so whats the verdict on tyres for our weather over here...rain, dry, occasional light dusting of snow

I dont think full on snow tyres are really going to be useful mid summer

I do understand that in an ideal world I need 2 sets of wheels n tyres and do the job properly, and may go this way if we carry on having decent snowy winters

But in the meanwhile, if you could fit just one set, whats a good allrounder?

i.e. I dont want to get stuck when it snows because Ive got some comfy car like tyres on with no tread

..oh, currently got Michelin Diamaris...which look pretty road orientated to me

TIA cheers
bogie

we're lucky we got a vehicle that copes well in all weathers, be it dry roads or snow....contis seem popular but most well known brands run well on the RR and as long as there's decent tread on the tyres ,you'll be ok... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

ah, ok, so 4wd is enough ...as long as the snow isnt 2 foot deep I guess  cheers
bogie

dunno how deep the snow has to be before the RR gives up, maybe someone with FFRR/snow experience can let us know.... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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Mine was fine in the snow last year on standard Contis - but it is flat around my way. Never felt for a moment that it wouldn't get me to my destination.

The main issue is, however, not getting going, it is stopping. The trouble is that you can gain momentum in the Rangie as all the fancy ediffs, diff locks and traction control do their stuff. But then you need to scrub that speed off. The ABS will chatter away merrily but the speed of the car seems little changed.

I used to live in Germany where they have proper snow. You had to, by law, put winter tyres on the car after the beginning of November. I had an A8 quattro back then and with winter tyres on it could be driven on snow like it was on Tarmac. I thought this was the magic of 4wd until one year the snow arrived in October - before I'd changed to the winter tyres. I drove down a hill, turned the wheel and the car just ploughed straight on. No stopping the thing.

Lesson is that there is no substitute for real winter tyres.

The 911 I had back then was a real handful. Hilarious. I spent more time looking through the side windows than I did through the windscreen as straight line progress was impossible.

valid point re getting going ok but stopping being a problem.... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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What Emperor Mong said,

So easy to get going and people forget it's nearly 3 tonnes you are trying to stop...

I've found previously that a 2wd car on proper winter/snow tyres can actually be better that a 4x4 on all weather tyres quite often.
4x4s often give people a sense of invulnerability and then they drive too fast for the conditions.

my wife's little chevy matiz had no problems last year ..light car with thin tyres, i think she skied to work... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Diamaris are listed as summer tyres, not all year - so the tread pattern and compound won't be ideal for winter use, but I wouldn't consider.

If you are thinking of changing/have to change soon then I would perhaps look at an allrounder - I will leave the actual owners to comment on those

As you say, the ideal is to match tyres to the conditions. Winter tyres are better suited to temperatures below 8 degC or so, and generally have a pattern better suited to wet conditions - and snow! Summer tyres are better suited to temperatures above 8 degC, and a more dry tarmac-biased pattern.

The 4x4 and traction control on the RR will compensate somewhat for a less than optimal tyre, and unless you get very deep snow then you shouldn't have a problem - but be careful, the laws of physics still apply to 4x4s in the snow!

I do live on a hill, in village, and when I moved in a couple of years ago, always wondered why everyone on my road except me had at least one 4 x 4 on the drive .... then last year I never made it off the drive for a couple of weeks, hence this years choice of winter practical vehicle being a FFRR

Im with you on the winter tyres thing, I often drive on them on the continent in various hire cars over the years,. On other vehicles I have specific tyres for the job (eg on my track toy) just not winter tyres

I was really just wondering if theres a halfway house, I can put on next, that will be fine in the summer, and toooo bad in winter, a "4 x 4" tyre thats not so summer road orientated, but not a full on AT tyre

Maybe I will just fit some winter tyres next month, and leave them on through the summer....im not exactly driving the RR like a sportscar, I have another car for that purpose

...or I keep an eye on ebay for some cheap 18s that no-one wants and stick some proper tyres on them for 3 months of the year ..... cheers
bogie

good idea re the 18''..i still have mine which came with the RR when i bought it..handy if my 20'' dont work well .. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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I had Michelin's on mine last winter.

Despite trying very hard to to get stuck i did not manage to do so.

This included 2- 3 foot drifts and the best Peak District and North Wales could offer.

The tyres were 18's

I had the Vredestein Wintrac 4Xtremes on the 2007 TDV8 I had last winter and they were amazing gripping the snow like tarmac and leaving deep but perfect footprints in the snow.

They were quiet on tarmac and seemed to grip very well in the dry. Highly recommended from Camskill.co.uk with next day delivery. I put them on the 2010 19" Vogue wheels and they looked fab.

I was anticipating major dramas with the little known "Klear" tyres I had fitted on 20s (Stormers) when I bought the car: but no problems whatsoever - and I got caught in some weather over the winter - to the tune of having to dig it out a couple of times!

I honestly think the way you drive plays a big part in how your vehicle handles in the snow. I've said this before I'm sure, but "point and press" driving is definitely the road to ruin. Unfortunately, Range Rovers don't quite drive themselves - YET!

Are there any off road tyres that are good winter tyres (or visa versa)