They are needed if, like me, you spend time in Germany where, after many years of it being "advisory" they now are a legal requirement. Although i think All Season you can get away with. I find them an absolute boon on the automatic XJ Diesel. The greatest advantage, I find, is in stopping the beast with no fuss.

If someone has enough money to change cars so often, as the original posters associate, then I would imagine they have enough money to be able to invest in their own safety and the safety of others. If not perhaps they should be a little less profligate!

These aren't just winter tyres...

Anybody who says they do not need winter tyres either does not go out in snow or gets stuck a lot,I also live in Germany and would not be without them it also your duty as a driver to do everything in your power to make your journey as safe as possible.

I've driven for the past two snowy winters without winter tyres. This year, I had the money to put them on and I have done. I coped fine without (I had never driven in snow before 2009/10 winter) but I feel a bit more comfortable knowing my tyres are new and grippy this time. It's probably psychological but I looked up advice about how to drive in snow and followed it. The winter tyres just complement this type of driving action. So far, they've been performing nicely in the wet instead!

Most 4x4 s round here don't have winter tyres. They don't have competent drivers in snow either..

So there am I pootling along on my non snow tyres to be stopped by a 4x4 slewed across the road, front wheels in the drain and rear wheels on the opposing pavement... The only thing worse are BMW drivers who spin at the slightest opportunity... Oh and Mercedes drivers..

What's the point of winter tyres when you have people driving cars without them: cars which by design are fundamentally unsuited to driving on snow or ice without winter tyres? Cars with more Horsepower than the driver's IQ?

Edited by madf on 28/11/2011 at 16:02

I'm fancying a set fitted to either my Prius or the wifes car. The demonstration shown on another motoring website is pretty sobering. Sure it could be exaggerated but when the car on winter tyres had stopped the same car on summer tyres was still well into double figures speed wise.

I did then think 'but what if you stop shorter but others don't?', I came to the conclusion that it's similar to when ABS came out or the first cars fitted with disc brakes, etc. They're not a guarantee that you'll get to where you want to go (possibly due to others) but hopefully will mean you can stop & steer safely and return home. If someone runs into you there's little you can do.

Steve.

If you have never been stuck then you have never driven a BMW automatic

Trying to get the car moving with 310bhp an automatic box and 19" summer run flat tyres requires a lot more than skill. The car will barely move and no chance even with the slightest of gradients.

However on winters it will happily do a hill start on compacted snow and ice without any wheel slip.

And it actually doesnt cost you anything, infact for me probably saves me money. I bought the alloys second hand, sold the worn tyres, bought new winters and for 6 months i save on the wear of my summer tyres which are nearly twice as expensive. Plus when i sell the alloys on i will recoupe my money.

Well if the bloke down the road had winter tyres fitted 2 years ago he might have not crashed straight into our neighbours car that was parked on the road outside their own house at the time. The car driver even tried to move the blame to the neighbours car for being parked on the road ! Eventually it all got sorted out (albeit not a happy neighbour who needed to get their car repaired), 100% blaim liability placed on the moving car and a slap on the wrist for driving too fast on snow & ice covered road conditions.

Then there was a friend who's motor bike rode over soft snow, he was taking his time with both feet down to aid stability, suddenly the rear end went and off he fell hitting the ground hard, fortunately the car behind was far enough away to be able to avoid hitting him, winter tyres would have prevented it the incident, fortunately he wasn't hurt but was shaken up a bit. Did he buy winter tyres after that...no, they never learn some people, the cost of paying for a set of winter tyres is apparently more than their life is worth or someone elses for that matter.

Last year I purchased all season tyres, they were fine but not tested that much as the snow over here was only a few inches deep, my summer Goodyear Excellence tyres gave plenty of grip even in the snow and were more sure footed in the wet.

If I had an car with eco tyres fitted and intended to keep the car for more than a year or so then I would invest in a set of winter wheels+tyres. I find eco tyres all too soon lose their grip on wet roads let alone snow and ice, although some eco tyres do provide more secure grip than others.

ere? have i lost the plot or the thread or was sommat deleted in the thread as above??

Excellent point btw unthrottled

Cheers

Marcus