Going to fit some winter tyres to my spare set of 18" wheels as soon as the tread wears down.Do I ask for 4+4 winter tyres or just winter tyres?Is there a difference between normal car winter tyres and 4+4 winter tyres? Stornaway grey SE auto with 18" alloys

As far as I know 4x4 tyres are usually m+s whereas winter tyres are designed to work best at temperatures at ar below 8 degrees [ softer compound ] with snowflake ot mountain symbol on the sidewall. Gone, 2007 TD4 SE Auto Baltic blue, clear side repeaters, full sized alloy spare.

English by birth..... Yorkshire by the grace of God.

Vredestein Wintrac 4 Extreme are highly rated as a winter tyre and if I lived somewhere in the middle of Glen Coe I would no doubt invest. Winter tyres will of course aid stopping distances under braking but sensible snow driving should avoid the need to brake too much and simply slow with the gears instead.

The snow around here last winter (although the worst for a few years) was no match for my FL2 running on goodyear wrangler all weather tyres (m+s). Some of the pics in my gallery show the snow before it reached it's peak and my FL2 never put a foot wrong even in the worst of it.

If you want to splash out then go for it but personally I would save money and get a set of m+s tyres.

This debate may help: http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic9467.html LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

What does M+S mean? Stornaway grey SE auto with 18" alloys

Vredestein Wintrac 4 Xtreme Top tyres. Andy.
www.ajstyres.co.uk www.ajs4x4.co.uk
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01737 241370

commando wrote:

What does M+S mean?

Mud
+
Snow

i think  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

Nah, Marks + Spencer

simont wrote:

commando wrote:

What does M+S mean?

Mud
+
Snow

i think

Yeah it does mean 'mud + snow'. However, it doesn't necessarily mean they'd be any good in either, as they don't have to meet very strict requirements. I understand they were introduced, as an acceptable tyre in some European countries all year round Gone - TD4 XS Auto, Sumatra Black, Mud flaps and side strips, clear indicators, private plate, privacy glass

philsh wrote:

simont wrote:

commando wrote:

What does M+S mean?

Mud
+
Snow

i think

Yeah it does mean 'mud + snow'. However, it doesn't necessarily mean they'd be any good in either, as they don't have to meet very strict requirements. I understand they were introduced, as an acceptable tyre in some European countries all year round

Winter tyres have a specific requirement to work at low temperatures, below 7 deg I believe.

The S&M rating seems to apply to the tread blocks and width between them, are these tyres a different compound to allow lower temperatures, ie in snow, or is it merely marketing drivel, just interested, think I will stick with the Pirelli ones on mine unless they dont give confidence.

Goodyear wranglers are superb. Fitted as standard from new and they never put a foot wrong in the snow and have proved awesome off road too. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Got to agree with The Doctor, Goodyear Wranglers are superb and I prefer them to the Continental Cross Contact that Land Rover keep on fitting to Freelander 2. Having said that my original Continental's on my Freelander 2.1 coped well with the snow in the Swiss Alps but I still feel happier with Goodyears

AJS4X4 wrote:

Vredestein Wintrac 4 Xtreme Top tyres.

Oh yes

ad210358 wrote:

AJS4X4 wrote:

Vredestein Wintrac 4 Xtreme Top tyres.

Oh yes

taztastic wrote:

Winter tyres have a specific requirement to work at low temperatures, below 7 deg I believe.

The S&M rating seems to apply to the tread blocks and width between them, are these tyres a different compound to allow lower temperatures, ie in snow, or is it merely marketing drivel, just interested, think I will stick with the Pirelli ones on mine unless they dont give confidence.