Different cars need different pressures. It's all carefully calculated from a load of complex bollocks about weight, wheel and tyre size, camber etc etc. Tyre manufacturers can't reccomend a pressure as they don't know which car they're going on, they can only state a max rated pressure.
by the car handbook, cars can have the same size tyre but can vary in the recommended psi (not normally a great variation. Tyre manufacturers give the maximum pressure you can put in
I use summer and winter tyres here. It's not a ruling in Germany for a minimum tread depth of 4mm on Winter tyres. The ruling is still 1.6mm for Winter and Summer Tyres. ADAC the German Automobile Association recommends a minimum 4mm on winter tyres. Most have different sets of wheels, I just swap Winter wheels for summer. Have to say that winter wheels make a massive difference - particularly when you're putting out 320 bhp and 650nm of torque more grip in the mud, wet, ice and snow. German BRV states 5 year tyre age. I'm sure that's why a lot of older (5 years plus) tyres arrive in the UK.
Yes I think a lot have a seperate set of wheels for winter, in some cases smaller. I wasn’t aware of the age limit in Germany but I’m not surprised.
I had a set of winter wheels and tyres on my old car, not bothered again with my new one. I thought they were an expensive waste of money, yes they were better early mornings on frosty back lanes but other than that they were a bag of ****. 99% of our winter is mild anyway.
Bollocks Performance in any inclement weather is massively improved. They should make it a legal requirement in this country. I have driven thousands of miles on Summer and Winter tyres - there is a massive difference. It would reduce the amount of accidents when bell ends that can't drive have accidents on icy roads.
Well from experience I can tell you I found them a massive pile of ****. Wheels would spin and the car would understeer a lot easier in non icy conditions which as I said is 99% of the time. The only real argument to be had is that you're probably putting he rubber under unnecessary fatigue using it outside its recommended temperatures, but as you're buying an extra set of wheels and tyres you're paying for them anyway. It's ridiculous to suggest they should be a legal requirement, we have probably 4 days a year max when they're ever of any real benefit. Maybe in Finland.
My in-laws have changed to winter tyres. It is a legal requirement in the Czech Republic before 1st November. However, they are quite likely to get snow next month. Edit: It's also law that headlights must be on at all times, which should probably be a legal requirement in the UK during GMT hours.
They aren't just for snow. They improve driving when temperatures are seasonally low in Autumn & Winter. Anything below +7 degrees, and winter tyres will be beneficial. So, that would be November, December, January, February and March with average temperatures <+7 degrees. 5 months.
I lived in West Germany for quite a number of years, we often had two family cars and we never changed to winter tyres. I don't reaĺly believe the size and power of your car is really that important, as long as you drive it within it's and your limitations and use the correct techniques- a far more important consideration. Making winter tyres compulsory in this country would be a massive and unrealistic overreaction. By the way, if buying part worn tyres, pay attention to their external tread wear, but also ensure the internal body and lip structure is sound - it's to late once on. Following those basic guidelines and sticking with decent brand names and I really don't have a problem with them.
I think they are, or consistent sub zero temperatures. I never got the opportunity to try mine out in snow, which is where I imagine the real benefit is, but your normal cold wet or dry conditions which again is 99% of our winter I found my summer tyres still performed better. In some countries sure they are necessary but not here. Just my two cents worth.
Predictable response from some. That's why Germany have made it a legal requirement to have Winter wheels. Germans and safety nonsense- what do they know
