Running winter Tyres all year round?

S

Sae

Senior member
Has anyone actually run winter Tyres all year round?

Recent Evo test suggested that the best winter Tyres actually feel as good as summer Tyres in the dry, obviously they wouldn't last long, but has anyone tried it?

Interested to hear any experiences
 
I ran michelin (agila?) winters on my van last summer, it tended to slide down the road when I hit the brakes too hard
 
Yep just done from feb through to now with Fulda winters on my Astravan , around 7000 mainly long runs & at least 8 motorway trips of 300 in one go ,
No noticeable tyre wear but being front wheel drive i find it way more grippy on the bends plus safer on wet motorways with zero aqua planing .
Also had a set of 6mm winters Gislaved,s ( no sniggering , they were £100 for 4 part worn incl fitting ) when i sold a 300 Lexus sportcross to my father in law , that was 3 years ago , ,he,s still got them on , done around 9000 miles & they still measure 5mm 8)
Maybe not for the brand snobs but i would definitely have them again
http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Reviews/Gislaved/NordFrost+5 :thumbsup:
 
The compromise would be all season tyres,
just put vredestein Quatrac 3 on my wife's car all season mixed tread half summer half winter.
They got a best all season tyre award.
 
I've got vredestein wintrac 4 extremes on my Disco 3 - I run them all year round.

I don't have any problems with them and when they eventually give up the ghost I'll fit a replacement set.
Mileage , They are up to 18k now and if you were looking to buy the car you would say that the tyres look good.

Not sure about running winter rubber on the zed tho!
 
Interesting comments...

Was thinking about possibility of running Michelin Alpins on the zed, I don't do trackwork so don't require the ultragrip, so if you could get two years all year round running out of them (say 7-8k miles) that would actually be pretty good I think...
 
Another Vredestein Quadrac all season user, I would question fitting full winters unless extreme conditions, I was mightily impressed with these tyres in deep snow and ice last winter, the Z3 performed faultlessly, no traction issues and found them very grippy tyres,





Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
Another Vredestein Quadrac all season user, I would question fitting full winters unless extreme conditions, I was mightily impressed with these tyres in deep snow and ice last winter, the Z3 performed faultlessly, no traction issues and found them very grippy tyres,





Tim.
Click to expand...

Have to say Tim, that car looks very well loved - A credit to your efforts - I wouldn't want to take it out in the salt encrusted and potholed roads.
 
Sae said:
Interesting comments...

Was thinking about possibility of running Michelin Alpins on the zed, I don't do trackwork so don't require the ultragrip, so if you could get two years all year round running out of them (say 7-8k miles) that would actually be pretty good I think...
Click to expand...


I have alpin 4's on the zed and they are excellent on snow. Good enough to use the front as a snow plough. :)

they will do a lot more than 8k miles. Done that already on less than two mil. Winter use only.
 
I wouldn't just because I tend to find - on the Pug anyway as this is zed's first winter - that fuel efficiency goes down by 10%, so wouldn't want to run them all year round. Of course some of this will be due to the fact that the engine takes longer to warm up in winter.
 
ronk said:
TitanTim said:
Another Vredestein Quadrac all season user, I would question fitting full winters unless extreme conditions, I was mightily impressed with these tyres in deep snow and ice last winter, the Z3 performed faultlessly, no traction issues and found them very grippy tyres,





Tim.
Click to expand...

Have to say Tim, that car looks very well loved - A credit to your efforts - I wouldn't want to take it out in the salt encrusted and potholed roads.
Click to expand...

Cheers Ronk, its been garaged the 4 winters out of the 5 I've owned it, still only has just over 25K on the clock and will be a great Zed for someone when I come to sell next spring. Its been a fab car.

Tim .
 
Nondizzyblonde said:
I wouldn't just because I tend to find - on the Pug anyway as this is zed's first winter - that fuel efficiency goes down by 10%, so wouldn't want to run them all year round. Of course some of this will be due to the fact that the engine takes longer to warm up in winter.
Click to expand...

I find that fuel efficiency goes down every winter, whatever tires you use. It's not just warm up time, air temperature has an effect, slower speeds with more braking, spinning drive wheels. - all have an effect. EG: my trucks have always lost fuel efficiency in winters and I don't change truck tires , they are grips all year. Fuel economy sucks to say the least so when it gets even worse I notice... :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

I had Bridgestone Blizzaks on the back of my M3 for a year, I thought they might vapourise in the summer heat and I was surprised at how well they wore. Blizzaks are one of the highest rated winter tire so are fairly soft and sticky and performed very well at speed. :wink:
 
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