Here is a link to one of last winter’s "Best non-studded winter tyre test" in Norway. Although in Norwegian it’s easy to understand the most important bits or it can be translated using Google translator.
http://www.klikk.no/motor/bil/dekkogutstyr/article615400.ece

However it should be remembered that the above test (as many - also in the UK) is for non 4x4 (SUV) tyre types and that some tyre manufactures have versions of these tyres specially designed for 4x4 vehicles, in particular Michelin and Nokian. In addition various tests by various testing groups may be bias in one way or another so no one tyre test can be 100% relied on. Also, that different tyres may function differently on different vehicles.

All that being said our Freely has had (non-studded) Michelin boots the last 4 winters and functioned well without any problems in our long snow and ice covered winter. This winter Freely will be fitted with the now widely accepted (in Scandinavia) best winter tyres available (studded) “Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 SUV”, because of the amount of mountain and thick ice driving we experience. But for non-studded winter tyre users the “Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV” is an equivalent alternative:
http://www.nokiantyres.no/dekk-no?id=10460...itta+R+SUV

Don’t know if this tyre is available in the UK, but it’s worth checking out if you want the best winter tyre available in at least Scandinavia. 2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Andy
Just been through that and it is indeed very informative reading and helps in the decision making process. I smile at the way tyre manufacturers offer the same (in this case non-studded tyre) in different markets under different "model" names. For example following this through would Nokian or Continental market a tyre in Kenya as the Kilamanjaro Snow Kruncher

Studded tyres are not permitted in Switzerland's roads and therefore unavailable here. Nokian non studded are on sale here.

-o0o-
So who house is it? Yours? Nice design - don't have time to get into that article today.

athelstan
I didn’t put too much emphasis on studded tyres as it seems most readers on this forum are UK based, but did just mention that after 4-winters on non-studded boots Freely will be getting spikes again.

There has also been a Norwegian motoring article that states that all SUV’s (they mean 4x4’s of course) should all have studded winter tyres and that non-studded were not safe enough with the extra weight of those vehicles. They are of course referring to Scandinavian winters which are possibly more extreme in some areas here than what may be expected in the UK or even alpine Europe?

We have found that non-studded winter tyres are no problem at all in snow and normal ice conditions and that the only “real” need for studs is when it rains on top of thick snow/ice and then freezes at night temperatures (often referred to as black ice in the UK). This normally is experienced at the beginning and end of the Norwegian winters, but can have expensive consequences if your boots are not 100%. With so called “global warming” our winters in lowland Norway are getting more changeable during the winter period which means “autumn and spring” come several times more often than they used too – therefore studs this time.

ps - not my house thank goodness  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

AndyC
If it enters the statute books and wearing studded boots on 4x4 in Norway/Scandinavia becomes the law then a winter driving tour for her Ladyship to visit friends (ex work colleagues) will make such a visit financially unworkable. Better let her rethink the time of year to drive up and revisit her old house and friends.

Alpine winter's do seem to be getting gentler and shorter here in middle Europe.

athelstan wrote:

Alpine winter's do seem to be getting gentler and shorter here in middle Europe.

Past master wrote:

athelstan wrote:

Alpine winter's do seem to be getting gentler and shorter here in middle Europe.

Certainly do - driving through CH last Christmas we didn't see any snow till we got to Italy!
.

You should have come into our Kantone and you could have a) helped at the 05:30hrs snow clearing routine to clear the drive for her Ladyship to get to her patients - then b) around 07:00hrs after breakfast continue to build igloo as daughter every year tells me she needs even more internal space for friends to play in.

Oh THAT part of CH! Must have gone the other way...

Past master wrote:

Oh THAT part of CH! Must have gone the other way...

Sorry if this is a really stupid question - but what/where is CH  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

Back in Roman days the people living there were known as 'Helvetians', they are now known as 'Confoederatio Helvetica' or CH for short

or they can't spell Switzerland.

EYorkshire wrote:

Back in Roman days the people living there were known as 'Helvetians', they are now known as 'Confoederatio Helvetica' or CH for short

or they can't spell Switzerland.

Both - and in this house that two thirds are know as cantankerous swiss felines, the other third, me, referred to incorrectly as that Anglo Saxon barbarian which I'm not. I'm a Mercian. Barbaric yes. especially when it comes to the protection of the English language.

Since the Swiss speak four languages, they can't decide which one to make "official". So the international symbol on the back of their cars is in Latin. Confederatio Helvetica, CH for short.