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Please play nicely.  No one wants to listen/read a keyboard warriors rants....

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Author Topic: Winter is coming...  (Read 5138 times)

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OOMV6

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Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #75 on: 12 January 2013, 11:55:19 »

The interesting thing about this thread, as with many, is that there are people expressing opinions with no real life experience.
The only way of making a comparison between winter and summer tyres is if you have had experiences with both in different conditions. The idea of keeping distance and driving at a safe speed is not enough to always keep you out of a ditch.

I understand there are many drivers here who have been driving for years, even decades, with no snow related accidents. I did for the first 10 years of driving. That said, I have experienced and witnessed enough to know that winter tyres are the best option on snow.
Most memorably was a trip from here to Brussels airport - a drive of normally no more than 2 hours - that took 4.5 hours. The snow was hammering down just after I left, and by the time I was driving through the Ardennes in Belgium, it was completely covered and packed down solid. ((It has to be said that the Ardennes is a micro-climate all to itself (I slipped on ice in a parking area in July a few years ago). If you're reading this, Tunnie, this is your route to Luxembourg, should you take the quickest and most logical).
In this case I was in a Granada (RWD). Down hill on a motorway in 1st/2nd gear. I saw all manner of cars, SUVs, vans, just randomly sliding down the hill, sideways, backwards, forwards. All going very slowly - no more than 10mph. No amount of steering, braking was going to help. It was plainly obvious which cars had summer tyres and which had winter.

This is just one example of many. But it is a fact that winter tyres give more traction on snow and can be the difference between a ditch/fence/hedge or not.
The idea that "I am not buying tyres for 2 weeks use a year" is also nonsense. Winters stay on the car for 4-6 months, so in that time, you are not wearing out the summers. So once the initial cost is covered, then there is no difference.

I once rescued someone from a hill on snow. My car on winters, hers on summers. She got stuck on a junction on a hill. Could not go up - no traction. Too frightened to go down - understandably so. The moment you let the clutch out the car went sideways. Anyway winter tyres on mine. Slippery, yes. Impossible, no.

With all that said, I would also say, that if you can avoid having to buy winters for just what may be a few days of snow, then great. But if, like me, you have them on from October, you can relax. No matter what mother nature sends, you are as prepared as you can be. No panic when a few flakes fall - you just go out as normal - just slower.
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STMO123

  • Guest
Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #76 on: 12 January 2013, 12:43:54 »

You also have to pay for either four wheels or for someone to swap them over each year, and not everyone has space to store four tyres all year round.
Also, if you're one of thr few on winter tyres, you're gonna get shunted  ;D
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feeutfo

  • Guest
Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #77 on: 12 January 2013, 12:47:39 »

If I'd bought winter tyres in the uk for life. Each set would go in the bin as perished with two or three genuine outings in snow. Thats Proper snow on untreated roads.

Might well be a different story in proper rural areas and mountainous regions on higher ground. But for the vast majority... I'd say it's a complete waist of money. On a personal level my employment situation is very flexible, so switching a few work days round is no problem, while I dig a course through the snow 400yards to the top of the road.


None of that calls into question the undoubted performance values.
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feeutfo

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Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #78 on: 12 January 2013, 13:07:53 »

Those figures may well change next week mind you ;D
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OOMV6

  • Guest
Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #79 on: 12 January 2013, 13:35:08 »

You also have to pay for either four wheels or for someone to swap them over each year, and not everyone has space to store four tyres all year round.
Also, if you're one of thr few on winter tyres, you're gonna get shunted  ;D

True. But same logic applies as with tyres. Once paid, it's done. You have them

Also possibly true. Nobody wants to be involved in an accident, but if you are unfortunate enough to be so, surely it is best to be the "shuntee" rather than the "shunter"

Yes, storage may be a problem for some. One that most would be able to find a solution, I'm sure.

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OOMV6

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Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #80 on: 12 January 2013, 13:37:09 »

If I'd bought winter tyres in the uk for life. Each set would go in the bin as perished with two or three genuine outings in snow. Thats Proper snow on untreated roads.

Might well be a different story in proper rural areas and mountainous regions on higher ground. But for the vast majority... I'd say it's a complete waist of money. On a personal level my employment situation is very flexible, so switching a few work days round is no problem, while I dig a course through the snow 400yards to the top of the road.


None of that calls into question the undoubted performance values.

Sure. Of course many have solutions such as that - that's cool (no pun intended). Just pointing out that for those who really do need to be out and about, it is a wise investment.
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feeutfo

  • Guest
Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #81 on: 12 January 2013, 13:58:45 »

If I'd bought winter tyres in the uk for life. Each set would go in the bin as perished with two or three genuine outings in snow. Thats Proper snow on untreated roads.

Might well be a different story in proper rural areas and mountainous regions on higher ground. But for the vast majority... I'd say it's a complete waist of money. On a personal level my employment situation is very flexible, so switching a few work days round is no problem, while I dig a course through the snow 400yards to the top of the road.


None of that calls into question the undoubted performance values.

Sure. Of course many have solutions such as that - that's cool (no pun intended). Just pointing out that for those who really do need to be out and about, it is a wise investment.
historically 5 journeys in snow over 27 years...? :-\

Add in another 5 to the top of my road, to a gritted bus route, all of 400 yards, and the same again the other end...?

Ok look at it the other way, how many snow journeys justify winter tyres in the uk? Which is for the vast majority of members here?

What's a set of winter tyres? Say £300
 
Granted this is for me, but that's 1 journey in snow if I'd bought 1 set of winter tyres every 5 years.     !


AND then theres the fact, that I'd still have got stuck in traffic on snow bound roads as no other bugger would have had them either. ::)

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Rods2

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Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #82 on: 12 January 2013, 17:15:02 »

It is on the cards for the EU to make them compulsory in ALL EU countries. I'm sure the tyre lobbying groups are making hay with unelected EU officials while the sun shines.

Some countries it makes much more sense than others. Northern and Eastern Europe will get snow in Winter, but why compulsory winter tyres in Cyprus and Malta?  :o :o :o :o
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STMO123

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Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #83 on: 12 January 2013, 17:27:47 »

It is on the cards for the EU to make them compulsory in ALL EU countries. I'm sure the tyre lobbying groups are making hay with unelected EU officials while the sun shines.

Some countries it makes much more sense than others. Northern and Eastern Europe will get snow in Winter, but why compulsory winter tyres in Cyprus and Malta?  :o :o :o :o
You're right, Rods. I posted an article on this a while ago, where tyre manufacturers were actually factoring this in to future profits.
UK, of course, will have left by then.  ::)
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OOMV6

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Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #84 on: 12 January 2013, 18:01:14 »

It is on the cards for the EU to make them compulsory in ALL EU countries. I'm sure the tyre lobbying groups are making hay with unelected EU officials while the sun shines.

Some countries it makes much more sense than others. Northern and Eastern Europe will get snow in Winter, but why compulsory winter tyres in Cyprus and Malta?  :o :o :o :o

Quite right. There's no point.
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ted_one

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Re: Winter is coming...
« Reply #85 on: 12 January 2013, 18:17:56 »

For me that's easy,come October,all three cars  SORN'd for six months,equals six months loss of revenue from the road tax and fuel tax,VAT etc, and for me a free bus pass and the odd taxi run if need be. Stuff Europe :y
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