Popped your cherry yet? - Winter tyre user's that is

[Ullevi]

Been driving around on Nokian WR G2s on one vehicle and Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds on another.

Both have been great in all weathers during the winter so far.

Just seem to be able to get about with no drama no matter the conditions.This is essential for me as I cannot work from home or choose to have a "snow day" whenever driving conditions get a little challenging.Plus I have to drive on untreated roads.

Really happy I've made the investment, and of course, my summer tyres are not being worn during the winter.

[marcosgt]

Going to be 13 and sunny on Tuesday - I hope no Winter Tyre users will be behind me on the motorway!



M.

Edited by marcosgt on Sunday 9th January 12:23

[m4rk]

cptsideways said:

So hopefully with the latest flurries of the lovely white stuff you've popped your snow/winter tyre virginity & can report back


As a long time user I bet there will be some funny comments & general OMG what have I been missing all this time. I've used em for the last 20 years on all ours cars, they've gotten better every year & I still think it's amusing going places that people think you should'nt be. Some of my best motoring moments & journeys have been in the snow, to some uttery silly places often purely for the fun of it.

cptsideways said:

Q1: Were you sceptical before?

Never really heard of them until I moved abroad. Now I live in the Austrian Alps. Winter weather conditions can often be very like the UK but severe cold and snow is more frequent and for longer. On the other hand Austrians clear and treat the roads much, much better than they do in the UK so winter tyres are also very useful in the UK.

cptsideways said:

Q2: What convinced you to try them?

It's law and it was a nightmare to drive on summer tyres when I tried on my UK summer booted car. Now with winter tyres I love driving in the slippery stuff.

cptsideways said:

Q3: On a factor of 1-10 how much difference has it made. 1 is not getting of the driveway a'la previous years, 10 is gettiing up & down the steepest hill you can find that previously was only good for tabogganing

10+++
I live on a hill with a 16% incline on a narrow country road. When its icy it is impossible to get up this hill without winter tyres.

I have been up and down 6000ft mountains with roads covered in snow and or sheet ice on many occasions without problems.

cptsideways said:

Q4: Are you regretting it now? as you can get to work & won't have to sit at home in your pants all day?

No regrets because everyone gets to work throughout the winter. After heavy snow falls everyone just gets on with it as normal. I have personally never known anyone not make it to work because of the winter conditions. Schools are only allowed to close if more than 1m (3feet) of snow has fallen and then it would only be for short while because everyone here helps to clear the snow. No road or path is abandoned to the elements. Even my cycle path along a river bank out in the countryside is cleared quickly. I have just fitted studded tyres for my bike. These also have sipes and not unsurprisingly these also work well too

Frankly, I am embarrassed when my colleagues ask about the UK transport problems in the winter weather. Fitting winter tyres is just a normal part of driving here. The fuss about the pros and cons of winter tyres in the UK seems laughable when its so obvious to a lot of people that the +ve talk is not hype, they really do work very well. At least there are now more discussions and so there is more chance that the savvy motorist can at least choose to be better equipped for the conditions.

Edited by m4rk on Sunday 9th January 12:54

[m4rk]

marcosgt said:

Going to be 13 and sunny on Tuesday - I hope no Winter Tyre users will be behind me on the motorway!



M.

Edited by marcosgt on Sunday 9th January 12:23

It was 13C here in Austria too. No one was the slightest bit concerned about their winter tyres. Its not even talked about.

[thinfourth2]

marcosgt said:

Going to be 13 and sunny on Tuesday - I hope no Winter Tyre users will be behind me on the motorway!



M.

Edited by marcosgt on Sunday 9th January 12:23

As long as you are carrying a set of winter tyres in the boot just incase the weather forecast is wrong

oh fk it why am i even bother replying.

Its all down to driving skill winter tyres don't do st

I just got better at driving on snow and ice when i fitted winter tyres and its the same for others who have fitted them.

Edited by thinfourth2 on Sunday 9th January 13:07

[Hark]

Difference is proabably 8 or 9 on the Z4M. Got stuck for only a minute in about 2 inches on the flattest road ever. Winter tyres and it's brilliant.

TT was almost as good on summers though due to quattro.