Do you have to fit winter tyres to all four wheels?

[netta 10]

I just listen to Radio Sheffield.......when the buses are stopped due to bad weather, then I stop driving. Simples. If I want to drive in snow a 4WD is the only answer and the ludicrous tax situation plus fuel costs have kyboshed that plan. Heavy snow means stay at home. [As per advice from S.Y.Police]

 

Aah if only!!!! (in a perfect world) Unfortunately i live in sheffield but work in Barnsley The organisation i work for insists we at least attempt to get to work or we dont get paid I also have a horse 4 miles from home which needs my attention As far as 4x4 go not possible im afraid

[netta 10]

I would nor pose such a question on the forum but do check the Red Flag website for advice-it is a Moscow based forum specialising in coping with winter.

 

Why????????????????????? Anyone can ask for advice it doesnt mean you have to follow it

[netta 10]

It isn't though is it. The continent is full of drivers going about their days in snow, using front drive cars with winter tyres. I was staggered by the difference they made. 4x4s won't stop very well without winter tyres either.

 

If everyone stays at home, essential services like the police would suffer. What if I'm elsewhere when it starts snowing ? I'm not kipping in the tfh mobile and dying of hypothermia ta ! If I had some rubbish job (well a rubbish job where I work for someone else) I'd stay at home - it's not worth losing the no claims over, but I cannot afford to stay home on some occaisions.

 

Well said!!

[Number Six 10]

I've had winter tyres for the past four winters, always on front wheel drive cars. I was a total convert after getting a hire car in Norway fitted with them - I didn't realise it had them on, or that the roads were that slippy, until I got out of it and fell over.

 

You should get four, because as others have said, if you only have them on the front you are one heavy breaking moment from a pirouette. If you must only have two, they should be on the back, which won't help you get going if you have front wheel drive, but it will mean you can stop safely. Stopping is much more important than getting going, after all.

 

I got 4 new tyres this year for less than £200 (Maragoni Meteo HP) so it need not cost so much. In the meantime, my summer tyres are not geting worn out - driving with summer tyres in cold temperatures makes them wear faster, don't forget.

 

Incidentally I've never got stuck with my front wheel drive cars in winters. I had to dig a path to get going when we had the really deep snow (2010) because the car was otherwise just pushing it into a big wall of snow - and last winter I had to reverse of my road - which is a steep hill - because the tyres were a quite worn, hence the new ones this year.

 

The problem is other drivers in summer tyres blocking the roads ....

[old tup 30]

You must fit all four wheels with winter tyres or you are asking for trouble and don,t forget to inform your insurance company very important for as you know they will use any excuse not to pay out in the instance of an accident.I have just fitted my Mercedes with my spare set of winter alloys plus snow tyres which are made with a softer rubber compound,they come into their own below 7degrees,on normal tyres my car turns into a sledge on snow and ice you can,t believe the difference.PS if anyone is interested I have a set of Merc alloys for sale 195/65R15/91H only £85 they fit E class and C class.

[ANGELFIRE1 10]

"Do you have to fit winter tyres to all 4 wheels??"

 

With out even considering the Highway Code, Police advice or any other types of advice - the answer must be YES. It's the only way to keep the back following the front in bad weather.

 

Angel.

[Tradescanthia 10]

Aah if only!!!! (in a perfect world) Unfortunately i live in sheffield but work in Barnsley The organisation i work for insists we at least attempt to get to work or we dont get paid I also have a horse 4 miles from home which needs my attention As far as 4x4 go not possible im afraid

 

If I dont work I dont get paid, no matter how hard I tried to get there. I can afford to miss one or two days a year due to the weather and I dont go out, get stuck and stop the real needy from travelling. Fire engines, ambulances, Police have difficulties due to numptys getting stuck.

The horse would be a problem, I would move mountains to care for an animal, but as for a crappy job, no way. Now, if my employer wants to provide me with a Landrover............

[netta 10]

For anyone who is interested i posted this original thread and am pleased to report that i fitted 2 winter tyres on the front wheel drive of my car and have safely negotiated sheer black ice on steep hills and inclines over the last few days without so much as a skid or back end swerve WONDERFUL:love:

[Obelix 11]

I just listen to Radio Sheffield.......when the buses are stopped due to bad weather, then I stop driving. Simples. If I want to drive in snow a 4WD is the only answer and the ludicrous tax situation plus fuel costs have kyboshed that plan. Heavy snow means stay at home. [As per advice from S.Y.Police]

 

Of course if you get your car kitted out for winter then it's less of a problem - I drove a RWD in Sheffield quite happily with snow tyres on in winter, apart from the winter before last when it was snowed up to the bonnet and impossible to move of course.

 

---------- Post added 07-12-2012 at 10:04 ----------

 

For anyone who is interested i posted this original thread and am pleased to report that i fitted 2 winter tyres on the front wheel drive of my car and have safely negotiated sheer black ice on steep hills and inclines over the last few days without so much as a skid or back end swerve WONDERFUL:love:

 

Just be careful - as you have found they do work wonders but you will have a very tail happy car and it's likely to want to switch ends without warning. The big problem is when you going downhill and have to brake - that's when the back end sometimes really becomes a bit of a handful.

 

For everyone elese looking, if you dont want winters then ASDA apparantly have their Autosocks back in at £40 and these do wonders in the sort of wet snow that you get in the UK.

[Cyclone 10]

Ive just fitted my winter wheels to my van and bmw (essential on bmw as they are garbage in the snow).

 

I keep a seperate set of wheels with winter tyres for each vehicle and just swap them over in november. I appreciate its a bit more expensive but i only put part worns on the winters. There is a place in Rotherham that does them fitted for 25.00 quid each. I also managed to get a used set of bmw alloys for less than 100.00 off the forum, so if you shop around a full set of winters even on metal wheels need not cost the earth.

 

I have also read the warnings about mixing winter and summer so stick to the advice and fit all four.

 

Chains are only for deep snow and will shread your tyres once you move onto cleared roads. Only for emergencies and should be taken off immediately on clear roads

 

Snow socks work almost as well as chains and are easier to fit and won't shred your tyres.

 

I've used them on a Fiesta, put them on whilst on Whinnets pass last winter, worked a treat.

[kermit103 10]

I Drive an Audi Quattro and due to the fact it has large alloy wheels I decided to buy a winter kit from mytyres.co.uk. The kit was 4 steel wheels with decent winter tyres on. So all I do is change all 4 wheels without the need to go to a garage and mess about changing tyres. Oh if you do this you must tell your insurance company( mine dont charge for this change of details)

Edited December 7, 2012 by kermit103

[Cvetkoff 10]

for more safe yes