25 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I would have completely agreed with you and said 40 years of driving.

 

Until the last week and the snow we had here, only the 3rd time in 14 years and nowhere near as bad as before but my Octavia was completely useless and would not even pull away on level ground, the previous MK1 was superb even on a mixture of second hand part worn tyres close to the tread wear limit.

 

From others comments a lot of it can be blamed on the Michelin Energy Saver + tyres that came with it, they are barely worn so plenty of tread depth and in all other cold and freezing conditions they are fine, like you I drive within my limits and even quite spiritedly within them and they do not lack grip or feel or feedback at low temperatures.

 

But I cannot drive within my limits if the vehicle will not even pull away on the flat in hindsight its a good safety measure because once moving the brakes just sent the ABS oscillating with absolutely zero retardation.

 

Other than throwing away 4nearly new tyres (one is brand new after a flint cut) I will have to buy a second set of wheels and winter tyres yet we might not have snow again for many years.

 

Yep tyre technology has changed.

 

A few decades ago our tyres looked like this.

 

The famous Goodyear Grand Prix S fitted to many family hatches in the late 70's and 80's. A nice soft blocky tread rated for speeds 108mph to 118mph

 

 

And today. Most cars come with wide ultra low profile rubber designed to be stable at much higher loads at high temperature at speeds up to 186mph. Including one of or 105PS Octavia.

These Michelins are standard fit on some BMW and Audi's. Any snow any you are stationary.

 

 

I certainly managed OK in the 80's and early 90's but on todays rubber I can't get anywhere near my home with just a sprinkling of snow.

Edited 7 February, 20197 yr by logiclee

Oh yeah, my performance Michelin PS4S's 235 wide were F all use, I got to work avoiding hump-back bridges but, twas a very unpleasant experience in deed

5 hours ago, logiclee said:

I certainly managed OK in the 80's and early 90's but on todays rubber I can't get anywhere near my home with just a sprinkling of snow.

So did I. These are interesting points, and I honestly didn'tremember what the tread looked like in those high and far-off times.

I certainly recall that they were a good deal narrower than most of todays', which I imagine also helped with snow-handling.

1 hour ago, Sangrail said:

So did I. These are interesting points, and I honestly didn'tremember what the tread looked like in those high and far-off times.

I certainly recall that they were a good deal narrower than most of todays', which I imagine also helped with snow-handling.

 

Certainly did..... look at rally cars and the wheels/tyres they use on snow/mud, narrow with a high sidewall, just like the tyres cars has up to probably the mid/late 90s.

Even the first Focus I bought in 2000 had 195/60/15s which are small/narrow by today's standards.

I think my first car (a '92 Astra estate) came with 185/70/14 (or something around that size) which I change to 195/50/15s as I wanted alloys 

19 hours ago, Russ77 said:

 

Certainly did..... look at rally cars and the wheels/tyres they use on snow/mud, narrow with a high sidewall, just like the tyres cars has up to probably the mid/late 90s.

Even the first Focus I bought in 2000 had 195/60/15s which are small/narrow by today's standards.

I think my first car (a '92 Astra estate) came with 185/70/14 (or something around that size) which I change to 195/50/15s as I wanted alloys 

 

Well going back to the 80's the run of the mill Ford Sierra and Mk3 Escort then 165x13 would be pretty common with perhaps a T speed rating of 118mph.

 

Fancy something a bit sporty and you could have an XR3i with 185/60x14's and an H rated 130mph tyre.

 

Or today you can buy your Polo or Fabia supermini with a 1.0 engine and get 215/45x16's with W or Y speed rating for 168/186mph.

On 07/02/2019 at 13:16, J.R. said:

Other than throwing away 4nearly new tyres (one is brand new after a flint cut) I will have to buy a second set of wheels and winter tyres yet we might not have snow again for many years.

I've been waiting four years for my tyres to wear out so that I can fit all seasons instead. :-(

Fortunately I rarely need to drive in the snow and can walk, catch the bus or work from home instead (cycling not being an option either).

And what do I do with the Michelin Energy Saver on my spare wheel when all the other wheels eventually have all seasons on?

9 hours ago, Rodge said:

I've been waiting four years for my tyres to wear out so that I can fit all seasons instead. :-(

Fortunately I rarely need to drive in the snow and can walk, catch the bus or work from home instead (cycling not being an option either).

And what do I do with the Michelin Energy Saver on my spare wheel when all the other wheels eventually have all seasons on?

 

I would not worry about the spare, often a different size anyway.   Enough to get you home at modest speed.   Not designed for long term use.

 

You will probably find the all seasons are directional (installed on rims opposite way around on left and right side of car, so turn in one direction), but a spare will be symmetrical so can be used either side.

 

If you were very unlucky and got puncture on one of the few deep snow days,  then might need to put spare on back and swap back to driving wheel.  But the higher spec cars (and those with DSG) have a cross differential in the traction control that means you should be ok.  

 

Unlike countries where 3PMSF tyres are mandatory British drivers tend to drive at about 4mph in snow rather than about 40mph so you are worrying about nothing.