Sick of seeing threads on it....

Not been stuck in 17 years

Nanny culture much ?

Discuss.

I managed the last two winters in my Leon on summer tyres, so I've decided that while winter tyres have benefits for some people, they're just not for me. My biggest risk comes from other people IMO, and winter tyres doesn't help me at all in that regard, there'll still be people on the road who just aren't capable of driving in poor conditions. I might as well just save a few hundred quid rather than load my credit card up with tyres and then find that someone still manages to plough into the side of me.

Exactly i had a fiat 500 abarth semi auto during the minus 13 snow and ice last yeah without a hitch. And thats in the Welsh valleys full of hills and sheep. Still got out thou. That said i was the only car to leave my street but then it comes down to being careful and not driving like a ****.

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Last year my octy just kept on getting stuck on silly things. Had a sierra before that and only got it stuck once after trying to go over lorry tracks into a parking bay, my old merc used to try going straight on when ever it was snowy or icey and didn't do inclines, hence learning from experience me buying some winter tyres. However last year swmbo's yaris had the agility of a mountain goat and went where ever she wanted usually 30 seconds before I got stuck and her phone mysteriously on silent leaving me to get myself out :(

absolute idiots who go on about them..

most people dont even get them for the snow, but to have more traction in the wet and frost etc. which is utterly stupid IMO

if it really is for snow, and they're snow tyres then fine... but ive been on the road 6 years with no problems using the same wheels/tyres all year round. in fact, no one i've ever known in my life has ever changed their tyres when it's winter... i only heard baout it when i came on briskoda.

They do say "Ignorance is bliss"

In this case its foolhardy

I thought I could manage on summer tyres until I bought some Winters

30+ years of driving in all conditions

I then bought my first set in 2010

OMG

The difference it makes is amazing

Please dont knock it until youve tried them boys

"I thought I could manage"

The fact that you're still here, posting that post, means that in actual fact you DID manage, perfectly well. You being from Bingley doesn't reflect the kind of conditions I see in Nottingham, I live virtually on the M1 which I then use for commuting, so the roads are generally pretty well gritted and/or ploughed so not too snowy, just wet and cold which they've been for the last week or so anyway. And in the last week I can count the number of times my car has felt out of control on the fingers of no hands.

"Please don't knock it till you've tried them"? How about the flipside; please don't push them down my throat based on YOUR conditions in YOUR hometown and allow me to make my own decisions on what I buy. You're not my mum

I live on a main road so my biggest problem last year was getting in and out of the drive. One day I had to reverse in because the fronts couldn't cope with the slight slope in. Whilst I can see the benefits of winter tyres, for me I don't think it's worth it. If necessary I'm close enough to work and the shops to walk in

I've been driving for 15 years and out of those 15years my car's have been stuck at home for the past 6.

Up until owning my 1st Skoda all my cars had a tyre width of less than 195 which helped in the bad weather & shortly after purchasing my 1st Skoda I moved from St Albans Hertforshire to the Penistone South Yorkshire. There are alot of factors too consider with winter driving,

* Car Technology is developing every year

* Cars are becoming more high powered therefore more being given summer tyres rather than all season

* Varying weather conditions, IMO winters seem to be getting longer

* Affordability of cars to the younger generation, my 1st car cost me £100 and was the best car I've ever driving in snow/ice, I bet most new drivers now spend upwards of £1000 on a new car (finance allowing)

* Tyre sizes are increasing therefore not as good in snow/ice/cold wet weather

IMO the worst car I had in the bad weather was a Fabia vRS, it was shocking when trying to drive it on snow/ice and in -c temperatures, infact my Octavia was better but not by much.

Winter tyres are great (or so I'm told), I understand how they provide better traction/control in the colder temperatures and now living on the edge of the Peak District I have invested in a set as most people around here run winter tyres through the colder months. My Octavia has already had some difficulties with the cold/icy weather around here so for me they should benefit mine & my families safety.

I agree that winter tyres aren't for everyone as some people can walk to work (why have a car??, another discussion) or live on main roads which are gritted as part of bus routes etc but winter tyres aren't just for snow and Ice, they run a different compound to provide better traction in the colder months than summer tyres.

At the end of the day it is your decision & I hope that you are satisfied with the choice's you make

@ OP, if your fed up of Winter Tyre threads don't read them

Safe Driving Everyone

Matthew

Don't buy 'em if you don't want 'em.

We, the enlightened, don't care if you think they're a waste of time / money or not. Don't click on the thread if you don't want to read about them.

Bizarre that someone who'll spend a fortune on bulbs for their car (which I think is really tidy) thinks those who buy winter tyres are "idiots" They might not be for you, but they are definitely for me.

I suspect there will be a bit of a North/South split on the opinions.

In the last 25 years I have only been 'stuck' a handful of times - by stuck I mean I needed outside assistance or had to get out and dig, most of these were in a truck on snow covered ice. (this includes all over Europe and parts of Scandinavia)

I chose to buy winters last year as it is more important to be able to stop without fuss than to get going.

It also has nothing to do with where you live, in Kent the roads are pretty slippery when there is no sun to dry them out, my winter tyres have only lost traction once this year so far - and that was down to me pulling away too quickly. Yet in vehicles I drive without winter tyres they loose traction far easier.

Lots of people who modify there cars scrimp on the tyres, this should be more of a concern to you rather than those who wish to make their cars safer!

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@ OP, if your fed up of Winter Tyre threads don't read them

Just seen the epic amount of titles

I had winter tyres on my last car (306) was on there when I bought the car. Previous owner used to do 6months ski teaching in the alps.

When it properly snowed a few years back i was one of the only people to be driving about.(hilly area and noone seems to grit)

The difference in braking compared to normal tyres is scary stopped a good 30-40metres quicker. And for that reason alone its worth having them. When i get some for the fabia ill stick them on some steels and keep them wrapped up in the loft. Should last a good few years.

Just seen the epic amount of titles

Fair enough then

absolute idiots who go on about them..

People who go on about anything may be bores but it doesn't make them idiots. Having a closed mind on any given subject is often the more foolish thing.

As to the tyres, if you regularly find yourself in the cold and the wet and have the cash then there's nothing wrong in buying the best equipment for the conditions. Last year I visited a friend's parents and my Octavia with Nokian tyres was apparently the first vehicle other than a Defender that had been down their street in two weeks. They said that three of their neighbours had ordered 4x4s to enable them to get about.

Changing the vehicle rather than the objects which actually have contact with the road surface is the idiotic thing. Likewise all the 4x4 drivers who fly around like nutters on ice and snow assuming they somehow can stop better than mere 2wd vehicles. I wish I'd taken a video of my Octavia rescuing a Touareg that got stuck in our street last year. My car was virtually the only one that got in or out of our street for three weeks last winter. Was I an idiot? Well if I was I was warm and dry in the car while everyone else had to trudge through the snow to where they'd left their cars

People who go on about anything may be bores but it doesn't make them idiots. Having a closed mind on any given subject is often the more foolish thing.

As to the tyres, if you regularly find yourself in the cold and the wet and have the cash then there's nothing wrong in buying the best equipment for the conditions. Last year I visited a friend's parents and my Octavia with Nokian tyres was apparently the first vehicle other than a Defender that had been down their street in two weeks. They said that three of their neighbours had ordered 4x4s to enable them to get about.

Changing the vehicle rather than the objects which actually have contact with the road surface is the idiotic thing. Likewise all the 4x4 drivers who fly around like nutters on ice and snow assuming they somehow can stop better than mere 2wd vehicles. I wish I'd taken a video of my Octavia rescuing a Touareg that got stuck in our street last year. My car was virtually the only one that got in or out of our street for three weeks last winter. Was I an idiot? Well if I was I was warm and dry in the car while everyone else had to trudge through the snow to where they'd left their cars

I think to an extent that we are idiots by buying winter tyres, it means that we can get to work while those who don't buy them don't attempt the journey and stay at home

The tyres I've just purchased for my car didnt break the bank £140 + £30 fitting to my OEM wheels and will prolong my summer tyres as they wont be getting used. Very cheap piece of mind if you ask me

We have alot of 4x4/4wd vehicles near us and in the winter they as you say 'fly around like nutters' assuiming the 4x4/4wd system will keep them safe, they fail to realise they are still running on summer/all season tyres and whilst setting off will be easier stopping wont be any different to a fwd/rwd car

Matthew

First set of winter tyres we tried was on the 2WD Yeti. I was shocked.

It was then better in the ice and snow than my Range Rover. (which was way better than a regular car)

Now I am converted.

Yes there a lot of Winter Tyre threads because lots of people want to find out more about them. There are also a lot of tuning threads.

I have driven in the winter all over the UK and had some horendous weather which I have managed on all season tyres, just because I have managed does not mean that I was happy with them. Only ever got really stuck a couple of times and that was due to snow on top of thick ice so only chains or studs would probably have sorted that out. I have managed okay as I have learnt how to drive in the winter, my decision to buy winter tyres was that I have experienced problems of much reduced grip in cold wet and icy conditions. The winter tyres cope better in these situations and so to me are safer, I know I still have to consider the fact that people around me are probably not on winter tyres so their stopping distance is greater than mine.

The use of these tyres will mean I am not wearing out my normal tyres and I will run them for several seasons so to me the only actual additional cost was the steel rims not a great deal for the peace of mind it gives me.

If you think it is a nanny culture and unnecessary then that is fine as it is your opinion. Some people will run standard cars, some will do a remap, others will got to extremes for additional performance or functionality so what it is their choice.

So far I have found the winter tyres to give very good grip in the cold and wet weather we have been having so am happy with them.

Do you consider things like uprated headlight bulbs and HID kits to be unnecessary? You don't need them, have probably managed for many years without them as well!

So far I have found the winter tyres to give very good grip in the cold and wet weather we have been having so am happy with them.

I wish I could find the equivalent for shoes. Twice this week I have driven somewhere oblivious to how slippy the surface was and then I have fallen flat on my back when I got out of the car.

ive never bought winter tyres before as i thought id never need them! I live on an estate at the bottom of a hill and last year i did struggle in the fabia, dont get me wrong i got about but it was difficult. The year before i had a vectra and that had the 19" snowflakes on, and that got stuck and i couldnt get back home!

I think its more to do with the wheel size and brand of tyre that makes winter driving more difficult or easier.

The tyres I've just purchased for my car didnt break the bank £140 + £30 fitting to my OEM wheels and will prolong my summer tyres as they wont be getting used. Very cheap piece of mind if you ask me

I assume that was for a set of all four? Which ones did you buy?

I wish I could find the equivalent for shoes. Twice this week I have driven somewhere oblivious to how slippy the surface was and then I have fallen flat on my back when I got out of the car.

Check this out then: Shoe Grips

The reason for so many threads is that we have had two great (or bad) winters in which most of the country has ground to a halt....slid into a ditch...etc.......and people are just realising why other european countries are looking at us as "pathetic"....as they have to by law swap over onto winter tyres!

There are also many proven facts/tests etc that state that winter tyres outperform "summers" or "standard" tyres at temps below +7C...!!!!!!

If you live in a big southern city which doesn't get much snow and don't drive much then you might not need winter tyres.....but if you live elsewhere and/or like outdoor sports like mountaineering, skiing, etc....YOU need winter tyres just to get around!

This is a well used "B" road near me in winter.......unpassable on "summers"....

Put mine on a set of 16" steels, they are slightly thinner

than standard size tyres. And with a pretty "blocky" looking tread pattern.

I had them on in the summer for a week while my alloys were

being refurbished and they certainly made a lot of rumble noise

during normal driving on clear dry roads.

I moved to Bristol from London at the start of the year and one of the

things I immediately noticed was how hilly it is in comparison to Essex

where I used to live. They should help me to continue about my business

despite the terrain.

For me it's about being able to get around as I'm helping to look after a

poorly relative who may not be able to shops etc if the weather turns nasty.

I reckon they give me the best chance of staying mobile unless it gets really

deep.

Combined with ESP I reckon I have a better chance of keeping in a straight

line and being able to stop than a car with all season/summer tyres.

Also my alloys are safe and sound up in my loft staying dry and clean

and away from any kerbs hidden by snow. Not bothered if I **** a steel,

I have a spare brand new one of those up in the loft too if the worst

happens and I find a hidden kerb.

This is a well used "B" road near me in winter.......unpassable on "summers"....

This is on the backroads to Brighton after the M23 was closed in 2010. Wearing my usual Rainsport summer wet weather tyres. Traction control and my left foot worked hard but we made it without a hitch and without 'winters'!

...so much so that we came back out a few hours later to join friends in a Landy and a Landcruiser having fun over snowbound Devil's Dyke. I had to go first to avoid bottoming out in their wheelruts but otherwise the little Furby raised eyebrows and 'ner a Skoda joke was heard! :p