Morning all,

I am running the TDV8 on Pirelli Scorpion 275s. These are (I guess) termed a summer tyre(?) Can anyone tell me how they perform in snow & ice?

Many thanks

I had no problems with them on my TDv8 RRS last winter in 10cms+ of snow up here and with the GGS setting on the TR. Have a look at the sidewalls - if they have M+S on them then they are Mud and Snow, not Marks and Spencer! There is a big BUT though............... how old are yours? If they are getting on a bit it might be better to replace them now before the cold weather causes a shortage and higher prices and the VAT increase. After the way the 20" standard tyres performed in the snow and that it wasn't until after the big pre-Christmas dump of snow that I got my 19" Pirelli Snow and Ice tyres and wheels fitted to the car, I had to wonder why I had bothered to buy the winter tyres in the first place! The performance on the snow and ice tyres was re-assuring though and I will be fitting them to my new car too for this winter now I have them. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Last edited by Tim in Scotland on Fri Oct 22 2010 4:52pm. Edited 1 time in total

Thanks Tim. I will look for the M&S (car at home) but the fronts are brand new & rears about 75%.

They perform pretty bloody well would be my answer!

I went through last winter on a set of Scorpions at roughly the same stage of wear and was amazed, stunned even
To be fair Id come from a 3 series running 255 rears so its all relative LOL

Having never driven 4wd I just couldnt get over what the RRS would do

8-10% inclines in snow?
No problemo - although after a lot of exploratory recon, Im not totally stupid

Out and about in the Peak district was a joy
Its very cool having the minor roads of a national park mostly to yourself as no-one else can drive there
Please note that I was only ever out in daylight and never strayed too far from a gritted road I could walk to if necessary

I actually did overcook it once on a minor road with a vicious sidewind drifting snow higher than the roof of my car at the roadside
For the record this was a stupidly overconfident route home and I did have a pair of boots and thermal leggings and arctic spec jacket in the back
It was also walkable back to my house
And you know what - uncomfortable as it was to feel the car bottom out on snow occasionally it aced it too - which was nice

On the other hand you really should look at this thread:
http://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic16313.html?highlight=man

3 tonnes still has to obey the rules of physics under brakes
The accident was pretty stupid from where Im sitting
Id negotiated the same corner an hour earlier
I can only guess how fast that car was going when it crashed

There is an amazing feeling of invincibility in a 4wd in snow and ice
Usually going up hill or accelerating
Going down hill on the brakes you are still in a 3 tonne lump of metal

I am actually fitting winter tyres tomorrow

This winter I have a number of heroic roadtrips planned with the family on board including a holiday to Scotland

A set of Wintracs is actually cheaper than a set of Scorpions and I still get to preserve my regular tyres
Having bagged a set of s\h 19" alloys then why wouldnt you?

And there can be nothing more humiliating than driving a 4x4 which has been marooned in snow

PS Wintracs seem to be fashionable at the moment, the online guys are selling them for 250 a corner which is outrageous, they were much cheaper in the summer (funny that) and my local fitter is charging me 140 each - yay for your local business people

Scorpions vs. Wintrac ?

Chalk and cheese.

Proper winter tyres are fantastic in the snow and winter conditions.

Andy. Please call us 01737 241370 for the quickest response

www.ajstyres.co.uk

Q pic of Beemer in my hedge!!

Click image to enlarge

Wot the f ck were you doing taking a bmw out in the snow

What did you expect  MY10 3.0 HSE Santorini Black, Ivory Premium & extended leather, privacy, paddles, diamond turned alloys, Ipod lead that charges, tasmods, rrsport.co.uk stickers

Jeep 4.0 High Output XJ 94 6" teraflex lift, c/w rear coils, 9500lb winch, 35" TSL super swamper boggers, safari snorkel, custom made bumpers, tom woods custom double cardon driveshaft, twin electric fans. Don't follow it..............you wont make it. The first 4 x 4 by far.

Did I say it was my Beemer?? It was my hedge. My wheels for going out in the white stuff in proper snow, not the light dusting you softy southerners got last winter!

Click image to enlarge

Sorry mate  MY10 3.0 HSE Santorini Black, Ivory Premium & extended leather, privacy, paddles, diamond turned alloys, Ipod lead that charges, tasmods, rrsport.co.uk stickers

Jeep 4.0 High Output XJ 94 6" teraflex lift, c/w rear coils, 9500lb winch, 35" TSL super swamper boggers, safari snorkel, custom made bumpers, tom woods custom double cardon driveshaft, twin electric fans. Don't follow it..............you wont make it. The first 4 x 4 by far.

No worries, gave me a chance to post my "D3 out after light snow shower" pic. My other fave pic is "Do you think I've got enough wheels & tyres?"

Click image to enlarge

Jeez - your well into rubber, i think you have a fetish.............do you have a rubber gimp suit  MY10 3.0 HSE Santorini Black, Ivory Premium & extended leather, privacy, paddles, diamond turned alloys, Ipod lead that charges, tasmods, rrsport.co.uk stickers

Jeep 4.0 High Output XJ 94 6" teraflex lift, c/w rear coils, 9500lb winch, 35" TSL super swamper boggers, safari snorkel, custom made bumpers, tom woods custom double cardon driveshaft, twin electric fans. Don't follow it..............you wont make it. The first 4 x 4 by far.

No, leave that to DG on D3side. Also that's for 2 D3s as SWMBO drives one as well, means we have a set of MTRs each and ATRs for SWMBO's when conditioned not as severe as last winter in the Heelands. Other "road" tyres are for me playing in Tunisia.

Respect  MY10 3.0 HSE Santorini Black, Ivory Premium & extended leather, privacy, paddles, diamond turned alloys, Ipod lead that charges, tasmods, rrsport.co.uk stickers

Jeep 4.0 High Output XJ 94 6" teraflex lift, c/w rear coils, 9500lb winch, 35" TSL super swamper boggers, safari snorkel, custom made bumpers, tom woods custom double cardon driveshaft, twin electric fans. Don't follow it..............you wont make it. The first 4 x 4 by far.

Ahhh damn it guys, I was hoping I would not need winter tyres when I am on my way to Austria for skiing in December.... I figured RRS would handle snow on standard 20" Continentals. Apparently I was wrong and I need to get 19" wheels + winter tyres. Time to get on eBay! Vadim A.

Speaking of which, would you recommend getting 18" or 19" wheels?

Thanks. Vadim A.