I have been unable to persuade my Financial Director that she needs a new car ("1998 Corolla? But we bought it so it would last, and it's only done 70,000 miles") but she has had a couple of skids recently (Hah! I'm the one who spun it. Twice.) and I'm a little concerned.
She does about 8,000 miles a year on the damp and sometimes frosty roads of County Durham. Methinks, therefore, a set of winter tyres might be an investment that reassures me and will get past her (I know, I know, but she keeps muttering about some kid in Colombia, another in Africa, ...).
I have seen recommendations on this estimable forum. My question is,
Can I keep them on permanently?
I reckon they should give another 2-3 years of normal wear, by which time the car will *really* need replacing.
Thanks as always.
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Stevie
Lakland 44-02 Sunburst
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You seem to be able to get
Summer
All-season
Winter or
Mud and Snow
Most common or garden tyres seem to be classed as 'Summer'.
Maybe All-Season would do?
Try looking on Vredestein and Maloya website, they do lots of good ones at resonable rates.
What tyres do you have at present?
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Winter tyres are a legal requirement in Germany and must be fitted during the winter period (I'm not sure what the precise period of time is). They are made with a compound which stays soft at reduced temperatures (on "normal" tyres the rubber goes hard at anything below 4 deg. C) and so grip is maintained in "winter" temperatures.
As the compound is softer they will wear-out quicker, but it is not an offence (in Germany at least) to leave the tyres on all year round.
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The terrible accident that killed 4 cyclists today was by a similar vintage Corrolla that slipped on a bend. Never a better reason needed to sort the car out and be careful.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/45933...m
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Most tyres sold in the UK are 'summer' tyres. Winter tyres are for use below 7degrees and have a snowflake symbol on the side. You can use them in warm weather but they will wear very very fast.
'All Season' are popular in US and not very good in any weather (from my experience of them over there).
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www.etyres.co.uk/bad-weather-tyres
The above site has some good info. and expels some myths.
It predicts Winter Tyres will become popular here if the marketing that was carried out abroad is carried out here.
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I have had a pair of Vredestein Quatrac 2 All Weather tyres on the front of my Passat for the past 19000miles.
They are marked with sunny , rainy and snowy weather symbols.
I have used them fully laden in France on the autoroute without perceptible overheating and through two variable Derbyshire winters. So far they are lasting better than the previous summer tyres. The traction is noticeably better in snow but I can not really say anything about any improved cornering/braking grip, except there has not been a problem.
I intend to fit them all round when I've worn front ones out.
Not cheap- £73 each from local ATS for the 195/ 65-15 VR ones on my car. Colleague got HR rated ones for a Fabia much cheaper.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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I had BF Goodrich All Terrains fitted to my last Range Rover. These had the little mountain and snowflake symbol on them, supposedly denoting that they meet the highest standards for Ice and snow use.
So how come they had done well over 40K miles when I sold it, and looked like going on for another 20K without any obvious signs of overheating or wearing out quickly?
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Some parts of Germany possibly-certainly not the whole of Germany.
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Few quick points to consider:
1. Winter tyres or M and S tyres marked with the snow symbol won't necessarily be any better on wet roads but will be better than summer tyres on snow-covered roads and safer on icy roads provided you drive sensibly.
2. Wear rates are probably higher once the cold weather goes but a Corolla is not particularly heavy. From experience with a small Citroen fitted with Pirelli Winter 180s, the all year round wear rate was not that different from the previous Pirelli summer tyres.
3. Some winter tyre makers (Nokian and Vredestein at least) are producing tyres which are basically for winter use but claimed to suit the rest of the year as well. Choice of the correct rubber is important. Nokian answers queries through their website and may even ring you up from Finland (with a US accent) as I discovered. Vredestein may do something similar.
4. The availability of tyres with the correct speed rating for your car may limit your choice, particularly if your insurance company is likely to show interest in the event of an accident. The handbook of even an '88 Corolla might give guidance on the manufacturer's choice of M and S tyre (it won't use the phrase winter tyre) with recommended size (possibly narrower than the usual tyre) and speed rating. I've just bought new winter tyres for a small Daihatsu and the initial selection of about 7-8 choices was quickly narrowed down to two because most were only Q-rated and the handbook said HR.
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ive got a set of winter tyres with the snowflake logo, they do seem okay in slush/mud.heavy rain...but on a damp raod they will slide easier than regular summer tyres, but then theyre narrower
id maybe suggest a new set of all season tyres from a quality brand name...and a lesson to drive a touch slower in poor conditions
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