 | Home > Wheels & Tyres > Winter road tyres |
 
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240   
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Proper winter tyres are marked with the mountain/snowflake symbol and can make a huge difference when the temperature drops. Some AT tyres are so rated but not all. I've used General Grabber AT2's in the past which do have the mark and they were great in the snow and ice.
The big difference between dedicated winter and regular tyres is both the sipes in the treads and the rubber compound, which is much softer. This means that they can wear faster in warmer temperatures, but there shouldn't be any significant detrimental affects on handling. I've also used General Snow Grabbers, which are a more dedicated winter road tyre and also found them to be superb. They were fitted to a Freelander 2 and provided very good directional handling even in warmer weather. Nokians are very highly rated though and you can't really go wrong with them. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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21st Sep 2017 12:46pm |
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| nick345345 Member Since: 05 Dec 2016 Location: Dunbar Posts: 71  
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I've used various Nokians over the years (on other cars) and always been impressed during winter. I've had Nokian Hakkapeliittas (albeit 285's) on the Defender for the last 12 months and have had no problems. There's not been any significant snow to test them on, but they've been fine through the summer for normal road driving. I guess they're wearing quicker than a summer tyre, but I don't do too many miles. They're quiet in comparison to the mud terrains I had on previously.
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21st Sep 2017 12:54pm |
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| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3317
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I've been running BFG AT KO2s as they are winter rated (snowflaked). They got plenty of runs out in the snow and were way better in the snow / ice than the KM2 Mud Terrains I'd run previously.
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21st Sep 2017 12:58pm |
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| deejayen Member Since: 18 Sep 2017 Location: Inverness Posts: 56
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Thanks very much. I'll check my existing tyres to see if they have the snowflake symbol on them, although I don't think they do.
I've driven a Defender for years, but not had specific winter tyres. I tend to drive sensibly in winter conditions, but any extra grip would be good, even if only for the mental reassurance! |
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21st Sep 2017 1:00pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 19531
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I have KM2's and they are excellent tyre's all around and would not ever swap them.
But they are frightening on hard pack ice, but good on soft snow. In snowy conditions which we hardly ever have, I prefer not to drive anyway due to risk with or without different tyre types. KM2's are designed for purpose, I'd say K02's on balance would indeed be better in icy snowy conditions. But in general use I'd not swap my KM2's at all, and are far more suitable across the board for most weather we get. We rarely get icy snowy conditions, and as I said it's extremely risky to drive in anyway so I prefer not to. Insures could argue it's negligent to purposely be out in it also in case of major damage, not something I'd like to risk. Diesels Lives Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨🔧🧰⚙️ And if You Love the Country, then we’re on the same side ~ I got’ love for Britain, I got’ British pride’. 🇬🇧 |
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21st Sep 2017 1:12pm |
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| Scotm Member Since: 28 Feb 2014 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 637 
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5 posts on winter tyres and no sign of Eric?!
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21st Sep 2017 1:22pm |
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| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3317
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I too was a KM / KM2 fan for years 
However swapped to AT's (KO2) when I last replaced them and they are like chalk and cheese. The ATs don't flinch in the ice / snow where the Muds where pretty scary on ice / hard packed snow. On the road they are also way quieter. If I was in deep mud everyday, I'd go back to MTs however |
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21st Sep 2017 1:34pm |
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| Dunc99 Member Since: 25 Oct 2015 Location: Lake District Posts: 8
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After ending up in a ditch last winter when the BFG AT's lost all grip in slushy snow, I looked for proper winter tyres that could also do green lanes.
I went for Cooper Discover M+S tyres 215/85 on steel rims. Haven't tried them in snow yet but they've been great on green lanes in the Lakes (tibberthwaite, parkamoor etc) and better than the old BFGs at pulling camper vans through the mud at Kendal Calling this year. |
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21st Sep 2017 1:43pm |
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| NickEJ Member Since: 24 Nov 2012 Location: Ljubljana Posts: 152  
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We have a great arrangement here. Your local friendly tyre fitter stores whichever tyres you're not using for a small fee - 16 I think. Then on the 15th November and thereafter by law you have to have winter tyres - so you call up your man, arrange a time and he swaps tyres for you. It's tempting to get another set of boosts to make life easier but, to be honest, it couldn't get much easier.
I got a set Kumho last year and was impressed with the grip. I always carry snow chains as well though just in case. Interestingly, when we lived in Washington DC it would take them about 3-4 days to clear any snow if it was a significant dump. Here, it's done before you get out of bed - pavements included. Click image to enlarge Last edited by NickEJ on 21st Sep 2017 2:06pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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21st Sep 2017 1:55pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816  
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No point really in commenting this again. Use the search feature on here and you will find enough threads/sensible opinions to make up your mind. Right now still busy anyway with digesting last nights concert here. 
Eric Click image to enlarge You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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21st Sep 2017 2:04pm |
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| Petrovich Member Since: 24 Jan 2008 Location: Sankt-Peterburg Posts: 75 
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Its all depends on what kind of winter you have ))
How much snow if any? For last 10 years for me (in the most northern megapolis in the world) Cooper Discoverer M+S 235/85 R16 120/116Q with pins Good grip, no aqua planing, good side walls
Defender 110 '07Last edited by Petrovich on 21st Sep 2017 5:13pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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21st Sep 2017 2:04pm |
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| TomekW Member Since: 21 Feb 2015 Location: Warsaw Posts: 192  
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+1 for Cooper Discoverer M+S
had them on D2 and have them on D3 and Defender 2021 Defender 90 D250 1998 TUL 1997 TUM FFR 2003 Defender 110SW Td5 1985 ExMOD 110 ST 3.9 V8 1971 Series IIa Lightweight |
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21st Sep 2017 5:05pm |
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| deejayen Member Since: 18 Sep 2017 Location: Inverness Posts: 56
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I've had a look, and my current tyres are General Grabber TR, which, although they have M + S on them, are classified as a summer tyre. Does the M + S give any indication that they might not be too bad in winter?
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21st Sep 2017 7:57pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240
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No, not really. Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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21st Sep 2017 8:10pm |
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