Winter tyres

Hurler85

I am looking for a bit of advice. Got my dad to get two new tyres on the front of my passat last week. The problem is, unknowing to himself, the garage put on winter tyres, (the big snowflake being the giveaway when I checked them!)

I am just wondering as to the implications of driving with winter tyres as we enter the summer, and if it was even legal for a garage to sell and fit winter tyres to my car at this time of the yaer? They did not give a receipt for the job.

I hear they wear quicker and are noiser in summer, but cannot get any other info.

CiniO

They will wear much quicker, they will be more noisy, they will decrease fuel economy, and the worst they will decrease the grip, and make the car to skid easier.

Get him now to go to garage, to swap the tyres for normal summer tyres.

PS - what make and model of tyre is it?

Mena

CiniO wrote: »

They will wear much quicker, they will be more noisy, they will decrease fuel economy, and the worst they will decrease the grip, and make the car to skid easier.

i've been far too lazy to change back to my summers yet and can confirm all of the above.

GTE

I'm not sure if this is financially viable and I don't know if you would consider Winter tyres in the Winter but presuming you can afford it and that you wouldn't ever consider fitting Winters on when the conditions suit then if they are a decent tyre you could keep them for next Winter and just put it down to a bit of luck that you came across them.

I know its only two but if your father generally wouldn't drive in the bad weather or would drive easier, sure I think we all do, then having two winters on should not be a problem.

I only had two snow capable tyres due to shipping delays for the first wave of the snow this year and the car was fine. I didnt slip anywhere but with the snow tyres on the driving wheels I was able to get out of any deep snow I found myself in, though the car as a whole did feel more planted when the other two arrived.

Hurler85

Mena wrote: »

i've been far too lazy to change back to my summers yet and can confirm all of the above.

Thanks, its good to know that these guys were trying to pull a fast one. They tyres were actually continental, e65 for 205 60 15.

Matt Simis

Get them to supply and fit 2 summers for super cheap as compensation and keep the winters for.. winter.

slimjimmc

Interesting comparison here, though they don't quote temps.

orobica

did you check the spec of the tyre correctly and not just assume that because there is a snowflake on the wall its a snow tyre? there are quite a few brands pushing 4season tyres this year, good for winter and summe and will have pic of a snowflake on the side, conti hankook bstone etc. If the garage gave you "full snow tyres" all said above is correct for performance but my big worry is if you crash in the summer you probally wont have any insurance!!!!!!!!!

slimjimmc

The insurance hype is blown out of proportion for what I can see. Once the tyres are EU-marked, correct size and speed rating I don't believe there is anything to say they significantly increase your insurance risk The argument that they may be less safe in summer could equally be applied to using summer tyres in winter or to changing from a premium summer tyre to a cheapo ditchfinder economy summer tyre.
It's certainly not illegal to use them all year around.