best tyres/wheel size for icy weather?

[liam012]

well had first icy morning this morning - i had a few brown trouser moments last year luckily with no accidents (on both accounts!) and would like to be prepared this year
a friend has suggested that i get some small and thin tyres and wheels for the icy days/weeks so that i dont end up in a wall as i do about 35 miles to work along country black roads which always have a few black ice spots - there is no way of avoiding this route.
however last year i had no lsd so maybe this year she should snap out a bit lazier and kinder as opposed to the evill thrashing and spinning up i was treated to last year...
any thoiughts / suggestions?

[GDBN]

I normally run 15" BBS with 205/55/15
I have only 2 14" and am trying to find 2 more for winter use .. then they will get 195/65/14.

Think that should be ok for normal winter use.
We had our first snow yesterday so count yourself lucky !!

G

[orangecurry]

yes and no... narrower tyres will help (a tiny amount), but if you really want a difference on ice, you need to change the tyre compound.

The narrowness is more about getting the tyre digging into snow better - and you need to combine this with a 'winter' tyre, with a different and more open pattern.

We don't know where you live, so I can't speculate on whether it is worth the expense!

[nickso]

winter tyres are designed so when they deform under load there are more "attacking" edges to grip onto what ever surface is there.

im toying with the idea of some studded winter tyres cos i cant imagine my 335 is going to be a whole heap of fun in the snow

[tomtomiS]

not wishing to state the obvious, leave half an hour earlier and dont put ur foot down!

[DaveD]

I live in sheffield which is rather a hilly place ...the traffic doesnt grind to a halt when we have some snow and ice ,,all i can say is that the best thing to do is learn how to drive in the stuff...and if it snows a sack of sand or two over the wheels helps traction no end

[OllieB]

Buy a range rover.....
Then you can tow all the less prepared people up any hill you choose. Mine is the best thing I ever bought, my sport hasn't turned a wheel since I got it!

[Jon_Bmw]

winter tyres are designed so when they deform under load there are more "attacking" edges to grip onto what ever surface is there.

im toying with the idea of some studded winter tyres cos i cant imagine my 335 is going to be a whole heap of fun in the snow

Are you kidding,lol, do you know what will happen when you drive on some non snow covered road.

Plus i would think studded tyres are very very expensive.

4wd is what you want

[Morat]

Get a set of bottletops and look for some offroader type landrover mud/snow tyres?

Tyres and weight make a huge difference, which is why you see X5s, Landrovers, and Cayennes sitting by the side of the road covered in snow because they have road tyres on to let them corner in summer. Last year my GF had a Ford Ka courtesy car and scampered past a bogged Range Rover....E30s are pretty light so you're halfway there.

The LSD should help quite a bit. I didn't realise how much help the LSD type thing on the front of my Fiat Coupe was in the snow until I tried driving up the same icy hill in a golf. I would imagine that you'll get the same effect from your LSD. Of course its not going to help you if all four wheels start going slideways but it'll help with traction, especially getting up hills!

For everyone else, its a good excuse. "Darling, I'm going to have to fit this anti-skid safety device for the winter"

[DaveD]

which coupe have you... i still have my 16v

[nickso]

winter tyres are designed so when they deform under load there are more "attacking" edges to grip onto what ever surface is there.

im toying with the idea of some studded winter tyres cos i cant imagine my 335 is going to be a whole heap of fun in the snow

Are you kidding,lol, do you know what will happen when you drive on some non snow covered road.

Plus i would think studded tyres are very very expensive.

4wd is what you want

er are you asking what would happen on a tarmac road with studded tyres?.....er nothing....they are tyres with studs in for when you do hit snow

ive had a look and they arent that pricey but i cant find any in 205/55/15

[orangecurry]

a) I would think either the tyres will shred or you'll go off on the first corner
b) I think studded tyres are illegal in the UK anyway

[telski789]

i'd say the best tyres for icy roads are SLICKS!!! AWESOME!!!

although perhaps not on the way to work!

[Jon_Bmw]

a) I would think either the tyres will shred or you'll go off on the first corner
b) I think studded tyres are illegal in the UK anyway

Bingo

[tomtomiS]

cant wait til we get some decent ice, if i can get away with saying that. will be fun taking the touring on laps of sainsburys car park looking forwards out of the side window! i work on an industrial estate so the early morning arrival to work may take an extra few minutes

[ChizFab]

wack on the 14s and enjoy the street dori!!

[jonbuoy]

wack on the 14s and enjoy the street dori!!

I'm with this dude!

Bring on the wet weather for some propper street dori!!




Other than that, buy a set of tyre's that have block tread, most bugdet's are block tread, get down to your local tyre garage and check the tyre's out

[nickso]

a) I would think either the tyres will shred or you'll go off on the first corner
b) I think studded tyres are illegal in the UK anyway

Bingo

shite.......studded tyres are only illegal if they damge the road surface.

my neighbour ran them every winter without any problems.

my dad used them on his jag with no problems.

there is a reduced speed rating on studded tyres as far as im aware, and i agree the grip in the dry would be impaired

[Jon_Bmw]

nickso what do these studed tyres on your dads jag look like. I'm getting visions of 'monto carlo'ed prepped impreza rally car tyres' Which rip off rather easily on a tarmac section.

Where do you lot live to consider this, i know i'm a southern fairy, never seen snow on the roads for more than 2 days at a time

[nickso]

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... 996&z=5476

im not talking about tyres for one of those ice speedway bikes lol

[stE30w]

imo studded tyres are okay on the ice and do help traction allthough i live totally in the sticks in Scotland

i run Vredestien(sp?)snow plus studded on`t van in the winter and they are ace,however i dont think they make them anymore

the best sollution for this question is this:buy a local rag and pick yourself up a 100 buck banger with a couple months T&T and rag it till the snow goes,this is much more fun!!

i`d rather do this than risk the damage to the bimmer that might well ammount to more than 100 quid

jus my 2P worth

[nickso]

imo studded tyres are okay on the ice and do help traction allthough i live totally in the sticks in Scotland

i run Vredestien(sp?)snow plus studded on`t van in the winter and they are ace,however i dont think they make them anymore

the best sollution for this question is this:buy a local rag and pick yourself up a 100 buck banger with a couple months T&T and rag it till the snow goes,this is much more fun!!

i`d rather do this than risk the damage to the bimmer that might well ammount to more than 100 quid

jus my 2P worth

im in aberdeen too mate....we arent supposed to be getting a bad winter this year but the 335 is a joke in the wet so im guessing the snow will be worse.

another set of insurance,tax,and reliability issues is not an option....no winter banger allowance this year

however a set of studded or winter tyres to last me 3-4 seasons is just about possible

[orangecurry]

now I understand - Aberdeenshire is worth getting some winter tyres

[zaust]

Let About 10psi out your tyers....

[Ant]

must admit, come bad weather I dust off a pair of 14" steels I have, they are fitted with dunlop mud and snow studded tyres, illegal yes, but very useful

when/if you hit a clear patch , the studs are deflected back into the tyre carcass as is warms up, so they can be left on but ultimate "dry" road grip is reduced, they are Q rated ( 89 mph iirc )

[boomer]

Get some steelies from a scrappy and stick a set of Colway Mud and Snows on - shouldn't cost more than Ԛ£80 for the 4 - they'll last for the winter

Studded tyres are good for compacted snow but not much else imo

Ahh! Aberdeen - memories of going to work in -13, snowed in for a few days one May, braking and attempting to turn right off a country road straight - finally stopped 100m past the junction, road rallying in a TR8 round the Broch in February - that was quite scary!

[nickso]

think im going to give the studs a miss and just go with winter tyres of some description.


should have gotten those 15" bbs off that scrappy touring last month to put em on

[mikey-t]

my mate had studded tyres on his 106 rallye 2 years ago last year he just stuck with laminate tyres!

[stE30w]

Ahh! Aberdeen - memories of going to work in -13, snowed in for a few days one May, braking and attempting to turn right off a country road straight - finally stopped 100m past the junction, road rallying in a TR8 round the Broch in February - that was quite scary!

Aye thats just typical for here and

a TR8 road rallying on 2 inch thick ice!!