Now the snow is beginning to make its presence felt my twitter inbox is rammed with warnings of abandoned and crashed vehicles, not just nationally, but also only a few miles away. It would be interesting to find out what percentage of these vehicles were wearing standard tyres, cold weather/winter tyres and also all Season tyres.

This isn't about point scoring, but would give a 'real world' indicator if fitting all season or cold weather tyres made a difference in these situations.

I acknowledge the results would not be 'scientific' as there would be too many other variables to take into account, but it would give a better insight than we currently have; ie "I drive to the weather conditions".

Fin

Well I can add that my Honda with well worn tyres (was going to put new ones on but SWMBO made a big issue of it so I didn't) was foggin useless in the snow and I had to leaved it parked up on double yellows while I marched home for grit.

 

I saw a bit mix of cars some struggling others doing fine. Generally (and unsurprisingly) smaller cars on narrower tyres were doing ok, the bigger the car the worse they were doing. Only saw one guy I was sure had winters on (plain steel wheels on a newish passat) he was fine but not on a difficult section.

 

I've never felt the need for winters I've always managed fine on summer tread even with the VRS however today I was double whammied by crap tyres and traffic so I couldn't keep my momentum. New tyres soon however not winters since I just can't afford two sets right now.

Sounds like now is the time to sell my snow socks....

Dammit! I've got 4 full sized winters on, and I'm eagerly waiting for snow, and when it comes I'm away on a trip!

 New tyres soon however not winters since I just can't afford two sets right now.

 

Thought about some 4 Season tyres as a happy medium option?

 

Not got my winters on yet; fitting them at the end of the week. Trouble is, in this part of the world and with some weird temperature variations is when to fit them! It's been too regularly in double figures here, to warrant fitment.

 

I've also noticed in past winters that you can still easily get stuck and affected. It's the other drivers and vehicles getting in the way. Bunching up and generally not driving to the conditions - up hills and the like. Everyone gets too close while trying to negotiate normal hazards; parked cars etc. Then some poor soul, likely on standard rubber then needs to come to a complete halt, attempt a hill start, usually with far too much gusto - gets stuck, and then the traffic system fails like a deck of cards

 

Think we'd just cope far better if Mother Nature could organise some proper definable seasons. Then people would get properly used to having to drive appropriately.

Now the snow is beginning to make its presence felt my twitter inbox is rammed with warnings of abandoned and crashed vehicles, not just nationally, but also only a few miles away. It would be interesting to find out what percentage of these vehicles were wearing standard tyres, cold weather/winter tyres and also all Season tyres.

This isn't about point scoring, but would give a 'real world' indicator if fitting all season or cold weather tyres made a difference in these situations.

I acknowledge the results would not be 'scientific' as there would be too many other variables to take into account, but it would give a better insight than we currently have; ie "I drive to the weather conditions".

Fin

It makes the world of difference.

You can stop, steer and accelerate like summer tyres can only dream of in this weather.

musta saved endless crashes IMO. Giving a driver control, even if the drivers completely useless.

Unfortunately the really clueless probably dont even bother with appropriate tyres. Just press the brake at the last minute and expect the car to stop like it would in the summer

Now the snow is beginning to make its presence felt my twitter inbox is rammed with warnings of abandoned and crashed vehicles, not just nationally, but also only a few miles away. It would be interesting to find out what percentage of these vehicles were wearing standard tyres, cold weather/winter tyres and also all Season tyres.

This isn't about point scoring, but would give a 'real world' indicator if fitting all season or cold weather tyres made a difference in these situations.

I acknowledge the results would not be 'scientific' as there would be too many other variables to take into account, but it would give a better insight than we currently have; ie "I drive to the weather conditions".

Fin

But then you'd have to stop every car that's been through and ask if they have winters on. it's no good saying that 4 cars have been stuck in a dip and only 1 has winters so winters are 3x better than summers, because maybe 177 cars have passed through with summers and only 1 more with winters, that would mean that summer tyres were 59x more likely to go through. Then you have to look at the type of car, speed and the ability of the driver. I know this dip where 4 cars have got stuck today, if you speed up and aim in a straight line you will make it easily, but if you don't you won't because it's steep.

Perhaps not too relevant to this thread, and also perhaps common knowledge, but I didn't know. Apparently the reason winter tyres work is because summer tyres cannot get to the temperature required to grip properly, especially in rain. You don't aquaplane (well, you know about it if you do), but the water cools the tyres. Winter tyres have a softer compound, and thus don't need to be anywhere near as warm to grip the road properly. Obviously snow is a different matter, however having the right right tyres will make all the difference. I'd buy snow socks for my car if there was any point, but it rarely snows here, and when it does, there would be little point anyway as it'll just be slush - so long as I avoid the higher ground that is.

Edited 13 January, 201511 yr by samj2013

But then you'd have to stop every car that's been through and ask if they have winters on. it's no good saying that 4 cars have been stuck in a dip and only 1 has winters so winters are 3x better than summers, because maybe 177 cars have passed through with summers and only 1 more with winters, that would mean that summer tyres were 59x more likely to go through. Then you have to look at the type of car, speed and the ability of the driver. I know this dip where 4 cars have got stuck today, if you speed up and aim in a straight line you will make it easily, but if you don't you won't because it's steep.

 

 

Scotton by any chance?

Thought about some 4 Season tyres as a happy medium option?

 

 

I'd still need to get 4 of them rather than just the two summer tyres I need. I coulf stretch to 4x cheapo winters but they'd be real bargain basement stuff and probably not very good.

 

Right now erring towards just getting the summer tyres and a a set of snow socks or cheap chains

always fit Winter tyres every year, originally started due to owning a BMW.  Always change every November an summrs go back on in Mid April once temps rise.

 

Winters are so much better in the wet too.

 

int he Snow and ice they are nigh on unbelivable.

 

Saying all this i have to drive a 250bhp stripped and caged Type R over to the Ring in two weeks,,,,,on R888's fingers crossed i don't get caught out....lol

Scotton by any chance?

Yes, absolutely. You must live somewhere near me do you?

I'd still need to get 4 of them rather than just the two summer tyres I need. I coulf stretch to 4x cheapo winters but they'd be real bargain basement stuff and probably not very good.

 

Right now erring towards just getting the summer tyres and a a set of snow socks or cheap chains

 

or 2x AllSeason as a happy medium? Depends how the weather is for the 2nd half of the year where you are, and the type of driving you do.

Taking a stab at your tyre size, you're looking at around £100/corner:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m140b0s8017p0/All_Season_-_Four_Season_-_All_Weather_-_Car_MPV_Tyres_-_17_inch_R17_inch_-_225_45_17_225_45R17

Scotton by any chance?

 

 

Yes, absolutely. You must live somewhere near me do you?

 

Scotton as in near Knaresborough?

Scotton as in near Knaresborough?

No, Scotton near Catterick Garrison.

No, Scotton near Catterick Garrison.

I'm in Catterick every month as that's where the office is, though I stsy in Richmond. Look out for a white cupra 280 with a brisky sticker in the back!

would you not need to have 4x all seasons since the grip will be different than the non driven wheels  i.e. similar but less extreme than 2x winters.

Neighbours dad crashed his Discovery at the end of my road into a B class Merc or vice versa

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Yes, absolutely. You must live somewhere near me do you?

Yeah, over near Richmond. I love that dip when the kids are in the car.

Yeah, over near Richmond. I love that dip when the kids are in the car.

They screwed the surface when they put those manholes in for that housing estate though didn't they? Didn't put it back very level. I don't go that way any more because they've been on the prowl with the speed guns through there so I go the Tunstall way now. But go through the dips if it's been snowing because of that corner on the hill in Tunstall.

would you not need to have 4x all seasons since the grip will be different than the non driven wheels i.e. similar but less extreme than 2x winters.

Id have thought so. Yes.

I've run winters on the front and summers on the back before.

The back swings round if you brake too hard, and the back also swings round if you let your foot off the accelerator mid corner

Its not catastrophic if you're expecting it, but its the reason many tyre places wont fit just 2 winter tyres

I dont see the all seasons being too much different

Our first night of snow last night and we had a car in the hedge outside our house at 5am.

And there really wasn't that much snow last night.

Emergency services started arriving a bit before 5.30am and all cleared (except the bumper) by about 6.30am.

Let's just say the talking, engines and flashing lights kept me awake...

Some people need to learn to drive properly!

would you not need to have 4x all seasons since the grip will be different than the non driven wheels  i.e. similar but less extreme than 2x winters.

I wouldn't mix tyre types, and if you must you need the all season/winters on the REAR as that's the end most likely to slide about

Otaylor38,

But tyre places will just fit a pair of Winter tyres, and often do.

We have this same discussion every winter, then all the links, and videos and cars sliding and horror stories,

and yet people fit a pair of tyres to the drive wheels to suit the short while they need them, and with good tyres on the other axle they get on just fine when driving to the conditions with the equipment fitted.

 

Tomorrow i will be wearing 1 pair of Winter Tyres & 1 of Wet Weather Tyres.

& when all the snow has gone i will change over just the wet weather pair, and if there is more snow & cold, 

i will put on the 2nd pair of Winter / Snow tyres if required, 10 minute job.

 

PS 

Gadgetman, dont mix them if you do not want to then, it is good to be sure what you want.

if you have a Front Wheel drive and it is sat at the road side with no traction, then the back end is highly unlikely 

to be sliding anyplace no matter if it has good tyres at the rear.

Edited 14 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

Otaylor38,

But tyre places will just fit a pair of Winter tyres, and often do.

We have this same discussion every winter, then all the links, and videos and cars sliding and horror stories,

and yet people fit a pair of tyres to the drive wheels to suit the short while they need them, and with good tyres on the other axle they get on just fine when driving to the conditions with the equipment fitted.

Tomorrow i will be wearing 1 pair of Winter Tyres & 1 of Wet Weather Tyres.

PS

Gadgetman,

if you have a Front Wheel drive and it is sat at the road side with no traction, then the back end is highly unlikely

to be sliding anyplace no matter if it has good tyres at the rear.

Some places refuse to fit em on just one axle mate. My dad got turned away by 'selecta tyre' when he went to get them fitted on the polo.

It is doable. Just gotta be aware of what will happen. If you've got your head switched on it wont be a problem. But if you're the kind that mash the brakes you're going to end up facing the other way haha.