Winter Tyre Poll

[Brodick]

Originally Posted by Citizen.Agfa

It is often noted in discussions on winter tyres that in cold, wet, snowy conditions a two-wheel drive vehicle shod with winter tyres will out-perform a four-wheel drive vehicle on general purpose tyres.

C.A.

This can indeed be the case.
Also if you live in certain countries Finland, Sweden, Denmark, (just for example) and certain areas Alps. The 4wd + winter tyres is mandatory, They are a must.

I have just been out this morning between 2 - 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground, summer tyres and not one problem (apart from a couple of nutters in two wheel drive cars who think they are in a 4wd!!) not one slip, not one moment of traction control stepping in. last year the car drove through 2 - 3 times that and again it had no issues.

I am not against people putting winter tyres on. Yes it can extend the life of your summer tyres but I just find it a pain in the backside and would rather spend my money on other things than another set of alloys with a set of winter tyres on them. Even more so given that i have has no issues today.

Let it Snow

[scotgc]

Originally Posted by Brodick

This can indeed be the case.
Also if you live in certain countries Finland, Sweden, Denmark, (just for example) and certain areas Alps. The 4wd + winter tyres is mandatory, They are a must.

I have just been out this morning between 2 - 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground, summer tyres and not one problem (apart from a couple of nutters in two wheel drive cars who think they are in a 4wd!!) not one slip, not one moment of traction control stepping in. last year the car drove through 2 - 3 times that and again it had no issues.

I am not against people putting winter tyres on. Yes it can extend the life of your summer tyres but I just find it a pain in the backside and would rather spend my money on other things than another set of alloys with a set of winter tyres on them. Even more so given that i have has no issues today.

Let it Snow

I have to agree, I too drove this morning in mixed conditions of fresh snow and hard packed snow. I have not changed the tyres and the car performed brilliantly, of course all vehicles need to be driven sensibly AWD or not.

Buying winter tyres must be based on common sense in my view, if you just have to deal with the odd flurry of snow a few times a year and have decent roads then they are a waste of money.

[Teejay1]

I struggled today in about 8-10 inches up a small but very steep incline only about 75 yards and 1 in 4 from a standing start. Couldn't get a run at it cause of a bend at the beginning.

I wonder do you think that an AWD would get up there with or without winter boots? I had to admit defeat and leave the car about 150 yards away from my house.

Mightily impressed with what I was able to manage today with normal tyres and 2wd, all with gentle input .

[polsesnabb]

Driving on winter conditions with summer tyres is ignorant. The AWD gives you less feedback from the actual conditions of the surface, and will always get you going. However, the magic is gone if you need to make a full stop you didn´t plan. Under winter conditions there will allways be a lot of incidents you need to react upon, and force you to stop or avoid.

A large car comes with the responsibility not to make salsa out of the others on the road. All the AWD in the world won´t prevent that from happening, if you hit a regular car, or God forbid; a person.

In our country winter tyres are mandatory, when conditions are "wintery". Normally this is from November to mid April. If you are involved in an accident and it turns out you didn´t have appropriate tyres for the conditions, you can count on nothing- or significantly less from the insurance company. You can also count on a strict reaction from the police. Last week a guy got his driver´s license withdrawn for 3 months, and a GBP 1200 fine for driving with summer tyres, and he only caused a traffic jam.
These reactions are widely supported by the population, and mirrors the level of ignorance and stupidity from the drivers in question.

[155mph]

Can I just ask for all those getting about just fine with so-called 'summer tyres' this winter, please do tell us what tyres you currently wear. This would be helpful. Thanks!

[Citizen.Agfa]

Originally Posted by polsesnabb

Driving on winter conditions with summer tyres is ignorant. The AWD gives you less feedback from the actual conditions of the surface, and will always get you going. However, the magic is gone if you need to make a full stop you didn´t plan. Under winter conditions there will allways be a lot of incidents you need to react upon, and force you to stop or avoid.

A large car comes with the responsibility not to make salsa out of the others on the road. All the AWD in the world won´t prevent that from happening, if you hit a regular car, or God forbid; a person.

I concur; a friend with a 56 plate V70 AWD had no difficulty climbing the snowy track to his house and was delighted with the grip, however once back on snowy tarmac he lightly dabbed his brakes on the approach to a bend and was somewhat disconcerted when the car carried straight on, finally coming to a stop 3 inches from a collision; his car has g/p tyres on.

C.A.

[Ransman]

Originally Posted by polsesnabb

Driving on winter conditions with summer tyres is ignorant. The AWD gives you less feedback from the actual conditions of the surface, and will always get you going. However, the magic is gone if you need to make a full stop you didn´t plan. Under winter conditions there will allways be a lot of incidents you need to react upon, and force you to stop or avoid.

A large car comes with the responsibility not to make salsa out of the others on the road. All the AWD in the world won´t prevent that from happening, if you hit a regular car, or God forbid; a person.

In our country winter tyres are mandatory, when conditions are "wintery". Normally this is from November to mid April. If you are involved in an accident and it turns out you didn´t have appropriate tyres for the conditions, you can count on nothing- or significantly less from the insurance company. You can also count on a strict reaction from the police. Last week a guy got his driver´s license withdrawn for 3 months, and a GBP 1200 fine for driving with summer tyres, and he only caused a traffic jam.
These reactions are widely supported by the population, and mirrors the level of ignorance and stupidity from the drivers in question.

It's all down to probabilities. We, in the UK, are forunate to live in a country where the climate is generally far less severe than in Scandinavia.

In the South of the UK we do not often see that much snow. I can remember years without seeing any; some hard frosts I grant you. If the climate changes to the point where it makes sense for us all to fit winter tyres then you can be sure that our government will legislate to that effect. Thankfully we are not there yet.

[NewVolvo]

Originally Posted by Ransman

It's all down to probabilities. We, in the UK, are forunate to live in a country where the climate is generally far less severe than in Scandinavia.

In the South of the UK we do not often see that much snow. I can remember years without seeing any; some hard frosts I grant you. If the climate changes to the point where it makes sense for us all to fit winter tyres then you can be sure that our government will legislate to that effect. Thankfully we are not there yet.

Winter tyres are now just for snow. They offer a much improved grip, stability, traction and safety on ice, sluch and snow. They also offer this when temperature drops as they contain a much softer rubber than summer tyres.

Winter tyres will eventually be mandatory in most northen EU countries. Just a question of time, same as ABS brakes, Airbags, DRL's and Stability/Traction Control.

[Ransman]

Originally Posted by NewVolvo

Winter tyres will eventually be mandatory in most northen EU countries.

You are probably right but I hope you are not.

I read the Auto Express article on winter and all season tyres and the evidence is there that they offer an improvement. However, without wishing to sound too complacent, after 36 years of accident-free driving I hope I have learned how to drive to minimise the risk. I will not fit them unless the climate changes significantly and permanently and/or legislation is introduced making them mandatory.

[Citizen.Agfa]

An interesting theme has emerged from this poll; not one person who has driven on winter tyres has a word to say against them, yet a large number of posters, who have no experience of driving on them, come up with a myriad reasons for not fitting them.

As I said, interesting.

(Oh, and this is in no way meant to be a pop at you, Ransman.)

C.A.