Cant afford driving without winters, so I am a softie.

(doing 5000km a month)

But loving the Quattro traction in combination with the winter tyres. (Oops, quattro AND winters makes me more than a softie )

I miss quattro drive but am pleased how well the Fabia is doing on winters

Went to collect my new snow socks from my local Vauxhall dealer this afternoon, in readiness for the snowy lanes of the Lake District this evening.

Apparently it's been 'leathering' it down up there this last few hours, and the road leading to the B&B is quite a scary ride apparently, but with my new socks, nah, no problem I'd have thought

So, why am I still here?

The dealer only got me a pair of 16" socks instead of 15's....aaaaaaggggggghhhhh!!!

I miss quattro drive but am pleased how well the Fabia is doing on winters

I looked on in amazement as an A3 Quattro sat spinning at the end of my road last night, then me and 2 neighbours gave him a push. Not 10 minutes later swmbo negoiated the same part of round with out incident driving our 1999MY Focus Zetec on tyres that cost less than 120 quid for the set.

And the moral is - a big factor in these conditions is how you drive!

Edited 4 December, 201015 yr by Pagey1255

OK, I've finally relented..........

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/182783-the-mother-of-all-winter-tyre-threads/page__pid__2193696__st__0entry2193696

Roads improved a fair bit yesterday and on teh way on I came to the junction wheer I normally take a single track shortcut "over the hill". the start didn't look to bad, just packed snow, but once I got a couple of miles on came across blown drifts - level stech and was please top plough trough them but knowing the road got higher a began to worry as it was impossible to find a turning spot. Anyway came on deeper snow and bigger drifts and had one short moment when I thought i would really struggle but got throught.

These winter tyres really are the bees knees

And the moral is - a big factor in these conditions is how you drive!

SWMBO drove me down to pick my car up yesterday after the tropical temperature started a partial thaw - it had been parked up on my mum's drive since Tuesday evening when I couldn't get home because all the hills were closed........

but..........

additional expenditure on transport - nil (walked in to work)

saved expenditure on forking out for winter wheels and tyres - £600+

Now what's that phrase again?

Oh yes, I remember it now...............no brainer

Thanks to Mute for trying to help (but marketing puff pieces don't work on me; my brain glazes over as soon as I realise that's what they are ) and Amanda for her very practical answer to the question (it's "maybe", cos you had some snow on treads on something less sticky than I'd had issues with).

Does snow not stick to WInter tyres or something?

Doesn't seem to on our winter tyres or on our all season tyres. I imagine if the snow did stick it would be quite noticeable ... thinking about it, you could ask if mud sticks to M+S tyres ...

SWMBO drove me down to pick my car up yesterday after the tropical temperature started a partial thaw - it had been parked up on my mum's drive since Tuesday evening when I couldn't get home because all the hills were closed........

but..........

additional expenditure on transport - nil (walked in to work)

saved expenditure on forking out for winter wheels and tyres - £600+

Now what's that phrase again?

Oh yes, I remember it now...............no brainer

Amount of snow we have had since last Sunday - 29" (yes thats right nearly 2.5 feet!)

Journey to work - 36 miles

Amount I earn is I don't work - nil

cost of winter tyres £161 (yes I know 4 is ideal but they just aint there to be found!)

Whats that phrase againf

oh yes - no brainer

In contrast:

Amount of snow where I am - none

Journey to work - n/a - at uni

Amount I lose if I don't go - nill

Cost of tires - roughly £300

Another no brainer me thinks!

If you've got 2.5 foot of snow, I don't really see what difference tires make if the car is buried or beached. Of course, for smaller amounts then it could well help, but last year my Fabia managed to follow a friends Corsa around fine when that was on winters and I had standard Michelin Energys in decent amounts of snow.

All our snow is gone now. However, i managed to go about my business without getting stuck on my normal tyres. Didnt ditch it, crash, or spin, or slide much at all TBH £600 in my pocket.

Matt

In contrast:

Amount of snow where I am - none

Journey to work - n/a - at uni

Amount I lose if I don't go - nill

Cost of tires - roughly £300

Another no brainer me thinks!

If you've got 2.5 foot of snow, I don't really see what difference tires make if the car is buried or beached. Of course, for smaller amounts then it could well help, but last year my Fabia managed to follow a friends Corsa around fine when that was on winters and I had standard Michelin Energys in decent amounts of snow.

BUT makes huge difference on the roads once ploughed and still cover in packed snow with inch or 2 of fresh stuff on top!

Edited 7 December, 201015 yr by slider

I hope anyone who has paid extra can now get a refund!

http://www.smmt.co.uk/articles/article.cfm?articleid=22819

buy a cheap audi quattro for winter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh8oP8v-Vqo&NR=1&feature=fvwp

pick one up in the summer old ones are the best for around £1000 that will get you around no problem

Edited 8 December, 201015 yr by roberto1954

Still got loads of snow and I am managing where other FWD's are getting stuck - The need for winter tyres is a no brainer for me!

The thing people forget is that they are not just for snow. Before this winter wonderland, I got the chance to see what they were like in heavy rain, standing water, etc. - brilliant!

I am converted now so quite happy to be a softie!

I’m a softie :'( . I have a pair of Dunlop SP Winter Sport m3’s (205/55/16). From a pair of Goodyear Eagle F1’s and a pair of Michelin easy grips for emergencies (I used them loads!)

The difference between them is unreal. Don't get me wrong the Easy-Grips are great but such a hassle putting them on and taking them off once on clear roads.

I was a total sceptic but JohnRS Snr. called and said he could get me a pair of Dunlop part-worn tyres, almost 6mm of tread and no puncture repairs for £50 fitted. I couldn’t refuse.

P.S. Brimma I may be a softie, but I haven’t worn a coat once. :p

P.S. Brimma I may be a softie, but I haven’t worn a coat once. :p

You're obviously the one on the right

I hope anyone who has paid extra can now get a refund!

There are two parts to insurance company charges; increased premiums to match increased risk, and administration charges for notification of changes to cover. However, anybody who informs their insurance company after putting a different set of rubber on the standard oem original fit wheels must be bonkers.

The problem arises when people use different wheels for the cold weather tyres ... and this may not be any different to fitting some bling alloys, which is considered a modification by the insurance companies. Anything which makes the car look more attractive to itchy fingers increases the risk being covered and so an extra premium would be charged. Insurance companies don't seem able to distinguish between larger and smaller alloys, between more valuable and less valuable wheels.

The most unreasonable aspect of this is when people use cheaper smaller steel wheels (with appropriate tyres so the speedo readings are not significantly changed). In this case, it could be argued, replacing alloys with steel wheels decreases the value of the car, makes it less attractive to thieves, and therefore should lower the risk. At the same time the use of tyres more suited to winter conditions increases safety, and reduces the chance of a claim for badly kerbed wheels. But some insurance companies want to increase premiums nevertheless.

Edited 9 December, 201015 yr by AnotherGareth

. But some insurance companies want to increase premiums nevertheless.

Sound quite reasonable to THEM.

This is why insurance companies are the most hated of industries, alongside banking of course.

Just got my winter tyres fitted, the road to the garage is thick ice with grooves where traffic had been. On the way in the car was sliding around and spinning the wheels when accelerating. On the way out it was like driving on a pot holed road with no loss of grip what so ever. Even on my own street which is heavily cambered it turned round with out any problems something it hasn't done since before the snow

In this case, it could be argued, replacing alloys with steel wheels decreases the value of the car, makes it less attractive to thieves, and therefore should lower the risk.

It doesn't decrease the value of the car for replacement though - if the insurance company had to foot the bill for a write-off, they'd need to pay to replace the standard car (including the standard alloy wheels), and then also pay to replace the wheels with the steel wheels (which would be an additional cost).

Perverse, but that's how it works...

Well Im a softie

havea 70 mile commute on crappy back roads, even if I get there ok it can worsen when I want to back and in the dark its pretty nightmarish

last three winters havent been too bad Fabia vrs on rainsport 2s is actually pretty good in the snow but had some dicy moments on the Ice

thoguht about it last year but otoo late and di som research in the autumn which didnt reveal a negative word from anyone whose actually tried them

What made my mind up was a non repairable puncture and no avilable uniroyal leaving me with no spare

so I plumped for some Kuhmo kw23s (standards vrs sizeluckily ) http://www.shina.ru/assets/images/news/02/24.10/Kumho%20I%20Zen%20KW23.jpg

found on mytyres for £85 a corner, delivered ot my fitters who chared a tenner per corner, so in al a bit more expensive than theuniroyals but not horrendousley so. Just nippe din at the last moment as they have now sold out

three remaining uniroyals are tucked away in teh garage

havent got to try them on snow yet but weve had sheet ice and they are like night and day on that compared to the rainsports, also the nervousness on slick sheened roads is gone

the compund is much softer with sipes that open up and almost claw the ground as you roll along My trusty tireman reckons anything below 7 degs and youll feel the benefit

insurance company admiral (via the IAM surety scheme just want to note it no charge)

With the journeys I do you need all the margin you can get so yes Id definately buy them again

Edited 10 December, 201015 yr by Lewiscypher

Well Im a softie

havea 70 mile commute on crappy back roads, even if I get there ok it can worsen when I want to back and in the dark its pretty nightmarish

last three winters havent been too bad Fabia vrs on rainsport 2s is actually pretty good in the snow but had some dicy moments on the Ice

thoguht about it last year but otoo late and di som research in the autumn which didnt reveal a negative word from anyone whose actually tried them

What made my mind up was a non repairable puncture and no avilable uniroyal leaving me with no spare

so I plumped for some Kuhmo kw23s (standards vrs sizeluckily ) http://www.shina.ru/...0Zen%20KW23.jpg

found on mytyres for £85 a corner, delivered ot my fitters who chared a tenner per corner, so in al a bit more expensive than theuniroyals but not horrendousley so. Just nippe din at the last moment as they have now sold out

three remaining uniroyals are tucked away in teh garage

havent got to try them on snow yet but weve had sheet ice and they are like night and day on that compared to the rainsports, also the nervousness on slick sheened roads is gone

the compund is much softer with sipes that open up and almost claw the ground as you roll along My trusty tireman reckons anything below 7 degs and youll feel the benefit

insurance company admiral (via the IAM surety scheme just want to note it no charge)

With the journeys I do you need all the margin you can get so yes Id definately buy them again

Slightly OT Lewiscypher, but is your name taken from the film Angelheart with De Nero and Mickey Rourke

Slightly OT Lewiscypher, but is your name taken from the film Angelheart with De Nero and Mickey Rourke

:yes: It is! well spotted!, great twist at the end of that film