More work I guess. You‘d also need a 2WD on summer tyres to make a full test
4Motion or 2WD with winter-tyres?
- Thread starter AdventureJim89
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More work I guess. You‘d also need a 2WD on summer tyres to make a full test
AdventureJim89
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great advice everyone thanks so much for making this so much clearer for me. New to this site and feel very positive vibes from everyone's so far which is good for the internet lol
To help you make your best decision, you may need to think about a lot of things, including the following:
If your only potential need for 4motion is a couple of weeks at a popular European ski resort, then probably 2wd will work for you; when I've been skiing lots of vehicles I see are regular 2wd cars/vans. So if this is the case why not buy a set of 17" VW T6 steel wheels (second hand is a good route also), and either fit the best full winter tyres you can find and run those (you'd need to check if the local laws will require you to carry chains). This I would suspect is the most economic solution.
Van Winter Premium Touring Tyres Tyres - Tyre Tests and Reviews @ Tyre Reviews Nokian make great full winters, among others
Are you planning on running to use tyres with 3pmsn in the UK as well as ski resorts; then consider the All-season route, some of the ~All-seasons are pretty good in snow/ice.
You can get all seasons now up to 20" wheel size, so you can run a great tyre with good winter properties all year round with pretty much any wheel you choose.
All-terrain tyres look brilliant IMO; but are only needed for deep snow (with 3pmsn designation) or un-made roads and pavements; off-road- as they are far more robust regarding tyre damage; aren't as good as full premium winters on compact ice; aren't as good as All-seasons on the tarmac mostly. But sometimes it's a heart decision
.I think one day I'll run AT's again, it makes absolutely no sense....., but there we are
4-motion is a lovely thing to have but you pay for it, in terms of fixed costs and running costs. There are plenty of people who really do not need 4 motion for their uses, and I'm sure the market is growing as ford have just launched a 4WD transit New Ford Transit Trail AWD van review | Auto Express onto the UK market !
I don't recall a single member of this forum saying (Wish I hadn't bothered with a 4-motion)
We have 4-motion (well it's really my wife van), and many weekends it will be parked in a grass field with our dogs competing. We don't tow very often with it, but when we had our 2wd T5 we did get stuck a few times.
Having said all that, I love having 4 motion, the van doesn't wheel spin; we can park it anywhere; we can go exploring, and somehow emotionally I just love what our van can do -
It's probably the same for 75% of UK SUV users/owners. It's all about heart. But of course, there are some areas of the UK where 4WD is nearly essential.
Our VW T6 Vel 4mo. is a Van; a People carrier; an MPV; an SUV; and on the flattish ground a 4X4 (we have grippy M&S tyres and a rear diff lock, but with 200mm ground clearance can't match landrover when ruts and undulations need extra ground clearance and/or axel articulation); a 2500kg tow vehicle; a 120mph+ cruiser (autobahns only)
; a vehicle you can sleep in (we have an overnight heater); the king of the road driving position; a day van; a luxury good fun drive; It really is the most versatile vehicle any amount of money can buy IMO; and we absolutely love ours.Not sure if any of the above is helpful, but maybe food for thought.
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Absolutely spot on @chriscroftTo help you make your best decision, you may need to think about a lot of things, including the following:
If your only potential need for 4motion is a couple of weeks at a popular European ski resort, then probably 2wd will work for you; when I've been skiing lots of vehicles I see are regular 2wd cars/vans. So if this is the case why not buy a set of 17" VW T6 steel wheels (second hand is a good route also), and either fit the best full winter tyres you can find and run those (you'd need to check if the local laws will require you to carry chains). This I would suspect is the most economic solution.
Van Winter Premium Touring Tyres Tyres - Tyre Tests and Reviews @ Tyre Reviews Nokian make great full winters, among others
Are you planning on running to use tyres with 3pmsn in the UK as well as ski resorts; then consider the All-season route, some of the ~All-seasons are pretty good in snow/ice.
You can get all seasons now up to 20" wheel size, so you can run a great tyre with good winter properties all year round with pretty much any wheel you choose.
All-terrain tyres look brilliant IMO; but are only needed for deep snow (with 3pmsn designation) or un-made roads and pavements; off-road- as they are far more robust regarding tyre damage; aren't as good as full premium winters on compact ice; aren't as good as All-seasons on the tarmac mostly. But sometimes it's a heart decision
I think one day I'll run AT's again, it makes absolutely no sense....., but there we are
4-motion is a lovely thing to have but you pay for it, in terms of fixed costs and running costs. There are plenty of people who really do not need 4 motion for their uses, and I'm sure the market is growing as ford have just launched a 4WD transit New Ford Transit Trail AWD van review | Auto Express onto the UK market !
I don't recall a single member of this forum saying (Wish I hadn't bothered with a 4-motion)
We have 4-motion (well it's really my wife van), and many weekends it will be parked in a grass field with our dogs competing. We don't tow very often with it, but when we had our 2wd T5 we did get stuck a few times.
Having said all that, I love having 4 motion, the van doesn't wheel spin; we can park it anywhere; we can go exploring, and somehow emotionally I just love what our van can do -
It's probably the same for 75% of UK SUV users/owners. It's all about heart. But of course, there are some areas of the UK where 4WD is nearly essential.
Our VW T6 Vel 4mo. is a Van; a People carrier; an MPV; an SUV; and on the flattish ground a 4X4 (we have grippy M&S tyres and a rear diff lock, but with 200mm ground clearance can't match landrover when ruts and undulations need extra ground clearance and/or axel articulation); a 2500kg tow vehicle; a 120mph+ cruiser (autobahns only)
Not sure if any of the above is helpful, but maybe food for thought.
Which make tyres do you run in the summer ?
I live in Switzerland and go to the mountains often. 4wd means nothing if you don't have the right tyres, same applies for 2wd. Also remember your 4m won't be active all the time once you get traction and start to move.
Tbh you won't need 4wd or 4m.
Here majority of cars are 2wd.
As above UK for some reason says snow tyres when referring to winter tyres. I prefer winter tyres and studded tyres, removes the confusion.
Remember its not about snow, a winter tyre also has softer compound so grip is there even in cold temps.
A good all season will be fine for most resorts though you may slip n slide a tiny tiny bit on the icy bits, nothing to worry about.
Personally I have a set of steels with winter tyres and a summer set of alloys.
Tbh you won't need 4wd or 4m.
Here majority of cars are 2wd.
As above UK for some reason says snow tyres when referring to winter tyres. I prefer winter tyres and studded tyres, removes the confusion.
Remember its not about snow, a winter tyre also has softer compound so grip is there even in cold temps.
A good all season will be fine for most resorts though you may slip n slide a tiny tiny bit on the icy bits, nothing to worry about.
Personally I have a set of steels with winter tyres and a summer set of alloys.
I guess we Brits say ‘snow tyres’ because
1) we get little snow
2) the majority don’t know how to drive in it
3) infrastructure along with the lack of vehicles with winter-tyres fitted means the country grinds to a standstill.
4) Studded-tyres just look too offensive and mean, and kids don’t like meanness these days
Haha fair enough, ref point 4 I'm waiting for the day someone gets offended about studded tyres as a sign of sexual violenceI guess we Brits say ‘snow tyres’ because
1) we get little snow
2) the majority don’t know how to drive in it
3) infrastructure along with the lack of vehicles with winter-tyres fitted means the country grinds to a standstill.
4) Studded-tyres just look too offensive and mean, and kids don’t like meanness these days
So do Ocardo grocery delivery running out of Sheffield, hundreds of brand new Merc Sprinters running Bridgestone Blizzaks all year round.
I did a few trips to Black Forest skiing, once in an L200 that unfortunately blew its head gasket and was abandoned in France and a hire Picasso used there on.
Fortunately German roads are well looked after and we were fine.
Following year I took an X3 on Bridgestone winters - it absolutely dumped and -16, holy shit that thing was amazing - I was driving around fearing nothing after that.
I literally dug a Peugeot 206 out of a parking space and drove the X3 into it, I watched a big Merc estate struggle up the hills and tailwhip everywhere.
Going home I was overtaken by a German Golf GTI on a mountain road and he was on rails, obviously a local, I assumed everyone local would be on 4wd.
Reality was none of them were, but all of them had two sets of wheels, and made sure they had tons of tread.
Watching the cleaning lady boot about in a Smart car in conditions that would have brought England to a stand still was an eye opener.
Since then I'm a massive fan of proper winters.
Fortunately German roads are well looked after and we were fine.
Following year I took an X3 on Bridgestone winters - it absolutely dumped and -16, holy shit that thing was amazing - I was driving around fearing nothing after that.
I literally dug a Peugeot 206 out of a parking space and drove the X3 into it, I watched a big Merc estate struggle up the hills and tailwhip everywhere.
Going home I was overtaken by a German Golf GTI on a mountain road and he was on rails, obviously a local, I assumed everyone local would be on 4wd.
Reality was none of them were, but all of them had two sets of wheels, and made sure they had tons of tread.
Watching the cleaning lady boot about in a Smart car in conditions that would have brought England to a stand still was an eye opener.
Since then I'm a massive fan of proper winters.
Now that's an expansive question..............and I reserve the right to change my mind on tyres at any minute, as I do my preferred brand of IPA.
I think I'm developing a mental disorder with tyres selection and this is supported by my Mrs' beliefs.
I don't run normal summer tyres, and never will again. Because my van gets no extra duty form this type of tyre (other than maybe 1mpg), we are in muddy fields all year round, so a M&S tyre is great; and also I think my most hazardous summer driving condition is "standing deep water" and deeper directional treads are brilliant for this.
So I run all-season directional 3pmsn, M&S tyres with a deeper tread, ideally 8mm-9mm plus; and a really good "wet braking" so for me its Nokian Weatherproof all year round,
I might be tempted by the Michelin SUV Crossclimate MK2 when it's available in the UK. Anyway round I ditch my tyres at 3mm tread depth.
If I had to put my Cock on the Block, I think maybe the 235/60/17 Michelin Agilis CrossClimate is my perfect tyre if it wasn't for the 117 load rating which is very high and I wonder if stiffness of the sidewall will be too much for a lightly loaded T6, which we run.
I'm really liking the deeper sidewall of the 225/65/17 Pirelli Scorpion AT+, it feels really nice to drive, and whilst it's still new so it's still very quiet, my only negative is wet braking is not up to the Nokian from my experimentation, but it's still very good in deep standing water. I guess it's costing me a couple of mpg.
Also, the 225 section looks a bit thin.
A thinner width is better in winter.. heavier load footprint
I do like a Nokian. Used them on the wife’s Quattro TT cabriolet. They’re quiet, run them all summer, great in deep water, and can push on with them. They did have a bit longer braking in full summer heat. But that’s not an issue with the Buzz.
Im running BFG AT K02 3 peak at the moment
225/65 R17 103
Really like them. But no good when warm and wet.
So the idea of All season directional Nokians for the summer suits me Sir. Hoping they are great on wet grass and some Mud, early spring / late summer ?
I totally get the ocd winter / summer tyre.
Done it for 10 years since wifey burnt out a brand new pair of continental summer tyres, getting up a hill in the bad snow we had 10 / 12 years ago.
she’s had winters on ever since. We live 8 miles from the hospital. Funny how she always gets to work, but nurses who can’t walk a mile, stay at home and let my wife work a double 12 hour shift
But which Nokian for an 18”
The 245/45 R18 is only rated 100.
I think minimum rating for a Cali Oceanis 103 load index
I always go a size larger with tyres (they just look better)
so 235/55/18 SUV
or 235/60/17 SUV
They're very good on wet grass and mud, I use them once a week on muddy fields whatever the weather and I'm more than happy. My 235/55/18 are 104 rated too.
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