Tyre wear

[Amarillo]

Doesn’t have to be a sports car pushed to the limit, just adverse road conditions, and only needs to happen once and you’ll be converted. Especially if the Insurance company handling your claim disagrees.

I’ll change the question.

Is driving in December, January and February in southern England with two winter tyres on the front and two summer tyres on the rear better, worse or no different than driving with four summer tyres?

If caught on snow due to exceptional London conditions, I do have chains - but they go on the front only, which is why I didn’t think my question to be wholly idiotic.


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[CALI FATE]

i have two sets of wheels / tyres originally with new summer tyres - and as the originals wear out, i have replaced one set with winters and will soon have a full set of winter tyres. The front summer (normal) tyres last around 30k miles and the rears 50k plus - so it is taking longer than anticipated. Last year i put winter tyres on the front only as advised by Ski-tyres Cheltenham. It makes a major difference and i adapt my driving accordingly. I know from reading forums its not ideal, but it seems fine in wintery conditions so far.

I am close to getting a second winter set and can gauge the difference - they affect mpg by around 10% adversely

 

[Jason wallace]

I’ll change the question.

Is driving in December, January and February in southern England with two winter tyres on the front and two summer tyres on the rear better, worse or no different than driving with four summer tyres?

If caught on snow due to exceptional London conditions, I do have chains - but they go on the front only, which is why I didn’t think my question to be wholly idiotic.


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Not a good idea apparently....

 

[Nick Stubbs]

That’s what I was told by the tyre fitting people in Costco, when I went in to have front replaced they put the new tyres on the back and moved the older tyres to the front without consulting me. When I queried it they showed me a video explaining why. I can’t remember the exact reasons but I was then happy with what they had done.

Our local Costco do exactly the opposite

 

[Amarillo]

Not a good idea apparently....

What about winter tyres on the back and moving the 4mm rear tyres to the front?



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[westfalia]

What about winter tyres on the back and moving the 4mm rear tyres to the front?



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Nah.

 

[Bellcrew]

My original front tyres have finally worn out - after 39,940 miles they have just 2.5mn remaining. Rear are ok with 4mm.

I have a replacement set of 17’ wheels and nearly new tyres, but I’m thinking about replacing my current worn 16’ front tyres with winter tyres.

Is there any benefit in having winter tyres on the front, or if changing them should all four be changed?


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It is very obvious that driving style is the deciding factor in tyre life, some on here cannot get to 10 000 miles on their fronts, must be all that overtaking on roundabouts/lowered springs/HD anti roll bars etc?

 

[WelshGas]

I’ll change the question.

Is driving in December, January and February in southern England with two winter tyres on the front and two summer tyres on the rear better, worse or no different than driving with four summer tyres?

If caught on snow due to exceptional London conditions, I do have chains - but they go on the front only, which is why I didn’t think my question to be wholly idiotic.


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You will have great grip on the front due to the winter tyres, and the Rear?
It is easier to control a front skid than a rear, and you will be driving and steering based on the feedback from the front, driving/steering wheels, and not the rear.
Winter tyres have increased traction and grip at lower temperatures and Summer tyres decreased at lower temperatures, but I think any Insurance company would be interested in the mismatch. Change all 4 to winter or not at all.
It is accepted practise by the trade that new tyres go on the rear if you are just changing one axle, but please do not mix Summer/Winter/All Season tyres on the same vehicle or axle.

Do as you wish. If you keep asking the same question no doubt someone will give the answer you want. I'm just happy I'm no longer in the job of dealing with RTA victims and their families.

Personally I just don't get it that people try to save money by changing 1 or 2 tyres or using budget or non rated tyres on a vehicle weighing 3 tons that has a contact area to the road of less than 0.25 sq metre and travels at speeds upto and over 70 mph.

 

[Amarillo]

Do as you wish. If you keep asking the same question no doubt someone will give the answer you want. I'm just happy I'm no longer in the job of dealing with RTA victims and their families.

I freely admit to being ignorant when it comes to car bits and pieces - though I am learning about the California quite rapidly. I don't think that I should be made to feel stupid for asking the question: it was a perfectly valid question which has been comprehensively answered by you and others.

I've just replaced all four 16" standard Beach wheels and tyres with the 17" standard Ocean nearly new wheels and summer tyres. We rarely get snow in London, and as our road is on a bus route, it is among the first to be gritted in the rare event of snow. I have front chains for emergency use, stowed year round under the driver's seat. If, or when, I go to the Alps or Pyrenees in winter I will certainly change to full winter tyres.

 

[WelshGas]

Main Bus Route


https://news.sky.com/video/near-miss-between-car-and-bus-11272066

 

[Eber123]

Good afternoon,

I am unhappy about the Bridgestone Turanza er 103V which came with the van originally. They are marvellous on clean, try roads. As soon as the road gets really wet, dirty (country roads) or snow driving becomes a nightmare.

I only have 16 000 km on the clock, so the tyres are still ok. But still I save to get them exchanged against 4Season tyres. My choice are the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2.

Even though I have to save up for the new set of tyres, it never crossed my mind only to get two. I believe that driving dynamics will be unpredictable and therefore dangerous. My objective is actually to improve this (have I said that I am not a racer... I am to old for that ).

Regards,
Eberhard

 

[westfalia]

0.9 mm legal wear remaining on the front, 2.4mm legal wear on the rear - they could possibly hit 50,000 miles if I switched from front to rear.



I did that on vehicle earlier this year, it was only after that
i realised that all i had done is prolonged the time when i will
need to buy tyres, and then i will have to buy 4.

Next time, i think i will just replace the 2 that are needed or even
all 4 of them.

 

[westfalia]

I freely admit to being ignorant when it comes to car bits and pieces - though I am learning about the California quite rapidly. I don't think that I should be made to feel stupid for asking the question: it was a perfectly valid question which has been comprehensively answered by you and others.

I thought you were taking the p1ss

 

[Stoneybroke]

0.9 mm legal wear remaining on the front, 2.4mm legal wear on the rear - they could possibly hit 50,000 miles if I switched from front to rear.


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Late night (post drinking) maths...

 

[Stoneybroke]

Doesn’t have to be a sports car pushed to the limit, just adverse road conditions, and only needs to happen once and you’ll be converted. Especially if the Insurance company handling your claim disagrees.

If all tyres are legal, the insurance company would struggle to argue...
Pushing to the limits is a question of both the vehicle and the road condition, it is the extremes that cause loss of control.
It's all about balance... I had to learn this book by heart- saved me a few times...
http://www.roadcraft.co.uk/roadcraft/roadcraft-illustrations/

 

[WelshGas]

If all tyres are legal, the insurance company would struggle to argue...
Pushing to the limits is a question of both the vehicle and the road condition, it is the extremes that cause loss of control.
It's all about balance... I had to learn this book by heart- saved me a few times...
http://www.roadcraft.co.uk/roadcraft/roadcraft-illustrations/

I think a Combination of Winter and Summer tyres on one vehicle involved in an accident, on a snowy or icy road surface, would most likely lead to a protracted argument with the Insurance Company that may not have a good outcome.
As far as I am concerned, and was told many years ago by experts, All tyres should be the same type, Winter/Summer/ All Season/ Off Road.
Most drivers have never done snow/ice/off road driving courses and have very little experience dealing with these conditions, as shown every winter. Adding into that mix mismatched tyre types won’t improve the situation.

 

[mountainman]

It amazes me how we all get such different mileage from our tyres. I have a T5 180 with 255/45 R18s. The current lot are Continentals 103Y. I have had the van for exactly 7 years. In that time I have done 60,000 miles and am just about to change my 4th set of tyres. So I am getting 15,000 miles per set, consistently. As the fronts have worn, I have switched front to back mid-way through each set. I just can't get more than 15,000 miles. Most of the mileage is across Scotland back and forth on the country roads between Aberdeen and the west coast. The wheel size does limit tyre choice though.

 

[Stoneybroke]

I think a Combination of Winter and Summer tyres on one vehicle involved in an accident, on a snowy or icy road surface, would most likely lead to a protracted argument with the Insurance Company that may not have a good outcome.
As far as I am concerned, and was told many years ago by experts, All tyres should be the same type, Winter/Summer/ All Season/ Off Road.
Most drivers have never done snow/ice/off road driving courses and have very little experience dealing with these conditions, as shown every winter. Adding into that mix mismatched tyre types won’t improve the situation.

Totally agree on the miss-match of different tyres - that could have insurance implications, though still legal. I thought you were saying insurance may argue over New on front, leaving older on back... The thread's got a bit confused (or I have )

 

[B J G]

I'd be interested to know how many owners inflate and deflate their tyres according to load.

I do for on a regular basis.

 

[B J G]

Helpful guide on tyre wear from Halfords Autocentres

https://www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/tyres-advice/abnormal-tyre-wear

 

[Jonathan Duke]

Once a month, using one of these:

 

[Legin]

It amazes me how we all get such different mileage from our tyres. I have a T5 180 with 255/45 R18s. The current lot are Continentals 103Y. I have had the van for exactly 7 years. In that time I have done 60,000 miles and am just about to change my 4th set of tyres. So I am getting 15,000 miles per set, consistently. As the fronts have worn, I have switched front to back mid-way through each set. I just can't get more than 15,000 miles. Most of the mileage is across Scotland back and forth on the country roads between Aberdeen and the west coast. The wheel size does limit tyre choice though.

The lower the profile the shorter the life generally. Your on 45 which will wear quicker than 55 series.

 

[B J G]

The 255/45/18 has a slightly lower radius than a 235/55/17 meaning that it turns 4 revolutions more per mile.
Nothing that accounts for high wear rate though.
Typical price difference between a 17" and a 18" Dunlop is £26 more per tyre for the 18" plus fitting etc.

 

[mountainman]

Many thanks, Maybe I should change the wheels. These are hopeless in the snow and mud being a bit wider.

 

[B J G]

Many thanks, Maybe I should change the wheels. These are hopeless in the snow and mud being a bit wider.

Might be worth looking at 235/55/18 104V SUV tyres. Many All Weather/year use tyres available. If you are on standard height springs you shouldn't have any clearance problems due to the slightly higher profile. 0.6" higher sidewall, 1.2" increased diameter. Speedo would be pretty well spot on if currently ready about 2MPH over actual speed.
Tyre dealer may have a worn one to fit for a check.