195 tyres OK for the snow?

Hi Guys, hope you don't mind me asking another question to the oracles you are. I know next to nothing on this subject but have found out a tiny bit to help explain things hopefully.

I've got a heart condition and a neurological disease and live with my elderly parents. You guess who drives, hardly ever me. This is why I got a Freelander due to getting caught out in the weather and my mother going spare with me going spare too. The three of us combined are a bit of a disaster zone to be honest, so we have to be very careful about getting to the hospital as walking isn't an option (or running). Due to this, I have to now had to resort to getting dedicated winter tyres after last years fun and games where my folks were out with a shovel (they can outpace me at 73+), even though they're frail too and had enough of looking after me. In fact my mum has now lost her confidence in driving which scares the cr*P out of me as then I have to try and get my dad to drive and he's not interested due to a personality change (had a stroke).

I wanted to try and avoid this stress and anxiety as much as possible . Also to save my parents going out in the freezing cold on my behalf (after lots of pushing) as it makes me too out of breath to clear the snow and sets my chest off and nails them too. Hence the snow tyres idea on dedicated rims.

My current wheels/tyres are:
Factory: 235/50/18

And I'm after some of these: Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1

I searched online and found them at the right side of £90 + delivery (if I buy some 15 inch rims): Using the tyre calculator often linked on Landyzone these are the best fit apparently ** from what is for sale **.

195/80/15 = 0.14% difference (1mm).
Changing tyres sizes - tyre size change calculator


All looks good I thought, but there's one potential problem perhaps as I am wanting best grip possible on snow and ice and not ending up wheel spinning!!! Funny for healthy people, but not when you're a bit battered.

Do you think my original wide 235 of my Sport model (in snow tyre version) would be better to cope in the snow than skinny 195's? (I know people use 205's off-road sometimes, but 195 I never heard of for an off-road vehicle). Have you? It's very thin, which must be why they are so cheap compared to the usual £180-200 for wide 18's.

I can get 235 18'' snow tyres in other makes but they are x2 the price!!!! To be honest I can't stretch to that sort of money. Here's the best deal I found for the DM-V1 15'' Winter tyre in a 195.

Tyre AUTO BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK DM-V1 - 195/80 R15 96 R: sale of tyres AUTO BRIDGESTONE on Pneus Online


There are other sizes in this tyre, but I think they aren't suitable because I used the tyre calculator above and the all figures were too high % difference compared to the original.

E.g. 235/50/18 vs the ones available at the shop works out as...........

BLIZZAK DM-V1 Snow Tyres available sizes at the store I linked (Max recommended: +/- 2.5% difference). Can't find them anywhere else that will send to the UK.

195/80/15 = 0.14% difference (1mm)
215/80/15 = 4.77% difference to 235/50/18 (33mm)
235/75/15 = 6.07% difference to 235/50/18 (42mm)
225/70/16 = 4.19% difference to 235/50/18 (29mm)
235/65/17 = 6.5% difference to 235/50/18 (45mm)
235/70/17 = 9.97% difference to 235/50/18 (69mm)
235/55/18 = 3.47% difference to 235/50/18 (24mm)
235/60/18 = 6.79% difference to 235/50/18 (47mm)

Have you guys ever heard of anyone in a Landrover using 195 width tyres in the snow, or is it probably best to bite the bullet and go for as wide as possible and just not buy anyone any x-mas presents?!! :doh:

Thank you very much as ever.

I can't answer all of your questions but I'm sure someone else can.

For snow, narrower tyres are generally better because the weight is less distributed. Thus, it gives you more traction, especially when driving on ice or compacted snow.

This video may interest you. Although it won't answer your question, it will give you a good insight:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEMH10Z4s"]YouTube - Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice[/nomedia]


Keep in mind that you won't be able to use winter tyres in the warmer months. Therefore, having 2 sets of wheels would be a good idea if you choose to have winter tyres as well. Some will probably say that the idea of having 2 sets of tyres & wheels (one for winter, one for summer) is unnecessary in the UK. However, that's really for you to decide.

If I was in your situation, I'd get some smaller wheels and have all terrain tyres. (AFAIK there's none suitable for a FL with 18" wheels) That way, you won't have to worry about changing your wheels every year.

N.B. All terrain tyres (ATs) are not the same as all weather/all season tyres.

Rich

I use Falken A/T Landairs in 195 size as mentioned. They are M&S rated and are really good in the snow, as well as the mud, lol.

Cheap too at about £60 per corner, fitted.

Get about 30k out of each pair.

Steve

From personal experience:

I live in the middle mountains of France where we have 4/5 month winters with an average snow covering around 30cms right through the winter - Have to wait for the snow plough to get through some days!

If you are likely to be driving at speed (unlikely in the snow?) then buy purpose made snow tyres for the tarmac roads. If you need traction in all road conditions then buy an A/T tyre - and stick with your original wheel size.


I've had the cheap n' cheerful Avon Ranger A/T (195's) on this last year which do the job just fine. This year I'm changing to Bridgestone Dueler as I have similar on my Disco. Both cars have coped well in severe snow conditions - but the Freelander is slightly better IMHO.

I also have avon A/T tyres 195/80 15. found them absolutely brilliant in the foot or so of snow we had last year.Even in the ice that followed. They are really cheap as well.....i paid under £60 a corner for them

Picked up a set of four 195/R/15 camac for £100 out of my local evening paper, more grip than a pair of mole grips .
Stuck them on a spare set of steel wheels brilliant in the snow but very noisy on tarmac( sounds like a army truck)

Tip - I bought a full set of 16inch wheels with tyres off ebay used - I found a set of 5 in great condition for £160 in the past - they 16's were 215's if I remember right? Your speedo may read slightly faster, but not by much.

Having a sport model myself I can confirm that snow grip is better with the narrower tyres - they don't look as good, but grip is definitely better for the winter who cares about looks, plus at £180 a piece you don't want to be replacing the 235's too often.

These look ok - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SET-4-FREELANDER-16-ALLOY-WHEEL-AND-TYRES-/160496341891?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item255e53d383

If you were able to collect from Leeds - you could have my set for £100 - PM if interested!

On a separate note - with your health problems and anxiety/stress issues I wouldn't be counting on tyres to be the answer to your mobility in winter concerns - if the weather's bad enough and other cars are stuck then in all probability you will too (roads blocked etc).

happy with my 195's in the snow, if you got too wide you will not get the grip.

hi norbet, i have just sent you a pm can you just confirm you have recieved please.

Buttons said:

hi norbet, i have just sent you a pm can you just confirm you have recieved please.

Click to expand...

Responded... cheers

Thanks for all the help and advice. Looks like my next step is to find some wheels, 15 or 16's.

Haven't read all the above but just to inform, on tuesday I had mounted 4 wintertires on my Hippo, Nokian WR G2 215/65x16. Let the snow come......