Winter/snow tyres

[freerange]

Afternoon everyone.

Great forums. Have learned loads as a newbie surfer, but have looked thru tyres forums and can't find any info on this, so any help appreciated:

Got my 1995 3.0 two weeks ago and it has Bridgestone Winter Duellers (DMZ2) - 265x70 R15. Are they OK for general road use? What pressure should I be running them on now and when it snows? Should I replace them in the spring?

[Rob]

If it were me...
If they're fairly new and in good condition just wait til they're almost worn out and get rid of them. If they're fairly old or nearly worn out just ditch them now as it's not worth the risk.
Also, however new they are, if the vehicle has sat for a long period of time the tyres can become out of round and cause vibration issues etc etc.
Most people run their tyres at 30-33psi.

[freerange]

OK thanks. I do get a wheel judder on braking but the tyres look fairly new to me. could this be just a rebalance needed?

[Damian]

Got my Smurf in April and the same tyres where fitted and brand new. I found out soon enough that they're awful in damp conditions. I've realised that 30 psi is good but although the rear set are still like new the front are nearing the end of their life, (4500miles ish). The wear is even so all I can think of is either I drive too fast around corners or........errr, my engine's too heavy!

I'm looking forward to fitting some BFG's soon, either AT's or MT's, can't decide!

[freerange]

I know what you mean about useless in the damp. I'm getting a rear wheel spin going up a 1:5 hill in the wet at less than 1500 revs! Surely some mistake!?!?! My rear-wheel drive MX5 did better than that...

[Linda]

Got my Smurf in April and the same tyres where fitted and brand new. I found out soon enough that they're awful in damp conditions. I've realised that 30 psi is good but although the rear set are still like new the front are nearing the end of their life, (4500miles ish). The wear is even so all I can think of is either I drive too fast around corners or........errr, my engine's too heavy!

I'm looking forward to fitting some BFG's soon, either AT's or MT's, can't decide!

My BFG A/T's are fantastic! I've had them on for 13 months now and about 13,000 miles - still got about 8mm tread and are superb on the road. Hardly any noise and excellent grip even in the wet. I've been offroad many times in really deep, wet and slippy stuff and they were superb there too - I just drop the pressure down to 18ish when conditions are really bad. They coped admirably with the Pit, knowsley, Langdale, Norfolk and Avon Dassett, not to mention frequesnt trips to the plains!!

And they look soooo kewl too!!!

[Damian]

Yes Linda, I know. I was sat in the back when you 'n' Tony took me around Knowsley!!

I used to have BFG AT's on my Rangie & 90 V8 and how they lasted...! I'm not sure why I want a set of MT's, hmmmm.

[Linda]

Yes Linda, I know. I was sat in the back when you 'n' Tony took me around Knowsley!!

I used to have BFG AT's on my Rangie & 90 V8 and how they lasted...! I'm not sure why I want a set of MT's, hmmmm.

Hehe - so you were... and I still love them!! Hehehe. glad to see you finally got the surf, even after a ride round off road with me!!!

[Jon Tallis]

Ditch the winter duellers before they ditch you!

My SSRV came on winter duellers. Wet grip is a joke, and dry grip not much better. Can be a laugh on roundabouts but can be bl**dy dangerous too. I have had some HUGE moments in the wet, despite being very aware of their limitations (Like four-wheel drifting off a roundabout on the worng side of the road with the Fuzz coming the other way!). The surf is a big heavy truck and takes some catching if it gets away from you.
My advice - get rid now, no matter what condition they are in, before they kill you. If they've got good tread left, consider selling them to someone for off-road use only (They're surprisingly good in mud for a road-biased tyre). Go for BFG / Michelin / Pirelli and you can't go wrong, but anything is better than Winter Duellers.

[Djandco]

Ref: winter duellers.

Yes you are right about the wet, but oh what fun

Plenty of brown moments on roondeboots.
I had the problem solved for me a few weeks ago, parked outside my house and some safety angel from above cameth down and slashed them for me.
Now I am running on the cheepiest set I could pick up.

All the fun is gone from wet roads

[Damian]

Just bought miself a set of BFG AT's, and they awesome! Not had chance to try 'em off road yet. Due to th offset of my rims, they catch the front bib slightly!

[kitesurf_phil]

Winter Duellers are a softer compund tyre for use on snow/pack ice and are a legal requirement during the winter in some countries. They are very squeely on dry tarmac.

[Djandco]

Winter Duellers are a softer compund tyre for use on snow/pack ice and are a legal requirement during the winter in some countries. They are very squeely on dry tarmac.

Dont it make you feel like a boy racer again!
Felt like I was back in my MK3 escort!

[teegan]

this sounds soooooo much fun cant wait to get it on the road !!!!!!!!!