 | Home > Wheels & Tyres > Winter Tyres |
 
|
|
|
| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5850   
|
Hello all,
Have recently joined the forum and more recently bought my first Defender. A 2011 SW with all the usual Defender quirks and irritations. As such I am soon to tackle a long list of mods, the first of which is Alloys/Tyres. Some will know I already asked preferences between BFGS and Coopers, and it was a fairly even split. However I have a new dilemma. I live in the French Alps and whilst I have heard excellent things about both sets of tyres, their ability in winter (sub 7c and snow) is hard to gauge. The Alloys supplier, who is also shoeing the wheels, says that a standard BFG A/T or Cooper ST Maxx should be enough in snow and winter conditions, whereas the guy from Coopers says given what I want to do and where, he would recommend full winter (I.e. Not M+S) So what I would like to know from more experienced types (especially after a couple of hardy UK winters) is is this true, from a daily driving winter conditions point of view or do the AT/ST become touch and go come winter? Here are my standard driving conditions for winter, so please take a look and tell me if I need full Winter or if the AT/ST will do the job: Winter use will be through four months, alt 800m - 2000m, snow coverage on Tarmac for 20-30 days, some compacted, some heavy fresh, 50% 7c or sub-zero temps. In essence 90% cold Tarmac usage with occasional snow coverage. Any thoughts or experiences? Northern England, Scotland or Wales over past two years? Preference, so you know, is to buy Cooper ST Maxx and be done with it. If I need to be dragged out of a ditch by my wife's Mini, more fool I...... Thanks in advance  Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
||
2nd Oct 2014 5:44pm |
|
| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731  
|
ST Maxx have done well for me in Bavaria the past 3 years - similar conditions to you I think. Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
||
|
2nd Oct 2014 6:12pm |
|
| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328 
|
GoodYear DuraTrac fully winter rated
|
||
|
2nd Oct 2014 6:45pm |
|
| Timo K Member Since: 23 Aug 2012 Location: Helsinki Posts: 171 
|
Cooper ST Maxx or Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT2...
BFG AT's are too hard a compound for winter use... |
||
|
2nd Oct 2014 9:09pm |
|
| mick Member Since: 08 Feb 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2109  
|
+1 for the Nokians
|
||
|
2nd Oct 2014 10:16pm |
|
| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816  
|
It's that time of the year again....
But..., Nokians are a real winter tire and a very good one, proof is that Nokians on Wolf wheels are sold in Switzerland as an original LR accessory for Defenders. And when you go to mountain ski stations here where often Defenders are used professionally, they invariably will have these Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT or LT2 (newer) on. I myself have these and they will enter their 7th winter now. They are also very quiet at highway speeds, just slightly more noisy only than my GG TRs. Eric 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 |
||
|
3rd Oct 2014 4:05am |
|
| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
|
I should have added that if you have the cash, IMHO the best option is to buy some dedicated winter (steel?) wheels with Nokians on them and keep the pretty alloys with e.g. ST Maxx for the rest of the year. The Coopers are good in Winter too so if you leave it a bit late in the year to change them you'll still be fine
Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
||
|
3rd Oct 2014 5:58am |
|
| rsms Member Since: 12 Jan 2013 Location: Home Posts: 36 
|
Another option for winter tires would be Kumho PowerGrip KC11. I have been driving them for a couple of winter seasons (heavy snow, hard packed snow, slush) without problems. Can also be studded (if allowed).
|
||
|
3rd Oct 2014 7:51am |
|
| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5850
|
Thank you all for your thoughts. I think Blindos with Coopers ST Maxx for as long as I can, then steel (which I have) with Nokians. The swiss don't f**k around with that sort of decision making and know a thing or two about the mountains! So the fact LR Ch use them as an OE set up is worth listening to.
It is what we have done on other cars for 7 years, so would have seemed sensible. I was just being a skinflint on the one hand (wanting to keep the cash for other toys/upgrades) and a poser on the other, not wishing to remove the Blindos and big, square tyre format for steel with skinny tyre set-up.....got to bite the bullet I suppose. Thank you all once again and great to hear thoughts from people in proper winter countries!!  Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
||
|
3rd Oct 2014 12:57pm |
|
| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5850
|
Timo, being of Finnish descent (and with a name like Timo, perhaps of racing/rallying heritage) a quick follow up. I have looked at the NOKIAN HAKKAPELIITTA LT2, excellent reviews throughout so thank you, but being a bit (a lot) of an idiot, I am wondering about the studs. Can this be used for normal winter conditions but on cleared tarmac? 
Any advice (experience) most welcome. Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
||
|
3rd Oct 2014 5:35pm |
|
| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
|
In Germany you are not allowed to use studs on tarmac (paved) roads, whatever the conditions.
Spikes are only really useful on sheet ice (not snow etc.) and this is relatively rare. They also damage the road surface making it more dangerous. Snow chains are the best option when things get really hairy... *Edit* Both the Nokians and Coopers have stud holes but neither comes with them as standard. Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
||
|
3rd Oct 2014 5:44pm |
|
| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5850
|
Thanks ZeDefender, especially regards studs not being standard. Appreciate the need/suitability and did not want them, but not clear on the Nokian website. By far the most suitable tyre for my needs otherwise.
Nokians on Black Wolfs for winter, Cooper ST Maxx on black Blindos for the other eight months. Happy. 
Danke Monsieur Le Grenadier I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
||
|
4th Oct 2014 1:40pm |
|
| Timo K Member Since: 23 Aug 2012 Location: Helsinki Posts: 171
|
If you have an otherwise identical tyre, one with studs and one without, the studded one will give better traction on all surfaces except bare asphalt. There's just no way around it. That said, like ZeDefender pointed out, studs are illegal in most of Europe. That's not to say a non-studded winter tyre is useless, your average All Terrain will be close to an ice skate compared to a well designed, well siped winter tyre with a soft winter rubber compound.
I also don't think snow chains are really a viable alternative to winter tyres either. Sure, if you hit half a meter of snow, chains will be better, not for anything else. Normal road driving will be much safer with good, dedicated winter tyres. |
||
|
4th Oct 2014 9:32pm |
|
| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
|
Here, chains are generally used on compacted snow especially on mountainous roads. Here is a nice piccy:
http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http%3A...JcBEK0DMCU If there is a 1/2 meter of snow on the road you should probably stay at home with some hot cocoa and a good book 
Oh - and no, obviously snow chains are not an alternative to winter tyres  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
||
|
4th Oct 2014 10:12pm |
|
|
|
| All times are GMT |
< Previous Topic | Next Topic > |
Posting Rules
|
Site Copyright © 2006-2025 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
