What are YOU doing to ensure safe driving in snow/ice

pulliptears

Wig wrote: »

After tonight I have vowed to avoid the motorway for the rest of the winter on the return journey, it's quicker on the 'A' roads and it wil probably be safer too.

Bad journey? OH just sat down for dinner - he finished work at 6 but for once the M6 wasn't so bad.

I think to be honest we will move down that way next year.

attila_

Councils have spent all our taxes on shed loads of grit. Apparently there wont be flake of snow this year.

neilmcl

cubegame wrote: »

I drive either our Fiesta or our 407. I commute across country lanes about an hour each way. As a rule I would rate the Fiesta as being a better drive on snow or in icy conditions. However, both cars are perfectly drivable on their UK spec all season tyres if you take care and drive defensively. It is certainly not money saving to stick down at least £50 a corner on winter tyres.

I appreciate that many who live in areas which are likely to get prolonged extreme winter weather would benefit from these tyres but considering NONE of the UK motoring organisations would recommend them for general usage I won't be wasting my money anytime soon.

As already posted, the standard tyres we drive on in the UK are summer tyres, not all season tyres, and if you actually take the time to look you would find that both the AA and RAC have stated that its worth considering all-season or winter tyres during the winter period.

Also, as far as money saving is concerned, whilst I'm using my winters I'm saving the tread on my summer tyres plus if I choose to sell the winter wheels on next year I can almost guarantee I'd get what I paid for them this year, so not really an issue.

sunshinetours

cubegame wrote: »

I drive either our Fiesta or our 407. I commute across country lanes about an hour each way. As a rule I would rate the Fiesta as being a better drive on snow or in icy conditions. However, both cars are perfectly drivable on their UK spec all season tyres if you take care and drive defensively. It is certainly not money saving to stick down at least £50 a corner on winter tyres.

I appreciate that many who live in areas which are likely to get prolonged extreme winter weather would benefit from these tyres but considering NONE of the UK motoring organisations would recommend them for general usage I won't be wasting my money anytime soon.

I probably in all honesty wouldn't bother with winters for a Fiesta either even though it would stop and steer better in icy ro snowy conditions, its probably has smallish wheels and relatively narrow tyres, which is why you feel its better than the 407

if like many of us you drive a rear wheel drive car with huge wheels and wide low profile tyres, the changing to winters in colder weather makes and an enormous difference to grip levels not just on steering and braking, but most importantly for this type of car to grip available grip on starting off

If you can find cheap set of second wheels the life time cost of using this is the cost of second set of wheels only

All motoring organisations recommend use of appropriate tyres for conditions, however making sure you have correctly inflated tyres with decent levels of tread is more important when you look at some cars on the road

mikey72

Have a look at

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/featurevideos/275428/winter_tyres_vs_summer_tyres.html

carried out by the RAC, Auto express, and Continental.

The end bit is the important bit, we've all seen the first bit before.

TimBear

I just don't drive in it! I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of work so it doesn't cause many problems.

I had a scary experience with my car spinning out on black ice a couple of years ago and since then I haven't driven in snowy or icy conditions.

jackieblack

TimBear wrote: »

I just don't drive in it! I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of work so it doesn't cause many problems.

Same here!

sunshinetours

fair enough - no need to drive is good news - for those who do, winter tryes are a good idea!

oldagetraveller

I'll just do what I've always done for the past 40 years of driving with only the occasional slip or slide on ice and no incidents/accidents. The only accident in that time was in summertime (my fault!). Drive according to the prevailing conditions, whether that be fog, mist, ice, rain, daylight, traffic, darkness or snow!
I agree about the Morris Minor too absolutely rock solid in snow, could be the narrow tyres on 14 inch wheels?

adouglasmhor

Anyone got any tips for driving an automatic in harsh winter conditions