The pointlessness of SUV’s - live from a snowy lake district
Discussion
This clip just shows exactly how utterly pointless most SUV’s are if you find yourself in a little bit to snow ( or mud).
https://youtu.be/4BqcdwQBJBw?si=av2iAAQ1dkYZzqg-
https://youtu.be/4BqcdwQBJBw?si=av2iAAQ1dkYZzqg-
rallycross said:
This clip just shows exactly how utterly pointless most SUV’s are if you find yourself in a little bit to snow ( or mud).
https://youtu.be/4BqcdwQBJBw?si=av2iAAQ1dkYZzqg-
SUVs are pointless anyway, but so is anything else that doesn't have the right tyres in that sort of weather!https://youtu.be/4BqcdwQBJBw?si=av2iAAQ1dkYZzqg-
Many SUVs and "Crossovers" are FWD only, meaning that their only virtue when it comes to snow is ground clearance. But realistically when we do get snow, it's rarely deep enough that ground clearance is an issue.
The main issue is lack of appropriate tyres for the conditions; in snowy conditions, a dedicated winter tyre or at least an all-season tyre will be better than a summer tyre.
What many drivers fail to grasp is that if a tyre can't grip, it doesn't matter whether you have AWD, RWD or FWD, you aren't going anywhere. One of the issues of snow is that traffic jams increase; everyone stops to watch Miggins ahead spinning their wheels on a slight incline. What happens is queues of slow or stationary traffic on said inclines, which then themselves struggle to get moving again because of a lack of inertia and grip. This is where the winter tyre comes in to play, not only can it set off pulling a car uphill on an incline without slipping, but it can also stop a car going downhill and steer effectively.
Fully expecting a large contingent of PH now to tell me I'm wrong, that they've been driving in the snow for 50 years without winter tyres and never got stuck, that winter tyres are unnecessary and that we don't have enough snow to warrant them.
The main issue is lack of appropriate tyres for the conditions; in snowy conditions, a dedicated winter tyre or at least an all-season tyre will be better than a summer tyre.
What many drivers fail to grasp is that if a tyre can't grip, it doesn't matter whether you have AWD, RWD or FWD, you aren't going anywhere. One of the issues of snow is that traffic jams increase; everyone stops to watch Miggins ahead spinning their wheels on a slight incline. What happens is queues of slow or stationary traffic on said inclines, which then themselves struggle to get moving again because of a lack of inertia and grip. This is where the winter tyre comes in to play, not only can it set off pulling a car uphill on an incline without slipping, but it can also stop a car going downhill and steer effectively.
Fully expecting a large contingent of PH now to tell me I'm wrong, that they've been driving in the snow for 50 years without winter tyres and never got stuck, that winter tyres are unnecessary and that we don't have enough snow to warrant them.
rallycross said:
This clip just shows exactly how utterly pointless most SUV’s are if you find yourself in a little bit to snow ( or mud).
https://youtu.be/4BqcdwQBJBw?si=av2iAAQ1dkYZzqg-
I only saw one get 'stuck'.https://youtu.be/4BqcdwQBJBw?si=av2iAAQ1dkYZzqg-
Whats your point?
But, lets consider a couple of relevant factors here.
Even if the owners wanted to get winter/all seasons tyres fitted, its unlikely they would find anywhere that either had them in stock, or the time to fit them at short-ish notice.
There was/is an amber weather warning in place and yet many people still decided to go out and risk it.
10/10 for trolling though!
Yep tyres, having driven a BMW it turned it from a useless paperweight to an absolute monster in the snow on a proper set of Winter tyres, best thing was the ability to have very controlled fun.
Other benefit was tyre cost £160 per corner v £280 per corner (summer).
Not bothered on the recent one owing to me doing less mileage and being able to put off journeys.
Other benefit was tyre cost £160 per corner v £280 per corner (summer).
Not bothered on the recent one owing to me doing less mileage and being able to put off journeys.
When looking at manufacturers marketing for their said SUVs I have never thought
‘ I will buy an SUV because it will work better in extreme snowy conditions’
Performance in snow is nothing to do with what a vehicle looks like. Its to do with tyres, the skill and experience of the driver. 4wd and more gears is always helpful.
‘ I will buy an SUV because it will work better in extreme snowy conditions’
Performance in snow is nothing to do with what a vehicle looks like. Its to do with tyres, the skill and experience of the driver. 4wd and more gears is always helpful.
rallycross said:
This clip just shows exactly how utterly pointless most SUV’s are if you find yourself in a little bit to snow ( or mud).
https://youtu.be/4BqcdwQBJBw?si=av2iAAQ1dkYZzqg-
The wheel and tyre set up on most SUVs is bonkers anyway - they should be sold with decent profile All Season tyres as standard.https://youtu.be/4BqcdwQBJBw?si=av2iAAQ1dkYZzqg-
What are you supposed to do if you buy a one new, chuck away £800+ worth of tyres to fit All Seasons, or spend even more on an alternate set of wheels and tyres ( assuming you’ve got somewhere to keep them)?
I lucked out and got a pukka VW set for £250 for wife’s 4Motion Tiguan. It was epic in snow - the one time in 8 years it was driven in snow.
A couple of years ago I stopped on Cannock Chase to photograph the trees in the snow.
There was a guy in an X5 without a clue - all wheels spinning in the car park. My Octavia ( 2nd and the same underpinnings as several SUVs had no problem on summer tyres.
It is partly the tyres and partly the driver in knowing what you, and the cars limits are. There are routes on the Chase I wouldn’t attempt in 4” of fresh snow without 4 WD and m&s tyres.
There was a guy in an X5 without a clue - all wheels spinning in the car park. My Octavia ( 2nd and the same underpinnings as several SUVs had no problem on summer tyres.
It is partly the tyres and partly the driver in knowing what you, and the cars limits are. There are routes on the Chase I wouldn’t attempt in 4” of fresh snow without 4 WD and m&s tyres.
Sheepshanks said:
What are you supposed to do if you buy a one new, chuck away £800+ worth of tyres to fit All Seasons, or spend even more on an alternate set of wheels and tyres ( assuming you’ve got somewhere to keep them)?
I suppose it depends how seriously you take tyres/general car maintenance. I was at the MOT station the other day when another guy in the waiting room was told his EcoSport had failed on a bald tyre, and another was very close to the limit. He complained about having to fork out for a new tyre, as the previous year he had to do the same for another wheel. Whereas we run one car on a dedicated winter set for winter, a runaround/spare on all-seasons and my wife's car is currently having the summer tyres and wheels ditched for a permanent all-season set up. Convenient, as this morning we've woken to several inches of snow, as we do every winter. Not particularly bothered about the cost; cars are expensive to own/run.
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