Police got me - all on tape

[yoda960]

Originally Posted by Volvo2002

Never used winter tyres and never will.

Why would you choose not to improve your safety in a simple easy way just for the sake of being stubborn

[Volvon]

The emergency services don't run winter tyres in winter? Are you ****ting me?

So when you call 999 do you just get a pre-recorded message:
"Sorry, no-one is available to deal with you, call us back when the snow melts in a week or two's time, if you are still alive, thanks."

What a thoroughly pathetic state of affairs.

For all of you saying winter tyres don't work, leave your little bubble and go to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Canada, Iceland, America or even GERMANY and tell them that!! My god how ignorant and/or arrogant are some people.

PS, I'm driving to Ikea now, it's -23°C outside and it's a 2 hour drive through twisty country lanes. Maybe I should put my summer tyres back on because my winter tyres are just a gimmick. Arrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhh

I think this picture shows how behind the times the UK is:


Considering it is one of the most Northern countries after Scandinavia, it should really be setting an example for the rest of Europe, but it seems its just getting left behind.

[ian7675]

Winter tyres clearly do what they're supposed to but I think so many people remain defiant towards them as they are a great cost for them to be of their greatest benefit for such a short period of time in any given year.

Personally I am lucky enough not to need my Volvo on a daily basis so I just don't use it when it snows but should I need to go out I would use our Renault which has the 2 most important factors to me when driving in snow...thin tyres and low power.

Again I'm not slating winter tyres, I just don't want to fork out £400 for tyres which would sit in the shed for 50 weeks per year.

[FaKaWi]

Originally Posted by ian7675

I just don't want to fork out £400 for tyres which would sit in the shed for 50 weeks per year.

The bolded part suggests you don't actually understand what winter tyres are.

[yoda960]

Originally Posted by FaKaWi

The bolded part suggests you don't actually understand what winter tyres are.

Exactly, they have a benefit in weather under 7 degrees (i.e. summer tyres start becoming hard and therefore have reduced grip), winters have a softer compound that stays grippy in the colder weather.

Not only this but it doesn't have to be £400 for a set of tyres. I bought some excellent part worns for £25 a corner fitted (2 x Continental and 2 x Michelin - matched pairs), that coupled with a cheap set of secondhand alloys and its well under £200. You are saving the wear on your summer tyres while these are fitted. You are also saving potentially thousands if they stop you having an accident, or even your life which is priceless.

[gmain1967]

Originally Posted by Dancake

Winter tyres are a gimmick though.

Are you on strong prescription medication? Absolute bolloc£s. I have fitted snow tyres previously and can assure you various cars have got up hill at my folks which is impassable without them. My folks have just fitted Veredstein Quatract Lites (all weather) to their V50 and got up the hill. With the OE Pirelli P7's, not a chance the other day.

If they are a gimmick, why is it law in many European countries and why do they manage just fine when it snows?

[ian7675]

Originally Posted by FaKaWi

The bolded part suggests you don't actually understand what winter tyres are.

Than you for that reply in order to try and highlight my possible ignorance over the use of winter tyres and their obvious use but I am we'll aware of their function.

Having looked into them a bit more I can see the advantage of them on icy roads. As I don't use the car in the snow I might just consider trying some purely for the extra safety aspects and thanks to the previous post for highlighting they can be bought at a reasonable cost.

See I can admit when I am wrong.

[Cannondale]

Even Tesco delivery vans have winter tyres fitted.

I have now used them for the last two winters and they make a huge diffrance

[griston64]

I also think they are a bit of a gimmick. I drove my wife's Honda Civic every day over those two horrendous winters never slid or got stuck anywhere. On one of the days i drove to work in Glasgow it was like a scene from the Day after tomorrow film with cars abandoned everywhere ( three of them were Range Rovers !!) This was all on bog standard tyres (remember when all tyres were just called tyres rather than summer or winter?)

A lot of the problems people have in snow is the fact they dont have a clue how to drive in it !!

[ian7675]

What seems to be apparent is that everybody who has them or tried them raves about them and those who are yet to try them, myself included, seem defiant towards them. I personally will give them a go.

I agree with what griston said about people not having a clue about how to drive in snow, technique plays a huge part.