Apologies to anyone using the A61 North from Leeds at 8am

[s11lmx]

T'was me that blocked the road for 40 minutes I got half way up the hill coming out of Leeds then the I had to change lanes to avoid a stranded Merc and that was the end of my traction. Thanks to both my mate and I jumping up and down with WOT in 3rd gear we managed to turn around and head back down the hill.

No thanks however to the tw@t in the 5 door red Vauxhall Astra, who was very visual in his hand gesture to me as to the fact that I'd slowed his arrival at work. I was stood, my car with hazards on looking abandoned and talking a young lady out of having a panic attack as she couldn't get up the hill in her 206cc. I managed to calm her down and get her moving, which leads to ALL traffic being able to pass me and the merc, but thanks for the wave, I didn't realise you knew me that well, yes I am a wanker, twice a day if you must know.

I love snow, inclines and V8's. working from home now.

[ringram]

Two words,

"snow chains"

[the muppet]

lol, mine is in the garage and i'm contemplating WALKING to the shops.

[bathcv8]

Sorry to hear all that.

Is this a tyre thing (what make/model tyre you got?) or a stupid question about the fact that your car will never be able to get up that hill in these conditions?

Just curious about how far north I can get in the Ro before dealing with what you have this morning...

In other words, what are the limits of a Ro, up a hill, in the snow???

Edited by bathcv8 on Thursday 4th December 11:39

[robkarloff]

bathcv8 said:

Is this a tyre thing (what make/model tyre you got?) or a stupid question about the fact that your car will never be able to get up that hill in these conditions?

I have always thought it stupid that we don't have the same rules on tyres at this time of the year as they do in Scandinavia and indeed many other European countries. Come the beginning of October, they must fit winter tyres as a legal and insurance requirement and keep them on into March or April (not sure the exact details). We are not talking studded tyres here, just tyres that have a winter tread pattern and compound. They are not only designed for the slushy stuff, but for the lower ambient temperatures and higher standing water amounts. It's a common misconception here that they're only useful or better in snow, whereas they are actually better even in the dry in lower temperatures due to the more suitable rubber compound used. Also part of the problem here is that we don't want to fork out for a set of cheap and simple steel wheels to fit them... Guess they just aren't bling enough!

If you're running your 'ro as a daily driver at this time of year, I would really consider running some other wheels and winter tyres. Bet you'd notice a massive difference in grip and stability!

Edited by robkarloff on Thursday 4th December 11:59

[LongQ]

robkarloff said:

bathcv8 said:

Is this a tyre thing (what make/model tyre you got?) or a stupid question about the fact that your car will never be able to get up that hill in these conditions?[/footnote]

I have always thought it stupid that we don't have the same rules on tyres at this time of the year as they do in Scandinavia and indeed many other European countries. Come the beginning of October, they must fit winter tyres as a legal and insurance requirement and keep them on into March or April (not sure the exact details). We are not talking studded tyres here, just tyres that have a winter tread pattern and compound. They are not only designed for the slushy stuff, but for the lower ambient temperatures and higher standing water amounts. It's a common misconception here that they're only useful or better in snow, whereas they are actually better even in the dry in lower temperatures due to the more suitable rubber compound used. Also part of the problem here is that we don't want to fork out for a set of cheap and simple steel wheels

The lack of such a requirement may just be because there is no way it could be justified and indeed NOT having regular and fairly constant sub-zero temperatures might just be detrimental to the performance of the tyres. Or to put it another way, the compounds and contruction used are designed for consistent cold temperatures and what we experience in the UK is far from that over a winter period and likely to cause extreme wear.

Note also that even in those countries where such laws exist the change over does not seem to stop people driving off the road inadvertently at the start of each winter season, at least according to information communicated to me (by various people over the years) related mainly to Sweden and Austria.

That said, as and when the next ice age arrives and assuming we are still allowed cars of some sort by then, I have no doubt that the social controllers will wish to enforce such a rule. A business storing the spare wheels and tyres for people who have no room at home (most people I would guess) could then become quite viable.

[baz7175]

Winter tyres aren't defined to be used by month, moreso by current temperatures, when it gets below 6oC and you have a shunt with summer tyres on no matter if you were at fault or not it's your dime that has to be coughed up. Typically most people swap over late October/early November to save any hassle as by then the temperatures are continually shifting around the magic number.

We had around 15-20cm of snow on Tuesday and my ickle 1.2 Corsa made a 40km drive to the customer site I'm currently working on with no problem thanks to it's currently installed "winter reifen".

[Bonnie and Clyde]

s11lmx said:

T'was me that blocked the road for 40 minutes I got half way up the hill coming out of Leeds then the I had to change lanes to avoid a stranded Merc and that was the end of my traction. Thanks to both my mate and I jumping up and down with WOT in 3rd gear we managed to turn around and head back down the hill.

No thanks however to the tw@t in the 5 door red Vauxhall Astra, who was very visual in his hand gesture to me as to the fact that I'd slowed his arrival at work. I was stood, my car with hazards on looking abandoned and talking a young lady out of having a panic attack as she couldn't get up the hill in her 206cc. I managed to calm her down and get her moving, which leads to ALL traffic being able to pass me and the merc, but thanks for the wave, I didn't realise you knew me that well, yes I am a wanker, twice a day if you must know.

I love snow, inclines and V8's. working from home now.

Sorry to hear that Love the twice a day comment
There are some arses about aren't there. As if you do it deliberately. Your patience must be better than mine. I may have started brawling(well slapping like a girl then hiding behind the nearest available man)

[the muppet]

Bonnie and Clyde said:

I may have started brawling(well slapping like a girl then hiding behind the nearest available man)

Ah, you fight just like me then...

[wolfracer]

So is the LSD any use in snow then? I would have thought we would have an advantage over open diff normo's?

[Bonnie and Clyde]

the muppet said:

Bonnie and Clyde said:

I may have started brawling(well slapping like a girl then hiding behind the nearest available man)

Ah, you fight just like me then...

Its the best way without breaking nails

[baz7175]

wolfracer said:

So is the LSD any use in snow then? I would have thought we would have an advantage over open diff normo's?

LSD and Snow in the one sentence, quite the party guy aint ya

[wolfracer]

baz7175 said:

wolfracer said:

So is the LSD any use in snow then? I would have thought we would have an advantage over open diff normo's?

LSD and Snow in the one sentence, quite the party guy aint ya

I like VX Fun! (There i said it, now go sue me FORD, I dare ya!)(ref PH gassing topic)

[gareth h]

I've been thinking for a while that I should have some of these in the boot.
http://www.autosock.co.uk/
Anybody tried them?

[Bonnie and Clyde]

gareth h said:

I've been thinking for a while that I should have some of these in the boot.
www.autosock.co.uk/
Anybody tried them?

What a brilliant idea. For those that may be driving there Ro in snowy conditions i'd say there a must have.

[stigmundfreud]

ringram said:

Two words,

"snow chains"

One word,

storage!

[moosepig]

gareth h said:

I've been thinking for a while that I should have some of these in the boot.
http://www.autosock.co.uk/
Anybody tried them?

I have a pair, never needed to use them (yet) but they are very compact and easily stowed under the spare (which I only keep in there as ballast - won't fit over the APs! ) Nice to know they are there if I find myself stuck in a south coast blizzard.