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    Sep 28, 2005 7:23:00 AM

    wtsnet
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    wtsnet
    Loc: Bath, UK
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    Registered on: Nov 19, 2004

    Winter tyres for the UK?

    I've been pondering about the benefits of swapping to winter tyres for the colder months in the UK. (If I had the cash to get 4 rims+tyres!) For those early-morning commuting runs in cold and icy conditions, is the extra safety factor worth the extra expense? I notice, even now, that the tyres just aren't as sticky when they are cold, first thing in the morning. How long are they going to take to get good and sticky in the winter? And are they ever going to grip as well as in the summer, even after they've warmed up? I think specs for the winter tyres say they should be used below 8c...? And we get a fair few months where the commute would be below that.

    Thoughts?

    Sep 28, 2005 9:02:28 AM

    Dr. Phil Offline
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    Dr. Phil
    Loc: Denmark , Denmark
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    Reply to: wtsnet

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    This is a no-brainer IMO.
    Going thru winter in a mid-engine Boxster on summer tires is asking for trouble.
    I tried a bit of snow last year right before I got my winter tires, and that's the worst driving experience I've had in years. Impossible to handle and dangerous as hell.

    The summer tires are worthless in snow, since the rubber and pattern is much more rigid and unflexible than wintertires. Cold summer tires and especially summer tires with snow on them are lethal.
    The recommended working temperature on winter tires of below 8* does not mean that you cannot use winter tires above 8*. It's simply the temperature the tires are tested to work better with.
    Much like tires marked for "up to 210 km/h": U can go 240 km/h on them, but they are only approved for 210 km/h meaning they have been tested to last 24 hours straight at 210 km/h.

    Get some 18" 225/40-18 all around the car, or if 17" fit pick those.
    You can also use the extra rims at trackdays with other tires (semi slick for instance) if you like.

    Which is cheaper: Sliding your car into a ditch or getting 4 winter wheels?

    Sep 28, 2005 9:53:53 AM

    GnilM
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    Gnil
    Loc: VD, Switzerland , Switzerland
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    Reply to: Dr. Phil

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    I would not hesitate!!! Get winter tyres....also better on the wet cold roads. The winter tyres are no longer meant only for snow ( they are indeed caled now winter tyres, and not snow tyres like they used to)... Grip will be better and it will be MUCH safer!

    Sep 28, 2005 10:57:25 AM

    Rich C (UK)
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    Rich C (UK)
    Loc: Mortimer, UK
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    Registered on: Jul 11, 2004
    Reply to: GnilM

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    Never had any 'moments' in my last Boxster (w/o PSM) using the same wheel/tyre combination all year round. And used the car almost every day - just be more cautious - careful in shadows under trees for example after a cold night.

    Sep 28, 2005 11:07:36 AM

    wtsnet
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    wtsnet
    Loc: Bath, UK
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    Registered on: Nov 19, 2004
    Reply to: Rich C (UK)

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    Thanks for the feedback. If I had pots of cash and lots of storage space, I wouldn't be asking. I understand about the 8c thing, Dr Phil - I wasn't suggesting that this would limit their use, more that when the temp starts dipping below 8c than they were more the recommended option. Thanks though!

    The real reason I broached this one, was because last winter my GF (about 100m from the house on a frozen/snowy morning) slid her (Freelander) into a fence. She wasn't going very fast, but the tyres, still cold, didn't grip very well. We live out in the countryside, with lots of narrow, terribly surfaced, twisty, not well gritted roads. So I figured winter tyres might be something to think about!
    (The Boxster is my full-time ride.)

    I'll see how it goes. If I get flush nearer Christmas, I might get a set of winter 18s+rims. I'm just going to take it very easy in those conditions regardless.

    Cheers guys

    Sep 28, 2005 4:38:02 PM

    Ente
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    Ente
    Loc: Germany , Germany
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    Registered on: Mar 24, 2005
    Reply to: wtsnet

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    I'm in the same boat WTSnet. Normally I'd want to get winter tires, but in this case I'll probably sit and wait for a while with the Boxster. I have only a 3 mile inner city commute and can work from home when it gets cold/icy/sleezy.

    I am thinking of outfitting our high-mileage commuting Skoda with winter tires though since that should be fairly cheap and would provide mobility if needed, provided I can find a place where they store the summer tires.

    BTW: Would we need to fit the Porsche n-rated tires for winter too or could we mount any 18" set?

    Sep 28, 2005 7:51:49 PM

    percymon
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    percymon
    Loc: Chester
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    Reply to: Ente

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    Drive to the conditions and you don't need winter tyres for the normal UK winter. The problem with the UK is people are completely unprepared for a turn of bad weather despite a weather forecast thats accurate to within a few hours.

    I used mine every single day without PSM and never had an issue.

    Sep 28, 2005 8:27:47 PM

    wtsnet
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    wtsnet
    Loc: Bath, UK
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    Registered on: Nov 19, 2004
    Reply to: percymon

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    Normally, I'd agree with you, and I do understand where you are coming from. I always drive to the conditions anyway - it's stupid not to. Saying that you don't need winter tyres if you drive carefully is a bit like saying you only need drum brakes if you leave a little bit more room to stop. Sometimes you need as much help as you can get, particularly with a Pounds50k car, rwd, and ungritted country lanes.

    Sep 28, 2005 9:07:26 PM

    Dr. Phil Offline
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    Dr. Phil
    Loc: Denmark , Denmark
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    Reply to: wtsnet

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    Quote:
    wtsnet said:
    Normally, I'd agree with you, and I do understand where you are coming from. I always drive to the conditions anyway - it's stupid not to. Saying that you don't need winter tyres if you drive carefully is a bit like saying you only need drum brakes if you leave a little bit more room to stop. Sometimes you need as much help as you can get, particularly with a Pounds50k car, rwd, and ungritted country lanes.



    Bingo! Now you just need to find a wheel shop

    I suggest you go for some Cup I, II or III replicas.
    They are affordable and work perfectly.

    Sep 29, 2005 8:53:50 AM

    tso
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    tso
    Loc: Denmark , United Arab Emirates
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    Registered on: Mar 20, 2004
    Reply to: Dr. Phil

    Re: Winter tyres for the UK?

    Go on EBAY or something similar buy a set of nice rims from somebody who upgraded, that can be done at a fairly good price. Then it is just to get the wintertyres on
     
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