Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

This is the first year that I have gone to the effort of looking into getting winter tyres, probably due to the fact that I have a littl'n to think about now. I have a feeling that it will be a severe winter.

Has anyone got any helpful advice. It isn't an option for me to buy another car, the 944 will be the daily driver as always.

Ive obtained a couple of Dunlop winter tyres that get decent write ups for the fronts of the 944 (7"). I now need to sort the back. Unfortunately my rear wheels are 8" which I realise isn't ideal when you need narrower tyres in snowy conditions.

Any tips for a good make that wont set me back a fortune? I don't really want the "all seasons" type tyres, I would prefer the greater assurance of getting full blown winter flavour!

As an aside, does anyone on here add extra weight such as sandbags into their 944 in snow/ice??

The width may help (in the tyres being narrower) but having winter tyres over summer tyres will always be of benefit in the snow.

Many years ago on my JaguarSport XJ40 XJR 4.0 (which had 225/55R16s all round on Pirelli WinterSports) that was fine in the snow, and probably one of the most tractable cars.

My daily (a MkIII Mondeo on BFG Winter Grips in 205/55R16) came very close but both that and especially the 2.5 V6 Auto before that were terrible in the snow on Michelin Primacies (wierd as they were wonderful on those tyres in other conditions in terms of grip, aquaplaning and especially tyre life).

My daughter tests and reviews all sorts of cars and about this time last year she had a Lotus Evora (I think) with the Toyota V6 engine) it was bone cold and wet but the winter tyres were fantastic and she drove it faster than I would in the dry.
Actually she frightens me.
Do winter tyres work? You bet.

I feel qualified to answer this question

I've run proper winter tyres on my road cars for as far back as I can remember. At present I'm running them on my daily snotter (235/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear).

I know what you mean about thin and skinny being best but a fatter winter (within reason) will still far outperform a skinny summer.

Looking at 944s specifically I've run 2 different sets, both in 195/65/15

Falken HS439 Eurowinter
Yokohama W.Drive

I'm currently on the Yokohamas for rallying. They're a superb tyre, V rated and very affordable. For my size I think I got change from £265 for 4 all fitted up.

Remember these are not (just) snow tyres, they're cold weather tyres. When the average temp drops below 7 degrees C (which it has just done up here in the Yorkshire Dales) they offer far better grip in cold, wet, icy and snowy conditions, not to mention all the wet leaves currently hanging about.

Piggy, your daughter must be Rebecca I'm guessing. I was with her last week at Oulton. I was tuning in the suspension on the 944 rally car and she was blatting round in an RX8 - we both had a laugh over lunch as we'd both binned it big style through Druids while showing off!

She's a terrific girl and a great driver, you must be very proud. I've got 2 daughters and I'm currently teaching them about historic rallying in the hope one (or both) will want to get involved once they're of age.

I use my s2 all year round. i have been using vredestein winter tyres, 205 55 16 all round. im sure this is what the handbook says is approved for winter tyres. Proper winter tyres are simply amazing in poor conditions.

I use them on my daily drive Golf, in fact they're on there now as it is already cold enough to justify their use. Bridgestone Blizzaks. Make sure whatever you get are "M+S marked".

Just put a set on the Panamera, very good. You must remember though that ice is ice and there's not a lot even a winter tyre can do about it (without studs) so you need to retain a bit of care.

Yes you have the right girl.
So pleased you got along because she is a true petrol head.
Ha ha the RX8 fantastic car with the worlds most unreliable engine!
She has a zest for life that leaves me breathless. When she was in Bath doing her degree I would come up to Combe for their track days and she would just love it as we popped off cars with my Dolly Sprint (now in USA).
I took my boy to Touring cars and such like but one thing is for sure they choose what they want to be and Rebecca chose it all

Will be fitting winter tyres to my 924 next week

Cheers for the replies. Some useful information there.

ps, what does the M&S symbol mean (obviously on tyres and not at the shopping centre!)?

M and S = mud and snow (an arbitrary name given by manufacturers to describe winter tyres)

M+S are NOT winter tyres, they are mud & snow tyres! They're also pretty crap in snow!

The symbol you want is a mountain a snowflake in it like this:



This is an industry standard that indicates the tyre is of a proven winter pattern/tread and rubber/silicon compound.

'M&S' or 'M+S' or 'Mud & Snow' is not a regulated symbol in tyre manufacturing and anybody can print that if they want on a tyre irrespective of performance.

The mountain/snowflake symbol above has to be tested before being awarded.

Yup winter hoofs to go on to Mrs TR7V8 MX5 this weekend as the temps are now continually below 10 Deg C. We bought these a year ago & they are great, s/h they had 5mm or so on & they kept her safe last year & there are probably a ouple of years left on them.