Like our local dealer, some people seem to confuse snow with cold. Its the benefit of grip when temps are low - for at least 4 months, that makes winter tyres more viable. The cost is balanced by the lack of wear to stored summer tyres, and the potential cost of a prang. Not to mention the insurance firms, when they eventually arise from their habitual slumber, may ask questions about tyre choice in sub 7 celcius if your vehicle takes a novel route via a hedge. As the people carrier stranded in a field, with a people carrier sized gap in the hedge, must have done today.

A number of factors made be buy them Wade:

1. The car couldn't move off the driveway last year. As it's my wifes car and up here in Scotland we had snow on the ground for 6 weeks last year. Having no car can be a problem.

2. As a previous poster has said they're not just beneficial in snow. When the temp drops below 7c summer tyre compound hardens. Therefore less grip which equates to longer stopping distances. In addition summer tyres below 7c will wear 40% faster than when the temp is above 7c. So running summer tyres throughout the winter wears them out quickly.

3. I have to have tyres. So in reality I'm not shelling out £800 for 3 weeks. Summer tyres for the BMW (runflat) come in at £700. I use winter tyres from November to March and summer tyres from March to November. So in reality their is a tiny extra cost. It's not shelling out £800, more like £100 but the family is safer and the car is useable in the snow.

4. I'll buy a set for the FWD VW Polo when it comes just for the added safety factor. The upfront cost will be £400 but I'd have to spend that anyway when the summer tyres need replacing.

I should add we had and extra 4" of snow last night and I took two sets of neighbours for drives up our steepest hill locally. Both were sold on the idea immediately!

Edited by Laird Lugton on 28/11/2010 at 19:32

Normal summer tyres on my BMW aren't dangerous but they do get me stuck much easier, they are rock hard in this cold weather leading to an un-comfortable ride and they are very expensive to replace, £300 each.

The winters cost £125 each. Running them for 5 months of the year will prolong the wear of the very expensive run flats, so they almost pay for themselves. Providing the tyres are in good condition (they tend to last well as you aren't "burning rubber" in the winter, you practically recoupe your money, especially if the tyres are top brand).

Then you get the added benefit of never/rarely getting stuck, so you don't have to abandon a car you actually like, ruin your shoes, have to walk in the freezing cold somewhere or get public transport.

Also it's not just snow and ice where these excel. The summer run flats are fine in the wet, just like any other tyre, but these winters are remarkable in the wet. They grip as if it were dry.

So from my £620 outlay for BMW alloys (2nd hand) and some of the best winter tyres (vredenstein wintrac extremes) I'm likely to get at least £4-500 back on the BMW forums if the tyres are in good condition. Some were going for £700 with new-ish tyres. Plus i get added safety (i did a hill start today, half way up a hill on compacted snow and ice from yesterday with an overnight frost of -8 at the point on the hill where most cars couldn't get past even with a run up. I released my foot from the brake, it's an auto 335d and just drove up it with not a single slip, the new fwd ford focus begind me was spinning it's wheels frantically and sliding sideways trying to do the same maneuver, i assume on decent tread as it was new).

Well worth the cash, and i get to save on the wear of the uber expensive run flats.

Edited by OldSkoOL on 28/11/2010 at 21:21

Well said OldSkool

<i>It seems that many people just cannot get this: the wholelife cost of having a set of summer tyres and a set of winter tyres, and swapping them every autimn and spring is the same as having only one set of tyres.

Maybe lower, as the winter tyres will wear less in the winter than summer tyres do. Also, high profile tyres on (say) 15" wheels are best for any snow, but cost far less than low-profiles.

The cost is definately lower than having a crash becuase of lack of grip.</i>

The above is lifted from another forum....

Edited by Laird Lugton on 28/11/2010 at 21:34

AndyP - I think you will struggle around North East England this week, although no doubt your LSD (?) will help.

I agree - winter tyres are fantastic. I bought 4 Alpin A4's to go on spare rims for my i30, and it gets everywhere. Does hill starts on sheet ice, the lot, at least until it runs out of ground clearance, and we have about 12-15" of snow. Allows me to make decent progress whilst others are struggling!

I expect these tyres will last me 5-6 years at least using them for a few months each winter, and should save a few scuffs and scrapes. Cost was same as "ordinary" tyres - £220 ish for 4 15" tyres (thanks Costco) plus some 2ndhand wheel rims.

I had previously used studded "snow" tyres with chunky treads, that were scrapped after 20+ years (they were used only for a few weeks each year due to the studs), however the Alpins are very much more usable & versatile and just as good.

Edited by Talking Hoarse on 30/11/2010 at 13:44

Someone asked whether they could just replace their summer tyres with winters on the same rims. The answer is yes you can, but you'll find the costs are high and the advantages small. Low profile winter tyres are much more expensive than narrower higher profile tyres, and these narrower tyres are also more effective in snow having less of a skating effect. You'll also be able to swap the wheels whenever you like, and you'll save damaging your alloys over the winter.

Secondly, with the alloys the reason why chains are often prohibited is that there is insufficient clearance between the tyres and the brakes for the chains, so the chains break and destroy the brakes. Not what you want. So another benefit of narrower winter tyres is that they make chains an option too, should things get really hairy.