winter tyres selection

[Upphew]

take the winters in the boot, and change them myself midway, in the freezing cold at a services...!

Dunno what doughnuts your car has or what kind of sports god you are, but the cold certainly wasn't the problem last weekend when I finally made the switch.

http://www.rezulteo-tyres.co.uk/nokian- ... 97R-113889

[Adrian42]

( I think winter tyres are not a legal requirement in Denmark)

Not in Denmark, but in winter conditions they are a requirement in Germany.

Having said that I have driven the 700 odd km from Stockholm to Malmö on Summer tyres when Winters were legally required on a reverse trip from Finland to Ireland, but it was pointed out to me during that trip that the fine for getting caught is per tyre !

Even ignoring the issue of fines, that is simply not a good idea.

Even less for someone who is not used to driving in winter conditions.

[Karhunkoski]

( I think winter tyres are not a legal requirement in Denmark)

Not in Denmark, but in winter conditions they are a requirement in Germany.

Having said that I have driven the 700 odd km from Stockholm to Malmö on Summer tyres when Winters were legally required on a reverse trip from Finland to Ireland, but it was pointed out to me during that trip that the fine for getting caught is per tyre !

Even ignoring the issue of fines, that is simply not a good idea.

I agree with Adrian, driving on summer tyres in winter isn't wise. Luckily there wasn't an accident or injuries to others, which could have scarred your conscience for life Mr Guinness!

[aguinness]

I base my decisions on the available information, and what is the most appropriate thing to do at the time,viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59553 and besides us Finnish residents are just spoiled by having winter tyres, have you never had to drive in Snow in a country that just has "tyres" it´s not piloting the space shuttle.

[Hpslm]

I'm going to be buying new rims anyway, as the car take 18" rims and I want the winter set in 16"..

I emailed Nokian about the WR A3 which is readily available here, and much cheaper than Hakkapeliitta, but, the reply was I probably won't survive on them in Finland!

The Central European winter friction tire is made for totally different conditions and thus what it has common with Nordic friction tires is basically the word "friction" in the title.

It's made for wet and dry roads, and only for occasional snow. To quote Tekniikan Maailma's (Largest Tech Magazine in the Nordic Countries) annual winter tire review on WR D3: On snow, almost comparable to the others; tarmac, completely superior; ice, frighteningly weak.

One might survive with Central European winter tires here if one really knows what he/she's doing and drives extremely conscious of the measures needed. This however requires extensive prior knowledge of winter driving. I also wonder why someone would want to burden themselves with hyperawareness of the road conditions. Also the traffic flow on winter is based on everyone having nordic winter tires.

[Clarky78]

take the winters in the boot, and change them myself midway, in the freezing cold at a services...!

Dunno what doughnuts your car has or what kind of sports god you are, but the cold certainly wasn't the problem last weekend when I finally made the switch.

http://www.rezulteo-tyres.co.uk/nokian- ... 97R-113889

Don't understand this website, it says the Hakka is available at MyTyres.co.uk, however, I have been checking that site for weeks, they don't sell them...

[Clarky78]

I understand both sides of the argument with risking summer tyres or not. My wife, who has driven all her life in Finland on winter tyres, couldn't drive at all in UK in winter on summer tyres.. But, it's not a good idea to have to!

I will be buying Nordic friction tyres, one way or another. I have just seen a website I bookmarked has dropped the Hakka price down a fair bit, making the 215/55 16 @£125 each versus the Michelin X-Ice XI3 in 205/55 16 @£128 each.. Has anyone seen a test of these 2 tyres? for 2012? I will buy one of these, as both are Nordic. I know narrower is better, but 10mm is very little, and the 215 keeps my wheel size the same. My only concern is Hakka usually gets poor results in dry (or wet) which I will encounter on the way..

[Clarky78]

If studs are recommnded, how about a studable tyre that start studless like this?: http://www.rengasvertailu.fi/nastarenka ... -noranza-2

Google translate really struggles with Finnish, but it seem's they are not good on wet or dry asphalt though? I take it places can stud tyres in Finland? How much would something like that cost?

[Upphew]

I will be buying Nordic friction tyres, one way or another. I have just seen a website I bookmarked has dropped the Hakka price down a fair bit, making the 215/55 16 @£125 each versus the Michelin X-Ice XI3 in 205/55 16 @£128 each.. Has anyone seen a test of these 2 tyres? for 2012? I will buy one of these, as both are Nordic. I know narrower is better, but 10mm is very little, and the 215 keeps my wheel size the same. My only concern is Hakka usually gets poor results in dry (or wet) which I will encounter on the way..

TM 17/2012 Nokian winner, 7,5, Michelin 6th 7,2 (btw michelins are 850 to all corners, nokian 800)

[Clarky78]

0.3 between 1st and 6th! Guess they are pretty similar then.

[Hpslm]

I understand both sides of the argument with risking summer tyres or not. My wife, who has driven all her life in Finland on winter tyres, couldn't drive at all in UK in winter on summer tyres.. But, it's not a good idea to have to!

Maybe it is a bit similar to a person who has always worn a seat belt in a car. I can not not wear one without immediately feeling really uncomfortable and at unease. Driving with no sense of friction or the predictability of it just makes driving feel totally illogical. I had go put more air pressure to my winter tyres at a petrol station and driving there on snow'ish conditions felt so uncomfortable.

If studs are recommnded, how about a studable tyre that start studless like this?: http://www.rengasvertailu.fi/nastarenka ... -noranza-2

That's a studded tire.

I take it places can stud tyres in Finland? How much would something like that cost?

No, no, no, no, no, no, nope. :] They need to be built into the layers of the tire for you to get any money's worth of using a studded tire.

My only concern is Hakka usually gets poor results in dry (or wet) which I will encounter on the way..

All the Nordic winter tires get those results more or less. Designed for snow and ice means characteristics that won't work on dry or wet as well.

[Upphew]

I take it places can stud tyres in Finland? How much would something like that cost?

No, no, no, no, no, no, nope. :] They need to be built into the layers of the tire for you to get any money's worth of using a studded tire.

Small car tyres get studs in the factory nowadays (afterward, not built in, well the holes are built in*, but the studs are not), but trucks etc. still get their studs done by hand or automatic machine: http://a-tekniikka.fi/

* http://www.nokianrenkaat.fi/usein_kysyttya
"Mistä renkaisiin tulevat reiät nastoja varten?
Renkaiden nastanreiät saadaan renkaan vulkanoimisvaiheessa muotissa olevista nastatapeista. Raskaisiin työkone- ym. renkaisiin yleensä porataan reiät nastoja varten."

[Hpslm]

Small car tyres get studs in the factory nowadays (afterward, not built in, well the holes are built in*, but the studs are not), but trucks etc. still get their studs done by hand or automatic machine: http://a-tekniikka.fi/

* http://www.nokianrenkaat.fi/usein_kysyttya
"Mistä renkaisiin tulevat reiät nastoja varten?
Renkaiden nastanreiät saadaan renkaan vulkanoimisvaiheessa muotissa olevista nastatapeista. Raskaisiin työkone- ym. renkaisiin yleensä porataan reiät nastoja varten."

Yeah, I could have been more precise, I meant built in as in the tire's layers are designed with equipping studs in mind starting from the tire markings to approriate material in where the studs are lodged in eventually. DIY friction tyre studding can't possibly compare to thought out and tested studded tire given that the prices are for new ones basically identical.

Given that the holes are made during the vulcaning of the rubber I would imagine there to be also a difference in the endurance of the rubber around the stud where one to make DIY studded car tires. ( I don't know anything about truck etc. tires )

[Mook]

Driving with no sense of friction or the predictability of it just makes driving feel totally illogical.

You've never driven a Honda then? (or driven in the snow with Summer tires) The experience is similar for both.

In the UK there's usually frost in the morning- doesn't seem to be a real problem with "normal" tires. Snow, well, it's OK if you stay under 50... MPH.

Driving through Sweden is probably OK, unless it's the very middle of the Winter. You can always go slower.

[Clarky78]

If studs are recommnded, how about a studable tyre that start studless like this?: http://www.rengasvertailu.fi/nastarenka ... -noranza-2

That's a studded tire.

Well according to this website where I saw them for sale they are studdable, not provided studded http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/car ... %7CXL.html

Then surely they can have this done? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnNh8AtI-nc