The Official Winter Snow Thread 2014/2015

[NRS]

fttm said:

Northern lights are almost year round , don't always have to stand in the cold to see them.

Not when you have the midnight sun for a few months they're not, (Yes, I know they're there, just we can't see them due to the light pollution).

[NRS]

Crap picture, but first snow of the year here. Was a bit worried since I'm on summer tyres, but managed to get down the hill without crashing in a big fireball, which is always nice! An interesting statistic is that the last snow we had here was only 3 months 5 days ago. It's been a good summer,

[schmalex]

We had a very light frost at home this morning

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

It was bloody cold this morning!
Twas a bit of a shock as I got up to speed on the bike wearing summer gear!

[Mr GrimNasty]

Looking nice and warm right into October now for us, a couple of chill nights, then mild again.

[Blue Oval84]

Does this predicted heatwave for October mean that it's more likely that we'll get a cold, snowy winter now?

[schmalex]

It's too early for me to figure it all out properly yet. An awful lot depends on what happens in North Eastern US, as too much deep cold pooling there just thumps low pressures over the Atlantic to us. Sun spot activity hasn't been that high this year, so there is an indication of cooler than average temperature in that. If the volcano in Iceland blows, that could have an impact.

My suspicion is that the first half is going to be very stormy, with no real cold descending until mid-January. Southern areas will be slightly cooler than average, but northern areas (from about derbyshire north) will be slightly warmer than average through the season. This, I think will come about through Eastern based high pressure being squeezed south by lows coming through from the Atlantic, as I do think US will see a fair bit cold pooling.

Bear in mind, though, that is just a best guess at the moment and I fully expect to be proven completely wrong. Again!!!

[Cliftonite]

Blue Oval84 said:

Does this predicted heatwave for October mean that it's more likely that we'll get a cold, snowy winter now?

If it's in The Express, on their previous form it more likely means that we'll get a cold, snowy October!

[Puggit]

'Expert' reports I read are plumping for a stormy end of year, and cold start to 2015. There was a similar year a few years back apparently.

[lbc]

It will be a mild winter.

The clue is the gas companies are not raising prices, as they have bought too much gas for the winter period which they probably can't shift.

[FreeLitres]

I'm going to reconsider getting some steelies and winter tyres for my company car this year.

I did a load of research on it last year, nearly bought them but then it didn't snow.

The tread on my Contis are getting very low, but not low enough for the company to change them, so I hope it doesn't snow soon!

[Puggit]

Good chance of cold winter: http://www.ukweatherforecast.co.uk/uk-winter-20141...

[Wills2]

Hmmmm I'm deliberating over whether to get some winter tyres this year, I might not bother as it's a good excuse to stay home!

[FreeLitres]

Has anyone had any experiences of really cheap winter tyres?

I would have to buy the steelies/winters out of my own pocket for my company car. I don't want to spend much but I REALLy don't want to be driving around on my current summer tyres with low tread.

I know they will not perform like the top brands, but are cheap winters like these a total waste of time?-

Goodride SW608
Tristar S210
Nankang Snow SV-2
Rotalla S210

[schmalex]

How about part worn?

http://www.partworntyresdirect.co.uk/part-worn-tyr...

[Faust66]

Puggit said:

Good chance of cold winter: http://www.ukweatherforecast.co.uk/uk-winter-20141...

Really hope so!

[Bill]

FreeLitres said:

Has anyone had any experiences of really cheap winter tyres?

I would have to buy the steelies/winters out of my own pocket for my company car. I don't want to spend much but I REALLy don't want to be driving around on my current summer tyres with low tread.

I know they will not perform like the top brands, but are cheap winters like these a total waste of time?-

Goodride SW608
Tristar S210
Nankang Snow SV-2
Rotalla S210

AIUI they're fine in snow, but often awful otherwise.

[dazwalsh]

Well most of that weather forecast went right over my head but seems a lot of research and data has gone into it so here's hoping it delivers, one of my favourite times of the year is walking out of the front door into a blanket of snow breathing in that crisp cool air with absolutely no wind at all, and the sun beaming down.

[benjj]

FreeLitres said:

Has anyone had any experiences of really cheap winter tyres?

I would have to buy the steelies/winters out of my own pocket for my company car. I don't want to spend much but I REALLy don't want to be driving around on my current summer tyres with low tread.

I know they will not perform like the top brands, but are cheap winters like these a total waste of time?-

Goodride SW608
Tristar S210
Nankang Snow SV-2
Rotalla S210

I put a set of the Nankang Snow SV2 on my wife's car - Mk4 Golf TDi. 195/65/15

They were properly cheap, less than £200 fitted. I left them on between years so they did winter - summer - winter. I guess she got about 18,000 miles out of them. They were very good in proper snow, ice, standing water etc. Pretty noisy in the dry or at speed compared to the normal Falken summer rubber I put on her car. Basically they work better the worse the weather.

All in all no complaints really. If I lived above the midlands I'd probably use them on a snotter. Below that line I'd probably go for a set of Rainexperts or Vredestein Quattrac (or any other decent 4 season tyres) etc.

By comparison I run Falken HS439 on my car (E39 BMW) and have done for years. They're excellent tyres.

[giblet]

I had winters on steelies for the first time last year. Bought a set of part worn ones from the Saab UK forums. Whilst it didn't snow that badly in the end they were still decent in the cold weather. Put them in storage when I sold the car, need to dig them out and relist them at some point. I'm tempted to get a set of part worns for the current motor, will be handy with awd.