Winter tyres - any advice?

[scarylooker]

We have a standard 7 seater people carrier (VW) - we're seriously considering getting winter tyres fitted this year as my drive to school is a bit dicey in the wet and snow/ice along country lanes.

I've found a company on the internet that will supply and fit them, and I've got room to store the standard tyres over the winter. We were thinking of early December to late March.

Any advice or experience gratefully received. Do they take time to get used to?

I had them put on my work vehicle and they really helped. The rubber is a different consistency and stays "sticky" even at low temperatures. They didn't feel hugely different to drive in. I leave them on it all year round because although they probably increase fuel consumption it probably costs more to have them changed over twice a year. We'll be putting them on our own car in the next couple of months. I've been advised only to put them on the driving wheels.

Thank you!

In my experience they feel exactly the same as driving with regular tyres. They are advantageous in wet conditions as well so you may as well get them on in Nov. On the continent you replace all 4, not just the driving wheels.

I have a set (complete set of wheels & tyres) sitting in our garage from when we lived abroad. I had them fitted (in UK) the winter before last and felt very smug when it snowed. Went to get them fitted last winter and realised they had perished, they last about 5 years before you need to replace them.
I'm definitely thinking of getting a new set for this winter.

Yes, here on mainland Europe we fit them on al, four wheels.

I find them slightly louder than summer tyres and you are notnsupposed to go as fast as you can with summer tyres on, which won't affect you in UK since the sped limit is much lower. I think it is over 150km (depends on the tyre)

It is not so much the snow, but the temperatures. We normally have them fitted about now, October and change after the weather warms up in April.

They definitely help, grip is much better on wet and slippy roads.

Which company you are considering?

Will have to look them up but it was something like e- tyres?

I've used etyres for a normal tyre replacement, they were good.

Thank you!