7 Degrees this morning: Got your WINTERS on yet?

[Huskoda]

Obviously these people just lack the proper skill:

 

 

Thanks but I'll stick with using winters in winter. No, it doesn't cost me any more as my (more expensive and larger) summers last twice as long.

[Llanigraham]

I would actually say that ALL of those in that link show distinct lack of snow driving skills!

 

I thought the advice from the tyre companies was to fit winter tyres when the AVERAGE DAILY temperature was below 7 degrees.

[Huskoda]

Sure, you can drive without seatbelts, ABS, airbags, crumple zones and a whole host of other safety equipment and not get killed. People did that for decades. Many others, however, did get killed and maimed and lessons were learned and all these things became mandatory. Of course, unless you regularly plow into cars, walls or other objects all those items are just wasted money, weight and fuel economy.

 

I shake my head in sadness at those people who still steadfastly believe winter tyres are pointless and I hope they never are in a situation where they really need them.

[Breezy_Pete]

I'll be popping mine on the Polo around November I reckon.

Too much grip isn't usually a problem.

[Wardy]

Nowhere close. Due to be 16-19 here all week!

 

I tend to go by the clocks changing. And even then might leave it a bit longer this year.

[Huskoda]

Mine usually go on first dry weekend in November. Don't want to leave it too late as I don't want to be doing the work (on two cars) in the freezing cold

[BJM]

Where do you guys learn to beat physics?

 

We didn't, we just learnt car control.

 

UK Insurance statistics showed that cars fitted with winter tyres were 87% more likely to be involved in an accident between 01/11 - 31/03 than those fitted with ordinary tyres.

Analysed to be caused by a mixture of making unnecessary journeys in adverse conditions, over confidence in their tyres capabilities, over confidence in their OWN abilities, and causing other vehicles to hit them due to excessive speed and rapid braking and assuming that other vehicles could brake safely when, for example, pulling out of side turnings in front of them.

[Breezy_Pete]

^ Got a link to that?

[Lady Elanore]

Sure, you can drive without seatbelts, ABS, airbags, crumple zones and a whole host of other safety equipment and not get killed. People did that for decades. Many others, however, did get killed and maimed and lessons were learned and all these things became mandatory. Of course, unless you regularly plow into cars, walls or other objects all those items are just wasted money, weight and fuel economy.

 

That was my point

[Gromle]

We didn't, we just learnt car control.

UK Insurance statistics showed that cars fitted with winter tyres were 87% more likely to be involved in an accident between 01/11 - 31/03 than those fitted with ordinary tyres.

Analysed to be caused by a mixture of making unnecessary journeys in adverse conditions, over confidence in their tyres capabilities, over confidence in their OWN abilities, and causing other vehicles to hit them due to excessive speed and rapid braking and assuming that other vehicles could brake safely when, for example, pulling out of side turnings in front of them.

Im sorry, but that is the sillyest thing Ive read so far today.

Ok granted, Im used to a totally different winter than you, but no matter how good a driver you are, summertyres is outright dangerous on snow or ice.

Yes, Ive tried it and it went just fine. But once you start sliding, there is no stopping. Or if a kid or some other wildcard runs over the road, yoi dont have a chance to stop.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Im sorry, but that is the sillyest thing Ive read so far today.

Ok granted, Im used to a totally different winter than you, but no matter how good a driver you are, summertyres is outright dangerous on snow or ice.

Yes, Ive tried it and it went just fine. But once you start sliding, there is no stopping. Or if a kid or some other wildcard runs over the road, yoi dont have a chance to stop.

 

In a lot of the UK we can have an entire year with no snow and ice, and for the few days that it might happen I can just leave the car on the drive.

If I lived in a more rural area with worse weather, or needed my car to be available all year round I'd look at it differently but for now I'm fine with normal year round tyres and adjusting my driving to suit the conditions.

[mdon]

26 degrees C today in the sunny Lake District. As with others I'll not bother yet again, I've managed to drive over whinlatter pass each year in the snow for the last ten years without any other so I doubt I need them. I'll buy myself a nice coat instead.

[Lady Elanore]

I don't think it is a reflection of your manhood whether you can or can't manage to gain some sort of traction in snow and ice, it's more about the safety margins that you do or don't have while driving.

[silver1011]

The arguments about winter tyres costing the earth are hollow.

When you are running on winters the summers are in the garage not wearing!

Yes there is the upfront cost but this is quickly offset by not having to replace either set of tyres as often as you would a single set.

I bought a set of used alloys for less than £150, of which I'll get every penny back for if I ever needed to sell them. Steels can be had for even less.

The only downside to running a separate set of winter wheels and tyres is having to swap them over twice a year. No issue for me as it provides the ideal opportunity to check the brakes and suspension and give the wheelarches a good clean.

Adjust your driving? I do that too when the weather is bad regardless of which tyres are on.

Using that ideology why not fit slicks for ultimate dry grip and simply 'adjust your driving' if it rains?

[mikey vrs]

I didnt fit my set at all last year,however ive moved house this year & travel daily down some back roads that get quite bad in winter so i will put mine on this year,doubt it will be before november unless the weather worsens before then. 

[logiclee]

^ Got a link to that?

 

From the Association of British Insurers.

 

Motor insurers recognise that some motorists may wish to fit winter tyres to their car during cold weather. Motor insurers recognise that, winter tyres can have a positive impact on improving road safety. In the past there has been some uncertainty for insured customers about the insurance premium implications of fitting winter tyres to their cars. To assist in reducing this potential uncertainty, the ABI has produced the Commitment set out below which sets out the position of those named motor insurers in respect of the impact on the insurance premiums of their insured customers if a customer wishes to fit winter tyres to their car. As can be seen, often motor insurers will not charge an additional premium when their insured customers use winter tyres, provided that they meet, and are fitted in accordance with, the vehicle manufacturers’ specifications and are in a roadworthy condition.

[Breezy_Pete]

That quote says nothing about any 87% change in anything; and it's not a link. Are you saying this is secret information? Only accessible if you're a member of that association?

 

Strange that so many insurers are happy for one to fit winter tyres without even informing them, in view of your statistic?

[blueR36]

That quote says nothing about any 87% change in anything; and it's not a link. Are you saying this is secret information? Only accessible if you're a member of that association?

 

Strange that so many insurers are happy for one to fit winter tyres without even informing them, in view of your statistic?

It was BJM who came up with that tale, logic Lees post states " winter tyres can have a positive impact on improving road safety" so dissing that earlier post 

[Breezy_Pete]

Ah, thanks blueR36, I didn't spot that! Sorry logiclee!

 

I think BJM may have invented a statistic...

[Aarond]

As we all know, 72.4% of statistics are made up on the spot anyway 

[mdon]

The arguments about winter tyres costing the earth are hollow.

When you are running on winters the summers are in the garage not wearing!

Yes there is the upfront cost but this is quickly offset by not having to replace either set of tyres as often as you would a single set.

I bought a set of used alloys for less than £150, of which I'll get every penny back for if I ever needed to sell them. Steels can be had for even less.

The only downside to running a separate set of winter wheels and tyres is having to swap them over twice a year. No issue for me as it provides the ideal opportunity to check the brakes and suspension and give the wheelarches a good clean.

Adjust your driving? I do that too when the weather is bad regardless of which tyres are on.

Using that ideology why not fit slicks for ultimate dry grip and simply 'adjust your driving' if it rains?

That's assuming you have space to store 4 wheels and tyres on a rack (I do not) and then I change my car every 18months - 2 years so the cost of buying the winters etc is massive compared to the benefit, the last 4 years have at worst, seen approximately 10-15 days of sub zero temperatures collectively? We never get snow on the west coast unless you head up into the fells, which I only do on Christmas Day or thereabouts so the dog and now baby can play in the snow. I much prefer trekking in the snow, much more fun hiking up Hellvellyn in deep snow rather than driving in it.

For many, winter tyres are a false economy. That said, once all seasons have been out a bit longer and more well established, I may look into getting a set of them when the time comes.

[Gromle]

In a lot of the UK we can have an entire year with no snow and ice, and for the few days that it might happen I can just leave the car on the drive.

If I lived in a more rural area with worse weather, or needed my car to be available all year round I'd look at it differently but for now I'm fine with normal year round tyres and adjusting my driving to suit the conditions.

That is understanable. I would do the same if there only was a few days each winter with snow or ice. And let the car stay at home those days.

What gets my pants in a twist are those who keep spewing B.S about winterdriving is all about carcontrol. Then you can just speed on with summertyres. They obviously havent driven in winterconditions. Or just has the same risk assessment as Evel Knievel...

[Kenny R]

That said, once all seasons have been out a bit longer and more well established, I may look into getting a set of them when the time comes.

All season tyres have been out for years, it's just all this hype from Michelin, (who are a very latecomer to the party), making out that they have invented the all season tyre and they are a new thing.

[Ootohere]

2.2 *oC here currently and a beautiful morning and looks like a cracking day.

Nobody slip sliding off the road though and we are a couple of weeks away from the Winter Fuel reaching the filling station.

 

Bring on the Snow, ice and winter conditions so that we can all enjoy the value from the cold weather tyres that many of us have had on all year.

Big Brand names like Michelin not required as you are paying for advertising and big salaries for the CEO.

It does keep workers in the Michelin factory in Dundee and other UK sites in employment.

 

Also motoring journalists finding something to test every year on some jaunt to some place that is not in the British Isles to test tyres

that are not much different from those they have been testing for a decade.

[Lady Elanore]

???? I'm running Michelin Super Sports at the moment and can safely say there was no standard hot hatch tyre anything like it 10 years ago. The last few years, tyres seem to have come on quite a lot imho, especially in specialist tyres for the common man.

 

 

"Go Tyre Scientists" I reckon. They are doing a great job at the moment