from what i have read the cut off for winter/summer is whenever you will/will not be driving in temperatures above or below 10 degrees.
good question, i would asssume that the spare is a winter tyre and therefore good all year round.
Generally, you should not mix winter tyres with summer tyres. But a spare tyre to limp home, at low speeds, is tolerable. In fact some new cars now come without a proper spare, only an inflatable emergency "tyre".
If you drive very little, e.g. 10k in a year, then you might as well keep the winter tyres on. Even if they abrade more and use some more fuel, it might still be cheaper than buying a summer set and paying for switching twice a year.
The higher fuel consumption in winter may have other causes than tyre friction. Colder engines are less efficient. And in winter you probably use more lights, screen heaters, seat heating, etc., all of which have fuel penalties.
Depends on what tyres you have. Tyres have a maximum speed rating. No problem in Switzerland because of relatively low speed limits. But if you have winter tyres rated at 150 km/h and decide to roar down a German motorway at 250 km/h, then there may be tyre failure. So, if you have a powerful car and envisage high speeds, then you must buy the pertinent higher rated tyres.
The biggest difference between Alloy and Steel is appearance. Alloys are usually more expensive. You can always add wheel covers to make steels look nicer. We have steel rims on one of our cars and came with covers, but I couldn't be bothered to fit the covers last winter (also might end up coming off and adding to the junk along side the road).
If you have a 2-wheel drive, and think you might need to use chains, then go for steel rims as the chains can make a mess of Alloys.
Even with 2 4x4's I have chains for both, just in case.
I remember well a few years ago, where we had rain in the afternoon, then clear skies where the temprature plumeted and froze the water on the roads, followed by snow.
The roads were a nightmare in the evening, expecially as most cars did not have snow tyres on.
Generally, the Swiss prefer to use steel in Winter and Alloy in Summer.
Because the alloy wheels oxidise and corrode due to the salt on the winter roads faster than steel wheels do.
So to prevent this, the pretty alloys are saved for the "nice" season: summer.
4WD (4-wheel drive) is not a substitute for chains. When the police put up the chains traffic signpost, then all cars must put on chains, even with 4WD.
Actually on several occasions when heading up the mountain, there's been road blocks where the police send people into carparks to put chains on. But I and other 4x4 drivers have been sent on without having to put chains on.
On one such occasion I had to drive 'off-road' to get round someone with front wheel drive and not chain who had no traction.
Moving here from S/W France where snow was a cause for a 2 week holiday, and lots of mumbling in French, I dont have snow anything. So I'll need to get kitted out with a set of rims and boots. I've listened to the sense of the steelies for the winter and getting chains,can anyone suggest a retailer that can supply and fit the rims for reasonable cost?
Maybe the police stopped those with summer tyres and made them mount chains. Once the traffic sign for chains mandatory is put up, then all cars must mount chains. Also, the insurers may refuse to compensate any accidents, if chains were not mounted despite compulsion.
Right, but in Switzerland it's usually accompanied by the "ausgenommen 4x4" (4x4 exempted) sign. E.g. in the canton of Graubünden I've never seen a "chains mandatory" sign without the 4x4 exemption in 20 years of driving...
Yep, the guy asked me to confirm this was 4x4 and then let me head up the mountian.
On these occasions I've seen several non-4x4's struggling without chains (obviously stayed locally up the mountian before the fresh snow fell and did not go through the control).
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Yep, the guy asked me to confirm this was 4x4 and then let me head up the mountian.
On these occasions I've seen several non-4x4's struggling without chains (obviously stayed locally up the mountian before the fresh snow fell and did not go through the control).
There was one occasion when heading to Zermatt when they had huge snow falls, the trains had stopped running and the roads were not cleared at all and had a good 20cm of snow on. We were in a big 4x4 and were told we could go up if we had snow chains as well. I had them in my 4x4 but my freind didn't. We ended up spending the night in a military bunker (not a nice exepreince but that's another story).
4x4 gives better traction driving uphill. Skidding and sliding down an icy hill: only chains transfer braking effectively.
This is one reason I prefer Manual cars to Auto. Then at least you can use the engine braking when decending.
But when using the brakes, then a 4x4 looses most if not all it's advantages.
Coming down the Buchenegg last winter in the snow, I switched to 'Low' ratio to help improve the control. Some cars have a Diff lock which should ONLY be used in slippery conditions as wheels have to be allowed to slip otehrwise the 'half-shafts' will break due to cornering (when wheels travel different distances).
Most Automats can be shifted manually. Some offer a choice of automat programs, e.g. "winter", "economy" and "sport".
Diff-Lock is useful, when 1 wheel is spinning and disabling the other wheel on the axle. Again useless to stop sliding, which can happen with locked wheels, too.
But whether manual or automatic transmission, finally you need road adhesion to prevent sliding. Only chains or spikes can provide that.
That's why I carry chains in my 4x4's just in case conditions are really bad.
Hi, a little help please. I have a 4x4 with 20 inch rims, I've been told chains don't come in this size, apparently 18 inch is as large as they go - is that correct, and if so, will I be allowed to proceed in the (deep) snow? Thanks.
Difficult to understand that constraint! Even large trucks have chains.
Yes, but they would be for trucks, I guess they would have a standard range of truck tire chain sizes. I have asked commercial suppliers of car tyre chains if they can supply a 20 inch, and have had a resounding 'they don't make 'em', however this was in Germany, and over the net.