Winter tyres opinion - with poll!

[sars]

interesting viewing but what he says is use summer tyres in the summer ( no suprise there ) but use ( in the UK ) cross climate tyres in the winter. So NOT cross climate all year. Effectively what I am doing but have gone for more Nordic type tyres as we live up an unmade up lane and when it snows we are stuck if on summer tyres. Fit winters or book holiday to be stuck at home is the choice. I'll stick to my winters thanks. When the Avons are due replacement I may try the Continental Cross Climate offering.

It’s the Michelin Cross Climate or the Continental AllSeasonContact in the test I’ve pretty much followed his advice running the Continental’s for winter and will be swapping to Goodyear F1A5’s for the summer.

 

[TheDan]

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

This cold weather doesn't appear to be ending soon and my summers are definitely not appropriate for these temperatures. This means I will be getting some winters or all seasons for the spare 17" wheels depending on which will give me the best bang for my buck.

 

[sars]

All season tyres tend to be less expensive than Winter tyres when comparing between the same brand, Continental’s AllSeasonContact is about 85% of the cost of their WinterContact. Presumably you’ll be going square and 225/45 R17 so for Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 that’s £91 per wheel plus fitting and balancing.

Good review here
[youtube]gHph1mDtCbQ[/youtube]

 

[rdm05z4]

The Dan, Tyres have a date code on them of manufacture. I believe the manufacture's recommend 5yr life span for replacement due to age and not to tread use. However, each specific tyre maybe different a quick internet search on the specific tyre should provide more information.

 

[Jembo]

With the advances in all season tyres, am considering changing the ‘daily’s’ winter set to all season when they need changing... as winter tyres often feel greasy in our changing conditions

 

[Roberltd2]

Thanks for the advice and votes so far guys. I was leaning towards buying winters for the 17" spare wheels.

Very good point you make [ref]Raj_UK[/ref] about the tyres perishing due to age. Any idea how long before a summer or winter tyre would perish?

Little more context for those who asked:
I live in Warwick in the midlands and the current flurries of midlands snow have entirely missed us! I live on a very small hill but does have a steep-ish section leading up to a canal bridge. My frequency in the office varies, sometimes I am in once a month other times once a week.

I've had a set of tyres on my old Triumph motorbike for years and years. It isn't used that much and is kept in a garage with no windows. Is it the sunlight which makes rubber go hard and brittle I think I read or heard a long time ago. Anyway, the tyres on the Triumph are still quite "rubbery" to the touch.