When do you switch to Winter tyres?

[belfry]

I have ordered some pirellis for my 997 C4S. When do you guys fit your winter tyres? Obviously it'll be weather dependent, but is it usually during October or November?

[mankey]

Essentially, when it gets cold enough.

[Magic919]

You need the temps to drop and stay down. If it hits 10 degrees on winter tyres it's really not that pleasant to drive.

[Dave Sums]

I live in Poland lots of the time so know a fair bit about this...
Generally any time the average temp is below 7 degrees celcius is good time to change.
Under this mean temperature the rubber compound of winter tyres remains more flexible and offers more grip.
Same the other way, if you get an unusually warm winter day, take it easy as the winter tyres won't offer such good grip.

If you drive mostly in evening and night when temps can be in teh minus but say plus 10 degrees in day I would change to winter tyres as it's more dangerious on summer tyres in frost than winter tyres in sun..

Hope that helps...

[Trev450]

I normally recon on around November.

[FarQue]

I generally fit them when ambient temps are 7c or below for prolonged periods.

[belfry]

Thanks for the replies.

Looking at the average temperatures for the UK, the months when the average temperature is 7 degrees or below are December, January and February.

[Ady128]

Never. We've managed for all these years without winter tyres.

[Martian O]

Ady128 said:

Never. We've managed for all these years without winter tyres.

[Koln-RS]

Ady128 said:

Never. We've managed for all these years without winter tyres.

That probably goes for 99% of people in this country, with our temperate climate.

Agree that winter tyres do work, but I'd rather have a second vehicle with all season tyres to use if the weather gets too severe, and leave my Porsche in a nice warm garage.

[RichB]

Trev450 said:

I normally recon on around November.

I wouldn't use recons any time of the year.

[cayman-black]

RichB said:

I wouldn't use recons any time of the year.

But most Porsches out there have recon engines.

[RichB]

[rog007]

belfry said:

...When do you guys fit your winter tyres?

Never. Have driven all cars in all conditions and never once had a problem, ever. Even when living on the continent, kept on normal tyres and only resorted to snow chains when on some of the less well cleared hilly passes.

[Trev450]

cayman-black said:

RichB said:

I wouldn't use recons any time of the year.

But most Porsches out there have recon engines.

[marky911]

Koln-RS said:

Ady128 said:

Never. We've managed for all these years without winter tyres.

That probably goes for 99% of people in this country, with our temperate climate.

Agree that winter tyres do work, but I'd rather have a second vehicle with all season tyres to use if the weather gets too severe, and leave my Porsche in a nice warm garage.

This^^

Buy an old Shogun or something. Unstoppable with mud and snow tyres on and you don't have to worry about washing it. Just giving mine some pre winter checks and fettling and I'm ready to go! Bring on the snow!

[jinkster]

I've been looking for a Boxster but at present own a BMW 320d Touring, winter tyres I find are a must for a commute at 4am on snow covered roads across the Pennines. Who ever said a BMW was rubbish is snow has never run winter tyres!

[Ady128]

Mind you, I don't drive my 911 in the snow, if I can help it.

[Tonsko]

Edit.

[red997]

ran the KN's on winter tyres for 3 years - being remote, it was a necessity to even get out of the drive onto the C/B/A roads to work;

now live less rurally, so no winter tyres for the Panamera

However the 'other' car will be wearing winters - just in case - STi Impreza - should be fun

In the three years I ran winters on the KN, I always managed to get them fitted the week before it snowed !
so I'll let you know when the STi gets re-shod - it will probably snow the week later