Winter tyres? (cars)
- Thread starter tintin40
- Start date
they should be made law like in other countries.
i have family in germany and they all have to use winter rubber in winter.
had this conversation today, after a bus took out a new mini and van on black ice along the road from my house today, the usual council gritting problem reared its head.
we dont need to reply on gritters as much, if folk used proper skills and good winter spec rubber. a simple snow plough like what i see each day on my road, will do, to keep the snow flat and level.
i have family in germany and they all have to use winter rubber in winter.
had this conversation today, after a bus took out a new mini and van on black ice along the road from my house today, the usual council gritting problem reared its head.
we dont need to reply on gritters as much, if folk used proper skills and good winter spec rubber. a simple snow plough like what i see each day on my road, will do, to keep the snow flat and level.
silverclaws
Senior Retro Guru
I agree with the above poster, every vehicle in the UK should have them and change into them at a specific agreed time of year, like they do in other countries that do not suffer our headless chicken mentality with a bit of different weather. I mean, we get snow every year, it is part and parcel of winter, why we just haven't wised up yet to a better and safer option for travel, I just dont know.
Also with the correct tyres fitted, we might have less problems with road salt type stuff messing with our enviroment.
But I heard only last week a chap from the village was in the eye hospital, as he had caught the grit in the face from a passing gritter, it bouncing off the road onto the pavement.
Oh and something else, people tend to drive slower with snow tyres fitted with studs, the noise can become deafening at speed and there exists a loss of friction between tarmac and tyre where studs are fitted.
When I had my old veewee van, I had a set of snow chains in the back for just such an occaision and they work well in mud too. Snow chains in various guises are pretty cheap too and fit most modern cars.
But some links from my collection about gaining traction in snow;
Spray on ice traction http://www.lifetimerepairkits.com/Tire_Grip_Winter_Traction_Aid_kit.html
Snow chains for motorcycles http://www.mv-motorrad.de/cosmoshop/lshop,showdetail,13240,e,1105803788-30287,,10107,,,.htm
Screw in ice studshttp://www.supatracks.com/best-grip-screw-in-ice-studs.html
Survival in icehttp://www.dieseljo.com/ice_motorcycle_ice_riding_home.htm
Also with the correct tyres fitted, we might have less problems with road salt type stuff messing with our enviroment.
But I heard only last week a chap from the village was in the eye hospital, as he had caught the grit in the face from a passing gritter, it bouncing off the road onto the pavement.
Oh and something else, people tend to drive slower with snow tyres fitted with studs, the noise can become deafening at speed and there exists a loss of friction between tarmac and tyre where studs are fitted.
When I had my old veewee van, I had a set of snow chains in the back for just such an occaision and they work well in mud too. Snow chains in various guises are pretty cheap too and fit most modern cars.
But some links from my collection about gaining traction in snow;
Spray on ice traction http://www.lifetimerepairkits.com/Tire_Grip_Winter_Traction_Aid_kit.html
Snow chains for motorcycles http://www.mv-motorrad.de/cosmoshop/lshop,showdetail,13240,e,1105803788-30287,,10107,,,.htm
Screw in ice studshttp://www.supatracks.com/best-grip-screw-in-ice-studs.html
Survival in icehttp://www.dieseljo.com/ice_motorcycle_ice_riding_home.htm
here in Austria we have to use winter tyres from 1st of Nov. on.
but even if it would not be by law, pers. I would always recommand using winter tyres during that period of year, as even without snowy conditions a winter tyre behave far better than a summer tyre in any conditions below plus 10°C
but even if it would not be by law, pers. I would always recommand using winter tyres during that period of year, as even without snowy conditions a winter tyre behave far better than a summer tyre in any conditions below plus 10°C
I used winter tyres for the first time last night and i was staggered by the level of traction they offered. I am getting a set for the wife's car today.
I was safely doing 45mph along a snow covered a road where the other road users were doing 20.
Accelerate in 2nd on ice and you move forward, not just sit and spin. Also brake hard (within reason) and you stop.
I now feel such an idiot for never having had any before.
If anyone wants a set my mate can get them at good prices- contact [email protected] and he can give you a quote.
He's been running a set since last winter and they are far better in the cold damp conditions too, not just snow and ice. They are not studded either so are not noisy
I was safely doing 45mph along a snow covered a road where the other road users were doing 20.
Accelerate in 2nd on ice and you move forward, not just sit and spin. Also brake hard (within reason) and you stop.
I now feel such an idiot for never having had any before.
If anyone wants a set my mate can get them at good prices- contact [email protected] and he can give you a quote.
He's been running a set since last winter and they are far better in the cold damp conditions too, not just snow and ice. They are not studded either so are not noisy
There was a thread on moneysavingexpert about someone who was charged extra on their insurance for having winter tyres as a modification.
However if the winter tyres are the same size I can't see why they do that.
We had winter tyres in Germany, and the grip was so much better. I drove a van in snow covered ice over there with summer tyres and it was a nightmare to get it moving and stopping took three times the distance.
However if the winter tyres are the same size I can't see why they do that.
We had winter tyres in Germany, and the grip was so much better. I drove a van in snow covered ice over there with summer tyres and it was a nightmare to get it moving and stopping took three times the distance.
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The UK tyre wholesalers ordered there winter stock in June this year. This was delivered in October and was all the popular sizes were sold out by the start of November. There is a demand for winter tyres in the UK mostly for the skiing season. However the stock has all gone by the time the punter decides he should get some winter tyres in late December early January. I happen to know that the UK's largest independant tyre wholesaler ordered 18,000 winter tyres which all sold within 4 weeks.
The tyre manufacturers are now making tyres for next summer so bad luck if you need some winter tyres now, unless you can find somewhere with them on the shelf. Even budget winter tyres are as expensive as a main brand regular tyre. Online retailers may advertise them but I assure you none of them hold any stock, their web sites are linked in to wholesalers stock profiles and do not show stock quantities. The wholesaler does all the paperwork and ships them direct to the customer or fitting station.
The UK is way behind the european winter tyre market but the demand is becoming greater every year.
The tyre manufacturers are now making tyres for next summer so bad luck if you need some winter tyres now, unless you can find somewhere with them on the shelf. Even budget winter tyres are as expensive as a main brand regular tyre. Online retailers may advertise them but I assure you none of them hold any stock, their web sites are linked in to wholesalers stock profiles and do not show stock quantities. The wholesaler does all the paperwork and ships them direct to the customer or fitting station.
The UK is way behind the european winter tyre market but the demand is becoming greater every year.
P20
Retrobike Rider
I've got the Octavia 4x4 on normal michelin hp tyres, ran it last year and it was superb, so far this year it has been the same again. We've put winter continentals on wor lasses fabia estate and she's well happy with them, much better grip/feel. I did price winters for the 4x4, but can't justify the cost.
Kwikfit have winter contis on offer at the moment, if they have any left. Mytyres had the nokian tyres for the 4x4 at £68 last week, now £109.
Kwikfit have winter contis on offer at the moment, if they have any left. Mytyres had the nokian tyres for the 4x4 at £68 last week, now £109.
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I do 45,000+ a year and survived last winter by avoiding the idiot driving the BMW with snowchains on non compacted slush - he had the cheek to pip me as I went past at a neck breaking speed of 12mph as opposed to his clank clank clank 5mph.
Go and see how your car behaves in a snowy car park, accelerate and turn, and see how it behaves, use the handbrake to steer, practice practice.
Its how you drive that counts, drive normally but use the engine as your brake and think much further ahead if its slippy about.
Dont worry about what is behind you - its their fault, worry about what you are likely to hit.
In a diesel, you can use the clutch to pull away without the need for the accelerator first, that way you'll gain momentum and traction.
Go and see how your car behaves in a snowy car park, accelerate and turn, and see how it behaves, use the handbrake to steer, practice practice.
Its how you drive that counts, drive normally but use the engine as your brake and think much further ahead if its slippy about.
Dont worry about what is behind you - its their fault, worry about what you are likely to hit.
In a diesel, you can use the clutch to pull away without the need for the accelerator first, that way you'll gain momentum and traction.
I fitted narrow soft compound snow specific tyres (no tungsten spikes) to my group 2 SAAB 96 a few years back and went out testing. The back roads of Northumberland had about 6 inches of snow with ice underneath. I managed to hit 108mph on one straight and cornering grip was very good. Only problem was they only lasted 60 miles before they were trashed.
Here is a similar car on the same tyres last weekend
Here is a similar car on the same tyres last weekend
