Poll: Full winter tyres vs. all-season tyres

[Mr Tidy]

I never used anything other than regular tyres, but older cars tended to have much narrower tyres than 2000 onwards cars.

In 2010 we had some significant snow for the first time in years and my 1 Series could barely get moving on any sort of incline even on 205/50x17s.

So when my Mum was getting on and I assumed some caring and taxi duties I had to run a daily alongside my Z4s. Because not turning up wasn't an option (and she lived 35 miles away) my Z4s stayed at home and I fitted winters to my 3 Series every winter.

I still do, but since Mum passed away in 2020 if I ever wear a set of summers out on the 3 Series I'd just buy all seasons now. I

[buzyg]

I all ways had summer tyres on the MR. The daily shed has boggo all season tyres on it and gets me through the snow on those rare occasions by attaching snow wraps. I also carry a shovel behind the seat to shift drifts. I don't get why anyone would fit winters, in the southern UK.

[sars]

This is why I run all season tyres with M+S

"These are not just all season tyres, these are Marks and Spencer's all season tyres."

Oh that’s quite good

[Chris_D]

Interesting...interesting. *strokes chin*

Seems there is a fair spread of opinion/experience/outlook when it comes to winter-time tyre choice.
Thanks for all who voted and shared opinions and hopefully this may help to determine the right choice for any individuals who are thinking about what to choose.

For those who didn't vote then you may not be able to see the poll results (not sure).
@15-12-22 the poll looks like this:

151222.png (38.04 KiB) Viewed 713 times

The poll is open indefinitely so please feel free to cast your vote!

Would be interesting to see the results once this winter is over and I will update the results with a screenshot for those who didn't or don't want to cast a vote as I don't think it's visible to non-voters. The only other way I could see to make the results visible including showing the names of voters, but for privacy I didn't enable this option.
(Can someone verify if the poll results are/are not visible to non-voters?)

[9designs]

For me this question is all about context. Where you live has a huge impact on choice, what type and size tyres you currently have on, then finally do you have to go out !!! In days gone by when we had 135 tyres, 155 was considered "wide" was less of an issue, now, with 255+ on the back of a RWD car, no chance in the snow.

For example in parts of Europe winter tyres are mandatory, having driven over there (hire car) on them they make a huge diffidence.

I have this week for the first time ever ordered a set of All season, Continental, to use in the winter only. Not for Z4, that can stay on the drive, decided to put them on the wife's 120D XDrive. So 4WD + All season should see her safe and us have a car we can use anytime if we need. It has S001 Bridgestone, 18 inch normally so not to extreme, compared to the P4S I have on the rear of Zed and my GR Yaris, which even in the cold starts to get a bit slippy as they are become useless.
Being in the Midlands we are likely to get a wide mix of conditions, hence All season as Winter wouldn't be suitable.

Biggest issue I've found is getting the correct size, as typical BMW stagger makes the rears hard to find or limited choice. I'm only swapping the tyres haven't bought extra wheels as yet.

Will see how they go, plus if we can manage between us with one car on All season, otherwise I'll get some for the GR Yaris as well (Or I just need an excuse to buy some different wheels for it).

[Chris_D]

Just a reminder of how dangerously summer tyres handle snowy inclines.
Not many braincells were active in this particular mêlee I suspect.
The guy on the mountain bike had the right idea, he looked like he was doing better getting up that hill than everyone put together. Including the cops!

[Robster68]

I’m currently running 16inch steelies on pirelli all season tyres originally bought for my e36 which hasn’t even antilock brakes so much safer here in the z4,if I drive into the Pyrenees it’s obligatory by law to have all season or winter tyres from November onwards otherwise you get arrested if caught.I’m off to Spain via Andorra for some Xmas shopping this weekend so will try to get some decent photos.
I’ll be back to the uk in new year searching for e61 5series to import here if anyone knows one for sale

[B21]

Echoing those who live in areas that enjoy snow and frost for at least some of the time..

When we (SWMBO and I) both absolutely had to be able to get to and from our respective work locations (mine Scottish Borders to North Yorkshire, Lincoln and Malvern) and SWMBO the A+E at our local hospital 20 miles away we had winter tyres on all 3 cars..I can testify that ploughing through 6 inches of snow was perfectably do-able in the Zed with Conti TS850s.

As discussed the issue is that our weather here can change..one year we had frost every day from November through to March..this year November was in the teens.

Other tyres may be impervious but I found winter tyres went off quite badly on warm days..so the new generation of all seasons squares the circle..ability to not get hung up about when to change and what the temperatures are..you can even choose different all seasons that are more or less biased to snow..the Cross Climate 2 is effectively as good as a pure winter tyre in the snow..the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons is more biased to wet, freezing conditions.

You don't need snow to benefit form winter tyres..once it goes past 4c and especu=ially when damp then cars are much more surefooted on winter tyres than summer tyres.

Now that we don't have to have a 24/7 365 launch ability we have the old TS850 winter tyres on the MIni and Cross Climate 2 on the Volvo XC70

The Zed is now winter tyres-less..I couldn't even move it 6 metres yesterday with two people pushing.

Even for the Mini and Volvo we put pure summer tyres on when it warms up..all seasons just give mor flexiblity about the change time /point.

When we lived in England we never bothered for reasons folks have discussed.

[Pondrew]

Tyres aside.
Chris_D I think this is the first 2 page thread I've seen where you haven't abused anyone, or been a complete dick at some point!

Is it because it's Xmas, or did you get a payrise recently?

Whatever it is, well done, laaa!

[buzyg]

Tyres aside.
Chris_D I think this is the first 2 page thread I've seen where you haven't abused anyone, or been a complete dick at some point!

Is it because it's Xmas, or did you get a payrise recently?

Whatever it is, well done, laaa!

Stop it. You know we all deserve a little abuse now and again.

[Chris_D]

Tyres aside.
Chris_D I think this is the first 2 page thread I've seen where you haven't abused anyone, or been a complete dick at some point!

Is it because it's Xmas, or did you get a payrise recently?

Whatever it is, well done, laaa!

You condescending, patronising old git.
There you go.

[Spriteracer]

My twopennyworth. Some years ago full winter tyres turned my E61 535D auto from totally undriveable on ice and deep frost on Exmoor to fully useable. Currently in West Wales my XC70 on Pirelli scorpion all season tyres hardly notices our 400m hilly farm track drive, icy lanes not an issue either. My wife's 123D on Pirelli runflats - not a chance and hasn't moved at all in the current cold snap. Z4 staying in the garage.....

[Scubaregs]

Tyres aside.
Chris_D I think this is the first 2 page thread I've seen where you haven't abused anyone, or been a complete dick at some point!

Is it because it's Xmas, or did you get laid (by a woman) recently?

Whatever it is, well done, laaa!

Fixed that for you Pondy.

[Pondrew]

You condescending, patronising old git.
There you go.

That's better!

[Nictrix]

I have winters on both cars , just put them on last weekend in time for the dodgy weather this week.
Been swapping onto winters on both cars for the last 7 years and will continue doing so while I have somewhere to store the spare wheels.
Over the years I have never even been close to being stuck in the ice or snow and would highly recommend them if you have to drive on untreated roads.