All season/winter tyres

[KASPAR]

Here's a winter tyres test from a German motorhome mag from 2022. I'll try and find the latest one. We have the conti winter tyres fitted. Last winter we were in Lapland, where it was rather cold and snowy. We didn't see any tarmac just fresh snow over compacted snow. However, not one vehicle was fitted with snow chains, just winter tyres. They were not hanging around either

Perhaps they were studded tyres, not winter tyres.

 

[daveclare]

Interesting, maybe for those who were bombing around. I walked around the town centre car park and didn't see any. They were mostly the new mountain logo.

 

[Mleabon]

Perhaps they were studded tyres, not winter tyres.

Yes. Nearly everyone had studded tyres in Norway and Lapland when we were there in Oct / Nov. They get much more ice there hence the studded tyres. I did develop studded tyre envy as I only had winter tyres. Worth mentioning there's a difference in compound with winter tyres for Arctic regions compared with say Germany and Austria. I believe they use an even softer winter compound in Arctic regions.

 

[bennyh]

I have never had a problem in the past with standard tyres, however it is not unknown for those whom are not complying, to be directed to a side parking area and await until it is safe to drive further on,after the weather improves.

chains must be fitted if going up ,to ski resorts at the designated area`s or socks, they must only be fitted to the driving wheels.
on stating the previous i have never seen buses fitted with either, going to and fro from resorts.
If you put just two winter tyres on your car—whether that's on the front or back—it will negatively impact your handling, making difficult conditions even more dangerous. It is important to always put a full set of winter tyres on your car, not just two.

I am sure others on here will be able to offer their experiences and possible solutions.
be safe do not take the risk with severe weather front.

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This is very interesting. I currently have a single winter tyre on the front, so that sounds like a bad idea.... For one trip a year to the ski resorts, it sounds better to have general purpose tyres and chains, forget winter tyres altogether.
I am also surprised to learn chains should not be fitted to the rear wheels. What negative impact would that actually have?

 

[Patiopat]

I would strongly advise against Michelin X Climate.

Could you tell me why

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[EuroTrotters]

Could you tell me why

Poor wet grip, cracking sidewalls , replaced within 12,000 miles

 

[Mleabon]

This is very interesting. I currently have a single winter tyre on the front, so that sounds like a bad idea.... For one trip a year to the ski resorts, it sounds better to have general purpose tyres and chains, forget winter tyres altogether.
I am also surprised to learn chains should not be fitted to the rear wheels. What negative impact would that actually have?

You fit chains to the driven wheels, front or rear. Front on a Ducato. Winter tyres make a huge difference in winter. They are not just for snow. They are better than summer tyres when the temperature drops below 7 degrees. So can be used in England too. Better during our cold wet days in Dec, Jan and Feb.

 

[treblid]

Could you tell me why

I asked the same question and my experience is totally opposite - as post #25 above.

 

[Augusta08]

I have Michelin Agilis Cross Climate Camper tyres 225/75/R16 C. Great tyres but they are directional, so the tyres on the LH side are fitted the opposite way round to those on the RH side.

So which way round should the spare be fitted?

 

[Pebble99]

I run Toyo Observe Van tyres which are full winter tyres and absolutely fine all year round. We go skiing in our van every season for 4 to 6 weeks and would never go back to normal tyres and chains. Winter tyres perform better than all season tyres but I still take snow chains just in case

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[CAB96]

I have Michelin Agilis Cross Climate Camper tyres 225/75/R16 C. Great tyres but they are directional, so the tyres on the LH side are fitted the opposite way round to those on the RH side.

So which way round should the spare be fitted?

Either way. It won't matter for a short while until you get the other repaired or replaced.

 

[Howard B]

That's strange. They are A rated for Wet weather performance.

My experience with Agilis CrossClimate is totally opposite. Couldn't wear them out.

Same. Had mine for two years, always good grip, no sign of cracking and after 12000 miles still have 7+ mm all round.

 

[Dereckerick]

Thanks for all of the feedback and opinions, with an eye on cost and safety im going to go with the Nankang AW-8. Circa £500 cheaper than the higher end (6tyres), and if it gets snotty ive got chains. With solar/inverter/lithium/wifi/....and X-mas + ski passes, i have to take a balanced approach..
I'm used to snow driving, and aware of my load, so I'll use common sense

PS... love the varied opinions!!

 

[Patiopat]

Poor wet grip, cracking sidewalls , replaced within 12,000 miles

I have them great with no problems

 

[Dorset Diver]

Poor wet grip, cracking sidewalls , replaced within 12,000 miles

I could not disagree more. I have Michelin Cross Climate Camper tyres 225/75/R16 C (Not Aglis). Excellent wet grip and grip on grass / mud etc. No sign of cracking. Also as a bonus they provide an excellent ride comfort.

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[EuroTrotters]

I could not disagree more. I have Michelin Cross Climate Camper tyres 225/75/R16 C (Not Aglis). Excellent wet grip and grip on grass / mud etc. No sign of cracking. Also as a bonus they provide an excellent ride comfort.

That’s why it’s good to have different opinions.

So much depends on chassis, drive, weight distribution and driver capability.

 

[L' Hobo]

This is very interesting. I currently have a single winter tyre on the front, so that sounds like a bad idea.... For one trip a year to the ski resorts, it sounds better to have general purpose tyres and chains, forget winter tyres altogether.
I am also surprised to learn chains should not be fitted to the rear wheels. What negative impact would that actually have?

They, on back, allowing poor tyres on front to swing and slide.

Put winter tyres on front IF front wheel drive

Don't understand you 'single winter tyre on front' but if it's on the non kerb side, it will help but BOTH front tyres SHOULD be winter!

 

[Garfields]

They, on back, allowing poor tyres on front to swing and slide.

Put winter tyres on front IF front wheel drive

Don't understand you 'single winter tyre on front' but if it's on the non kerb side, it will help but BOTH front tyres SHOULD be winter!

Winter tyres on just one axel is a bad idea.

I did try it once as I had ordered four and two had arrived first so had them fitted as we had a lot of snow at the time.
Made things interesting

A single winter tyre on a car is no help. It may grip but it will just cause the other wheel to spin and you will go nowhere.
I will go further and say it's dangerous. (I hope bennyh is just )

 

[L' Hobo]

Winter tyres on just one axel is a bad idea.

I did try it once as I had ordered four and two had arrived first so had them fitted as we had a lot of snow at the time.
Made things interesting

A single winter tyre on a car is no help. It may grip but it will just cause the other wheel to spin and you will go nowhere.
I will go further and say it's dangerous. (I hope bennyh is just )

I'm curious,
IF you are hard up and can ONLY afford 2 of the more expensive winter tyres on your motorhome, what would you recommend,

A) buy and fit 4 cheaper ones?

B) buy 2 winter tyres and fit them where one needs the most traction for getting off grass, ice etc.

C) leave the 4 just legal tyres on the vehicle that you already have fitted and save until next year when you should be able to afford 4 winter tyres?
OR
D) another alternative?

PS. I have just watched the above video and, the back tyres must be totally unsuitable for the conditions and he shouldn't be driving with them on.

Never mind winter tyres, is he recommending that we ALWAYS fit 4 TYRES just incase the front ones MIGHT have more grip?

 

[pandas]

I'm curious,
IF you are hard up and can ONLY afford 2 of the more expensive winter tyres on your motorhome, what would you recommend,

A) buy and fit 4 cheaper ones?

B) buy 2 winter tyres and fit them where one needs the most traction for getting off grass, ice etc.

C) leave the 4 just legal tyres on the vehicle that you already have fitted and save until next year when you should be able to afford 4 winter tyres?
OR
D) another alternative?

PS. I have just watched the above video and, the back tyres must be totally unsuitable for the conditions and he shouldn't be driving with them on.

Never mind winter tyres, is he recommending that we ALWAYS fit 4 TYRES just incase the front ones MIGHT have more grip?

D. Sell the motorhome. Tyres are one of the most important elements so best not to make judgements based budget.

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[L' Hobo]

D. Sell the motorhome. Tyres are one of the most important elements so best not to make judgements based budget.

Personally, I would sell the driver, I was taught to drive Double Decker buses, without power steering, on skid pans. ,whatever did we do in the days before the MOT when bald tyres were not unusual?

But, as they say, horses for courses!

 

[Just smiffy]

I'm curious,
IF you are hard up and can ONLY afford 2 of the more expensive winter tyres on your motorhome, what would you recommend,

A) buy and fit 4 cheaper ones?

B) buy 2 winter tyres and fit them where one needs the most traction for getting off grass, ice etc.

C) leave the 4 just legal tyres on the vehicle that you already have fitted and save until next year when you should be able to afford 4 winter tyres?
OR
D) another alternative?

PS. I have just watched the above video and, the back tyres must be totally unsuitable for the conditions and he shouldn't be driving with them on.

Never mind winter tyres, is he recommending that we ALWAYS fit 4 TYRES just incase the front ones MIGHT have more grip?

A… even the cheapest worst winter tyre will perform better then the best summer tyre on snow, he has one of the best tyres on the back on that video but they are for summer…

 

[DandJ]

I'm curious,
IF you are hard up and can ONLY afford 2 of the more expensive winter tyres on your motorhome, what would you recommend,

A) buy and fit 4 cheaper ones?

B) buy 2 winter tyres and fit them where one needs the most traction for getting off grass, ice etc.

C) leave the 4 just legal tyres on the vehicle that you already have fitted and save until next year when you should be able to afford 4 winter tyres?
OR
D) another alternative?

PS. I have just watched the above video and, the back tyres must be totally unsuitable for the conditions and he shouldn't be driving with them on.

Never mind winter tyres, is he recommending that we ALWAYS fit 4 TYRES just incase the front ones MIGHT have more grip?

I could find and fit 4 cheaper, but good quality tyres for the same price as two expensive ones...trying to save a few quid on just fitting drive wheel winter tyres may be a hugely costly mistake. It takes a bit of time and effort on the internet but tyre bargains are out there if you're also prepared to drive a few extra miles to have them fitted.

 

[L' Hobo]

A… even the cheapest worst winter tyre will perform better then the best summer tyre on snow, he has one of the best tyres on the back on that video but they are for summer…

But he does nothing to counteract the slide, we can all get a car to do that on a bend of ice, all it takes is just small quick flip of the steering wheel.

You can see it all the time on Ice Road Truckers, nearly all their situations are self induced!

And all this talk about having the best tyres on the back.....how the hell do you drive into a slide with your front end sliding?

 

[L' Hobo]

Strange that no-one has mentioned the 4still legal tyres he has already, doesn't anyone trust 1.4 mm of tread?

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[DandJ]

....well, 1.4mm of tread isn't legal (and I'd not let them get down to 2mm let alone the legal limit of 1.6mm)

 

[Garfields]

....well, 1.4mm of tread isn't legal (and I'd not let them get down to 2mm let alone the legal limit of 1.6mm)

Where I used to work all the fleet vehicles had there tyres changed when they got to 3mm.
The ones that were leased it was part of the contract but you had an argument with Kwik Fit ever time they need changed. We ended up with laminated letters from the lease company to show each time.
Most of the time the guys with site vehicles had winters fitted most years. Every so often someone would put a stop to this to save money. Usually the year we had snow and all hell broke loose.

 

[L' Hobo]

....well, 1.4mm of tread isn't legal (and I'd not let them get down to 2mm let alone the legal limit of 1.6mm)

Sorry I keep getting mixed up as my busses &,trucks could go down to ONE mm and still be legal!

I never let them of course!

 

[Garfields]

Personally I run the van on four seasons with the winter spec. Very seldom we have the van out in winter but they help on wet fields etc.
Car wise we have a set of winter wheels and tyres. This is overkill now as if the weather is particularly bad I don't need to be out in it.
A set of all season would be fine for our needs.
We do a fair bit of late night driving on untreated roads.

Re the video. As I said I have tried the combo and I didnt die. It is however not a good situation and the rear was very "twitchy".
I would think some vehicles may be more prone to the problem as others?

 

[Mleabon]

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