No fresh snow here overnight or this morning, but -5 and a very icy, untreated, road. Betty is parked on a driveway to the side of my house, which has a Yorkshire stone cobbled surface. I did an audition for 'Dancing on Ice' just trying to get to the driver's door this morning (a pirouette, triple axel and a double lutz). Got in and started and reversed back towards the road/farm track. No problem initially, but just before the drive meets the track there's a camber, and I began to slide sideways towards the dry stone wall that makes our boundary. No 4X4 or winter tyre in the world is going to make any difference to gravity and sideways on ice, and my heart was in my mouth. Fortunately just then the rear wheels gripped the bit of tarmac on the track and pulled me clear. Once on the track the first 50 yards is steep uphill (mountain bikers come past here at weekends and most get off and push). Shortly before I set off a bloke in a Ford pick-up truck had driven past on his way to do some work at a neighbours place. His engine had been roaring, wheels spinning and a nasty burning smell was coming from the truck as he went not very far, not very fast, so I was a bit nervous. No need - no drama. Betty just pulled neatly and effortlessly away. I don't know whether it's the 4x4, the Goodyear 4 Seasons, or a bit of both ... but this truly is an impressive car. Most of my neighbours have their cars parked at the bottom of the hill, unable to drive up. After my day at work, Betty is back parked on the drive and I'm tucked up warm indoors.

I have to confess that my only experience so far for winter conditions + winter tyre was on black ice and I received an immediate lesson (which I won't forget) that on sheet ice gravity and momentum prevail over all computer systems and winter shod wheels. Was driving with over confidence a tad too fast (never again) even though I suspected black ice and decided to brake gently to a halt when I was closing on an oncoming car on a narrow road. Thankfully the road was just wide enough as I slid past with all four wheels locked over a considerable distance - thankfully in a straight line but the situation had very little input from either me or the car's clever systems and tyres. So in future I'm prepared to carefully experiment a bit in snow - if we ever get any - but on ice there will be zero messing around in future.

Edited 10 February, 201214 yr by Yetiflute

Shame UK law prohibits the use of these :yes:

My link

TP

Shame UK law prohibits the use of these :yes:

My link

TP

+1

Shame UK law prohibits the use of these :yes:

My link

TP

+1

Really? could you imagine the state of the roads if you were allowed them?

Really? could you imagine the state of the roads if you were allowed them?

Wouldn't be much worse than they are now lol

Really? could you imagine the state of the roads if you were allowed them?

Obviously not been to the East Riding then

Hence why the 16" wheel/tyre combo is better for me than the daft 17" rubber bands :yes:

TP

The road down in Kent are appalling too, but having studs would rip them up even more and make the potholes even bigger

Tim,

I remember the originakl Hakka's without studs. They were the bee's knees in some elements of motorsport!