Went out this morning to play in the snow - first time I got to test my winter tyres. (Dutch winters aren't what they used to be.) The forest parking lot was empty and all mine, and there was a fresh but thin layer of iced-up snow.

Quickly went about my business but soon came to a ghastly conclusion - there was just not enough snow! AWD and winter tyres weren't worried by it AT ALL! The only way to get the car sideways was put it in 1st, cut the corner with one wheel into the soft shoulder let the turbo violently kick in... Any other challenge was met with a serious lack of drama, as if the car was saying, 'What do you mean slippery?' There was just too much grip...

Although I was left extremely impressed with how the car felt 'tracked' all the time, whatever I threw at it, I went out with a different plan this morning - big, controlled four-wheel drifts. But this was all a bit too controlled, or dare I say... boring?

Went out this morning to play in the snow - first time I got to test my winter tyres. (Dutch winters aren't what they used to be.) The forest parking lot was empty and all mine' date=' and there was a fresh but thin layer of iced-up snow.

Quickly went about my business but soon came to a ghastly conclusion - there was just not enough snow! AWD and winter tyres weren't worried by it AT ALL! The only way to get the car sideways was put it in 1st, cut the corner with one wheel into the soft shoulder let the turbo violently kick in... Any other challenge was met with a serious lack of drama, as if the car was saying, 'What do you mean slippery?' There was just too much grip...

Although I was left extremely impressed with how the car felt 'tracked' all the time, whatever I threw at it, I went out with a different plan this morning - big, controlled four-wheel drifts. But this was all a bit too controlled, or dare I say... boring? [/quote']

You really need an RWD car for that kind of thing. My old Omega was entertaining in snow. Usually when you didn't want to be entertained....... :eek:

Phil

You really need an RWD car for that kind of thing. My old Omega was entertaining in snow. Usually when you didn't want to be entertained....... :eek:

Phil

Agreed - a 24v Senator CDI auto was not a lot of fun on snowy/icy roads :eek:

Especially when the drive to work consisted of 21 miles of snowy/icy roads :Yikes: :pants: :dung:

Yes, of course, and still striving to get a low-budget RWD play car.

But still the Octy went sideways without any problem last year, though with slightly too little control to my taste, when it still wore its all-season tyres. I had hoped that the winter tyres would give more control. Well, I found that they do, but to quite a shocking amount! My God, do they feel SAFE!

It just shows how good winter tyres are hehe

Years and years ago I remember the village I lived in in Holland was totally black-iced over, it was lethal with even buses sliding off the road rather than driving it into their bays properly

Long time ago now though for me, not been in The Netherlands around that time of the year for ages :(

It just shows how good winter tyres are hehe

Years and years ago I remember the village I lived in in Holland was totally black-iced over' date=' it was lethal with even buses sliding off the road rather than driving it into their bays properly

Long time ago now though for me, not been in The Netherlands around that time of the year for ages :([/quote']

1992 was the last time hell was freezing over here, with '85 and '86 before that. Haven't had a proper winter for ages.

And yes, I was left well impressed with my winter tyres...

Is it down to the tread pattern, the compound or both?

Very interesting thread .

I have used Michelins the last two times I have replaced the tyres and will do the same again . Why ?

Well I bought them because they are hard wearing and have good sidewall strength . Although they are by no means the best tyre for grip in the wet , with the the 4*4 they are great because it alllows you to slide the back out with ease but in a very controlled manner , because the electronics keep everything moving forwards so to speak .

So I agree for many conditions you do not want the most " grippy " tyres in this car .

Steve W

Agreed - a 24v Senator CDI auto was not a lot of fun on snowy/icy roads :eek:

Especially when the drive to work consisted of 21 miles of snowy/icy roads :Yikes: :pants: :dung:

Winning combination in the snow we had 2 years back:

1. Nissan 200SX - RWD, tuned to over 250bhp

2. Ceramic paddle clutch - stiff as anything - less than 10mm travel between bite and stall

3. Worn rear summer tyres - 2mm tread maybe?

4. Lots of hills on the way home...

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :lol:

I tell you, I had an utter mastery of third and fourth gear pull-offs and a very sore left knee by the time I got home... and the clutch release bearing was making funny noises too. Even had to let my tyres down a bit to get up one of the hills. Scary stuff. Not half as scary for me as for the stationary traffic on the other side of the road - once I got moving, I drifted at an angle of between 30-40 degrees all the way up a half mile hill, no other way I could get the car to go up it. Felt like the daddy when I got to the top and straightened it out though

Winning combination in the snow we had 2 years back:

1. Nissan 200SX - RWD' date=' tuned to over 250bhp

2. Ceramic paddle clutch - stiff as anything - less than 10mm travel between bite and stall

3. Worn rear summer tyres - 2mm tread maybe?

4. Lots of hills on the way home...

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :lol:

I tell you, I had an utter mastery of third and fourth gear pull-offs and a very sore left knee by the time I got home... and the clutch release bearing was making funny noises too. Even had to let my tyres down a bit to get up one of the hills. Scary stuff. Not half as scary for me as for the stationary traffic on the other side of the road - once I got moving, I drifted at an angle of between 30-40 degrees all the way up a half mile hill, no other way I could get the car to go up it. Felt like the daddy when I got to the top and straightened it out though [/quote']

I managed to block our road for 10 minutes last year, just trying to get the Omega on the drive. I got it "wedged" across the road, even with the auto box in "winter" mode!

Phil

I got "caught out" christmas shopping one year in Preston.

When we went out, weather was wet but not even that cold.... when we came out from the shops it was whiteout!

It took forever to get home, went the "long way" to try and avoid some of the bigger hills. Some kids were throwing carpet underlay on the road for one hill, and helping push them up it - human spirit at it's best!

Another hill, I waited for a decent gap to get a nice run up at it... increased speed and went up it easily, only to find some people pushing a car out of a driveway at the top!!

With no way of stopping, I managed to steer it round but then found myself drifting across the road.. all quite slowly, but towards a coach!!

The drivers side mirror hit the front corner of the coach, folded in and "tapped" me back straight... pulled over and took a look, expecting a scrape on the front wing - nothing! Not even a cracked mirror or cover!!

Sat in stationary traffic shortly after, other cars appeared to be "floating" as they were on a thick layer of polished ice, absolutely zero grip.....

All the above was in a FWD Citroen ZX... I swore that day my next car would be 4wd.

Christmastime about 10 years - at the time we lived in a remote part of Shetland. My Mum was flying up to spend Christmas with us so I picked her up from the airport and set off home - about a 50 mile drive. All clear when we set off, but by the time we got home it was snowing heavily. Put the car in the garage and settled down for a quiet night by the fire - until the phone rang about 7 o'clock. It was my father-in-law (who lived up the road from us). He was stuck in snow about 3 miles away in the next village at the bottom of a hill. The hill in question was about 1 in 10, single track, and twisty. he just wanted to let us know that he wouldn't be home that night, but I said I would come and get him. He said that I would get stuck - a challenge! So I set off. The roads were by this time covered with about 6 inches of snow and of course the snowploughs knocked off at 6 o'clock! I got to the next village, located paw-in-law in his Astra and we set off home. "You'll never make it up the brae" he said. So I booted it

Up the hill we went, passing at least half a dozen abandoned cars and trucks, and were home 10 minutes later

My car? A bog standard 4x4 Cavalier :eek:

It never ever got stuck in snow or ice

Just wish they did a 4x4 vRS hatch

Just wish they did a 4x4 vRS hatch :mad:

Pity they don't, but that didn't stop me...

Just wish they did a 4x4 vRS estate

or me...