LCR winter tyres
- Thread starter jds
- Start date
I've just bought a set of 16" Votex wheels, with 3 legal tyres and also a set of 205/55/16 winter tyres on ebay, so I'm gonna get these sorted out and fitted when they arrive. I can't be doing with worrying about sliding into the kerb etc on my 18's. Plus with a second set fitted I have the option to change my main set between now and the Spring if I want to.
Watch it not snow or be very icy down here in Kent now! LOL.
Watch it not snow or be very icy down here in Kent now! LOL.
jrscuprar
Guest
Willie, that can't be true can it as they are softer compound, that's why they heat up quicker? Winter tyres are just for winter, at lower road temperature. You wouldn't want to drive with winter tyres in the summer would you?
No, you change them back for summer ones when the weather improves. I read a post on here from someone who does just that, he reckons he gets four winters out of his winter tyres. Also while your summer ones are in the shed waiting for the better weather then they're not wearing out either, are they?
Ideally get a spare second set of wheels and fit winter tyres to those, then change them over yourself once the weather gets cold. Come spring time, swap them back. Easy. That's my new year's resolution, will beat sliding around on summer tyres.
Ok, done over 1k miles in all sorts of weather.
They are really good in cold temperatures, car used to spin its wheels/TC light flashing in frosty dry mornings even with minimal throttle and good tyres.
Snow is amazing. Both packed hard and slushy stuff.
Wet is fine, much less TC on wet roundabouts. Plenty of grip.
Dry is different. Tyre noise is quite loud compared to Dunlop something summer tyres, and they certainly don't give you the confidence of a summer tyre. It feels more like you are driving with a high sidewall tyre. Everythings a little vague and squishy, but you soon get used to it.
Wear wise, done more than 1k and don't appear to have worn too quickly. Was a bit worried about running up and down dry motorways over the New Year, but other than the above, they are fine.
Got to say I highly recomended them, but looking forward to taking them off once it warms a little and getting the feel back that I'm used to.
They are really good in cold temperatures, car used to spin its wheels/TC light flashing in frosty dry mornings even with minimal throttle and good tyres.
Snow is amazing. Both packed hard and slushy stuff.
Wet is fine, much less TC on wet roundabouts. Plenty of grip.
Dry is different. Tyre noise is quite loud compared to Dunlop something summer tyres, and they certainly don't give you the confidence of a summer tyre. It feels more like you are driving with a high sidewall tyre. Everythings a little vague and squishy, but you soon get used to it.
Wear wise, done more than 1k and don't appear to have worn too quickly. Was a bit worried about running up and down dry motorways over the New Year, but other than the above, they are fine.
Got to say I highly recomended them, but looking forward to taking them off once it warms a little and getting the feel back that I'm used to.
The winter tyre tread pattern allows the tyres to heat up/vibrate to melt the snow in the treads.
Not too sure about these being a softer compound. I know for a fact they don't get sticky in the summer like summer tyres do so would have to disagree with the softer compound theory.
My winter tyres on the LCR had done about 25,000 miles with still a good 5mm left on them, not many summer tyres would do this. These were only driven November till March/April though.
The winter tyres on my A4 have been used summer and winter. The handling on the Audi is probably better than an OEM LCR and felt no difference with winter tyres on than I did with summer tyres on. Infact when its raining the winter tyre performance was better than the Michelin PS2's I had on.
I wouldn't have advocated winter tyres for all seasons and I know in Canada they say to remove these in the summer but I felt no ill effects running these throughout the year. Tyre noise is slightly more but the Audi cabin is well noise insulated anyway.
But for sure summer tyres for summer, winter tyres for winter
Majority of winter tyres are softer compound than the majority of summer tyres, this is to counter act the fact the tyres will not get as warm in winter therefore meaning summer tyres stay horrid rigid things with no grip. I say majority as i cannot tell you the compound of every summer/winter tyre.
winter tyres have bigger percentage of natural rubber and silica in the compound which doesn't harden up as much as synthetic rubber of the summer tyres in cold conditions.
also, winter tyres do have micro-treads which help in the snow.
but beware: winter tyres are hardening more over the year than summer tyres. after 3 years even when in the shed the average winter tyre will harden that much that it would lose 1/3 of its grip. avoid any winter tyre that is 5 years or older.
also, winter tyres do have micro-treads which help in the snow.
but beware: winter tyres are hardening more over the year than summer tyres. after 3 years even when in the shed the average winter tyre will harden that much that it would lose 1/3 of its grip. avoid any winter tyre that is 5 years or older.
they will be a bad summer tyre
seriously: the advantage that the winter tyres have over the summer tyres in below 7 degree celsius is that they are soft. and here soft means grip.
if they lose this softness, they lose traction.
it is very simplified, but the basics are this.
Just to add to the storage thing. Make sure they are stored in a dark area or covered over. UV light can have a bigger affect on rubber than even just storing them. That goes for any tyres.
I think if my winter tyres get to 5 years old they will be at 4mm of tread (or less) so i would probably just run them a bit longer to wear them out ready for a new set.
As for the softer compound. I think they are a slightly softer compound than summer tyres, due to the higher rubber content, but you would not be running them at the same temperatures. The softer compound running in cold conditions should in theory wear at a similar rate as a harder compound in hotter conditions. If you ran the soft compound in hot conditions you may have slight wear problems although a lot of people have run winters all year round and may have something to say on this also.
I think if my winter tyres get to 5 years old they will be at 4mm of tread (or less) so i would probably just run them a bit longer to wear them out ready for a new set.
As for the softer compound. I think they are a slightly softer compound than summer tyres, due to the higher rubber content, but you would not be running them at the same temperatures. The softer compound running in cold conditions should in theory wear at a similar rate as a harder compound in hotter conditions. If you ran the soft compound in hot conditions you may have slight wear problems although a lot of people have run winters all year round and may have something to say on this also.
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Maybe it's just my imagination, but I seem to have lost a lot of tread depth driving around in the snow/ice on my summer tyres. Last time I checked before the snow came there was quite a bit but they seem to have worn down a fair bit now. Is that to be expected?
Ice is as strong as glass so I bet it could do some damage. Unless you have been seriously spinning the wheels and smoking the rubber I can't see why they would of worn greatly though.
douthy
Guest
I know it's very early but do winter tyres tend to be deeper as there's not much clearance in an LCR so getting the extra grip is pretty useless if you can't get out of your street due to the depth of the snow! My first year with LCR but I'm in 2 minds about the winter. 1 get a set of steels with winter tyres if it gives me more clearance also or 2. Buy a cheap banger for the winter driving.
Just had four Hankook Ice Bear tyres put on the LCR ready for winter. They look beastly, mega tread on them.
douthy
Guest
Got some cooper weathermasters on order to fit end of October. Do winter tyres wear a lot faster when not cold? Lad at work said he got some other winter tyres and they only lasted 3 months??? Hopefully the coopers will last longer than that cause they were not cheap!
Most winter tyres have 8.5-9mm of tread so start of with more. As for wear I've found them no different to any other types of tyre. It depends on brand and also how you drive. If you buy cheap unbranded tyres don't expect them to do what top tyres do in terms of performance.
I had those fitted last year m8, only had 2 or 3 days of snow last year but really impressed with them, excellent in the wet also. ran from nov to march still got 7mm on them now. what did u pay for them?
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