OK the cold mornings got me thinking on the way to work, Do I put snow(Winter) tyres on the front of the tin top (Skoda Fabia) in a month or two?

EDIT :
Damn wish I could edit the poll options into ENGLISH...... Grrr
EDIT :



[Edited on 4/1010/10 by mad4x4]

We are putting winter tyres on the vans to help cope with the snow and (more important) ice.

[Edited on 4-10-10 by speedyxjs]

I live in England - i don't need snow tyres

(i may live to regret this statement)

My first winter with a RWD daily driver coming up! Snow tyres would give better grip wouldn't they? DO NOT WANT

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeR
I live in England - i don't need snow tyres

(i may live to regret this statement)

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What about "No, the UK only tends to have weather cold enough for winter tyres a week or so at a time. I'd have to change my tyres several times a month swapping between winter tyres when the temperature is going to be below 7° and summer tyres when it will get warmer than that. Why can't we have autumn tyres that work below, say, 15°" That would be my preferred option

You don't need to take off your winter tyres the minute it gets over 7°. On our VW Touran I have run a set all summer which, over here, lasts a good while and temperatures are regularly over 30 and up to 35/38 at times.

Presumably the outright grip is lower, the wear rate will be higher and they are a little noisier but there's no reason why, in my experience, that they cannot be expected to do a UK winter from say, November to March?

Tyres in question are Michelin Alpin.

Living in the south of England I really don't see the point myself for the few times a year they would actually offer any real benefit. IMO all season tyres are just that and if driven within their limits work fine.

I got the Passat stuck once in the snow earlier this year and TBH I was mucking about outside my B-I-L's house to amuse the kids.

my 525d bmw loves winter tyres.

when i didnt have winter tyres i had this happen





i get them for the winter now.

[Edited on 4/10/10 by jossey]

Yes, we have them for her car and I'll be putting some on my car this year.

The difference is tremendous, especially when there is any snow or slush on the ground.

I answered option four - have only driven in snow once in my life, in fact only been in snow once in my life - and then the Subaru didn't lack traction.

We rarely get snow, and when we do it is 1/2" deep and lasts for hours, somtimes even as late as lunchtime.

Winter tyres are not just about snow. In tests, at <7'c winter tyres stop about 2m shorter than summer tyres. Thats about the width of a Zebra crossing. Temps below 7'c are hardly unusual.

I think it's an absolute joke that we allow cars to go on the road in the winter with performance tyres still fitted.

Does my nut in when you see a BMW on low-profile run-flats blocking a city-centre road because it can't climb a slight incline with a faint dusting of frost!

And then we get to the big accidents on the open roads...

quote:

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Originally posted by scootz
I think it's an absolute joke that we allow cars to go on the road in the winter with performance tyres still fitted.

Does my nut in when you see a BMW on low-profile run-flats blocking a city-centre road because it can't climb a slight incline with a faint dusting of frost!

And then we get to the big accidents on the open roads...

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Last time I was in Sweden, it took me a while to work out what the noise was coming from the cars as they drove past. I was there in February.

It was the sound of their studded tyres on the tarmac road.


We are more wet climate here, so snow sometimes causes problems. Unlike europe which is not as wet as blighty. Its very predictable how the UK comes to a standstill with 5mm of snow.

Dont need studs I have one of these ...

Unstoppable

Hi

I run my daily driver, Mondeo TDCI, all year with 'mud and snows' on the fronts - if you've never experienced the difference they offer in the snow you'll be impressed.

Regards Mick

I'm definitely going to fit some winters onto steels this winter for the Micra.. cotswolds hills + snow + ice with no grit is a pretty demanding commute.

Having said that I haven't got stuck a single time last winter - 165 tyres ftw - once passed a Range Rover Sport that couldn't get up a hill even with 4wd on those on-road super performance tyres!

In Cyprus we used to just have summer tyres on all the time but own a set of chains for the front when going up the snowy mountains in winter - I think chains on a commute might be a bit overkilll though.

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Originally posted by Benzine
My first winter with a RWD daily driver coming up! Snow tyres would give better grip wouldn't they? DO NOT WANT

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We have snow tires on the company cars and last winter we had 30cm of snow on the parking, first 3 to enter were with private cars without winter tyres and guess what, the people with company cars and winter tyres had to pull them free. Also on the road a big difference.

My mondeo with traction control, abs and winter tyres = quite comfy in snow

quote:

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Originally posted by Mix
Hi

I run my daily driver, Mondeo TDCI, all year with 'mud and snows' on the fronts - if you've never experienced the difference they offer in the snow you'll be impressed.

Regards Mick

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I am with Mad 4x4 on this matter.

His commute consists of a section of high ground over the A90 and A92. With Scottish councils under pressure budget wise they are rather stingy with the grit.
The main roads get done but smaller roads get left till much later.
Another problem is the grit needs traffic to break up the ice once treated...so there is the problem of refreezing due to lack of movement.

The use of winter tyres should be mandatory up north in winter as the road conditions change so much.

I also fall into the 4x4 category as well but it runs on Muds all the time. Problem is g/f has packed in her job and now her company car goes back so she gets the 4x4 and I'm stuck with the tintop.

I said no, I can't see the point but that is only because it was closest to my feelings. I see the point. I Just don't think it would be worth it for the small number of miles I do and I think it might confuse the gearbox.

The biggest problem I had last winter was my car had no grip below around 17 miles an hour because below that speed the gearbox constantly trys to change down which spins the wheels. At 17 miles an hour it would let me have 3rd and it was fine, then I'd catch up with someone doing about 5 Mph and I'd have to stop and wait for them to dissapear so I could set off again.

I've driven in Blizzards and through tallish snow drifts and had no problems bar the gearbox disagreements, If I drove more I might consider winter tyres but the ones on the car to the job well.

I was not bothered with winter tires last year and will never bother.

I used to commute 120 miles a day but since everyone is teriffied of snow, i was the only one on the road.

Driving in snow needs loads of skills.

I am used to drive in snow in Greek winters. -20 degress and 30 inches of snow.

I don't think driving in snow in the UK takes much skill, but I did have a few lessons in the snow (Which I would thoroughly reckomend). Driving on snow is alot easier than ice as when the wheels spin on snow you stop, when they spin on ice you keep moving.

I fit studded snows every year, I'm in pretty much the southern-most part of Canada, we don't actually get much in the way of snow but the black ice is treacherous every morning and evening.

t

whats it like to drive with studs?

quote:

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Originally posted by mad4x4
OK the cold mornings got me thinking on the way to work, Do I put snow(Winter) tyres on the front of the tin top (Skoda Fabia) in a month or two?

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Hi Morcus

I've driven on studs on sheet ice in Norway and the traction is fine however in the UK I don't think we encounter these conditions often enough to justify - however IMO mud and snows for the NE of Scotland is a no brainer, (60 miles a day, leaving home at 0530, (before the ploughs)).

Regards Mick