A possible purchase.

[guest5247]

Hi Folks.

New here , for the last 10 years I've had a Toyota Rav4 D4D 2002.
Been a brilliant vehicle , but on looking at the Honda Jazz as a brilliantly designed hatchback.
And as a very economic vehicle.....I am very impressed.


Does anyone on here use snow tyres this time of year?

[guest4324]

Hi and welcome.

Many threads on here about winter tyres but yes, I use them, and I HAVE to use them otherwise I'm not insured and if I cause a blockage to traffic I would get fined for not having a vehicle suited for the weather conditions! Massive benefit in snow, but also below 7°c they are better than summers due to the softer compound and extra slits in the tread.
I have 176/65R15 on steel wheels. 2 x Semperit Speed Grip 2 front and 2 x Pirelli Snow Control 3 rear. Main tip - do not buy cheap unknown tyres (ditchfinders) and do not use 2 winters and 2 summers (very dangerous).

[guest4078]

I think it will depend on where people live and the likelihood of snow in their area. I imagine lots of drivers in the snowy bits of the country will be fitting or have fitted snow tyres.
Winter tyres are popular with some drivers as the rubber compound used to manufacture the treads has more silica and so is softer and stays pliable even in extreme temperatures. Also the open tread pattern is good in wet weather. An alternative to consider, if you live in a sheltered part of the country are four season tyres, very good in the cold and wet, but not so good in deeper snow. Also work perfectly well in the summer, too.

[guest5247]

Many many thanks for the replies , I'm based near Colchester in the south east so rarely have snow.

But when we do get it....its often quick and severe.

So i invested in my Rav4 years ago to ensure I could get about through the winter either way.
BUT as it's 12 years old now and feeling tired , I've been looking at a more affordable vehicle again.
The Jazz just knocked me for 6 with its design & space,  better than anything in class.
Now I know snow tyres are possible,  I just need to find a jazz with glass roof , Azure blue & manual and 2 to 3 years old.

Thank you so much.

[culzean]

Does anyone on here use snow tyres this time of year?

first year we have tried snow tyres on a Jazz,  my wife changed her beloved  GD 1.4 for a GE 1.4 Si last year - didn't have a spare just gunk and a pump so I decided that rather than waste time and money getting a useless space saver I would price up Winter tyres on steel rims.  Mytres did 4 Nokian 175/65R15 fitted to steel rims for just over £300 all in.

Now she has winter spare in summer and summer spare in winter, but full size (she doesn't drive very fast).  I have tried them on icy roads and about an inch of snow (all we have had locally) and was very impressed with the level of grip,  also very good at handling slush - Nokians have very directional tread so they send you two for nearside and two for offside of car. 

Would heartily recommend them,  and also the Jazz handles snow very well anyway with normal tyres and in previous years both my wife and I (with summer Michelin ES+ which incidentally started using high silica compound as a carry over from its motorbike tyres) have driven past many cars stuck trying to get off our estate.

Even with Winter tyres Jazz will not handle snow as deep as the RAV4 did purely because of ground clearance,  but a front wheel drive fitted with snow tyres will handle snow better than a 4x4 with summer tyres. search for Winter tyres on this forum.  Below is a  link to video showing Ford Kuga 4x4 with summer tyres and front wheel drive only Kuga with winter tyres at Tamworth Snow Dome - the results may shock you.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/66692/winter-tyres-4x4-grip-test-video

[guest5040]

One here: http://www.evanshalshaw.com/search/VehicleDetails/used-car-honda-jazz--manual-petrol-blue-hatchback-PK61EHC/

[guest334]

I would echo culzean views remarks re Nokian winter tyres. Over the past 4 years I fitted the tyres end November then remove mid March. The tyres behave well in icey/heavy snow we have been across N Wales , Derbyshire and the Lake District in snow - not as good as my Subaru but close.
There are plenty of used Jazz models around, choose one you like after a good test drive, ask for 12m MOT and fuel if buying from retail, otherwise try BCA for a bargain.

[guest3521]

I've been a winter tyre user for many years, my Jazz has winter tyres currently fitted and from it's performance the in the snow we had the other day I have to say they and the car work well, putting the CVT into S and selecting the gears manually via the paddles worked a treat.

[guest5247]

Once again,  thank you all for your input.

As I said above , the Jazz is an extremely well designed vehicle.
So once a model of my choice appears for sale local to  where I live , I'll grab it.
Cheers