Recommendations for winter tyres

That raises another question. If the benefit (handling, braking etc.) is obtained because the tyre generates more heat than a "summer" tyre how long do you have to drive to obtain this heat? For instance, is the school run of a few miles or the trip to the estate supermarket in stop/go traffic enough to gain the benefit? F1 tyres are pre-heated and lose heat rapidly if not driven hard.

IIUC, it's less to do with heat, and more because the tyre compound is less rigid/more squidgy at lower temperatures.

Pretty instant, IME.

Problem with tyres and winter in particular is that they are not bought often enough for anyone to have proper back to back experience. Comparing some 2-3 year old worn tyres to a brand new set isn't a proper test.

I've got some Toyo Winterpoxies and it hasn't snowed since I bought them. Some quite interesting rear end attitude correction required on the first day after storing them for 6 months until they had scrubbed up ...

Summer tyres on 140 bhp/ton RWD. Firestone Roadhawk grip, Pirelli P6000 were simply a liability (aka ditchfinders), skids was us. Bit of white paint roundabout - sideways, pull off from T junction - sideways. I have no idea why I stuck with them for 8 years but they were OEM spec and I couldn't believe the maker could have made such a crap choice of tyre. If it had been given to motoring press to road test on that crap it would have made the front page. This is the only case in 40 years of motoring that I can say choice of tyre made a difference like night and day. As it's no longer sideways everywhere the tyres last 2x as long and I don't have to rotate them as often.

I think a lot of money changes hands behind closed doors to ensure a particular brand/tyre gets fitted to a car.

My worst example of ?standard tyres? was Michelin TRX tyres on an Alfasud green cloverleaf. Tramlined, torque steered terribly and twitchy as f*ck in the wet. To be fair to Alfa, these were fitted by the importer responsible for the ?green cloverleaf? upgrades.

Tim

You do need some ice or snow, and a bit of a slope, for the difference to show up. As long as I live in Gloucestershire, Cross-Climates are going straight on to any new vehicle.

I should have added, I bung a set of socks in the back too if it snows. (But I have horses: sometimes "not driving" is not an option).