Manual states that winter tyres are NOT needed?!

In the Winter Tyres Section of the owner's manual, it is stated that the fitted M+S tyres are sufficient:

"M+S tyres have a recognised level of winter performance and need not be replaced."

Manufacturers owner manuals usually warn against all kind of things and make you do things to be on the safest side possible so they will protect themslves if something happened, so the above claim was a bit strange to me...

Many sources i have read state that M+S are a compromise and dont nearly offer the performance (traction, braking distance..) of real snow tyres. Is this marketing from tyre companies so we buy winter tyees?

Dunno, but I've been on two LR Experience days and the instructors have upheld the belief that Land Rover's don't really need dedicated winter tyres.

That's not to say winter tyres wouldn't be an improvement, but I was told I would get by just fine with the standard tyres.

I've had a Discovery 4 and the Evoque for the last 3 winters on standard tyres and never had a problem at all - and that's in a reasonably hilly area.

I have the Pirelle Verde all season tyres which came with my Evoque and I to checked whilst at LRE and with my dealer who, unusually as you would not expect them to miss a trick, confirmed that the tyres fitted would be suitable in most circumstances and I did not need to buy winter tyres.

So I haven't.

I also have the pirellis, they are good but with the snow on the road they were starting to slide

Definitely Evoque will move in snow with standard tries, but stopping would be a different story...

(31-10-2012 11:45am)griff Wrote:  I have the Pirelle Verde all season tyres which came with my Evoque and I to checked whilst at LRE and with my dealer who, unusually as you would not expect them to miss a trick, confirmed that the tyres fitted would be suitable in most circumstances and I did not need to buy winter tyres.

So I haven't.

My dealer says the same thing, so at least they are being somewhat consistent. I also have the Scorpion M+S's

Probably going to be just fine for UK winters anyway.

Please correct me if I am wrong but my understanding is that 19" and smaller wheels have M&S tyres which will be fine on snow but the 20" wheels have summer tyres which will be crap on snow

(31-10-2012 01:35pm)speary Wrote:  Please correct me if I am wrong but my understanding is that 19" and smaller wheels have M&S tyres which will be fine on snow but the 20" wheels have summer tyres which will be crap on snow

I believe this is so - style over functionality

(31-10-2012 03:50pm)griff Wrote:  I believe this is so - style over functionality

Aha! But! My Evoque on 20" wheels was just fine last winter - up steep icy roads where the odd Beemer failed, the RRE in summer tyres had no probs.

M&S symbol on a tyre does not mean its fit for snow. Any manufacture can put M&S on the side wall if they think its fit that purpose, they undergo no testing at all. Only tyres with the snow flake symbol on the side wall have been tested and deemed fit for snow and ice road conditions. I have 20" summer tyres on at the moment but having my winter tyres fitted on Sat on black 18" rims.

(31-10-2012 06:18pm)Stadt Panzer Wrote:  M&S symbol on a tyre does not mean its fit for snow. Any manufacture can put M&S on the side wall if they think its fit that purpose, they undergo no testing at all. Only tyres with the snow flake symbol on the side wall have been tested and deemed fit for snow and ice road conditions. I have 20" summer tyres on at the moment but having my winter tyres fitted on Sat on black 18" rims.

I totally agree, M&S are a compromise between summer and winter ..... i.e. not optimal for either season. I'm already set to fit 18" rims and winter (snow flake symbol) tyres next week.