muddy Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Evening folks, just got a 300 auto disco for the mrs and it has some 235/70 synchrones on it, i have a set of 235/85 machos and was going to put these on for winter snow odd muddy track etc however i then got thinking that the synchrones might actually be better in snow? How did people get on with macho type patterns last year? Gearing, rubbing, cost etc is not an issue its purley for grip. 99% of it will be on hopefully mainish roads although we live in an ungritted houseing estate, work has a steep hill thats also ungritted and she may well have to come pull me out after i've done something daft. Will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challo Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Hi, i had macho 265/75 16 on my 110 last winter. The winter before i had BFG A/T 235/85 16. I was very surprised, but the macho s performed much better despite having slightlyless tread depth. My theory was the tread blocks have large gaps between them. Therefore less surface area = more pressure. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g&t Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 That's interesting, your experience seems to fly in the face of the accepted wisdom that a narrower tread is better for snow. My RRC has the original spec 205's & did well in last year's weather, although to be fair the car is not a daily driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boydie Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Its a long time since I drove on snow but I believe that the correct method is the looser the surface the lower the tyre pressure, on snow the maximum pressure should be around 20 PSI and re-pressure once you are on a solid surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Bfg mud (old style) are far better in snow and ice than machos. Haven't tried the new style yet! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Syncrones suck donkey parts in the snow (or any condition really). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challo Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 To be honest, the macho s were faultless last winter. I live in the pennines where there are steep hills every way in and out of the village. No dramas at all, even pulled an RAC transit up a steep hill effortlessly. Gearbox was another story though ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 Thanks mike, just sold my bf muds this morning Looks like i'll be slapping the macho's on and see how we go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 I found the macho's "interesting"! in everything bar bone dry tarmac... there an awful tyre on the road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Having said bfg's are better I did over a 1000 miles on machos in Norway a few years ago the only real problem was sudden braking. Normal for snow and ice braking was ok and it was a bfg style that fell off the road. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 Vulcan they cant be anywhere as bad as the 'dirt devils' i've got on my 90, steering is now an advisary function Not quite sure how the sudden braking will go in slush/snow as it has ABS, do I make a HD bumper for it now or is that going to increase the 3rd partys impact costs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challo Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Had a puncture on 1 of the macho s last Monday 28th nov. M6 bolt through centre of tyre with head on outside. By the time I Finished work all tyre fitters were shut, so I had a cunning plan.... Broke bead with a spade n 2 screwdrivers then tapped bolt out a bit, put ptfe round threads on outside then screwed it home. Then put ptfe on bolt on inside of tyre added a washer and a nut and tightened. Not gone down since! So my second cunning plan is, as these Tyres will be retired soon , I am gonna create my own studded Tyres on a budget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 I've put number twelve wood screws in quite a few tractor and trailer tyres as a get me home measure. Now then will a coarse or fine thread be better for yorkshire snow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoltan Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Thanks mike, just sold my bf muds this morning Looks like i'll be slapping the macho's on and see how we go. you could look at siping the tyres, that would make them much more effective on the usual hardpacked snow we end up with after the thousands of summer tyres have rolled it flat in the first hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeSheds Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Ahhh my old Machos - so poor on wet tarmac that they seemed very good on snow I drove my RRC to Scotland through last year's snow on half-worn 235/85 Machos and they really were very good. I was particularly impressed on the last (rural) stretch of my journey when I turned up a B road and could see from the tracks that there had been several failed attempts at the hill (at least one of which was on MT type tyres) and I just drove up it with no fuss or drama. Later on that trip I visited the setting-out of a driving day organised by the Tay 4x4 club ( http://www.tay4x4club.gdnetwork.co.uk/ ) and got to drive around on virgin snow that was a foot deep in places and had no problems... They seem very good on snow (fresh or hard-packed) but on glass-ice they were poor (as I suspect anything would be that hasn't got studs). On another occasion right outside my house, I sat in the driving seat as a passenger on a very gentle slope on glass-ice while the car just slid away at a walking pace until it hit the kerb... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exmoor Beast Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 You'll need a +2" lift and a trim of the back arches to fit 235/85s, you may know that already but its worth a mention. Snow grip depends entirely on the snow. On compacted snow I'd sooner drive my Mini than the 110 on BFG Muds with a LSD rear axle. On fresh snow MTs are brilliant. The most sure footed car I've driven on snow was our old P38 Range Rover on Pirelli STs, the Freelander we had was good too but that did have Dunlop winter tyres fitted. Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.