Tires for snow/ice ? Xantia in particular.

falling-out-with-my-car · 16 Dec 2010, 13:34

f00lzz wrote:
falling-out-with-my-car wrote:Ive have been wearing two pairs every day for the last three weeks, why waist your money on thick socks? bah humbug. however I have started polishing my shoes to keep the water out.
I see you are already full of Xmas Spirit!!!

Ian I wish

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 16 Dec 2010, 13:36

f00lzz wrote:Can't wait for the next spell of bad weather... I have bought myself some 'socks'

http://www.autosock.co.uk/

AS620 fits 185/65 and 205/60 R15s, but I've not been able to find anywhere with them in stock.
They're abotu £55

falling-out-with-my-car · 16 Dec 2010, 13:45

what you will have to remember is that on snow tyres you will need to go slower on the cleared roads as they are pretty much low speed rated I think its about 50mph. apparently they make a buzzing noise as your going along at 50mph, something to do with the thick tread pattern.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 16 Dec 2010, 14:23

That's one of the reasons I was interested in the snow socks, once over the snow/ice/up the hill/down the luge I can take them off.

f00lzz · Unread post by **f00lzz** » 16 Dec 2010, 15:20

Xac wrote:
f00lzz wrote:Can't wait for the next spell of bad weather... I have bought myself some 'socks'

http://www.autosock.co.uk/
AS620 fits 185/65 and 205/60 R15s, but I've not been able to find anywhere with them in stock.
They're abotu £55

Can't help i'm afraid.. mine came from Romania

Unread post by **RichardW** » 16 Dec 2010, 16:34

Many studless M&S tyres are T or H rated, ie 118/130 mph. Didn't notice any difference in noise levels on mine when I had them on last year (rather ageing Blizzaks, not sure of the speed rating). They were miles out of balance, but that was nothing to do with them being M&S!

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 16 Dec 2010, 17:01

falling-out-with-my-car wrote:what you will have to remember is that on snow tyres you will need to go slower on the cleared roads as they are pretty much low speed rated I think its about 50mph. apparently they make a buzzing noise as your going along at 50mph, something to do with the thick tread pattern.

All incorrect, you can get winter tyres with identical speed and load ratings, your insurance would be potentially invalidated with incorrect ratings.

VertVega · Unread post by **VertVega** » 16 Dec 2010, 17:53

In Scandinavia there is a period of 5-6 months when the winter/snow tires is mandatory.
You have the choice of studded tires (good for ice and packed snow, but are noisy and drag
on clear roads), or stud-free snow tires made of a very soft rubber (which are only good for
about three years, and also drag on clear roads). The tyre material becomes harder as the years go by.

Winter speed limits are reduced (that's the only bad part

).
As an example top motorway speed limit is reduced to 100 km/h from 120 km/h (130 km/h).

falling-out-with-my-car · 17 Dec 2010, 10:13

if you cannot get any traction how are you supposed to fit the snow socks to the wheels you still need to rotate the wheels to get the socks on.???

start in second gear and apply the clutch gently.

snow socks a waste of good money.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 17 Dec 2010, 11:58

falling-out-with-my-car wrote:if you cannot get any traction how are you supposed to fit the snow socks to the wheels you still need to rotate the wheels to get the socks on.???

start in second gear and apply the clutch gently.

snow socks a waste of good money.

without traction I think you'll find the wheels rotate all too easily

dieselnutjob · Unread post by **dieselnutjob** » 17 Dec 2010, 12:08

falling-out-with-my-car wrote:what you will have to remember is that on snow tyres you will need to go slower on the cleared roads as they are pretty much low speed rated I think its about 50mph. apparently they make a buzzing noise as your going along at 50mph, something to do with the thick tread pattern.

You are talking about mud & snow tyres.

I have winter tyres on my car. Completely different product.

falling-out-with-my-car · 17 Dec 2010, 14:23

No i am talking about the snow tyres used across the channel, which are low speed rated.
did I not read the title on the thread properly then?

"Tyres for snow/ice xantia in particular"

dieselnutjob · Unread post by **dieselnutjob** » 17 Dec 2010, 20:00

fair enough

Xantidote · Unread post by **Xantidote** » 17 Dec 2010, 21:25

So are you guys saying that there's winter tyres, and then there's M & S tyres?

What are the basic differences?

dieselnutjob · Unread post by **dieselnutjob** » 17 Dec 2010, 23:24

yes, absolutely

a winter tyre looks relatively similar to a normal summer tyre and have similar speed ratings
the compound and tread are optimised for lower temperatures and poorer conditions (rain, slush, snow etc)
the rubber will stay soft and grippy down to subzero temperatures whereas a normal summer tyre starts to go hard at below 7 degrees
in the UK winter tyres probably go on in Nov, Dec and stay until Feb, March or so

a mud and snow tyre is basically an offroad tyre with tread that looks like a tractor tyre. It offers enormous grip in, well mud and snow, but will howl above 50 mph like an old landrover and wouldn't last long at motorway speeds