To have winter tyres

[Imustbemad00]

I don’t know a lot about cars. I needed my tyres replaced as they were worn. Had it done, didn’t think to ask, but have noticed they are winter tyres (snowflake symbol)
Are these fine to use all year round?? I definitely won’t be getting them changed after winter. Can’t afford that.
I would of thought summer ones would be better all year round as our winters are mild (down south).
A google has shown winter tyres are best below 7 degrees and percentage or ratio wise we have many more days over 7 than below over the year.

Not sure what I can do about it now

I do a very low mileage, I once considered whether I should change to winter tyres all the year around, on the basis that they would have more grip and I wasn't worried about them wearing out quickly. However when I googled it turned out that they actually have worse performance than standard tyres in warm weather. (Can't remember the details.)

Anyway, if they were cheap and not new, I wouldn't worry about it. Just know what to ask for next time.

Not necessary unless you are regularly driving up mountains in Wales / Scotland or on very rural, untreated roads.

There’s no issue with park worn. They’re perfectly fine.
I know having the tyres all different is less than ideal from what I’ve read, but it’s legal.

I do less than 3000 miles a year and most of that is under 30mph. I do a few motorway journeys at this time of year, day trips ect. Probably go on a motorway or any road above 40 less than 10 days a year if that’s relevant.

At this point there’s not really a lot I can do, except maybe consider getting 4 new tyres after the winter if I save up. Unlikely though. Hopefully it’s not enough of an issue that it’s unsafe for me to be driving at the moment. Will be doing three return motorway journeys in the next couple of weeks. I’m quite worried now.

The brand of 2 or 3 of them is winterhawk. So undoubtedly winter tyres. I think one was marshal.

Have a look at prices for Nexen tyres. Usually higher rated than the big brands and much cheaper

Busy does not equal good.

But they have a very good reputation. I had several recommendations. They’ve been there many years.

googled it turned out that they actually have worse performance than standard tyres in warm weather. (Can't remember the details.)

I found the same info. Winter ones do not fare well in warmer weather. Something to do with the type of rubber used and how it responds to heat. Says best used below 7, which is not often. My old ones were summer ones.

I’m probably looking to get a new car in the next couple of years so don’t want to keep paying out for new tyres.

Have the company at least done this, OP?

"However, if mixing becomes unavoidable due to a lack of availability or budget constraints, then it’s possible to mix tyre brands and tread patterns – but only so long as drivers fit a pair of tyres with the same tread patterns and brands across the same axle. That means installing a pair of identical tyres on the rear axle, or a pair of identical tyres to the front."

"Driving a car with a set of tyres with mismatched size, construction, load index or speed rating can pose a danger to you and other road users. It’s always best to follow the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications or consult a qualified tyre specialist."

www.continental-tyres.co.uk/car/all-about-tyres/tyre-change-fitting/mixing-tyres

What is the issue with part worn tires? I've never bought them myself, but surely they're checked to make sure they meet minimum standards?

In theory, yes. They are legal and fairly safe if all checks have been properly performsd. But in a recent study it was discovered 98% of the part worn tyres randomly checked had not had the requisite checks performed and 34% of those were found to be dangerous.
You've no way of knowing if they have performed all the correct checks on the tyres. Popularity does not equate to safety.

Check your car insurance, if your in an accident it may invalidate it.

Many part worn tyres are winters and there’s nothing inherently wrong with running them all year. I would be more concerned by the age of them. Have you checkers the manufacturing date on the sidewall? It will be something like 1015 which means the 10th week of 2015. Anything older than 6 years is a problem.

I like getting a bargain but given that tyres are the only thing that keeps you in contact with the road, I won't scrimp. No part worms. No retreads no weird brand I've never heard of.

You biuy cheap, you buy twice.

The garage really did see you coming op.

YANBU op. No Nuns or kittens will be harmed. Let me say though, before someone else does, that anything bad that happens will be due to Brexit.

I have winter tyres on my car from November to March, then switch to summer. The car is a rear wheel drive BMW, so if I didn’t have winter tyres then it would go nowhere even in a few centimetres of snow.

I always notice that they aren’t as good towards the end of the winter in warmer temperatures, don’t feel they grip the road as well.

Maybe go back to the garage and query it?

Is your car a rear wheel drive car? Other than this I can’t think of any reason why they’d put winter tyres on.

I wouldn't want winter tyres in summer but my winter tyres have studs in them :) I'd find a mechanic you trust as ask them.

Check your car insurance, if your in an accident it may invalidate it.

What the actual fuck!

This line gets trotted out far too often on Mumsnet as it is, but on this thread it's an absolute corker.

The car insurance will be fine.

I feel like I should maybe go back. No they don’t match on the axle. I think the back ones are the same brand but they don’t like identical to each other. Pretty sure front ones are different to each other completely.

The car insurance may not be fine. Admittedly, it was few years ago, but my insurance company treated winter tyres as 'modification to the car specification' and you needed to report it to them.
Quite possibly it could have changed since then as the rule was bonkers if you ask me.

I’m pretty sure lots of people have mismatched tyres. If one gets a puncture do you really think everyone buys two new ones or just gets the one replaced? For the few miles you drive it won’t be a problem to have winter tyres all year. I wouldn’t but I drive well over 20000 miles a year and it would affect the fuel economy and they’d wear out too quickly.

@PaquitaVariation I agree, this was my thought process. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s done now, And I don’t really want to buy more after the winter, as I said I’m hoping for a new car in the next year or 2 so it seems pretty silly to buy 8 tyres in the space of a year.

I live in Central Europe where winter temps are obviously much lower on average than in the UK and it's absolutely normal here to have two sets and swap them round in March/April and October. It's very noticeable when we have just had the winter tyres put on but it hasn't got really cold yet because the car feels soooo sluggish. I would hate to drive on them all summer long.

In the UK I would ideally be driving on all-weather tyres. It's shocking that some people try to drive their cars in snow on summer tyres. I once tried to hire a car in the UK with winter tyres because snow was forecast in the region I was going to - it just wasn't possible.

I’m pretty sure lots of people have mismatched tyres. If one gets a puncture do you really think everyone buys two new ones or just gets the one replaced?

When I had a tire punctured I replaced it with the same model Michelin that had been damaged. They sell the same tires over long periods of time.