Winter tyres...

[schurch]

worth it or not? Oppinions or experiences?

For the addition 250-odd quid, do they make much of a difference to how the elan drives in winter, given that its so light?

[TheBard]

Depends on the depth of yer snow, and yer style of driving...
I enjoyed my first winter in the Elan on the cracked and aged (14 years old rubber ) original OEM tyres. That was fun, but I drove sensibly, didn't push it, and had no surprises...
I'm now on BF Goodrich G-Force sports, great in the wet, and I'm not going to change them for the winter season. That said, I also don't push it when the conditions aren't suitable! When it is suitable, then...
Just remember the car is light, the tyres are fairly wide, and if you don't like being a sledge, get some skinny spikes!!!
Drive safe,
Ian

[Dave M]

My $.02: the cars I've had were totally different animals with snow tires on. I can go anywhere I have ground clearance (and some places I don't!) in my Subaru with the snows. On the other hand the car is a total handful without them (on Kumho 712s). My old Civic I had years ago was as good or better with snows as my AWD Subaru was with regular all-season tires. I agree with Ian, it would depend on how much snow you typically drive in but it never ceases to amaze me how much better my cars are in snow and slush with the snows than without.

FWIW, I bought the Dunlop HS-1s a few years back for around $65 a tire in a ~185 60/15 size. Relatively cheap for a whole lot of security where I drive.

[schurch]

Thanks for the info. We don't get that much snow in england these days, even up here in durham, but there might be some. I'm more concerned with wether they make much of a difference in cold or icy conditions. I guess not that much (ice is ice after all and nothings gonna help much there).

I think I'll see how it goes this winter.

[JIMBO]

Be very cautious in choosing winter tyres. The tyre industry is pushing hard to create a new market for additional tyre sales and the advertising is often misleading.
There are different types of winter tyre, some are designed primarily for snow and sub zero temperatures. These are bloody dangerous in wet conditions,stability is reduced and braking distances increase dramaticaly.

Most manufacturers explaining each tyres performance by symbol's showing for instance snow -ice -wet -dry etc . Never by a "winter" tyre unless you believe it has been designed to cope with the conditions you expect to encounter.

Better still put the Elan away until the weather improves.There's too many getting written off as it is.
Regards
Jim