stuey Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Just bought a set of 4 winter tyres off someone who had changed cars and their tyres no longer fitted the new car. Excellent price and pleasantly surprised to measure the tread depth at 10-11mm. Also noticed 2 wear markers - the standard one and one with a snowflake symbol. Probably indicating the end of their effectiveness in snowy conditions I guess. Got me thinking. I had previously been looking on eBay and found loads of sets of winter tyres with between 4 and 6 mm of tread. I'm guessing most of these had already reached the snowflake wear marker and would probably be no better than ordinary tyres in the snow. Just my observations and I guess a warning if you are thinking of getting a second hand set off eBay. Anyone in the tyre business confirm their thoughts? Cheers Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratman2 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 No, it's there as a secondary marker that they are M&S tyres, along with the marking on the side wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 (edited) Just put a new set on mine this week , lot of people seem to off load them around 4mm , from what I can gather they are not much affective below 4mm . Edited November 3, 2013 by Zulu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 If you look at the videos on youtube they look to be very good in the snow they say that it is down to soft compound rubber and the little grooves in them perhaps that explains why people would get shot of them with 4mm of life left in them for people who do a lot of driving on motorways they are worth the extra expense of buying them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSPUK Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Stuey What make are they -- I have a full set of Nokians on steel wheels - Just waiting for weather forcast to say snow or temp to drop to 7c then put them on for winter.- They are brilliant in snow but as always you get what you pay for - ie - more expensive usually means more grip. -- If you look on Mytyres at winter tyres they give score out of five - 0 being brill and 5 rubbish. -- Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 I was going to put a set on my daughters car,shes a physio for the nhs and getting to the hospital and back each day is obviously important. However the guy at one of the big tyre companies said that I shouldn't waste her money as her tyres are quite thin and they would go through snow better than the thicker winter tyres.... if that makes sense. I did put a set on my megane sport tourer a couple of seasons ago but I must be honest when the snow came it didn't make any difference the car was still carp in it and it was effectively £370 sovs down the pan. Back on the blackstuff after the thaw they wore very quickly. When I was a lad my Dad had a maxi with really thin cross plys on it....it used to go every where in the snow and was brilliant Im sure it was down to the Front wheel drive and the narrow profile wheels that used to just cut through the snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boo Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Being using Vredestein quatrac 3 tyre on my combo,been on 30,000 miles winter and summer,probably get another couple of months out of them,been brilliant in the wet,plumes off tyres unreal,great in the snow,does make a difference,even on the lanes and stubble fields work a treat,recommend them,knocks spots off the Michelins for grip which the van came with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuey Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Got some Bridgestone blizzak. Will see how they go. Will be better than the current tyres anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyNCC Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 The reason they are snow tyres is because there is more silicone in the rubber thurs giving better grip in the cold temp No other reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich_H Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 The reason they are snow tyres is because there is more silicone in the rubber thurs giving better grip in the cold temp No other reason There's also the deeper tread blocks which move around to generate more heat and the sipes which open and close like octopus suckers to help on wet surfaces and more aggressive & open tread patterns to clear water and retain flexibility in cold temperatures. And yeah, they're pretty much done at 4mm for snow but are still fine for general cold / rainy conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leadbreakfast Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 I stick these tyres on every 4x4 I buy. A set of these will last me 5-8 years and will work on any condition, and when they are worn out and down to 4mm some mug on eBay will pay £200 for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 I stick these tyres on every 4x4 I buy. A set of these will last me 5-8 years and will work on any condition, and when they are worn out and down to 4mm some mug on eBay will pay £200 for them Not any more !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leadbreakfast Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 They will:) That's why it's best to sell on eBay they will buy anything. Next thing I'm putting on is my spent cartridges saves me putting them in recycling bin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I went with softer compound tyres for all seasons. They were excellent last year in the snow. I did a bit of research as I didn't have a lot of money and I needed new tyres. I got the 4 fitted for £160. 175/60/14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 The best tyres i've ever personally experienced on snow was when a friend of mine had an old Ford Escort RS2000 and he fitted rally tyres on it.The noise on tarmac was unbearable to the point of almost migraine inducing,but on compacted snow it would literally leave tram lines where it had chewed it out leaving the road surface exposed when you floored the throttle. By the way he was a tyre fitter so they didnt cost him a great deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSPUK Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 This just sum's it up http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/66692/winter-tyres-4x4-grip-test-video Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Remember their designed for 7oc and below so if you fit them now and crash you might have a problem claiming and the biggest insurance cop out is only fitting 2 as it's dangerous I've never bothered but would if I had the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 (edited) Remember their designed for 7oc and below so if you fit them now and crash you might have a problem claiming and the biggest insurance cop out is only fitting 2 as it's dangerous I've never bothered but would if I had the money Winter tyres are still quite new to Britain, so we tend to refer to normal tyres and winter tyres (or snow tyres). In northern europe etc where they have been used for years they call them summer tyres and winter tyres. The difference between winter and summer tyres above 7C is much smaller than the difference between them below 7C. Continental recommend on their website that if only fitting one set of tyres to run winters all year for this reason. Edit to add link http://www.continental-tyres.co.uk/www/tyres_uk_en/themes/car-tyres/winter-tyres/why-winter-tyres/why-winter-tyres.html Edited November 11, 2013 by HW682 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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