Latest posts for the topic "Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere"

Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:36:48 GMT

I know it will have been asked before but I'm driving to La Rosiere this year (december 26th) our first trip to the resort and our first winter trip in the car, I have driven the journey during the summer but this is going to be different. We will have snow chains but the question is with this being our only trip to the alps this year by car, are winter tyres worth the cost for the trip?

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:46:56 GMT

Regulars will know that I am a trenchant proponent of getting winter tyres, and always reply when this comes up. I myself made plenty of trips to the Alps in summer tyres with no problem, but counted myself lucky. Once I switched to winter tyres, there were ate least three journeys when I don't how I would have coped and indeed, saw plenty of GB and NL cars stuck in quite moderate conditions.

The issue is that chains are principally for extreme conditions, when a car with winter tyres has to negotiate steep slopes, ice or very deep snow. The rest of the time, winter tyres will be fine in 90% of situations where typical summer tyres will be just hopeless. With most mainland European cars, and most Alpine locals carrying winter tyres, you're at a disadvantage: they'll be able to drive in conditions where you are starting to lose control, and you won't necessarily have time or opportunity to stop and change to chains. And in mixed tarmac/snow what are you going to do?

Finally, bear in mind that winter tyres are good for the UK as well. You get a benefit in shorter braking at temperatures under 7C - which is the case for at least 3 months in Britain.

Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:25:31 GMT

noddyh wrote:are winter tyres worth the cost for the trip?

Yes. Absolutely no doubt whatsoever.

What Msej449 said +100.

With winter tyres you may find your chains remain unused. The road up to La Rosiere is not a place to be in winter on the wrong tyres.

We drove out before Xmas last year and wouldn't have got much further than Calais on summer tyres - it was chucking snow down the whole way.

And remember, the "cost" of winter tyres is marginal anyway - it comes down to the cost of having your local fitter change the tyres over. Buying a spare set of steel wheels, for your winter tyres, makes life a lot easier but also potentially saves your alloys from all that winter ****! 8)

One thing - get your winter tyres now, before the weather turns cold in the UK (and, as Msej449 said, you'll have more grip in the UK too).

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:13:39 GMT

Just to add to the other replies. I too have been a virtual fan of winter tyres for use in the UK, and this year have purchased a set of wheels and tyres ready to go on once the temperature drops a bit more.

I expect them to be on from mid November to nearly Easter, and if we get any weather like last year, I will be the envy of everyone I know :twisted:

I did a lot of research on the subject, and they have progressed massively in recent years. A simple google search will demonstrate the benefits of getting yourself a set of tyres for the colder months.

As Admin says, you should get on the case soon as once it gets colder demand will increase massively.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:29:27 GMT

Our household has been driving to the Alps 2x a winter since 1992. Never owned Winter Tyres, never got stuck, rarely used chains. Now on Intermediates since 2005, never used chains on them either. I do know that road grip using Intermediate Tyres is reduced in warm weather, as I've experienced it.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:52:37 GMT

you don't have to have them but I would ..according to all the tests the advantages are manifold and they are not that expensive I've just paid GBP100 for 2

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/snow-chains-winter-tyres.html

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:03:30 GMT

Thanks for the prompt answers. I guess Im looking for a set of winter tyres. No point risking the second most expensive item most of us ever buy just for the sake of 4 new tyres, not to forget whats inside the car.

Thanks

Noddyh

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:08:39 GMT

maybe a tip, before you spent all your budget to expensive topmark tyres (or cheap ass tyres who have no grip on ice and snow):

Why don't you rent winter tyres?
Here, in Holland we rent them for about 100euro's a week, and it's cheaper than buying a set..

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:18:32 GMT

FerdinandOskam wrote:maybe a tip, before you spent all your budget to expensive topmark tyres (or cheap ass tyres who have no grip on ice and snow):

Why don't you rent winter tyres?
Here, in Holland we rent them for about 100euro's a week, and it's cheaper than buying a set..

My winter tyres, (Land Rover Freelander), cost me GBP550 a set a year ago. Thats 600 euros. Thats 11 euros a week......
And they are only half way through their life......

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:37:29 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

FerdinandOskam wrote:maybe a tip, before you spent all your budget to expensive topmark tyres (or cheap ass tyres who have no grip on ice and snow):

Why don't you rent winter tyres?
Here, in Holland we rent them for about 100euro's a week, and it's cheaper than buying a set..

My winter tyres, (Land Rover Freelander), cost me GBP550 a set a year ago. Thats 600 euros. Thats 11 euros a week......
And they are only half way through their life......

That's one set of tyres in 2 years, so 300 euro's a year.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:01:42 GMT

have a look here...you have to balance the overall performance against price mine are going on in December and coming off end March

http://www.tyretest.com/wintercar_tyres/index.html

Mytyres had the most choice and gave fantastic service

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:17:49 GMT

noddyh wrote:Thanks for the prompt answers. I guess Im looking for a set of winter tyres. No point risking the second most expensive item most of us ever buy just for the sake of 4 new tyres, not to forget whats inside the car.

Thanks

Noddyh

Noddyh, La Ros has quite a big main road up to the resort, it will be kept clear to provide easy access to all the 3 axle double decker Dutch coaches with trailers that head up there :D

I do hope you wear a ski helmet and back protector when skiing.....

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:42:14 GMT

As it's only a single trip renting could be a good solution.

Socks are easier to put on than chains. I recommend practicing in the drive at home with chains until you can do it with your eyes closed. As no doubt it will be a dark freezing blizzard when you actually need them.

I am a HUGE fan of winter tyres. I am putting mine on next week. Admittedly I am out in the Alps all season, but they make SO much difference.

It snowed early November, mid December and through January in the UK last year, so get them.

I can also say that I haven't needed snow chains in 2 full seasons with snow tyres. They are that good.

In the UK the propensity of 4x4s give people a false sense of security. four wheel drive doesn't help you when braking without grip. It's all in the tyres.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:22:59 GMT

I am thinking about buying some winter tyres just to use in the U.K.

Last winter I had a couple of nasty frights when I put my foot on the brake coming up to a busy roundabout and nothing happened! We seemed to have an awful lot of days when the roads were very icy and it was often black ice which I couldn't see. I am hoping that winter tyres would help with this problem.

Plus, they would be handy in the snow as well. I bought snow chains last year so that I could get my car out as the year before I couldn't get out for a week because they don't grit or snow-plough our narrow country lane.

The cheapest tyre fitters near us will fit tyres for a cost of GBP5 per tyre, and I can get winter tyres for my car (small 14 inch wheels) for GBP50 each, e.g. Falken HS 439. This is about the same as I pay for my 'normal' tyres so I suppose if I keep changing them over every winter and spring then it will save the wear on my 'normal' tyres and the cost will even out.

If I was going to drive to La Rosiere I would definitely buy winter tyres and snow chains and do lots of practise with the snow chains before I got there. I have had to help lots of people in ski resorts (including La Rosiere) trying to get in and out of car parks whilst their cars are sliding about and seen several cars which have gone off the road. We went there at Easter and there was masses of snow. And last year we went to Tignes in October and the mini-buses nearly failed to get there because of unexpected heavy snow and they hadn't fitted their winter tyres yet.

Ally

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:13:34 GMT

FerdinandOskam wrote:maybe a tip, before you spent all your budget to expensive topmark tyres (or cheap ass tyres who have no grip on ice and snow):

Why don't you rent winter tyres?
Here, in Holland we rent them for about 100euro's a week, and it's cheaper than buying a set..

May I be bold enough to say thats a really crap idea, as GBP100 will get you 2 tyres purchased, which you can then use for the winter season.
Trust me, the mileage I do, having winter tyres made a real difference last winter here in the UK

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:29:07 GMT

daved wrote:you don't have to have them but I would ..according to all the tests the advantages are manifold and they are not that expensive I've just paid GBP100 for 2

Interesting. All the advice I have read says you should always fit a complete set of winter tyres. This is due to the difference in grip you would get if you had winter on the front and summer on the rear. It is very easy to cause your vehicle to spin under breaking with the above scenario.

Did you buy two to replace a pair of worn ones in an existing set?

A quote from KwikFit "We will not undertake any requests to fit tyres where the total number of winter or summers tyres, upon completion, would be less than 4."

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:05:34 GMT

If you dont have winter tyres and get stuck its a terrible faff trying to get the showchains on in a really bad downpour and if you are on your way to a days skiing you end up with manky dirty, cold hands a wetter than necessary back and a foul mood!! Get the tyres.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:59:15 GMT

IN some countries you will be fined for not having winter tyres

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:01:59 GMT

Tony_H wrote:IN some countries you will be fined for not having winter tyres

France your Ok but you can get a fine for not having snow chains

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:51:01 GMT

has no one use the link I posted on page 1 of this thread :roll:

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:02:20 GMT

daved wrote:has no one use the link I posted on page 1 of this thread :roll:

No !!!!

Sorry :wink:

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:08:23 GMT

Knowing the road up to La Rosiere I would suggest snow tyres BUT for the one trip a year I would use chains and take it very steadily IF the road is covered in snow. But as Bandit says the road is kept very clear to get the coaches and the HGV's with food supplies up there.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:12:07 GMT

Hi,

I can only agree with the majority of the other replies, a set ( all 4 not just the driven wheels ) of winter rubber will be the best option but you will need a set of chains to comply with the French motoring laws.

Chains are great but once the snow/ice cover is gone they should be removed to avoid damage to the tyres and to the roads, the problem being that if the snow/ice cover on the road is patchy you may be taking them on and off at different points , winter tyres on the other hand ( should have the Mountain and Snowflake symbol on the side wall ) are designed for when the temperature goes below +7 degrees and down to around -20 degrees or there abouts.

Also they give added stopping and traction in wet, cold , snow and ice ( not just snow and ice as some think ), as for the cost benefit a set of say Continental , Nokian or Vredstein tyres will set you back around GBP300 - GBP450 ish , but will wear just as good as summer tyres so will last for many winters.

Another way to look at the cost benefit is that as they are designed to perform below +7 degrees , this is in fact the driving to work and driving home road/air temperature in the UK for around 5 -6 months of the year.....so again they are not just an investment for the odd few weeks in the Alps, one other point is to check with your car insurance company as some of them claim fitting them will invalidate your insurance ( they claim it is a modification to the car ) if they do tell them to sod off and change your insurance company...they will soon learn and get the message.

The 3 main makes of Tyre are Continental , Nokian and Vredstein.....myself I will be opting for the Continental Conti-winter-contact TS800 Tyre for fitting next month.

If you don't have room to store your summer tyres at home Kwik-Fit will store them for you in their Tyre Hotel for about GBP50, you just ring them up and arrange to have the tyres swapped when the average morning/evening temp rises around the end of March /early April.

Best of Luck

jon.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:18:39 GMT

boredsurfin wrote:Knowing the road up to La Rosiere I would suggest snow tyres BUT for the one trip a year I would use chains and take it very steadily IF the road is covered in snow. But as Bandit says the road is kept very clear to get the coaches and the HGV's with food supplies up there.

Thank you Boredsurfin :thumbup:

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 10:54:05 GMT

Buy snow tyres, buy 4 of them, buy the best you can afford.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 17:00:06 GMT

Convinced, called local dealer and have ordered 4 new rims with winter tyres to be fitted at the start of December, had the bonus that they will store my summer wheels for me.

Thanks again for the info

Noddy.

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 23:04:15 GMT

noddyh wrote:Convinced, called local dealer and have ordered 4 new rims with winter tyres to be fitted at the start of December, had the bonus that they will store my summer wheels for me.

Which tyres did you buy? (I haven't bought mine yet and I'm wondering which ones to get).

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 23:51:57 GMT

http://www.tyretest.com/wintercar_tyres/index.html

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2011-Auto-Express-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 17:50:59 GMT

Which tyres did you buy? (I haven't bought mine yet and I'm wondering which ones to get).

The wheels will be fitted with Dunlop winter tyres, The other option was to have Continentals fitted but like someone else said earlier, its a balancing act as to how much outlay for the 3 months each year they will get used.

noddyh

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 20:33:28 GMT

Thanks Daved and Noddyh,
There are an awful lot of winter tyres available! I had a look to see which tyres ATS stock for my car, and they have Avon Ice Touring (3.5/5 on Dave's table) for GBP54-98, Dunlop SP Winter Response for GBP60-98m and Pirelli W190 Snow Control 2 for GBP60-98, but when you add the price for the tubeless valves and wheel balancing the price increases by about GBP10.

I think I will see which winter tyres my local tyre fitter can get at about GBP50 each for me and check their performance in Dave's table, and then go from there. I agree with Noddyh that there's no point spending a stupid amount of money on them.

Ally

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 23:35:37 GMT

I bought mine from

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/

they delivered from Germany in less than a week and definitely were the cheapest

Re:Winter tyres and driving to La Rosiere

Thu, 3 Nov 2011 14:55:29 GMT

AllyG wrote:Thanks Daved and Noddyh,
There are an awful lot of winter tyres available! I had a look to see which tyres ATS stock for my car, and they have Avon Ice Touring (3.5/5 on Dave's table) for GBP54-98, Dunlop SP Winter Response for GBP60-98m and Pirelli W190 Snow Control 2 for GBP60-98, but when you add the price for the tubeless valves and wheel balancing the price increases by about GBP10.

I think I will see which winter tyres my local tyre fitter can get at about GBP50 each for me and check their performance in Dave's table, and then go from there. I agree with Noddyh that there's no point spending a stupid amount of money on them.

Ally

Wrong, don't buy on price, buy on whats recommended for your particular vehicle. I bought budget winter tyres last year as there was only 1 make available locally in 17 inch wheels, and they have lasted a season, and 3 of the 4 will last another season which I find great value.

I am not bothering with winter tyres on the Mercedes as its rear wheel drive and if its snowing, I am quite simply not going out in it, its pointless.