C43

[Bobby Dazzler]

Very true but I have a low opinion of winter tyres; a strange comment but here's why.
My previous car was the RWD 5 series pictured:
Each year once the temperatures dropped sufficiently, I would switch to my winter wheels / tyres, also pictured:
This seems on the face of it the best solution, however, every year after swapping to the winter set-up, the temperatures always increased, usally for our usual wet, warm Xmas period. In warmer temperatures the winter tyres were terrible! It was such a ball ache to swap all 4 wheels, that I always persevered with the winter tyres until Spring. It always felt like more of a compromise than it should have been but on the plus side, it kept my summer wheels pristine.
After buying the C43 12 months ago, I quickly switched the P Zeros to Continental All Season Contact tyres (see other threads for my comments on these). My primary reason was to (successfully) get rid of the tyre skipping / crabbing issue affliction, that many of these cars suffer from. I have been very impressed with these tyres in all conditions; yes, they do not provide the ultimate grip and direct steering feel that the P Zeros gave but they are a '90% tyre' for all conditions.

Ultimately I would love to own a C63 as my weekend car and have an old banger as my daily; maybe one day.....

I’m surprised that you didn't like the Continental winter tyres. I have had them on a few cars over the years and I currently them on my winter car.

For the last few years I haven’t bothered putting the summer tyres back on. Each time I stretch it’s legs in summer - to keep it match fit ready for winter - it feels great.

Perhaps a different compound, or perhaps you push the car harder. To be fair I never even get remotely close to the limits of the car (or tyre) on the road, in any weather.

 

[PhilP68]

I’m surprised that you didn't like the Continental winter tyres. I have had them on a few cars over the years and I currently them on my winter car.

For the last few years I haven’t bothered putting the summer tyres back on. Each time I stretch it’s legs in summer - to keep it match fit ready for winter - it feels great.

Perhaps a different compound, or perhaps you push the car harder. To be fair I never even get remotely close to the limits of the car (or tyre) on the road, in any weather.

Maybe more to do with the 5 series than the tyres then; definately not because I pushed the car very hard

 

[Steve84N]

@PhilP68 for most of the UK the optimum setup is Summer tyres April to October and All Season tyres in the other months. This is what John from Tyre Reviews does.

Like you say, the winters go too far the other way and don't suit our mild climate. All Season handle snow well enough for the very few days we get it and are better than Winters the rest of the time.

A RWD car on that setup will beat AWD on Summer all year round.

 

[MarkatPalms]

@PhilP68 for most of the UK the optimum setup is Summer tyres April to October and All Season tyres in the other months. This is what John from Tyre Reviews does.

Like you say, the winters go too far the other way and don't suit our mild climate. All Season handle snow well enough for the very few days we get it and are better than Winters the rest of the time.

A RWD car on that setup will beat AWD on Summer all year round.

Can I assume all season on AWD should then be fine all year round?

 

[Steve84N]

@MarkatPalms fine yes, optimal not quite.

We've recently fitted Michelin CrossClimate 2 tyres to our A3 and it lost a lot of sharpness in warm dry conditions compared to the Eagle F1s. Now the weather is turning they'll be bang on for a few months. As it's the Mrs car I don't mind but personally I'd miss the extra dry weather performance of summer tyres on a sporty car in the sunnier months.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Can I assume all season on AWD should then be fine all year round?

It will be absolutely fine. Not as good as good summer tyres in summer and not as good as good winter tyres in winter, but better than good winter tyres in summer and hood summer tyres in winter!