in this country winter tires are not really needed as we have snow for 2 minutes then it's gone, on the odd occasion when it's here for a while, just stay indoors and let the emergency vehicles own the roads IMO

Winter tyres are not just for when it is snowing, if the temperature is below 7 deg then winter tyres provide much more grip and control than summer tyres, as at this temp the rubber compounds in summer tyres hardens causing loss of grip.

Winter tyres are not just for when it is snowing, if the temperature is below 7 deg then winter tyres provide much more grip and control than summer tyres, as at this temp the rubber compounds in summer tyres hardens causing loss of grip.

Well I'm at the foot of snowdon so very.harsh winters here never used winters with no motoring issues whatsoever in 35 years of driving however the snows last Xmas snow sox for me, never lost grip with summers on in winter, must be down to my better than average driving skills must have a little Scandinavian in me ( now for the jokes)

Up north Cairngorms definite winter tyres although lower than Cumbria do we really need em ?

Possibly not, but the costs of one day off work for me means I'll quite happily put them on anyway.

I'd rather have a safety net than not.

on the odd occasion when it's here for a while, just stay indoors and let the emergency vehicles own the roads IMO

Whilst I agree partialy with leaving the roads clear for the emergency services but what about the businesses that suffer due to people ringing into work to say they can't get in because of the snow? Last year 3 out of the 4 members of staff in my team didn't show up for work because of the snow, I was the only shift person to make it to work & I am the furthest away & live much more remote area than they do.

I did a full block of shifts 12hr day/night shifts on my own with 4-5 hr commutes each way todo what would normally take me 30-40mins & I didn't get any extra shifts off paid like they did :'( . Will I do that again this year? or stay at home and take the kids out sledging like the other staff did? Y/N

If there is snow on the ground ? They are fine as for cattle grids if you can see them don't need them, dry roads they wouldn't be on anyway, they cost under £50 so that's at least £150 cheaper than winter tires, they are fine for an emergency in this country winter tires are not really needed as we have snow for 2 minutes then it's gone, on the odd occasion when it's here for a while, just stay indoors and let the emergency vehicles own the roads IMO

It doesn't actually cost much more to run winter tyres. They may be a few quid a pop more that "normal" tyres but remember you can only wear the traeds on one set at a time. If you are not very carefull with your sock it is very easy to put £50 in the bin. Also once the winters are fitted then you don't get caught out.

As others have said, it's horses for courses. I suspect my view might be difffernt if I lives 600 miles south and 1000ft lower but for me winter tyres are a no brainer.

P.S...to those who say "I manage" on summers in winter......one day winter WILL punish you and you will crash....chances are.........I wrote my last car off "managing" doing 35mph in a 60mph road.......car on roof and spun 180deg around.....still managed to avoid the other car.....both he and the police couldn't figure out how I did it (and he couldn't belive how I managed to correct a sever skid and avoid him.......

+1 a million times over.

These brave souls that manage for decades on their summer tyres have also probably never had an accident in summer or winter. But accidents do happen and it is THEN that your rock hard summer tyres won't work in winter. Just that once. That one time it slips when you don't want it to and you end up somewhere in a situation you'd rather not have wanted to be in either financially or worse still emotionally with loved ones maimed or worse... No thanks. Never in my life do I want to live with the guilt of that, if I could just have spent a few hundred pounds on some winter rubber...

Possibly not, but the costs of one day off work for me means I'll quite happily put them on anyway.

I'd rather have a safety net than not.

I'm with Richard here. I live in London (so don't really need them) but I do go places all over the UK from time to time and I'd rather have the safety net of the winter tyres than not.

I'd rather have the safety net of the winter tyres than not.

This is my main reason for buying them. If it looks bad outside then I'll phone in like everyone else, I'll still get paid and my salary isn't enough to make me a martyr.

I got a bit of a grilling off the father in law to be the other night about how "I was expecting a severe winter in the hills of Norfolk" and how he thought it was funny that until a few years ago he hadn't even heard of winter tyres and now everyone all of a sudden thinks that they need them. There is no discussing things with the guy so I just said "Yeah, probably overkill if I'm honest"

Funny thing is that he took delivery of a 3 series BMW in March this year after driving FWD saloons for the past 15 years. Lets just say I hope we get a **** load of snow out of the blue right in the middle of the day I might even give him a lift home if he gets stuck.... maybe :p

There is no discussing things with the guy so I just said "Yeah, probably overkill if I'm honest"

Funny thing is that he took delivery of a 3 series BMW in March this year after driving FWD saloons for the past 15 years. Lets just say I hope we get a **** load of snow out of the blue right in the middle of the day I might even give him a lift home if he gets stuck.... maybe :p

:rofl:

Sounds like someone I know who likes his BMW's.....has a very nice 3 series whith the twin turbo diesel engine????.......anyway...can't drive it in winter.......due to lack of grip...so uses his wifes carp Renult modus???.......really funny.....

Snow on the way Thursday / Friday this week , we're I am so bring it on on the other hand I may stay at home

Snow on the way Thursday / Friday this week , we're I am so bring it on on the other hand I may stay at home

I've just done a 143mile round trip via Cairngorm Mtn (business related)......a bit warm...+1C....gusting 60mph +.....and several inches of snow, ice, slush etc on the roads.......thank god for winters!....and even then it was a bit slidey!!!!......in a fun way tho!!...... ......

My tyres arrived today

Excellent.

All you need now is a pair of these:

Last year I bought snow socks and they got me the last 1/2 mile home and back to the gritted road. But I still slipped about and had limited braking elsewhere.

This year I have winters fitted. Still got the socks so if I get stuck I'll put them on and see if they make any difference.

Plus the cars going for a service this Friday and the Skoda courtesy car is unlikely to have winters fitted :no:

Horses for courses people! Been driving round visiting customers for 30 years. Never had anything but standard tyres. Last year however, when the snow came, I was just sitting at traffic lights with the wheels spinning in the diesel Octy whilst others drove round me like I was a traffic bollard! I put this down to having a lot of weight on board & tyres that didn't have max tread on them. The local tyre places had a massive waiting list for winters so I went for a full set of Verdesteins. They were better but I was continually getting stuck in the side roads or worse still sliding sideways at walking speed instead of forwards! Took as much stock & tools out as poss but it only helped a little. By this time, the main roads were fine but some estates/side roads were solid untouched snow/ice & often full of abandoned cars. Ordered some Autosocks in desperation.

Next time I turned into a snowy estate, pulled over, pushed them over the non road contact part of the tyre, pulled forward a foot or two, pushed the last bit on. TRANSFORMATION!!!! They gripped like velcro! Honestly, I was reversing up customers driveways in thick virgin snow till the underside of the car beached on the snow! Never ever got stuck again, yes I had to pull them back off when I got out to a main road but it took about a minute per wheel including pulling forward a fraction to get the remainder off. Being lazy however, I ended up leaving them on for 3 days in all types of conditions & nearly wore them out. But my replacement pair are sitting in the car waiting for the next deluge. (I must also say that when I first saw them I thought they'd shred in seconds! I didn't believe they would straighten themselves up within a few meters either, but they did!)

Excellent.

All you need now is a pair of these:

Awesome

Has anyone seen this brilliant idea to solve all snow driving problems

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160691993050#ht_500wt_1287

don't like slush, don't like cattle grid, don't like dry road... yeah they sound wonderful.

Last Christmas we went to stay with brother in law in Aachen Germany, we had four days of almost continual snow. During the worst night we had 14 inches of snow (in one night!), by law you must clear the snow from outside your house, where do they put it? in between parked cars! There was no gritting or salting, snow ploughs were just knocking the ridges of snow/ice into the ruts. I will never complain about our roads again. There was I in a front wheel drive car with summer tyres parked facing uphill! I am now waiting for a 4x4 yeti (140BHP), I don't have the car yet but already have the second set of wheels and winter tyres!!!!!

You should have just got winters and saved money by keeping the old car, not that buying a yeti is a bad thing

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You should have just got winters and saved money by keeping the old car, not that buying a yeti is a bad thing

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Hi The old car is eleven years old with 160,000 miles on the clock. 2 1/2 years ago I fell off a ladder and broke my spine. The yeti also has the most comfortable drivers seat I have ever sat in.

Ah well there you go, welcome to the wonderful world of skoda :-)

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Snow socks have better grip than winter tires , that's what the majority of car manufacturers say check what vauxhall say

Too right. Using them today.

Has anyone seen this brilliant idea to solve all snow driving problems

http://www.ebay.co.u...0#ht_500wt_1287

Now that is one sure way to A: ruin one of your wheel nuts and B: dent your bumper when this thing bends after hitting something harder than snow. And to get all that you need to give THEM £134?! What a laugh.