Should winter tyres be made compulsory in the UK?
Poll: Should winter tyres be made compulsory in the UK?
Total Members Polled: 486
Discussion
As many of you know, it is compulsory to use winter tyres in a lot of European countries:
France
Switzerland
Austria
Italy
Finland
Latvia
Norway
Sweden
Slovenia
Germany
In Vienna where I live, it's actually quite rare to have snow and this year has been quite unusual in terms of quantity, however it's 100% compulsory to use winter tyres on your car from the 1st November of each year.
Failing to use winter rubber can (and most likely), will result in your insurance being void in the event of an accident, even if the conditions are dry.
After seeing absolute chaos in the UK for the past three years, I'm wondering how people would react if winter tyres were made compulsory for ALL car drivers. For us living in Austria, it works out at about 800eur for a full set of top quality tyres on steel rims, although it's perfectly possible to get alloys too.
Keep in mind, winter tyres don't just apply to snow. They offer massively improved traction and grip levels at temperatures under 7C, rain, debris and ice. All of this is very common in the UK throughout the winter season.
Whilst I was driving my car in the UK, I was I able to negotiate snow covered motorways at 70mph without any problems whereas cars were spinning off at 30-40mph, etc, etc......
What's the opinion here?
France
Switzerland
Austria
Italy
Finland
Latvia
Norway
Sweden
Slovenia
Germany
In Vienna where I live, it's actually quite rare to have snow and this year has been quite unusual in terms of quantity, however it's 100% compulsory to use winter tyres on your car from the 1st November of each year.
Failing to use winter rubber can (and most likely), will result in your insurance being void in the event of an accident, even if the conditions are dry.
After seeing absolute chaos in the UK for the past three years, I'm wondering how people would react if winter tyres were made compulsory for ALL car drivers. For us living in Austria, it works out at about 800eur for a full set of top quality tyres on steel rims, although it's perfectly possible to get alloys too.
Keep in mind, winter tyres don't just apply to snow. They offer massively improved traction and grip levels at temperatures under 7C, rain, debris and ice. All of this is very common in the UK throughout the winter season.
Whilst I was driving my car in the UK, I was I able to negotiate snow covered motorways at 70mph without any problems whereas cars were spinning off at 30-40mph, etc, etc......
What's the opinion here?
SVTRick said:
Why ?
I have had no issues in the current weather.
Ranger 4x4
X5 Diesel
32ton 4 axle tanker
Unless you have the right rubber (which perhaps you do without knowing), a big car makes no difference in the snow. The same goes for wet and icy conditions.I have had no issues in the current weather.
Ranger 4x4
X5 Diesel
32ton 4 axle tanker
It's mostly down to the rubber you have fitted.
The UK's climate is very different to most of Europe though, no? It's generally warmer and IIRC winter tyres don't much like it when it's warmer.
There's also a wide range of conditions, from Scotland where you probably have a point to Cornwall where you certainly don't.
Most of your list are substantially colder than the UK, and I bet the winter tyre legislation in France and Italy isn't enforced in Sicily or Biarritz
There's also a wide range of conditions, from Scotland where you probably have a point to Cornwall where you certainly don't.
Most of your list are substantially colder than the UK, and I bet the winter tyre legislation in France and Italy isn't enforced in Sicily or Biarritz
I voted No
My reasons are that while I can afford them it would be a big stretch for a lot of people to buy two sets. Also, not everyone has space to store the set they are not using. I also think it would be unenforcable because we have enough problems with unlicenced drivers/untaxed/uninsured cars/no MOT that the chances of policing winter tyres is close to nil. It would be seen as a revnue raising excercise too. (Extra VAT, corporation tax and payroll taxes as tyre companies sell more, make more profit and pay more staff, plus the fines for non-compliance.)
Don't get me wrong, I think owning and using winter tyres is a great idea. The benefits are pretty clear. However I don't think it should be compulsory.
My reasons are that while I can afford them it would be a big stretch for a lot of people to buy two sets. Also, not everyone has space to store the set they are not using. I also think it would be unenforcable because we have enough problems with unlicenced drivers/untaxed/uninsured cars/no MOT that the chances of policing winter tyres is close to nil. It would be seen as a revnue raising excercise too. (Extra VAT, corporation tax and payroll taxes as tyre companies sell more, make more profit and pay more staff, plus the fines for non-compliance.)
Don't get me wrong, I think owning and using winter tyres is a great idea. The benefits are pretty clear. However I don't think it should be compulsory.
on the basis of the average temps nov-mar - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_United... quite a reasonable argument could be made when most tyres in use at geared to +7C and upwards.
In my 23 years living in the UK, I have vivid memories of it being rather cold (far less than 10C), for more than a couple of months.
In fact, according to the BBC Weather website, the maximum average of London is below 7C from December to February:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/res...
However, as I also mentioned, winter tyres offer massively improved levels of grip in the wet. Even I remember the UK is famed for this!
In fact, according to the BBC Weather website, the maximum average of London is below 7C from December to February:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/res...
However, as I also mentioned, winter tyres offer massively improved levels of grip in the wet. Even I remember the UK is famed for this!
I don't think we need more regulation on the roads or, in reality, more things for them to fine you for. When the weather is bad like this I don't use my E38 because I don't want to take the chance. Winter tyres or not, driving in this kind of weather increases your chances of being in an accident. For the 3 or 4 days (at most) of the year we have snow in London I'll just take the day off.
beanbag said:
As many of you know, it is compulsory to use winter tyres in a lot of European countries:
What's the opinion here?
The Germans are a no nonsense bunch of folks when itWhat's the opinion here?
comes to engineering stuff like this.
If the Germans have it as mandatory, I think the Brits should
copy them.
The reduced annual insurance premiums alone should
help pay for a new set of wheels and tyres, as well as the
reduced cost of winter tyres.
If my local tyre place would take take the summers off, store them, put winters on, and then reverse the process for a nominal fee/subscription then i would do it already. The reality is that i'd need another set of wheels for the winter tyres and i just can't afford that right now.
I've had no real difficulty on my T1-Rs so i would accept that further driver training/awareness would probably be as good and compulsory winter tyres.
I've had no real difficulty on my T1-Rs so i would accept that further driver training/awareness would probably be as good and compulsory winter tyres.
Bill said:
sleep envy said:
Bill said:
Most of your list are substantially colder than the UK, and I bet the winter tyre legislation in France and Italy isn't enforced in Sicily or Biarritz
in Italy it's enforced above a certain altitude
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