Genuine question about the limitations of snow tyres
Discussion
Missus wants me to go out and get xmas tree (yeah essentials of life etc.)
I have new snow tyres on an E38 740, snow is either compacted or worn down to a greyish possibly icy layer on some "tracks" worn into the road. Area has average hills. Some gritting took place last night but there's no evidence of it this morning and I have seen no cars on the roads yet.
Is it insanity to try it even with snow tyres?
I have new snow tyres on an E38 740, snow is either compacted or worn down to a greyish possibly icy layer on some "tracks" worn into the road. Area has average hills. Some gritting took place last night but there's no evidence of it this morning and I have seen no cars on the roads yet.
Is it insanity to try it even with snow tyres?
A friend who is staying with us at the moment has Vred winter tyres on his Golf. They're better than summer tyres I can't argue with that, but what I would note, is they're still less use than a chocolate teapot once the snow is quite deep, or you get to an icy hill. The PH Winter Tyre massive would have you believe they're like ice magnets. I call b
ks having had to push the bloody thing on numerous occasions yesterday.
Stay in doors. it's cold out there.
ks having had to push the bloody thing on numerous occasions yesterday.Stay in doors. it's cold out there.
madbadger said:
They will be winter tyres, rather than snow tyres, but will be entirely suitable for these wintery conditions.
Best to go and find out anyway!
They're "proper" snow tyres: Best to go and find out anyway!
http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Orde...
Make any difference to normal "winter" tyres?
ETA: Seen some FWD cars go by now which are 99% likely to be on summers so it must be doable.
He who dares Rodney, he who dares
Edited by joebongo on Sunday 19th December 10:06
joebongo said:
madbadger said:
They will be winter tyres, rather than snow tyres, but will be entirely suitable for these wintery conditions.
Best to go and find out anyway!
They're "proper" snow tyres: Best to go and find out anyway!
However, IMO you will be fine. Crack on, but drive very cautiously and don't become impatient. Those around you will be crapping themselve and may have little to no grip whilst you worry what all the fuss is about!
Twas awesome. No problems. Saw a Sierra fishtail where I had no probs whatsoever.
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?t...
From this (and other sources) am I right in thinking that proper snow tyres are the ones with the snowflake/mountain symbol, as opposed to mud and snow tyres (M&S)?
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?t...
From this (and other sources) am I right in thinking that proper snow tyres are the ones with the snowflake/mountain symbol, as opposed to mud and snow tyres (M&S)?
Edited by joebongo on Sunday 19th December 13:16
Also remember, just because you can stop doesn't mean the muppet behind you can. Todays sheep tend to just follow the guy ahead, so do a bit of F1 style "pack tightening" before you get to any hazard or requirement to stop, and let them know very early you're gonna stop.
(it's damm annoying to safely stop, on your optimised winter tyres, then feel, bump, bump, bump as 3 other less optimised cars use you as buffers.....)
(it's damm annoying to safely stop, on your optimised winter tyres, then feel, bump, bump, bump as 3 other less optimised cars use you as buffers.....)
joebongo said:
Twas awesome. No problems. Saw a Sierra fishtail where I had no probs whatsoever.
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?t...
From this (and other sources) am I right in thinking that proper snow tyres are the ones with the snowflake/mountain symbol, as opposed to mud and snow tyres (M&S)?]
Excellent! Good work.http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?t...
From this (and other sources) am I right in thinking that proper snow tyres are the ones with the snowflake/mountain symbol, as opposed to mud and snow tyres (M&S)?]
The manufacturer refers to them as 'winter/cold weather tyres'. To call them snow tyres does them a disservice by implying that they are designed primarily for actual snow driving - they're not. They're designed to d
work best in low temperature conditions (different rubber compound) and just generally mucky conditions, as well as having sipes/tread patterns that clear well and afford some grip on snow and even ice. Some tyres have walnut shell fragments in that act as constantly self-sharpening teeth - they cut Into even sheet ice and will give some grip in those conditions. Awesome tech.
Glad you got about ok. My cousin has a 330d touring on Nokian winter tyres - we drove it up an alpine pass to a ski resort a couple of years back. 4x4's with incorrect tyres were stationary, we just kept plugging on up the hill.
jwo said:
No. I have nokian wrg2 winter Tyres on and have just driven 5 or so miles across snow packed road and gentle hills. No trouble at all, dangerously easy in fact. Do obviously allow greater stopping distance for junctions and slow for corners though!!!
I found on the same tyres I could feel the deterioration in performance though, during the heavy snowfall yesterday. On the way to the shops I could nudge 85-90 in the 6 inches of snow, but on the retun, 4 inches later, it was a stuggle to hit 80. 
Joking aside, it is just incredible how good these tyres are. Being able to enter the "snow lane" and accelerate flat out in 2nd and third without ANY wheelspin, and then to cap it all to able to brake just as if it is "wet" is nothing short of physics defying. I have alwys had snow tyres for the last 5 years, but these are phenomenally good.
Max_Torque said:
Also remember, just because you can stop doesn't mean the muppet behind you can. Todays sheep tend to just follow the guy ahead, so do a bit of F1 style "pack tightening" before you get to any hazard or requirement to stop, and let them know very early you're gonna stop.
(it's damm annoying to safely stop, on your optimised winter tyres, then feel, bump, bump, bump as 3 other less optimised cars use you as buffers.....)
The other downside I think, is the muppets that think you are driving faster than they are coz the roads are not as bad as they thought they were, so they try it............(it's damm annoying to safely stop, on your optimised winter tyres, then feel, bump, bump, bump as 3 other less optimised cars use you as buffers.....)
Remember that momentum is your friend in low traction conditions, so allow plenty of space in front to allow you to build up speed approaching an uphill, and vice versa.
And the overconfidence thing is true, I stopped on a hill on a road to help a guy who had slid sideways and I was like Bambi on sheet ice, the car felt absolutely 'planted'!
And the overconfidence thing is true, I stopped on a hill on a road to help a guy who had slid sideways and I was like Bambi on sheet ice, the car felt absolutely 'planted'!
yep, I went out for a spin (heh) yesterday in similar conditions in the mx5. Was going a little sideways round corners, and fishtailing some (more out of choice), decided to try an emergency stop on a flat, level road, from 15mph. Took 120 yards (locking the wheels vs cadance braking vs threshold braking made next to no decellerative difference). Slowed down a little after that.
s3fella said:
jwo said:
No. I have nokian wrg2 winter Tyres on and have just driven 5 or so miles across snow packed road and gentle hills. No trouble at all, dangerously easy in fact. Do obviously allow greater stopping distance for junctions and slow for corners though!!!
I found on the same tyres I could feel the deterioration in performance though, during the heavy snowfall yesterday. On the way to the shops I could nudge 85-90 in the 6 inches of snow, but on the retun, 4 inches later, it was a stuggle to hit 80. Joking aside, it is just incredible how good these tyres are. Being able to enter the "snow lane" and accelerate flat out in 2nd and third without ANY wheelspin, and then to cap it all to able to brake just as if it is "wet" is nothing short of physics defying. I have alwys had snow tyres for the last 5 years, but these are phenomenally good.
Loads of grip where other cars were just spinning and going nowhere, able to push through some deep snow, in places upto bonnet height!!!
Knackered the undertray and front grill's though
There not super-magical, but they are bloody good to be fair, overconfidence is a big issue though!!
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff