LOL : I await for the 'I slid off the road and wrecked my car' threads.

Dunno if this counts ..... but no problems here.

Been over in the Czech Republic for the last 3 days where it's been down to minus 20.

Been driving around up and down steep hills in an basic 06 Golf Plus and must say that SNOW tyres are brilliant!

I have never driven on them before and found getting used to them and being on the wrong side a little disconcerting. However in the snow feels like i am driving a 4 x 4 .

They are law here over winter and me thinks they should be seriously considered as law, in some parts of the UK, given the difference they make.

Vesele Vanoce / Merry Christmas

Edited 23 December, 200916 yr by modra_vrs

I bloody am , just went to check on the mrs flight into manchester , was early , checked as the car was warming and she's been diverted to brum , having to be coached up so no idea what time she's gonna get here , good job the airports only 20 mins away, poor buggers that were collecting people must be looking at a 4 hr delay

So far (touch wood) no problems at all other than getting the car up the slight incline to the garage.

Big fat VRS summer tyres should be terrible but I've had no dramas so far and that's with the temp down to -15C.

White lines on the road have felt a bit slippy when the tyres have touched them but keep the speed sensible and it's easy enough.

Any problems have been caused by numpties in 4x4 driving right up my arse.

no issues yet.. except... I could not make it up our un gritted unswept hill.

It's only 40degrees I can run about 100yards up it before falling over. Even with the 4x4 it just didn't make it. The snow packed the treads and then began to solidify in the road. I had little option but to slide less than gracefully back down the hill.

So I went up the less steep hill

We have also got quite a bit of snow in Denmark, so you`re not alone over there. :-)

I`m running Conti TS800 snow tires with 3mm profile left - no worries. But people on sommer tires driving like grannies, and getting stuck going up small inclines.

Nearly made my brother walk home the other day. He complained that i was driving too fast - just followed the traffic.

Snowy regards and Merry Christmas from Denmark. :p

See what happens when you laugh at other people! http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/off-topic-discussions/419363-my-friend-has-karma-bite-him-arse.html

The only real problem I have had is being stuck behind nissan terranos and the likes doing 10mph up a 5% incline on nice fresh powder snow when it first came down. Was a bit worse on Wednesday as it was the thawed a bit, rained a bit then froze like a sheet of glass kind of conditions where no amount of electrickery can break the rules of physics. The Octavia is the weapon of choice though as the Passat likes to light up its tyres in the dry :eek:. Just realised MERRY Christmas everyone

Im a bus driver, been out in it everyday, missed not a single run, not even been very late cos of it, even going through the estates. Bus station was ungritted too!

My little MPi has had no issues whatsoever in the snow up here , low revs and into 2nd instead of revving the tits off it in first = traction without to much wheelspin , and being gentle with throttle and braking inputs.

The little VRS was all over the place as had to kill the traction control, but it is due some new boots :yes: Dad's rear wheel drive fish tailing like crazy though

I went for a ‘familiarisation’ drive on some remote back roads up in County Durham……………OK I went to go and play in the snow with my friends and their sledges. Sedici 4x4 + Winter Tyres = unstoppable traction. Didn’t even come close to getting stuck on a mixture of deep snow and ice covered lanes. Plenty of 4x4s getting stuck though, owing to wide road tyres, even met a stuck Tiguan the other day.

No problems so far, which included a fairly epic journey last Saturday

Picture the scene...Student from the Western Isles prepares to drive from college in Glasgow back up north to Ullapool to catch the ferry home. Exciting times.

Now I knew the forecast was bad, so I left good and early, around 8am, in clear conditions but the temp was -4. I had food and water and a sleeping bag, just in case... Anyway, I had to stop in Perth to pick up a kayaking paddle for my dad. It was still bloody cold, but clear blue skies. The guys in the shop were kind enough to update me with a weather forecast, which basically went along the lines of ''Expect heavy blizzards and compacted snow in about 50 miles time.'' Oh joy.

They were right. The A9 became a bit of a nightmare, feck all visibility, compacted snow atop ice, but the Fabia chugged along happily without drama. Most of the other traffic was driving to suit the conditions, which pleasantly surprised me as the A9 is usually full of nutters. Mind you, one Mercedes 190E (rear wheel drive) decided to come flying up the outside lane of one of the short stretches of dual carriageway at about 60mph. Less than half a mile up the road, he had stuffed it into the central reservation. Eejit.

So I eventually reach Inverness at around 12:30. Waltz into the 24hr Tesco for a pee stop and then jump back into the car, as although I had another 6 hours before the ferry left for Stornoway, I figured it would be best if I drove the 60-odd miles to Ullapool asap before the road became impassable. The my mum calls me:

''The ferry's just been cancelled, and it's not going tomorrow either.'' Oh botheration (words to that effect at least).

I knew that that ferry from Uig (Skye) to Tarbert (Harris, i.e. same landmass as my house) left at 3:50 and in normal conditions I just had enough time to be sure I'd make it. These weren't normal conditions, but I thought I'd go for it anyway.

The roads around Inverness and the Black Isle were still nice and clear, so I'll admit to seriously tramping on where I could But from turning onto the Kyle of Lochalsh road at Garve, it was a different story. Packed icy snow, slush, sheet ice, steep hills, you name it. Awful!

Couple of close calls on the hills, but the Fabia kept on going (treating the throttle like an eggshell), and I relaxed a bit as I crossed the Skye bridge. I actually enjoyed it from then, as Skye is stunning and I felt that I was getting closer to home, plus the roads became a lot less dangerous.

Anyway, I rolled into Uig just in time to see the ferry dock Delighted! I slept the entire crossing, I was exhausted the moment I stopped.

Upon disembarking in Tarbert, it became apparent that my problems weren't over yet. I was on the right side of the Minch, but it had snowed heavily here too and I still had about 40 miles to go.

3 hours later, after having to stop in blizzards, I walked in my door, tired but happy What was normally a 7 hour, 250 mile journey had turned into a 12 hour 330 mile icy marathon, but the car looked after me.

Oh and the heated seats were magic!

Take care out there guys.

Edited 26 December, 200916 yr by Leodhasach

I was god smacked at getting up the missus road last night, all covered in sheet ice. Went straight up, no wheel spin or drama

No one else got up

That is a charming story Leodhasach,

Is that the normal way you would drive for the ferry to Harris from Glasgow? It just seems a rather out of the way long drive. Where the other roads blocked or more likely to be so? I attended one Universities at Glasgow myself an eternity ago and have travelled to and from Sky in the snow. It can come down in a very fearsome way in the Highlands. At tis time of year even here we often carry a sleeping bag and other essentials for survival , it is good to see that you do also.

No problems so far, which included a fairly epic journey last Saturday

Picture the scene...Student from the Western Isles prepares to drive from college in Glasgow back up north to Ullapool to catch the ferry home. Exciting times.

wow! Now THAT is a story.

A friend (from London) laughed at me today for having a shovel in the boot. An hour later we spent 30 minutes digging our way back into my street ("now do you see why I have a shovel?")

No problems so far, which included a fairly epic journey last Saturday

Picture the scene...Student from the Western Isles prepares to drive from college in Glasgow back up north to Ullapool to catch the ferry home. Exciting times.

Now I knew the forecast was bad, so I left good and early, around 8am, in clear conditions but the temp was -4. I had food and water and a sleeping bag, just in case... Anyway, I had to stop in Perth to pick up a kayaking paddle for my dad. It was still bloody cold, but clear blue skies. The guys in the shop were kind enough to update me with a weather forecast, which basically went along the lines of ''Expect heavy blizzards and compacted snow in about 50 miles time.'' Oh joy.

They were right. The A9 became a bit of a nightmare, feck all visibility, compacted snow atop ice, but the Fabia chugged along happily without drama. Most of the other traffic was driving to suit the conditions, which pleasantly surprised me as the A9 is usually full of nutters. Mind you, one Mercedes 190E (rear wheel drive) decided to come flying up the outside lane of one of the short stretches of dual carriageway at about 60mph. Less than half a mile up the road, he had stuffed it into the central reservation. Eejit.

So I eventually reach Inverness at around 12:30. Waltz into the 24hr Tesco for a pee stop and then jump back into the car, as although I had another 6 hours before the ferry left for Stornoway, I figured it would be best if I drove the 60-odd miles to Ullapool asap before the road became impassable. The my mum calls me:

''The ferry's just been cancelled, and it's not going tomorrow either.'' Oh botheration (words to that effect at least).

I knew that that ferry from Uig (Skye) to Tarbert (Harris, i.e. same landmass as my house) left at 3:50 and in normal conditions I just had enough time to be sure I'd make it. These weren't normal conditions, but I thought I'd go for it anyway.

The roads around Inverness and the Black Isle were still nice and clear, so I'll admit to seriously tramping on where I could But from turning onto the Kyle of Lochalsh road at Garve, it was a different story. Packed icy snow, slush, sheet ice, steep hills, you name it. Awful!

Couple of close calls on the hills, but the Fabia kept on going (treating the throttle like an eggshell), and I relaxed a bit as I crossed the Skye bridge. I actually enjoyed it from then, as Skye is stunning and I felt that I was getting closer to home, plus the roads became a lot less dangerous.

Anyway, I rolled into Uig just in time to see the ferry dock Delighted! I slept the entire crossing, I was exhausted the moment I stopped.

Upon disembarking in Tarbert, it became apparent that my problems weren't over yet. I was on the right side of the Minch, but it had snowed heavily here too and I still had about 40 miles to go.

3 hours later, after having to stop in blizzards, I walked in my door, tired but happy What was normally a 7 hour, 250 mile journey had turned into a 12 hour 330 mile icy marathon, but the car looked after me.

Oh and the heated seats were magic!

Take care out there guys.

Just like my trip back from Inverness Tech ,some 41 years ago - the A82 wasin a bad way , then I got on te A830 - toward Mallaig - slid and slode all the way there -took seven hours - but then perhaps it was because the snowplough went off the road

We were all sliding about till the snowplough went off the road .Once past it -we carried on as usual .-A three hour journey became about six/seven

Edited 27 December, 200916 yr by VWD

No issues using the 17" and no need for winter tyres either.

Seen several 4x4's having worrying diffiuclties and mild conditions. The only issue I did have was when the twonk at the bottom of the close in his Scooby lit it up and kindly polished the ice up so no one else could get out - and the road is only a shallow slope.

A few carefully place cuts in the ice sorted it out again.

No issues with driving in the snow and ice, only issues have been with a car that doesn't like to work in the cold weather, bit like me I guess. Once started though, its all plain sailing, even went past a bloke in a 4x4 who got stuck on a step hill. Not sure how he managed it other than thinking a 4x4 is totally unaffected by ice or snow or laws of physics.

AND Leodhasach , if I'm/you'renot on line before Hogmanay -as one highlander to another - SLANTE( sp -my gaelic's getting a bit rusty these days) .May the water of life never taste better .

Slàinte :p

or for us commonors Slanj will do fine

Slàinte :p

or for us commonors Slanj will do fine

Thanks -can still remember that -but spell it ?

Keep on telling SWMBO that we've been down here too long :'( ( Thank you -)

Edited 29 December, 200916 yr by VWD

no snow here all gone just a bit of rain an the odd patch of ice :p

no snow here all gone just a bit of rain an the odd patch of ice :p

Was going to say that -but now -saw the Yahoo forecast ( think it wasfrom the met office) -10 -15 cm (whatever they are ) in one part of the mids,and 15-25 to the East -and I'm on the border of East/West Mids . --And it's snowing ,And it's lieing - so for the first time I'll find out how good littleFurby can be in the snow .SWMBO and I reckon that our other love ( Tobias Barkus (a lot) ,our Cairn Terror is going to love it) .Least ways -we'll be able to see him in it -he'sone of the darker ones -if it don't get too deep .Don't envy him if it does get deep - would any male :no: -it's all right for all those lady dogs

Edited 29 December, 200916 yr by VWD

Was out on the moors today and had to overtake several utter morons doing literally 5MPH just because of some slush on the ground and some snow in the air. :(