V60 R-Design winter tyres

[samball]

This link to you tube compares winter, summer and all season tyres:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUxo2KmO4OI

[Bonefishblues]

I'd watched the test that followed, but not that one, so thanks for linking.

The zig zags don't improve the blocks' stability, they just make it less bad as compared to no sipes. I think he just mis-spoke there.

So softness doesn't exactly equal stickiness in tyre terms, which is interesting in itself. And yet, the Winters utilise a softer compound to ensure grip when summers harden.

I just have a nagging suspicion that there's something in the relative flexibility of the AS/W tyre blocks that plays a part.

Interesting stuff, innit.

[Rich54129]

Thanks for all the responses this gives me some good food for thought, I'll have a look at tyretest reviews and reports, to decide whether to go all season or full winter.
Considering as you say Tannaton, it is a 2wd car, and we have some steep hills and high altitude around us.

Shame we cannot predict in this country how much snow we will get; the last two winters we did not get much, I had a Merc C320 on winter tyres and it went everywhere I pointed it. I even got comments from neighbours along the lines of "how did you get that car up there?".
Two winters before that I had a Subaru Outback and was driving in 1 foot deep snow in the Peaks no problem. I also had to rescue my mum stuck on icy roads at 10pm one night and it's good to know you've got the best grip available for stuff like that.

I see with all season they have less sipes than winters but I guess they will also have a lower silica content?

[Rich54129]

Originally Posted by samball

This link to you tube compares winter, summer and all season tyres:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUxo2KmO4OI

Cheers for that I'll have a look later..

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Rich54129

Thanks for all the responses this gives me some good food for thought, I'll have a look at tyretest reviews and reports, to decide whether to go all season or full winter.
Considering as you say Tannaton, it is a 2wd car, and we have some steep hills and high altitude around us.

Shame we cannot predict in this country how much snow we will get; the last two winters we did not get much, I had a Merc C320 on winter tyres and it went everywhere I pointed it. I even got comments from neighbours along the lines of "how did you get that car up there?".
Two winters before that I had a Subaru Outback and was driving in 1 foot deep snow in the Peaks no problem. I also had to rescue my mum stuck on icy roads at 10pm one night and it's good to know you've got the best grip available for stuff like that.

I see with all season they have less sipes than winters but I guess they will also have a lower silica content?

Yes to the latter. Compromise is compromising, sadly!

[deepsix]

I use Volvo winter wheel and tyre sets in cold weather even though it never gets that bad down South. I much preferred the handling to the original tyres on my XC60 R Design. I still have an immaculate set of 18" wheels and tyres available if you are interested. It's a full set of 4 x 18" Volvo Mantus alloy wheels to fit Volvo XC60 / XC70, V70 and V60 and others. They are fitted as supplied from Volvo with 235/60 R18 107H XL Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Tyres. Approx 6mm tread.
Rim width is 7.5J

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Just because I'm dull, I feel compelled to point out that it's not particularly the heat that's an issue with Winters with their high silica compounds. It's just that the tread construction by definition contains many many more sipes, designed to trap snow and improve adhesion, so in a sense greater flexibility is designed in right from the get-go.

Yes - tread block distortion - I've been running winters all year for about 4 years now so I'm used to it but with full winters you almost get an inch of play at the front end. It's not a major issue and many won't notice but it does dull very slightly the handling of a car.

With all siped winter tyres you also get a slight increase in noise, specifically a very faint drone that resembles in some cases a dry wheel bearing. Again many might not notice but it is a characteristic.

[Tannaton]

Another one to add to the mix...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi-o_njQW34

[Deck1ng]

If it helps at all, 2 years ago I put on Michelin Crossclimates onto my 2012 XC60 D5. Living in North Yorkshire and covering only 10000 miles roughly per year. I have been well impressed with them throughout. Good on all road surfaces, snow, ice, wet and dry. Low on noise and very good on fuel. They have been tremendous tyres, I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone. Now coming into there third winter, still plenty of tread and look as good as the day I bought them.

[Adrian888]

Just bought some bargain brand new Bridgestone all weather tyres on fleabay so will be selling a set of Dunlop winter tyres used for 2000 miles that will suit a V60 on 18” rims....