need tyres to work in Finland and Sweden
Discussion
Any advice is more than welcome.
My and a few friends are taking 2 freelanders to Sweden via Finland, we are traveling from Scotland and really I need some help on tyres due to the fact I'm doing motor way, track, gravel and snow driving and need a tyre that's going to perform well on all but would prefer it to be better on the snow for obvious reasons.
Also I need somewhere that can kit out my wagon in minimum time and not too pricey. For instance under body protection, water proofing etc etc.
My and a few friends are taking 2 freelanders to Sweden via Finland, we are traveling from Scotland and really I need some help on tyres due to the fact I'm doing motor way, track, gravel and snow driving and need a tyre that's going to perform well on all but would prefer it to be better on the snow for obvious reasons.
Also I need somewhere that can kit out my wagon in minimum time and not too pricey. For instance under body protection, water proofing etc etc.
Iirc Sweden and Finland recommend studded tyres in the winter.
But you won't want or need them in the UK (and they are illegal iirc).
I would suggest a set of regular decent tyres for over here GG AT for example. Then budget for some studs over there.
It's likely there will be garages that will offer part works or a buyback service
Or you could get some stud/chain things. Google removable tyre studs and you'll find it. It's like a rubber net with studs built in to wrap the tyre.
For the rest - speak to your local independant land rover specialist.
But you won't want or need them in the UK (and they are illegal iirc).
I would suggest a set of regular decent tyres for over here GG AT for example. Then budget for some studs over there.
It's likely there will be garages that will offer part works or a buyback service
Or you could get some stud/chain things. Google removable tyre studs and you'll find it. It's like a rubber net with studs built in to wrap the tyre.
For the rest - speak to your local independant land rover specialist.
Firstly studded tyres are not illegal in UK.
Secondly it depends on where you are going and what you intend to do and when to give some idea of the likely weather.
These are countries which have long distances between North and South. In the south then many people get along quite happily with European winters.
Further north there are many who use Nordic friction tyres which are essentially studless winters but with compound and tread pattern that doesn't work so well in the warm and wet. Even so some drive on them into the summer to wear them out.
Studs definitely give better grip on smooth sheet ice but to detriment of performance on other surfaces.
Unfortunately you will have to weigh up what to use but I have driven in quite extreme conditions on studless Nordic winters without issue. You just have to be aware when on sheet ice but even then it's generally manageable.
If you get freezing supercooled rain which just freezes on contact then even decent studs can struggle.
Secondly it depends on where you are going and what you intend to do and when to give some idea of the likely weather.
These are countries which have long distances between North and South. In the south then many people get along quite happily with European winters.
Further north there are many who use Nordic friction tyres which are essentially studless winters but with compound and tread pattern that doesn't work so well in the warm and wet. Even so some drive on them into the summer to wear them out.
Studs definitely give better grip on smooth sheet ice but to detriment of performance on other surfaces.
Unfortunately you will have to weigh up what to use but I have driven in quite extreme conditions on studless Nordic winters without issue. You just have to be aware when on sheet ice but even then it's generally manageable.
If you get freezing supercooled rain which just freezes on contact then even decent studs can struggle.
Obviously with two sets there is a better chance of having something that will work well in whatever the conditions faced at the time. The downside side is expense, weight and space.
You still need to consider where, when and what surface conditions are likely to be encountered in order to make a choice.
You still need to consider where, when and what surface conditions are likely to be encountered in order to make a choice.
Yeah deffo the money side is a big thing but the way I see it is there's only four things connecting me to the road and they might be worth getting. As for space I reckon two on the roof two in boot, where is a good place to buy these Nordic friction tyres I can only find write ups about them.
As for weather it will be march next year this happens but we are trying to get it all sorted now so once we get home we can just throw it all together ready to go
As for weather it will be march next year this happens but we are trying to get it all sorted now so once we get home we can just throw it all together ready to go
Is there a ferry route from Edinburgh anymore? Confused how you are getting to Finland in order to drive back to Stockholm and then from there back to UK.
But if you are generally sticking to the Baltic coast or more strictly the Gulf of Bothnia at that time of year then a set of spikes are worthwhile.
Reason is that part of the journey will be on roads which are essentially clear except for areas of sheet ice where snow has melted on a sunny day and then re frozen. So a rapid and unexpected transition from tarmac to sheet ice. Lots of snow packed mainly and loose surfaces too.
Are you averse to buying rubber over there?
But if you are generally sticking to the Baltic coast or more strictly the Gulf of Bothnia at that time of year then a set of spikes are worthwhile.
Reason is that part of the journey will be on roads which are essentially clear except for areas of sheet ice where snow has melted on a sunny day and then re frozen. So a rapid and unexpected transition from tarmac to sheet ice. Lots of snow packed mainly and loose surfaces too.
Are you averse to buying rubber over there?
Right I get your drift its gonna be minimum time on ferries so roads all the way really, looking at around 5000 miles. So Edinburgh to Dover hit France then to fallingbostel in Germany then head north from there to Finland keep going north take a big left then head south stop off then head back to Germany where we are based
Ad happily get tires there, du think they would be cheaper there.
Ad happily get tires there, du think they would be cheaper there.
Will you need studded tyres?
I know they salt the main roads in Sweden but not in Norway so not sure if they treat them in Finland.
Even so my friend in Sweden just uses winter tyres (which are a legal requirement) when driving from Varmland to Norway skiing on her Megane Scenic and has had no issues.
I would have thought in a Freelander you would be ok with one set.
I know they salt the main roads in Sweden but not in Norway so not sure if they treat them in Finland.
Even so my friend in Sweden just uses winter tyres (which are a legal requirement) when driving from Varmland to Norway skiing on her Megane Scenic and has had no issues.
I would have thought in a Freelander you would be ok with one set.
OK after a quick look, seems there is a similar problem to some people had on the FL2 and Yeti forums. The 65 profile reduces choice.
Only one I can find in studded at this size online even at a reasonable price is this.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 SUV at around 200 euro a corner. Ouch. They do deliver to Germany, in which case it seems as if the order is transferred to nordenreifen.de
Ouch.
Another one I can recommend as spiked tyre is this
Nordman SUV
Also available in your size, might be worth a word to the importer in Lockerbie or Vianor in Germany. I don't know the prices but Nordman is the budget brand of Nokian and usually good value.
Nordic Tyres (UK) Ltd
www.nordiccartyres.com
Unit 2 Sydney Place Lockerbie, Dumfries & Galloway
DGll 2JA Lockerbie
Tel. 44 (0) 1576 203 020
I use Nokian WRG2 SUV all year round on my FL2. Sold as a winter in Europe but also as an all weather in N american continent. Last winter one had to drive like an idiot to unstick them, except on smooth ice, when had to take care. Ice performance is where they make the compromise on performance to gain on dry and wet roads in warmer temps.
I don't know if this helps.
Only one I can find in studded at this size online even at a reasonable price is this.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 SUV at around 200 euro a corner. Ouch. They do deliver to Germany, in which case it seems as if the order is transferred to nordenreifen.de
Ouch.
Another one I can recommend as spiked tyre is this
Nordman SUV
Also available in your size, might be worth a word to the importer in Lockerbie or Vianor in Germany. I don't know the prices but Nordman is the budget brand of Nokian and usually good value.
Nordic Tyres (UK) Ltd
www.nordiccartyres.com
Unit 2 Sydney Place Lockerbie, Dumfries & Galloway
DGll 2JA Lockerbie
Tel. 44 (0) 1576 203 020
I use Nokian WRG2 SUV all year round on my FL2. Sold as a winter in Europe but also as an all weather in N american continent. Last winter one had to drive like an idiot to unstick them, except on smooth ice, when had to take care. Ice performance is where they make the compromise on performance to gain on dry and wet roads in warmer temps.
I don't know if this helps.
I have seen a company that you can buy different lengths of studs for normal tyres and they pretty much just screw in and the screwed end is pretty wide so should be pretty firm in the tire, obviously they are a one time use in the same hole so what would you say to one set of tires add the studs before the border then remove when the roads clear up?
GreatGranny said:
Will you need studded tyres?
I know they salt the main roads in Sweden but not in Norway so not sure if they treat them in Finland.
Even so my friend in Sweden just uses winter tyres (which are a legal requirement) when driving from Varmland to Norway skiing on her Megane Scenic and has had no issues.
I would have thought in a Freelander you would be ok with one set.
I'm sure that in my FL2 I'd be quite happy to do this trip on proper Nordic studless tyres, but note comment about time in last line of post.I know they salt the main roads in Sweden but not in Norway so not sure if they treat them in Finland.
Even so my friend in Sweden just uses winter tyres (which are a legal requirement) when driving from Varmland to Norway skiing on her Megane Scenic and has had no issues.
I would have thought in a Freelander you would be ok with one set.
Something like, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV studless. link Not cheap though.
In fact I'd argue this would be an excellent choice to go with just one set. But they don't come in the OP's required size. Maybe choose a narrower width to compensate for the higher profile? But then I have well over a quarter of a million km experience on ice and snow over the years, and have realised that if you are on polished ice with studless tyres and anything much of a gradient or a cyclist pulls a stupid stunt right in front of you then it can get hairy.
But to try and do that distance in two weeks at that time of year they can't hang about tip toeing along imvho which alters things a little.
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