Apologies for reviving an old thread, but thought it relevant given the recent spate of snow and half of the country grinding to a halt, and was wondering how you were coping with the snow right now in South Wales?!?

I'm doing great got out to work for an hour this morning, getting around no problem with my cheap ass chinese winters. been out a few times this afternoon, bottled two big hills due to not enough run up and abandoned cars everwhere, overtaken a few people holding me up, got a few looks as if to say "how he can get up there"

Everyone else seems to be struggling mind !!

I'm doing great got out to work for an hour this morning, getting around no problem with my cheap ass chinese winters. been out a few times this afternoon, bottled two big hills due to not enough run up and abandoned cars everwhere, overtaken a few people holding me up, got a few looks as if to say "how he can get up there"

Everyone else seems to be struggling mind !!

That's the benefit of winter tyres! I'm keen to know how the advocates of summer tyres and their use during conditions like these are coping. They're most likely going to be the ones who have abandoned their cars or holding you up!

Apologies for reviving an old thread, but thought it relevant given the recent spate of snow and half of the country grinding to a halt, and was wondering how you were coping with the snow right now in South Wales?!?

Yip got vrs and vw out later this afternoon. Both on summer tyres.

Apologies for reviving an old thread, but thought it relevant given the recent spate of snow and half of the country grinding to a halt, and was wondering how you were coping with the snow right now in South Wales?!?

Quite well actually as long as you have proper winter tyres on.

Without them would not have got into work.

Also managed to get home as well Thankfully

Karl

I would have got into work with my winters, but as 99% of others don't have them and they struggled, I had to turn back and go home.

I live in Farnbrough, Hampshire which is quiet a flatish area. I managed fine today with out winter tyers, although i have managed well with out winter tyers for the last 32 years. This is using both motorbikes and cars in both my native North Lincolnshire and Hampshire.

Saying that, if i lived in a predominantly hilly area then i would most probably invest in some winter tyers. It is just that i feel i do not feel i need winter tyres at the moment.

I can not understand people who only drive in flat city areas such as London buying winter tyres, maybe what is needed to to learn how to drive more carefully. Maybe take an Advanced Driving Course would be more effective for many!

I would have got into work with my winters, but as 99% of others don't have them and they struggled, I had to turn back and go home.

Thats why I went home too, plus the fact that I couldn't be arsed lol

Yeah but what about braking?

Surely winter tyres help braking a lot. I'm currently running my car on P-Zeros and its proving to be terrible when braking in the snow that fell today....

Edited 18 January, 201313 yr by Beancounter1980

What size do people recommend on a 17 wheel? 205/50/17 any good?

Anyone run on the Goodyear ultragrips?

I live in scotland and have never used winter tyres!

Steady foot, high gear, low revs, keep momentum

What size do people recommend on a 17 wheel? 205/50/17 any good?

Sounds far too large to me - nearly +8% - surely you need more like 205/40/17

Edited 18 January, 201313 yr by DRJ

Ultragrip 8's are £10 off per tyre on Camskill atm, they review well.

Sportrac 3's and a Octavia II 1.9DSG got me up and down hills in rural Northumberland that 4x4's failed on 2 years back, it's not just about the tyre, it's about the driver. Get a sufficiently good run up and maintain the momentum in a high enough gear and even the steepest of hills shouldn't be a problem. The main problem is people go from a standing start, go too slowly then stop which prevents the people behind them making it.

Continental TS850's are supposed to be a good all season tyre despite not being marketed as such, a winter tyre isn't just for snow, it's designed to work better when the temps are below 7c.

I live in scotland and have never used winter tyres!

Steady foot, high gear, low revs, keep momentum

Hmm and braking? Does that work just the same as on a dry warm road?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

When I had my Freelander the scariest moment was not getting going but stopping. Touch the brakes and instant anti-lock but not much retardation.

Hmm and braking? Does that work just the same as on a dry warm road?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Course not, but common sense should tell you that.

Also common sense should dictate how you drive in different conditions, drive slow = less braking needed.

Millions of people dont change tyres every year and keep going, ive never heard so much pish about winter tyres before i came on this forum!

]Millions of people ask every year, why do other countries manage so much better than we do

Course not, but common sense should tell you that.

Also common sense should dictate how you drive in different conditions, drive slow = less braking needed.

Millions of people dont change tyres every year and keep going, ive never heard so much pish about winter tyres before i came on this forum!

I said exactly the same thing about winter tyre's until i tried them, honestly wouldn't go without a set now.

The grip you get is, quite frankly, astounding compared to summer/all weather tyre's.

Not had the chance to use them in snow yet but have been brilliant on cold icy mornings. Even at an indicated -4 i've had no problem with tyres slipping.

Course not, but common sense should tell you that.

Also common sense should dictate how you drive in different conditions, drive slow = less braking needed.

Millions of people dont change tyres every year and keep going, ive never heard so much pish about winter tyres before i came on this forum!

Hmmmmmmmm..........

Couldn't find an old post that I did ages ago....so will re-type this....

Lived up here for the past 19yrs........I do lots of winter sports which involve driving at stupid times to make the most of the daylight ...and to remote places...or to the highest roads in the uk!

I "made do" on summers until about 4yrs ago (the first bad winter)...........So I had about 15yrs of winters under my belt so to speak! Lots of experiance.....including flipping my previous car (12yrs ago) onto it's roof at 33mph on a main 60mph A road in winter.

Only got winters because one day i had to drive across Inverness...........the whole place was sheet black ice and having to try to stop and start at every roundabout was a feching nightmare!!!!..........The ABS was going nuts and was increasing the stopping distances (and yes I know how to drive according to the conditions)..................I was shattered afterwards!!!

There comes a point that no matter how much skill you have the conditions make you run out of "skill"..................So I got the right tools for the job and fitted winters!!!!.............Jesus talk about night and day............................I can now drive (still allowing for the laws of phyisics)..............and do a good 50mph on an A road whilst everyone else is doing 30mph on summers................I can stand on the brake pedal and stop with the ABS only kicking in slightly at the end......!!!!

This all leads to a much less stressfull and controlled driving time for me................and when the car does slide it does so in a very progressive way and tells you almost before it does it................

Winters are very good...........thats why in the alpine areas etc in Europe they are LAW at certain times of the year.................

The only down side is that I have to spend more time avoiding and driving around people like you who have problems stopping and controlling the car (compared to my car on winters)............

Stop "making do" and fit a set of winters

I wish more people used winter tyres, I would feel much safer on the roads in these conditions and stop having to worry if they are going to stop or make the corner lol.

I honestly thought I was doing fine on my summer tyres but the difference is really quite remarkable. You dont half get some funny looks from people though as you drive past them, might need to try and find a "im wearing winter tyres" sticker or something lol.

And thanks to evil bay

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item20ce932352

Fabdavrav, wasting your time. It's "pish" and no doubt your imagination. Apparently common sense means you have to just accept much poorer braking performance etc. Choice is good.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Fabdavrav, wasting your time. It's "pish" and no doubt your imagination. Apparently common sense means you have to just accept much poorer braking performance etc. Choice is good.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Aww dont be like that princess just because someone doesnt agree with you. Sorry if i hurt your feelings, cuddle and make up?

It isnt the law here, ive never needed them, never felt scared of my current tyres, no near missies, the roads have snow ploughs and gritters and ive always gotten to where i need to be just fine on the dreaded summer tyres which this year are basically brand new uniroyal rainsports with near 9mm of tread and wow i was driving about this morning, how did i manage that without £500 worth of winter tyre??

I shall leave you internet know it alls to discuss this!

It isnt the law here,

I shall leave you internet know it alls to discuss this!

They are discussing making it law......................the sooner the better!!!!!

Oh and when you crash your car in winter................you will eventualy .........you will end up in a situation that you can't predict and you will run out of skill..............nature can do that you see..............and sooner on summers...........don't say you weren't warned!!!!!

Using rainsports is cheating lol

They are discussing making it law......................the sooner the better!!!!!

It will be years before it becomes law if ever. For some people there is demonstrably little need for the significant expense and hassle of having winter tyres.

Interesting page showing European requirements

Edited 19 January, 201313 yr by DRJ

The need (or otherwise) for winter tyres depends on the weather, the amount of driving done and where.

I live in a well populated area and the roads are well looked after, winter tyres would be of limited benefit as the roads are treated and looked after.

I work 45 miles away in a rural area and due to a landslide closing the main route to work on Boxing Day the only two other routes involve large steep hills and rural roads, add snow and the roads in question become almost impassable. The number of people who get stuck on them is ridiculous, the knock on effect is the people behind them often have to stop and can't get going again without a lot of rolling backwards. You go over a blind summit and often find HGV's stuck in the next dip and if you're lucky you have time to brake safely, people not familiar with the road in winter often don't. Spending a few quid on winter tyres is a lot cheaper than an insurance claim.

Either way the benefits of winter tyres vs summer tyres are well proven.