Snow inevitably coming... need advice!

[jake]

Just ask yourself how much ypur excess is. Lol

Yes the tyres make that much difference.

Side note it's worth informing your ins you have winters on as not all meet the speed rating the car should have. They won't charge but it stops them dumping the claim should you have a bump or be involved in one.

I'll be sticking winter tyres on mine and the Mrs car this yr now we're 4x4 less.

 

[03cupra]

2 years ago i bought a second set of wheels and fitted snow tyres, the difference is amazing. I have a 110 mile round trip to work and those tyres have paid for themselves in not missing out on overtime, or having to take time off because of not being able to get in.

The difference is night and day and anyone who can't afford to be at the mercy of the weather, be it 2 days a year or 2 months they are a must. Last year i fitted winter tyres rather than snow tyres and they were more useable in other conditions, snow tyres are pretty poor in the wet etc

 

[Skinner33]

Nope.

ok thanks

 

[pel]

Auto express did a good video on youtube about the benefits of winter tyres, cant post a link because I havent got enough posts. Definitely worth a watch

 

[Pete236]

I guess it does depend a little on where you live and work. I live at the highest point for miles around, I work in the middle of nowhere. No which way I drive to work, there's massive hills in the way. Either very long drags, or short sharp climbs. If I go on the main roads, the lorries and the yummy mummies on the school run get suck and block it up for hours. The back lanes are iffy but doable... My dad has a focus cmax, and the drive is quite a steep climb out, so is our road. He barely makes it, and his tyres are more sensible than the Fr's! I'm not so fussed about getting stuck at work..my favourite pub is a 2min walk away and the sexiest barmaid you'll ever see has a room upstairs ;-)

 

[fr 150 boy]

Nope.

No, 17"s will fit on the rear but not the front, they say the old audi S3 17" alloys will fit on the LCR (Ronal)

 

[LEE69]

Would a set of 17" wheels fit over the brembos? As I have a set of wheels of my old mk4 golf with 4 winters on them

IIRC some 17's do, just try it, simples.

 

[csd_19]

The 17" starfish Cupra alloys fit with spacers, as do the S3 Ronal wheels as mentioned above.

 

[fr 150 boy]

Remember if the met office gives a "red alert" and your travel & have an accident,you insurance is void it wont cover you (your on your own) as a work mate found out last winter.

 

[BoostHard]

Remember if the met office gives a "red alert" and your travel & have an accident,you insurance is void it wont cover you (your on your own) as a work mate found out last winter.

Is that dependent of insurance or all?

Nothing in my policy T&Cs

 

[greenybobs]

Had winters fitted for the first time last year. What a difference! I live in a Northern town with northern weather and although it wasn't as bad last year as previous ones had been they still had their work cut out for them. Never faltered once!! And believe me they were tried. A real must if you know you have to take the car in crappy conditions.

Although I'm sure they perform better when you only pay £100 for a full set like new! Man I love a deal!

 

[NickCupraR]

Remember if the met office gives a "red alert" and your travel & have an accident,you insurance is void it wont cover you (your on your own) as a work mate found out last winter.

Really? I think thats bollocks surely. I think that insurance company got away with murder there!

It is bollocks

 

[csundika]

Does anyone know if it's worth buying winter tyres for the front ones and the back ones, or leave the back ones out and just put 2 for the front as it's a front drive anyway?

 

[lmiller]

Does anyone know if it's worth buying winter tyres for the front ones and the back ones, or leave the back ones out and just put 2 for the front as it's a front drive anyway?

Apparently its dangerous to just do front 2 as it will mean the rear has no braking causing you to slide out etc.

 

[csundika]

Apparently its dangerous to just do front 2 as it will mean the rear has no braking causing you to slide out etc.

Yeah was thinking the same, would rather spend more money on tires then crashing and having to pay for even more damage then the money I would have saved by only buying 2 tyres.

 

[oc1sup]

Pete236, in case you hadn't found this yet (info from the AA):

Winter tyres in Germany

The rules in Germany changed at the end of 2010 - regulations now require all passenger cars and motorbikes including vehicles from foreign countries to be fitted with winter tyres or all season tyres on all axles when conditions are wintery.

If your vehicle becomes stuck during the winter months because the tyres are unsuitable you will be liable to an on the spot fine in Germany. If the vehicle causes an obstruction and aggravation to other traffic, the fine may be doubled. You may also be prevented from continuing your journey.

Hope you don't get stuck...

 

[lmiller]

Thats it, I found 4 winter tyres for my 18's for £235 on fleabay. My excess is more than that lol. I have 2 kids also so safety is number 1 in my books. They will be going on end of oct and coming off end of march time.

 

[GTTIM]

Im glad some others have posted about not mixing winter tyres and normal 'summer' types. Recipe for disaster that!

Option 1) Make do with summer type tyres all year and just accept the bad weather and drive very carefully.

Option 2) Get some decent all weather types that will give you OKish performance (not really the answer for LCR) in most scenarios (braking seems to be the big area of loss over normal summer type tyres - although obviously all areas suffer)

Option 3) The best answer really (cost aside). Get another set of wheels and stick some decent Winter boots on. As others have stated once the temp heads below 7/8 degrees C then they they start to outperform a std summer type (due to the tyre compound). This means you could probably have them on the car for 5ish months of the year (annual variations allowing)

 

[fr 150 boy]

Really? I think thats bollocks surely. I think that insurance company got away with murder there!

It is bollocks

No it's not, he hit his mk4 golf into a ditch & the insurance company said because there's a red alert issued then he was not covered!
Maybe you think "it's bollocks" or not it did happen,so i dont care if there's snow tyres or winter tyres,i will have my company to get my back & fourth to work & not risk smashing my cars up & checking the small print of my insurance company.
Remember one thing, insurance companys are there to make money & try not to lose money!

 

[lmiller]

No it's not, he hit his mk4 golf into a ditch & the insurance company said because there's a red alert issued then he was not covered!
Maybe you think "it's bollocks" or not it did happen,so i dont care if there's snow tyres or winter tyres,i will have my company to get my back & fourth to work & not risk smashing my cars up & checking the small print of my insurance company.
Remember one thing, insurance companys are there to make money & try not to lose money!

It wouldn't suprise me if a few insurance companies had this writted into the policy but after a good google sesh at work I have not found another case where someone was refused insurance after a crash in the snow. I don't doubt you are wrong, he must have been very unlucky. I shall be confirming with my insurance company if red alerts effect my policy.

I will also be informing them of my tyre change just incase they get funny about that aswel!