Highlands trip: winter tyres?
Discussion
I am driving up to Torridon in Wester Ross for 26 to 30 December. My car is rear wheel drive with ample power and large-ish (245/45 R17) wheels currently shod with Michelin Pilot PS2 tyres (it is a Mercedes SL 500).
Should I be fitting winter tyres?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Should I be fitting winter tyres?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
The question will be if it snows or not.
In snow those PS2s will be comically, hilariously useless on a wide-tyred, RWD car.
If it's just cold I have found them to be fine - given you make allowances and moderate your speed.
The PS2s are brilliant in the wet - which is the most likely.
Do you have a spare set of rims? If so - you could just wait until a few days before and decide.
In snow those PS2s will be comically, hilariously useless on a wide-tyred, RWD car.
If it's just cold I have found them to be fine - given you make allowances and moderate your speed.
The PS2s are brilliant in the wet - which is the most likely.
Do you have a spare set of rims? If so - you could just wait until a few days before and decide.
As mentioned, depends on the weather. It very rarely snows to sea level here in December, but early morning ice is a real problem. Leave late in the day.
If you get stuck, give me a shout.
Are you staying in the Torridon?
Steve
www.Torridon.org
If you get stuck, give me a shout.
Are you staying in the Torridon?
Steve
www.Torridon.org
Yes, staying in the Torridon. Really looking forward to it. Your website (I assume it is the same Carter) is an inspiration, we have been looking at it all day. Particularly pleased to see the latest photograph was taken today: please keep whetting our appetite!
I've got spare rims. Just not much spare cash (after the hotel bills...) and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3s are about £220 each! I would quite like to go over the pass to Applecross: that's the only bit I'd be really, really worried about. I should just bite the bullet and buy the tyres: living in the depths of Northumberland, it's not as if they'll be useless to me, and I should get three winters out of them. It's pointless having the car if I can't afford to run it properly...
On a side note, the PS2s are the most amazing tyre I have ever driven. They transformed the car. And they are indeed superb in the wet. And the dry, and the hot, and the cold! The car isn't horrendous in bad weather because one sits almost on top of the back wheels. But I have no desire to get stuck or risk life and limb.
I've got spare rims. Just not much spare cash (after the hotel bills...) and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3s are about £220 each! I would quite like to go over the pass to Applecross: that's the only bit I'd be really, really worried about. I should just bite the bullet and buy the tyres: living in the depths of Northumberland, it's not as if they'll be useless to me, and I should get three winters out of them. It's pointless having the car if I can't afford to run it properly...
On a side note, the PS2s are the most amazing tyre I have ever driven. They transformed the car. And they are indeed superb in the wet. And the dry, and the hot, and the cold! The car isn't horrendous in bad weather because one sits almost on top of the back wheels. But I have no desire to get stuck or risk life and limb.
r129sl said:
Yes, staying in the Torridon. Really looking forward to it. Your website (I assume it is the same Carter) is an inspiration, we have been looking at it all day. Particularly pleased to see the latest photograph was taken today: please keep whetting our appetite!
I've got spare rims. Just not much spare cash (after the hotel bills...) and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3s are about £220 each! I would quite like to go over the pass to Applecross: that's the only bit I'd be really, really worried about. I should just bite the bullet and buy the tyres: living in the depths of Northumberland, it's not as if they'll be useless to me, and I should get three winters out of them. It's pointless having the car if I can't afford to run it properly...
On a side note, the PS2s are the most amazing tyre I have ever driven. They transformed the car. And they are indeed superb in the wet. And the dry, and the hot, and the cold! The car isn't horrendous in bad weather because one sits almost on top of the back wheels. But I have no desire to get stuck or risk life and limb.
The Applecross pass. "Road Normally Impassable In Wintry Conditions."I've got spare rims. Just not much spare cash (after the hotel bills...) and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3s are about £220 each! I would quite like to go over the pass to Applecross: that's the only bit I'd be really, really worried about. I should just bite the bullet and buy the tyres: living in the depths of Northumberland, it's not as if they'll be useless to me, and I should get three winters out of them. It's pointless having the car if I can't afford to run it properly...
On a side note, the PS2s are the most amazing tyre I have ever driven. They transformed the car. And they are indeed superb in the wet. And the dry, and the hot, and the cold! The car isn't horrendous in bad weather because one sits almost on top of the back wheels. But I have no desire to get stuck or risk life and limb.
Quite honestly I wouldn't consider it unless it is snow and ice free - which it won't be. The section near the top is very steep and narrow with tight hairpins and a sheer drop - mostly protected by armco but not absolutely everywhere.
Pictures of it don't communicate how awkward it is to drive. With good grip it's no problem. Slidy? No thanks.
I drove it in the summer and that was intimidating enough. There is no way I'd tackle it in bad conditions. Looks like the long way round for me, then! I think I'm still going to spring for a set of winter tyres, if only for the added confidence I hope they'll give me on the drive up.
Went up the Applecross in Februari this year. Never new it could get dark so quickly. Fog and snow wasn't quite helpfull. The most scary part was when we had to reverse for a huge truck. I can't thank him enough for his patience whilst we were reversing and hoping not to fall off the bloody mountain. 
I don't think it's too dangerous though, as long as you take your time in bad weather. But if you'd enjoy the Applecross when there's nothing too see?
I don't think it's too dangerous though, as long as you take your time in bad weather. But if you'd enjoy the Applecross when there's nothing too see?
Don said:
What it's like at the top of Applecross. Usually.
And THAT was in high summer!
I live on said road, and have been over the pass at least once a week for the past 3 years. The worst views you'll get are in high summer. Avoid August! (One of the wettest months in the West Highlands, and even in good weather the view is generally crap as the winds often come from the south - so the air is rubbish).And THAT was in high summer!
April/May/June, September & December = Best views
Though it's pot luck at any time of the year. May is the most likely for good weather.Feb *can be* good but you'll need 4x4
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 1st December 19:25
Hi - I hail from further south than Carter (I live a lot further south now but the weather up there still holds to older patterns), but think that till about February you will be very unlucky to hit snow in Glencoe - the area you don't really want to be when it snows .I'd be more worried about ice ( black or otherwise) ,but that depends on time of day .Early morning and late evening - watch out for shady spots - it's something you learn to look out for up north .Forget the temperature gauge - stick your hand out of the window -if it's cold , it's icy .If you've got power assisted steering - watch for it getting light .If you can reduce it's effects - to gain more "feel/feedback " -might be a good idea.And when in Glencoe - those things that look like big German Shepherd dogs ,but a bit shaggier - they're Deer - sometimes difficult to spot at the edge of the road ,sometimes roaming about ,waiting to be spooked - but always waiting to do your car a nasty ,and then run off .Bit further north you'll run into black faced sheep -they like to sit in the middle of the road in winter - it's still got a bit of heat --best way of moving them on is to open window and shout ,and also slap hand on door -they don't like the noise .They can also do your car a nasty .
Then -going north in December - it's great - no Londerners /foreign tourists/coaches to get in your way - but also your on yer own in the middle of nowhere - make sure you have a couple of networks on yer mobile ,just in case -recommend Vody and O2 -thet work most points north .
And carry stuff in case of breakdown - it gets COLD in Glencoe after dark .
Above all -enjoy your trip north .
Then -going north in December - it's great - no Londerners /foreign tourists/coaches to get in your way - but also your on yer own in the middle of nowhere - make sure you have a couple of networks on yer mobile ,just in case -recommend Vody and O2 -thet work most points north .
And carry stuff in case of breakdown - it gets COLD in Glencoe after dark .
Above all -enjoy your trip north .
I was lucky the February before last and had gorgeous weather (cloudless and cold) and endless visibility. I went to stay in the Applecross Inn this time last week and only got glimpses of what lay on the other side of the water through the cloud. The drive there last week was rather intimidating. Going over the pass at about 5:30, just after it had got dark, climbing into hail and strong winds. At one point I pulled over (just before the hairpins) as the visibility was so poor, and began to wonder how long I might be up there. Luckily it was just a passing strong shower.
Love that part of the country though, the emptiness is completely addictive.
Love that part of the country though, the emptiness is completely addictive.
RDE said:
I was lucky the February before last and had gorgeous weather (cloudless and cold) and endless visibility. I went to stay in the Applecross Inn this time last week and only got glimpses of what lay on the other side of the water through the cloud. The drive there last week was rather intimidating. Going over the pass at about 5:30, just after it had got dark, climbing into hail and strong winds. At one point I pulled over (just before the hairpins) as the visibility was so poor, and began to wonder how long I might be up there. Luckily it was just a passing strong shower.
Love that part of the country though, the emptiness is completely addictive.
It was stunning that week... I remember it well. This taken Feb 7th 2008Love that part of the country though, the emptiness is completely addictive.
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 4th December 07:57
To the O/P... this is worth a watch if you didn't see it... just down the road from here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p9210/Natu...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p9210/Natu...
GetCarter said:
To the O/P... this is worth a watch if you didn't see it... just down the road from here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p9210/Natu...
I've just watched the first 5 minutes ,, and the camera work is outstanding well impressed.. the scenery is spectacular..http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p9210/Natu...
George
GetCarter said:
GetCarter said:
It very rarely snows to sea level here in December
<<< eats words!
If it's any consolation there's snice on the ground at my house in the "deep South" and my neighbour couldn't get his BMW off the drive without the two of us chipping it off the road with spades and sprinkling rock salt down.
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff