winter tyres, perhaps you should sign up to Europe and come here and learn a thing or two about road safety!
International Road Accident Fatality Statistics for 2004


Winter felicitations

MM

BMWhere?

The Dutch have been using winter tyres for a long time. Current usage of winter tyres in Holland is about 20% of vehicles compared to <1% in the UK! Since a change to the law in Germany last year making it illegal to drive with summer tyres in "Winter" conditions uptake in Germany is now around 80%. Switzerland and Austria are close to 100%.

That is extreme weather. The UK has winter weather every year without fail. Winter tyres ARE the most suitable tyres to use in the UK between (and including) November and March.

Actually the news has reported several road deaths due to the snow. The number of deaths and serious injuries are significantly higher in the UK during the winter months. In countries with higher winter tyre usage, the winter "spike" is less significant compared to the overall yearly average.

Actually he's Australian

Please explain to me how you determine that the number of deaths in Switzerland are 50% more than the UK? According to the link YOU posted there, the UK has 3221 deaths compared to just 510 in Switzerland. Taking the VMT/VKmT figures, Switzerland is 17% worse than the UK, however the UK is a pretty flat country compared to Switzerland being full of mountains with very hazardous roads and a significant number of tourists who think they are gods on wheels driving over the numerous passes!

swaussie

Dutch winter tyre success

The higher death rate in this country wouldnt be because we drive on snow covered roads for 4 months of the year would it??

Sorry to upset you by suggesting you be safe. Take care when its slippery is all I will add

BMWhere?

Source: Tyres & Accessories August 2004

Quite an old article, Dutch and German usage has significantly increased since then while the UK has done nothing!

swaussie

But why use winters when its 25 degrees all year round and never snows??

The rest of Europe havent been laughing at the English in the past few days grinding to a halt with all that sunshine

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

25 degrees all year round and it never snows!! **** me I am moving back to England

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

What are the options for a 'reasonable' cost winter tyre (17's)..?

One of the best seems to be the Vredestein wintrac extreme, just wondered what opinions the euro guys have on possible alternatives..

I'm actually thinking about giving this a go with a cheap spare set of 17's. I'd consider a good s/h set if the price was right, but you don't seem to see them. Not surprising I suppose given the poor uptake of winter tyres in general in the UK..!

The thing that worries me slightly is the fact that tyres go off with age, so storage could see a deterioration in performance..!?

dunx

iTrader: (3)

camskill !

BMWhere?

Vredsteins are OK, ran a set myself a few years ago, but better for lower spec tyres than performance winter tyres! I've heard some good reports of the Nokian WR, but never used them myself!

For a bit more cash, I used Michilin Pilot Alpin 2's and wasn't very impressed with the snow performance but otherwise they were very good. I believe the Alpin 3's are a big improvement. Also Dunlop winter sports were very impressive all round. Currently running Pirelli Sottozero's and they are amazing!! By far the Pirelli's are the best winter tyre I've driven!

Check out mytyres.co.uk for some good options!

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

Nokian WR M+S tyres are fantastic I have them on my scoob.

you can get them from mytyres.co.uk - Details: Nokian WR 215/40 R17 87V XL for less than a ton a corner.

BMWhere?

Just to add, manufacturers generally specify the life of tyres as 3 years before the compound starts to harden, although I suspect that's probably a conservative statement so I'm sure 4 years would be ok! To be honest though you'd be doing well to get 4 years/seasons out of a set of tyres in a scooby - maybe you should think about getting a Honda Prelude

Personally, I generally find a set of summer tyres lasts me 2 summers and winter tyres generally good for 3 winters!

Also bear in mind, winter tyres also need to be scrubbed in before they give the full performance, so do expect an instant improvement with a new set of tyres!