Getting ready for snow this year? Tyres....

only_mee

pigeonpie wrote: »

He's an ex professional rally man. He says winter tyres can't be justified in southern Britain or in most parts of France and they don't last but wear out very quickly. We were driving 12 hours last January when it was v cold, down to the Spanish border, and were advised to fit new high quality tyres to the front wheels instead - ie good tread. Most of the driving was on motorways though, although we had no trouble doing slowly and carefully on the little country roads.

I see my Oslo friends changing their tyres every October and change back in about May! But they have -20 to contend with.
I think it's different if you live in the north where you guys have real snow and ice?

Maybe your friend needs to brush up on his tyres.
Well worth a read

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=144819&highlight=winter+tyres

Wig

Chains are legal in UK but what is not legal is damaging the road surface. As we generally don't have enough snow in this country to cover the tarmac to be an inch or 2 thick of compacted snow/ice there is really very little point in having chains or socks. You'd be putting them on to get out of your side street then when you are on the main road, you will need to remove them again.

I think studded tyres are illegal in this country, but if you ask me that would be the ideal tyre combination for Britains winter. A pity they don't make them with replaceable studs so you can
a) Remove the studs when you don't need them,
b) replace the worn studs,

I have seen hard nylon/plastic "chains".... chains which are not made of metal, the softer nylon would not damage the roads but is adequate for helping you in snow. But not seen any for sale anywhere.

MrsE_2

pigeonpie wrote: »

we were talked out of buying and fitting winter tyres by a mate who has worked in the car trade all his working life, as in the UK we don't drive in snow all winter long, unlike in Scandinavia where they are fitted and taken off and changed in the spring. They don't last as long as general use tyres. We were just told to fit a new front pair of a decent quality which should be perfectly safe if carefully driven in wintry conditions. I suppose it depends on where you live and how much snow there's likely to be.

Problem being our temps fluctuate wildly:mad:

I think winter tyres are for sub 7, but a few weeks ago we had icy roads for a couple of days followed by t-shirt weather (well almost) & are heading back again to icy/snowy weather.

Is having two sets an option (I mean two sets on rims) storing them in the shed & swapping back & forth as needed?
Would they need balancing & tracking each time? I guess they would.

MrsE_2

pstuart wrote: »

Quite so, what you do ( in certain countries where they are allowed in Europe) is look outside and if the snow is thick you put your chains on!

When there is little snow or ice you take them off!

What is the point of this thread on chains?

Point is...........

Road safety for the coming winter.

My DH leaves before 5am we live in a village, we have to go a couple of miles to reach gritted roads, to commute to London.

I also have to go a couple of miles on ungritted roads.

Was thinking of being unbritish & trying to be prepared this winter.

If you couldn't see the point to this thread, why bother to respond?

Gloomendoom

MrsE wrote: »

Problem being our temps fluctuate wildly:mad:

I think winter tyres are for sub 7, but a few weeks ago we had icy roads for a couple of days followed by t-shirt weather (well almost) & are heading back again to icy/snowy weather.

Winter tyres should be fitted when the temperature is regularly 10°C or less. The odd day with a higher temperature shouldn't be a problem but they will wear more quickly.

MrsE_2

leosayer wrote: »

Mytyres sell steel wheels with winter tyres fitted http://www.mytyres.co.uk/Steel_wheels.html

They don't have mine with the rims but they do just the tyres from £65 to £154 each.

Are they much better in ice too?

Ice scares me as much as snow.

only_mee

MrsE wrote: »

Is having two sets an option (I mean two sets on rims) storing them in the shed & swapping back & forth as needed?
Would they need balancing & tracking each time? I guess they would.

No need to re-balance or track them (it's the car that gets tracked )

hieveryone

I wonder about this too - my car is rear wheel drive (Mazda MX5) and I've heard some horror stories about driving it in snow and ice..

Gloomendoom

hieveryone wrote: »

I wonder about this too - my car is rear wheel drive (Mazda MX5) and I've heard some horror stories about driving it in snow and ice..

Like pretty much all rear drive cars. VW Beetles aren't too bad though.

I ran a 220hp Triumph TR7 for a while all year round as my only car. I doubt an MX5 could be as bad in the snow as that.

My current car is staying on the drive should the white stuff arrive.

hieveryone

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Like pretty much all rear drive cars. VW Beetles aren't too bad though.

I ran a 220hp Triumph TR7 for a while all year round as my only car. I doubt an MX5 could be as bad in the snow as that.

My current car is staying on the drive should the white stuff arrive.

I had a look at the website posted but they don't seem to have tyres for my car? Would I be best getting tyres fitted on the front or back?

Unfortunately I have to travel 15 miles to work and back, and my street is on a slight hill that we all struggled to get out of last year - so buying an MX5 wasn't my best decision ever!