Finally got my winter wheels and tyres sorted now the snow is going

So been out to find as much snow as possible tonight, Im very very impressed. The car is unstoppable and even on ice you can stop relatively quickly, pressing the brakes is a worthwhile exercise

Any of the scout/4x4 owners had snow tyres on?

Finally got my winter wheels and tyres sorted now the snow is going

So been out to find as much snow as possible tonight, Im very very impressed. The car is unstoppable and even on ice you can stop relatively quickly, pressing the brakes is a worthwhile exercise

Any of the scout/4x4 owners had snow tyres on?

Yep they make a huge difference. Ive Bridgestone Blizzak Revo s on my "snow mobile"

The car is unstoppable and even on ice you can stop relatively quickly...

Now that was a fascinating combination! Piccies, please!

My lot (West Yorkshire Police) have ordered a boat load of snow tyres and snow chains for the fleet of Astra's that we are currently running...but as I look outside, it's raining heavily and there are only a few patches of ice remaining on the roads...the words - stable door - horse - and -bolted- spring to mind

However...I am grateful to them for borrowing a fleet of Mitsubishi Pajero's from the Northern Ireland Constabulary, as I have had lots of fun the last few days going up and down treacherous slopes that I wouldn't even consider doing in the Vectra VXR's

My lot (West Yorkshire Police) have ordered a boat load of snow tyres and snow chains for the fleet of Astra's that we are currently running...but as I look outside, it's raining heavily and there are only a few patches of ice remaining on the roads...the words - stable door - horse - and -bolted- spring to mind

However...I am grateful to them for borrowing a fleet of Mitsubishi Pajero's from the Northern Ireland Constabulary, as I have had lots of fun the last few days going up and down treacherous slopes that I wouldn't even consider doing in the Vectra VXR's

and they'll be bullet proofed too

and re the stable door point....it's early January, bear in mind the snow normally doesn't get serious til late Jan, Feb or March so don't count your chickens just yet (if I can mix my metaphors)

Edited 15 January, 201016 yr by domhnall

Winter is not over yet. Winter tyres though will continue perform better in cold conditions when normal summer tyres start to loose friction, when the compound harden at temperatures between 7C and 4C. they will also clear standing water better. I am surprised that the police and other emergency services are not equipped with winter tyres and chains as a matter of course in the winter. I suppose that because police cars and many other service vehicles are fleet hire and not owned make make this less likely but the authority garages usually do a good job at keeping the cars going and fit for purpose. When one looks at the large amounts of money spent on equipping police cars it seems a little penny pinching that they do not.

Have any officers sued their employers after being involved collisions due to ice and snow, claiming vehicles are not fit for purpose because of the lack of snow tyres and chains?

Now that was a fascinating combination! Piccies, please!

of my car with winter tyres on 16's?

What did you go for Dan?

I think the photos might have been of your unstoppable car stopping!

As per, "The car is unstoppable and even on ice you can stop relatively quickly, pressing the brakes is a worthwhile exercise"

I'm sure I have read in threads over the last month, that snow chains are illegal in this country. Or it is we do not have enough fully snowed roads to make snow chains practicable as they damage roads with no snow or slush on them. However snow socks are OK as they can run with no snow for a limited distance.

and they'll be bullet proofed too

and re the stable door point....it's early January, bear in mind the snow normally doesn't get serious til late Jan, Feb or March so don't count your chickens just yet (if I can mix my metaphors)

Yep...glass is about 1/2 inch thick, and the doors weigh an absolute tonne.....ran it over the weighbridge the other day, and it was coming in at 2.6 tonnes !!!

Agree with what you're saying about it still being early winter, but knowing what the firm are like, they will send them all back to Ireland next week, and will probably ration the Astra's to either one snow tyre or one snow chain per car

good?

given the choice again though I think id go for 17's

going from 18" 35 245 to 16" 205 55 theres a big difference in handling

Yep...glass is about 1/2 inch thick, and the doors weigh an absolute tonne.....ran it over the weighbridge the other day, and it was coming in at 2.6 tonnes !!!

Agree with what you're saying about it still being early winter, but knowing what the firm are like, they will send them all back to Ireland next week, and will probably ration the Astra's to either one snow tyre or one snow chain per car

yup, dead easy to spot PSNI cars :-)

Looks rather strange to me, lowered on 16's

Anyone tried All season tyres as a compromise?

Anyone tried All season tyres as a compromise?

What's the point? Might as well do it properly and have best possible grip in summer and winter, not a compromise.

Edited 18 January, 201016 yr by wega3k

I'm sure I have read in threads over the last month, that snow chains are illegal in this country. Or it is we do not have enough fully snowed roads to make snow chains practicable as they damage roads with no snow or slush on them. However snow socks are OK as they can run with no snow for a limited distance.

Snow Chains are legal to use throughout GB.

If you intend to keep your car for a few years and are worried about wintery weather, then winter tyres and a cheap set of wheels are almost a no brainer (I didn’t realise this until I got mine 2 winters ago)

Winter tyres are ideally used when the average temps drop below 7C, so say between early/mid December and end of March (adjust for latitude). They excel and outperform ‘normal tyres’ across most conditions during this time. they are superb in snow, ice, slush and rain as well as on very cold roads surfaces.

But the thing to remember is, when you are running with them, you are not wearing out your normal tyres that you use for the rest of the year. So over a period of a few years and a couple of sets of normal tyres being replace, the winter tyres will have extended your normal tyres life enough to count as one of those ‘change’ cycles. In effect, you will only have had to put up extra money for the wheels. A FWD with Winter tyres, especially the snow orientated ones, will outperform a 4x4 going up a snow covered hill, if the 4x4 is on standard all season tyres. They really are that good.

My lot (West Yorkshire Police) have ordered a boat load of snow tyres and snow chains for the fleet of Astra's that we are currently running...but as I look outside, it's raining heavily and there are only a few patches of ice remaining on the roads...the words - stable door - horse - and -bolted- spring to mind

However...I am grateful to them for borrowing a fleet of Mitsubishi Pajero's from the Northern Ireland Constabulary, as I have had lots of fun the last few days going up and down treacherous slopes that I wouldn't even consider doing in the Vectra VXR's

I dont think they have used these shogun sports Jeeps in Northern Ireland ever since this happened

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/four-northern-ireland-police-officers-killed-in-crash-14076170.html

Just some thing to bear in mind if you happen to be on call to an emergency incident.

Any way back on topic I got some Nokian wr tyres on steel rims for FREE on my Fabia and its just like driving in the summer again. Its shocking the difference they make.

One thing I would say with hind sight, I wish id gone for a bigger size of wheels. I can't get used to all the sidewall and a inch less rubber on the floor

I dont think they have used these shogun sports Jeeps in Northern Ireland ever since this happened

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/four-northern-ireland-police-officers-killed-in-crash-14076170.html

Just some thing to bear in mind if you happen to be on call to an emergency incident.

Any way back on topic I got some Nokian wr tyres on steel rims for FREE on my Fabia and its just like driving in the summer again. Its shocking the difference they make.

Yep..remember that one, and thanks for the advice...we have been instructed to stay below 50mph at all times,,, and have been provided with a laminated card in each of the cars to that effect, however one of my colleagues who shall remain nameless, only found the card after he had responded to a job at 100+mph (on the motorway and NOT in the snow !!!)