RE: Feature: Winter tyres - worth the bother?
Discussion
alock said:
Denorth said:
being a person who grew up and learnt to drive in area above Polar Circle it makes me laugh when people trying to prove that there is no use of winter tyres on ice roads.
That's the key point though. For the majority of people in the UK, the average number of days per year that major roads are covered in snow or ice is less than 1. We've had two bad winters and even then a bad winter is defined as about 3 days where the roads are covered in snow or ice.There is a sizeable minority that live far enough north that they have several weeks/months of snow in an average year and their is a small minority in the south who live down country lanes that can be treacherous even after a heavy frost.
In my opinion, the UK is right on the limit of where the expense/hassle of winter tyres is justified. For some it will be, for other it won't be. Treating someone who commutes on unclassified roads through the high lands as the same as someone who commutes up the M3 is silly.
Every single other one there were schools closed, buses not running, cars sliding all over the road in the town. Even though the was not really snowing (not every year at least). It is not about snow only.
And it was just hilarious when schools were closed with the temperature outside something like +3C.
I am not saying that winter tyres should be mandatory as in Nordic countries. But it might be sensible to make sure that those are causing road accidents due to summer tyres are treated as if it was an accident due to 'dangerous driving' or something similar.
I was thinking about buying a winter car instead of forking out on winter tyres and wheels.
Have been driving in the winter for years and never had any problems, nobody seemed interested in winter tyres ten years ago. Must be good marketing.
Don't doubt that winter tyres are better, but if you are careful then you should avoid most problems.
I think it will be a mild winter this year anyway so I'm going to take my chances, leave the car at home if nessecary.
Have been driving in the winter for years and never had any problems, nobody seemed interested in winter tyres ten years ago. Must be good marketing.
Don't doubt that winter tyres are better, but if you are careful then you should avoid most problems.
I think it will be a mild winter this year anyway so I'm going to take my chances, leave the car at home if nessecary.
J4CKO said:
I really hope its a mild winter Like usual, no signs of any snow or even a frost yet.
Things are looking a lot more wintery come the second week of December. Snow risk looking high around 8th/9th Dec. Metcheck also showing snow showers in the south on 9th/10th/11th. MO fairly non committal as usual: "A risk of seeing snow over the higher ground of Scotland, even to lower levels for a time, and perhaps also hills further south for a time". Seeing as how the MO predicted a mild 2010 winter, then on that scale that suggests arctic weather
In contrast, TWO are showing very warm weather at that time for the south.
My money's still on a very cold winter.
v4nnm said:
of course you did.
i've been over that kickplate many many times and if you went over it at 30mph, you must have the reactions of an F1 driver and several hours of experience on the kickplate to not spin it once, because it's damned difficult. Even the instructors struggle at 30mph.
Well I did not :-), what can i say, I do have quick reaction though.i've been over that kickplate many many times and if you went over it at 30mph, you must have the reactions of an F1 driver and several hours of experience on the kickplate to not spin it once, because it's damned difficult. Even the instructors struggle at 30mph.
The kick plate is easy, never seen a instructor spin either, not the ex race drivers anyway.
Winter tyres work, catching a car with winter tyres on was not even any drama, the cars with summer tyres were much more fun with bigger slides.
If I lived in the lakes, wales, Scotland then Winters are a no brainer.
I live in the middle of the UK which never snows, did not see any last year, so not much point be buying them.
should be law in Scotland imo it's always bloody cold and icy up there.
mrdemon said:
£3.4k on winters lol scary
point is they do work and work very well once it's cold, you just need to avoid all other road users on summer tyres if you try and stop.
the stopping distances are so great you might cause a bigger crash stopping then you would hitting the car in front slower.
lol?point is they do work and work very well once it's cold, you just need to avoid all other road users on summer tyres if you try and stop.
the stopping distances are so great you might cause a bigger crash stopping then you would hitting the car in front slower.
So we shouldn't try to stop faster on ice in case someone is tailing us and hits us?
I think I'd rather have full control and come to a controlled stop.
thinfourth2 said:
J4CKO said:
I really hope its a mild winter Like usual, no signs of any snow or even a frost yet.
Hit a lovely lump of ice this morning so had bugger all braking or steeringSurely winter tyres wouldnt help if someone pushes a melting ice sculpture into the road.
I like the idea of winter tyres but prefer just working from home, appreciate that isnt possible for everyone.
There is, of course, another issue here - which is that of people running stupid-sized tyres on their 4x4s...
Scoobs - Range Rovers, Merc MLs and the like are really, really unlikely to be running a tyre/wheel size which works for off road/snow traction - and much more likely to be running one which fills the arches to the brim.
For Scoob owners in particular, just removing the steamrollers are putting on a 'proper' sized tyre would be a revelation in poor conditions.
This time last year we'd had a decent covering of snow for a couple of weeks and it remained for a couple more - seems this winter may not be that bad but, as ever, when it happens it's already too late so...
Scoobs - Range Rovers, Merc MLs and the like are really, really unlikely to be running a tyre/wheel size which works for off road/snow traction - and much more likely to be running one which fills the arches to the brim.
For Scoob owners in particular, just removing the steamrollers are putting on a 'proper' sized tyre would be a revelation in poor conditions.
This time last year we'd had a decent covering of snow for a couple of weeks and it remained for a couple more - seems this winter may not be that bad but, as ever, when it happens it's already too late so...
Edited by johnpeat on Wednesday 30th November 13:09
I have used winter tyres for a number of years and as many people have stated they make a huge difference. I amazed that the excuse used not to buy them is cost. If you cannot afford them do not use your car in winter and bad conditions. May be we should allow people to use bald tyres as long as they do not go out in the rain. We could also make insurance optional as I am sure they would be careful and not have accidents!
The situation in Germany is that (contary to popular believe) they are not law, but if you do not fit them in bad weather and have an accident you are liable for the accident, you get fined by the Police and your insurance will not pay for your claim! This is probably the best way if they are not made law as you have the option not to spend the money but in bad weather or below freezing you cannot use your car.
The situation in Germany is that (contary to popular believe) they are not law, but if you do not fit them in bad weather and have an accident you are liable for the accident, you get fined by the Police and your insurance will not pay for your claim! This is probably the best way if they are not made law as you have the option not to spend the money but in bad weather or below freezing you cannot use your car.
I love it when people say they'll be fine in the snow because they've got a Land Rover Discovery (typically on 19" summers!) and so they won't have a problem.
Because inevitably after a period of ice and snow i always see these big 4x4s with dents and scrapes and kerbed wheels. Four wheel drive may get you going, but it ain't going to help you steer or stop
Because inevitably after a period of ice and snow i always see these big 4x4s with dents and scrapes and kerbed wheels. Four wheel drive may get you going, but it ain't going to help you steer or stop
VerySideways said:
I love it when people say they'll be fine in the snow because they've got a Land Rover Discovery (typically on 19" summers!) and so they won't have a problem.
Because inevitably after a period of ice and snow i always see these big 4x4s with dents and scrapes and kerbed wheels. Four wheel drive may get you going, but it ain't going to help you steer or stop
On a steep hill, it doesn't even get you going.Because inevitably after a period of ice and snow i always see these big 4x4s with dents and scrapes and kerbed wheels. Four wheel drive may get you going, but it ain't going to help you steer or stop
VerySideways said:
I love it when people say they'll be fine in the snow because they've got a Land Rover Discovery (typically on 19" summers!) and so they won't have a problem.
Because inevitably after a period of ice and snow i always see these big 4x4s with dents and scrapes and kerbed wheels. Four wheel drive may get you going, but it ain't going to help you steer or stop
there is another one: traction is not a problem, but stopping is. Well, stopping is a problem due to lack of traction of a moving vehicle with summer tyres on icy roads! Because inevitably after a period of ice and snow i always see these big 4x4s with dents and scrapes and kerbed wheels. Four wheel drive may get you going, but it ain't going to help you steer or stop
JohnG1 said:
I spent £3,400 on a set of winter wheels and tyres yesterday. I will pop up a posting here once I have had some time to compare them to the summer, semi-slick tyres my car is fitted with as OEM.
This is more than the current value of my car + my insurance + my yearly petrol cost. I considered winter tyres last year but couldn't justify the costs of new wheels and tyres. December was snowy and icy as we all remember. However I live on the south coast and many days in January 2011 were above 7 degrees! From New Year onwards, the winter was pretty mild. I remember this because I was still trying to justify the winter tyres.
My brother on the other hand live in Edinburgh and has winter tyres fitted to his Skyline. This makes more sense than me buying them in Bournemouth.
One rule does not apply to the whole country.
My brother on the other hand live in Edinburgh and has winter tyres fitted to his Skyline. This makes more sense than me buying them in Bournemouth.
One rule does not apply to the whole country.
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