2 winter tyres on the front - 2 usual all season on the back

worded

2 winter tyres on the front - 2 usual all season on the back of Audi a4

In irish winter conditions is this ok or highly dangerous ?

coylemj

You have better grip tyres at the front which is good for braking and you have no mix on the axles so I can't see anything wrong with the setup. The worst thing you can do is mix tyres with different grip characteristics on the same axle.

Why? Ireland winters do not justify winter tyres.

joujoujou

As different kind of compound is used to make winter vs. all-season tyre, different grip can be expected as a result.

I wouldn't be happy losing grip on rear axle (actually on any axle) doing a tight corner, for example.

Tail Docker

Deleted User wrote: »

Why? Ireland winters do not justify winter tyres.

Yeah. Get some, then come back. The difference is night and day. I have winters on the front, regulars on the back. Makes a huge difference, braking distance is halved, grip is unreal.

biko

This is the same as with new and old tyres mix in rain.
The tyres with the best grip should go on the back.

Tail Docker

Tail Docker wrote: »

Yeah. Get some, then come back. The difference is night and day. I have winters on the front, regulars on the back. Makes a huge difference, braking distance is halved, grip is unreal.

The AA disagrees

http://www.advertiser.ie/athlone/article/48218/no-need-for-winter-tyres-says-aa

The fact is they are less good generally.

worded

Poss artic weather on the way this winter that could be worse than 2010
That's according to an article in today's info - so it must be true ;-)

I have a set so its a question of front winters or not

I think I will go front winters and not break hard on a round about and use common sense

slimjimmc

Deleted User wrote: »

The AA disagrees

http://www.advertiser.ie/athlone/article/48218/no-need-for-winter-tyres-says-aa

The fact is they are less good generally.

At temps higher than 5 degrees centigrade according to the article. But don't forget that peak driving periods occur when temps are lower such as early morning/late evening. If you're out and about during those conditions you'll notice the difference.

worded

For anyone living in a mountainy area it's obvious to use them.
This sweeping statement of not suited to Ireland's winter doesn't wash really.

CiniO

worded wrote: »

2 winter tyres on the front - 2 usual all season on the back of Audi a4

In irish winter conditions is this ok or highly dangerous ?

It depands.
On dry roads during cold weather both will probably provide very similar grip.
When it will get warm (over 10 degrees) your winter tyres in the front will probably provide much worse grip than you all-seasons in the rear. This won't be any more dangerous comared to if you had all 4 winters.

But if you ever encounter snowy conditions, and will be driving in the snow, with winter tyres in the front and all-season in the rear, then hope you have a really good training on controlling skids, as your car will most likely skid on every single turn.

worded

CiniO wrote: »

It depands.
On dry roads during cold weather both will probably provide very similar grip.
When it will get warm (over 10 degrees) your winter tyres in the front will probably provide much worse grip than you all-seasons in the rear. This won't be any more dangerous comared to if you had all 4 winters.

But if you ever encounter snowy conditions, and will be driving in the snow, with winter tyres in the front and all-season in the rear, then hope you have a really good training on controlling skids, as your car will most likely skid on every single turn.

But at least I will have forward momentum

Winter tyres are better in the ice as well? If so the same could happen / more likely to happen on ice.

CiniO

worded wrote: »

But at least I will have forward momentum

You will of course.
I'm not discouraging you from such setup - just saying that in such setup rear of your car will be skidding permanently on snow, and you just need to have skills to control it.
I drove with such setup for a while, and survived.

Winter tyres are better in the ice as well? If so the same could happen / more likely to happen on ice.

IMO winter tyres make very little difference on ice compared to summer tyres or all-seasons.

corkgsxr

joujoujou wrote: »

As different kind of compound is used to make winter vs. all-season tyre, different grip can be expected as a result.

I wouldn't be happy losing grip on rear axle (actually on any axle) doing a tight corner, for example.

Would you be happier to slide into the car in front.

70% of work done in a corner is front.

biko wrote: »

This is the same as with new and old tyres mix in rain.
The tyres with the best grip should go on the back.

They think understeer is Easyer to control than oversteer. So they tell ya use best tires rear that's the sole reason. And the study's are American and based on rear wheel drive cars.

But either way I'd like to prioritize braking so best tires front

CiniO

corkgsxr wrote: »

They think understeer is Easyer to control than oversteer. So they tell ya use best tires rear that's the sole reason. And the study's are American and based on rear wheel drive cars.

But either way I'd like to prioritize braking so best tires front

Thing is that obviously better front tyres will give you better braking, but only assuming you will be able to keep the car in straight line during that braking, which might not be that easy f.e. on snow with winter tyres on the front and summer or all-season on the rear.

And yes - they are right - understeer is easier to control for unskilled driver than oversteer. And unfortunately most drivers around are unskilled when it comes to this.

corkgsxr

CiniO wrote: »

Thing is that obviously better front tyres will give you better braking, but only assuming you will be able to keep the car in straight line during that braking, which might not be that easy f.e. on snow with winter tyres on the front and summer or all-season on the rear.

And yes - they are right - understeer is easier to control for unskilled driver than oversteer. And unfortunately most drivers around are unskilled when it comes to this.

Untill this and the last van Iv near always had better fronts and Iv never had a issue, a transit I had preformed brilliantly in heavy ice.

This one I only buy goodyears to best thread goes on front.


Ok different situation. Bad rain, loads of surface water, good thread on fronts clears the water, worse rears just follow in the track.

joujoujou

corkgsxr wrote: »

Would you be happier to slide into the car in front.

70% of work done in a corner is front.

Read me again. :P

=============

My current setup gives me neutral handling, so doing tight corners with inappropriate speed would result in losing grip on both axles simultaneously.

corkgsxr wrote: »

[...]

But either way I'd like to prioritize braking so best tires front

Whe your rear axle starts to overtake you, no braking would help you out.

Padraig Mor

CiniO wrote: »

.
When it will get warm (over 10 degrees) your winter tyres in the front will probably provide much worse grip than you all-seasons in the rear. .

I was under the impression that winter tyres only disimproved compared to standard tyres over about 30 degrees Celsius?

JJJJNR

Do not mix winters and all seasons, its like mixing summers and winters, you don't have the same amount of grip at the front / rear and will make your car unstable going around corners, stick to all of one or all of the other.

CJhaughey

Padraig Mor wrote: »

I was under the impression that winter tyres only disimproved compared to standard tyres over about 30 degrees Celsius?

I put a set of winters on at the start of October, temps were about 15 during the day, I didn't notice any real worrying signs of tyre degradation or ill handling during that period.
Now the temps have dropped to -0ºC at night and not much more than 8-10ºC during the day in addition to wet greasy conditions they have really come into their own.
I don't think the use of winters is overkill in Ireland in general.
The gap between All-season/and Winter tyres has narrowed IMHO, having had Nokian All Weathers for the last few years and now Conti Wintercontact I think I may just run them for as long as they last.

corkgsxr

JJJJNR wrote: »

Do not mix winters and all seasons, its like mixing summers and winters, you don't have the same amount of grip at the front / rear and will make your car unstable going around corners, stick to all of one or all of the other.

Don't be silly. If that was the case you'd have to have exactly the same tires on all 4 wheels to ensure matching grip.

Matching axles is enough

JJJJNR

they are different types of tyres, totally different, having winter tyres on one axle and all season on the other is the wrong setup, having all four winters two different brands on each axle is fine.