Not having had a FF before and seeing several posts and discussions about winter tyres, do I actually need a set?

I currently have conti cross contact m&s tyres with plenty of tread (one is less than the others so will probably swap it with the unused spare)

I have no intention of doing any off-roading (at least not this winter! ) so will only be dealing with whatever the weather chucks on the roads

My other problem would be that I have nowhere to store a spare set of wheels/tyres. SWMBO wouldn't be impressed if I used the spare room......  2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Gone, but not forgotten

no you dont , unless you live in the highlands or up a mountain...

myself and many others have used normal tyres in the snow and remember the snow ploughs will soon move the snow on the major roads... ... - .- -.




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M&S tyres are more than sufficient for anything likely to come your way. I drove down through Europe to St Anton (2010?) in the worst storm in years and encountered packed snow and deep snow on side roads, motorways and tracks etc - never had a problem at any time.

Rangie performed fantastically (even leaving behind a few RR sports!!)

I had Wrangler M&S btw but any brand is good enough I reckon.

btw Rob, if you search you'll find there are plenty of threads discussing this subject and some say yes and most say no..... ... - .- -.




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Thanks guys. I have driven in some pretty bad snow in recent years in my Citroen C5 but always fitted with OE Michelins and it's been pretty good.

I remember a few years ago having to go through the middle of Sevenoaks and it was chaos and the only vehicles that managed to get up one of the hills on the A25 were people like me in fairly heavy front wheel drive cars and the usual assortment of 4x4 LR vehicles.

It was hugely satisfying to see a number of city types in rwd Porsches and BMWs getting absolutely nowhere and having to abandon their vehicles.  2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Gone, but not forgotten

i agree, seeing bmw's struggle up even the slightest incline is funny..

have a look on youtube as well, theres FF's in the snow on there.. ... - .- -.




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I know that you tend to get a bit more of the white stuff than most of the south in your neck of the woods, but as Stan says, your tyres should be OK, unless your planning on going the cross country route, as the crow flies.. then something a little more aggressive might be advised  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Do you 'need' a set ? - probably not

Would you be better off with a set - yes

Do you need ABS, traction control etc etc

Forget the M&S - and ability to handle snow - winter tyres are more about the rubber - the higher silica content, the additional sipes for grip etc. They perform significantly better on cold wet roads and especially ice than a regular summer or all season tyre. By that I mean that stopping distances are noticeably shorter as well as lateral grip etc.

It's very much a personal decision in the UK - you will most likely be fine - but if you want the smug satisfaction of knowing you have the best then buy a set.

There really isn't a right answer - bon't believe anyone who says they are a waste of time - they wouldn't be a legal requirement in colder climates if that was the case. The UK is simply a borderline climate - they do make a difference, so it depends on whether you're prepared to pay for them and to store them......

A bit more info on this thread

I drove rwd BMW''s when I lived near Oslo. With a proper set of winter tyres, the bloody thing was unstoppable in snow and ice.

Far better than my fwd Audi Avant with studded tyres.

It was the law to have winter tyres fitted in winter, though some left them on all year. If you were involved in an accident during winter, the first thing the cops would check was your tyres. If they were wrong, then you were automatically seen as the guilty party!

Last year I saw 1/2 day of snow and you could count the days that there was a frost on your fingers.... apart from the other year when the Arctic circle slipped, we haven't really had anything like winter since the mid 80's..... I know it's different for you chaps that live further north... but with the saving on your house prices you can afford to have a set of winter tyres, Plus you actually get to use them

First flake of snow around here and they are out with the rust maker, sorry gritter, the snow don't stand a chance  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Some where there is a thread about makes of winter tyres with some good info from Alistair, as I have now got a second set of rims, I would like to read it again. Perhaps there should be one Winter tyres Sticky thread. letters not necessarily in the right order

This thread ?

Conclusion was that cheap/poor winters are actually worse than decent summer tyres.

There's plenty of tests out there - and are usually a reasonable indication, but the tyres tested are usually for cars.


If in doubt then watch this then read this

Very balanced video from Vredestein

AutoCar - wet @ 10 degrees


As I said above, you probably don't need winter tyres any more than you need ABS... but don't listen to anyone who has never run them tell you that you don't need them any more than you would listen to someone who says ABS is a waste of time because all you need to do is pump the brakes

I fitted a set of cooper zeon ltz, to my old td6, went off roading, literally in a grass field on a bank, followed a sport with road tyres on, unsure what sort, mine was slipping everywhere, the back end drifting out sideways and his was perfectly straight, no dramas, used to use it lamping also and got stuck a couple of times, pretty poor traction in damp conditions too on the road
I won't be changing the m+s tyres out for anything other than a straight replacement 2018 Suzuki Jimny 2003 written off
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^^ that sounds like your traction control / ABS wasn't working very well  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Knew I could rely on the forumites for advice

For now I am going to stick with my conti's and see what happens.  2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Gone, but not forgotten