The eternal question.. answered!

[Haldex]

It’s been a while since we had a winter vs. all-season vs. summer tire endless thread- so I thought why the heck not?

Quite an interesting test actually.. I haven’t seen one with such a detailed temperature breakdown. Thought I should share it here.

https://youtu.be/bKtnczk8Mxk

[WhatNext?]

Thanks for this.

I have CrossClimates and I was just thinking over the last few days, next time I'll go for winters all year round.

After seeing this, I think I'll stick to my CrossClimates

[anotherv60]

Originally Posted by Haldex

It’s been a while since we had a winter vs. all-season vs. summer tire endless thread- so I thought why the heck not?

Quite an interesting test actually.. I haven’t seen one with such a detailed temperature breakdown. Thought I should share it here.

https://youtu.be/bKtnczk8Mxk

I agree it’s an interesting video, qualitatively I agree with his conclusion, after fitting my winter tyres I noticed they didn’t brake as well as the summer tyres in the dry, but on the recent very cold weather they perform really well, I’ve yet to notice ice affect handling or stopping distances! My worry is with the winter tyre that they bring about a false sense of security on the road. I wonder what the limit is with them.

[James77]

I've still not capitulated and swapped from the summer to winter rims, part of that is I can't be bothered!

I'm not as lucky as Haldex and can't get down the Alps nearly as often. booo

[Wizzpop]

I don't have winter wheels for my V60. I did have for my V40, they are still in the shed, unsold. Not many are interested here on the South Coast

[James77]

Originally Posted by Wizzpop

I don't have winter wheels for my V60. I did have for my V40, they are still in the shed, unsold. Not many are interested here on the South Coast

I have a V40 and could be tempted

[Wizzpop]

Originally Posted by James77

I have a V40 and could be tempted

Here is my ad
https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...02#post2570902
I'm a low mileage driver these days so they haven't covered many miles.

[Haldex]

Originally Posted by anotherv60

My worry is with the winter tyre that they bring about a false sense of security on the road. I wonder what the limit is with them.

They sure have their limits (and having driven most of my life in Canadian winters - believe me- I’ve seen those limits ), but wouldn’t you agree that any driving aid gives a false sense of security- and some much more than others. Nothing beats laws of physics..

Originally Posted by James77

I'm not as lucky as Haldex and can't get down the Alps nearly as often. booo

Not nearly as often as I’d want to..

[ergonomist]

Originally Posted by anotherv60

My worry is with the winter tyre that they bring about a false sense of security on the road. I wonder what the limit is with them.

It's potentially more complex than that - risk homeostasis theory comes into play. We all accept a level of risk - we make a judgement about whether the reward outweighs the potential 'cost' (eg how fast you choose to drive on the motorway is a judgement based on benefit - getting to destination quickly, and risk - getting there with more points on your licence). If something changes the balance, then we tend to adapt our behaviour to restore a perceived level of risk that we're comfortable with (that level differs between people - some prefer higher levels of perceived risk than others). Classic example is ABS brakes - the perceived improvement in braking performance encourages an unconscious reduction in stopping distance. And when seatbelt wearing became compulsory there was a measurable change in driving behaviour and an increase in pedestrian injuries - drivers felt safer and hence drove slightly more 'riskily'.

So making cars 'feel' safer can make individuals drive less safely. Hence the old suggestion that the best contribution to road safety would be a sharp spike mounted on the steering wheel and pointing at the driver... it would concentrate the mind...

It's not just about misjudging the grip from winter tyres - its about your appetite for risk. But in the interests of open disclosure - I fitted my winter tyres last weekend