Winter tyres - regulations and discussion

Transportation, Travel and Trips
181
Lob's recommendation (I think...)

http://www.reifendirect.ch/

This EF thread too

182
I've used the UK version of ReifenDirect in the UK and was fairley impressed. I checked out the links and the rtr boys seem to get the thumbs up from most people. but (isn't there always one of those) the site is all in German, so I guess it'll be a trip there. So I'm ok with where to get tyres now it's steel rims I'm struggling with.....any help greatfully recieved. Oh and what's the Swiss for a scrappy, would they be worth a try?

183
My other half (the car mad one) said today that "everyone" gets new wheels as well as winter tyres.... Now I have a feeling he is just saying this as he wants new alloys or something but is he right? From the sound of the posts above it doesn't even look like we need winter tyres (though we do go up to the mountains a lot so I suspect, from the amount of people we see getting stopped, we do...)

If he gets new wheels I think I "need" a new handbag or something?

184
I change tyres twice a year; I have one set of wheels.

The benefit is that my wheels are always balanced when this is done; with wheel changes, they're not (you can use this to sell the idea to him).

Cost per change and storage is about 120 francs.

185
but doing that I'll not get my handbag....

Will forward this link to him though - thanks

186
He is right. A lot of Swiss have expensive alloy mag wheels on their cars. The salt used on roads in the winter corrodes the alloys.

So what the Swiss do is use steel wheels in winter, with winter tyres on, so the allow wheels don't get damaged in winter.

That keeps the pretty alloys looking pretty for the summer.

As for the handbag, tell him you say a shop that has a great winter special on: buy 4 wheels get 1 handbag free :-)

187
The local Opel dealer (well, a chain) was doing fitting and balancing for 85 chuffs or so in spring for 4 wheels but not a tyre change.

Changing tyres just seems a bit wrong to me, but it is cheaper than buying 4 steel wheels...

As for handbags, why do you need an excuse?

I can attest that SWMBO certainly doesn't...

188
I do my changes at euromaster (full wheels) and they *always* rebalance the set that goes on the car.

189
I don't need an excuse to buy anything - more I love having the "well you bought new wheels" to throw back when I get asked "do you need another handbag - haven't you already got 432 of the things"

190

I'm with you there. Having just bought my first brand new car I would quite happily kill if anyone touches my baby especially through lack of care

191
Plus have you ever seen a set of Alloys after using snow chains ??? Not a pretty site (depending on chain design).

192
New winter rims can be an emotional decision. Or it can be rational.

Seasonally replacing tyres on same set of rims is more expensive then complete wheels. If it is a new car and new tyres, then you can calculate for say 10 seasonal changes. Is that cheaper than a duplicate set of rims. Doubt it.

I guess it is cheaper not to get new rims and no new handbag either!

193
It is snowing at 1'000 metres so it is time to think about winter tyres.

TCS has just released their newest ratings for winter tyres. They normally focus on two of the standard sizes as examples. There were four top rated (4* - highly recommended) tires in each category. Details below:

Winter tyres 175/65 R14

Continental Winter Contact TS 800

Dunlop SP Winter Response

Goodyear Ultra Grip 7+

Vredestein Snowtrac 3

Winter tyres 195/65 R 15 T

Continental Winter Contact TS 830

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D

Goodyear Ultra Grip 7

Pirelli Winter 190 Snow Control

There were quite a few tyres in each category that were also rated "recommended".

Happy shopping for those of you who need new winter tyres.

194
Summer tyres lose grip after 5 degrees IIRC, and the general rule is to wear winter tyres after the general temp. goes lower 4 C.

195
And in our region (I mean Lausanne) its 14 degrees http://www.romandie.com/meteo/# Why so hurry?

196
i hate to ask a silly qn: do bicycles need winter tyres?