Snow socks

Ghostrider

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance, but how do winter tyres stop you skidding on black ice as opposed to normal tyres? If theres no contact between tyre and road then surely it wouldn't make any difference?

There are 2 different questions to answer here believe it or not.

Firstly, the rubber compound on a winter tyre is designed to be effective in colder conditions, it's designed to warm up easier in cold conditions as tyres need warmth in the rubber to grip.

Secondly, the tread pattern is designed to pick up snow...reason being is that the best thing to grip on snow is...snow! Think of making a snowball, the snow sticks to itself as you roll it down a hill.

Ghostrider

I think this page here from Audi with a video demonstrating the difference pretty much sums it all up. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is buying your tyres from them!!

http://www.audi.co.uk/owners-area/winter-tyres.html

Horizon81

boyse7en wrote: »

Yes, because of course the buses don't stop when there is snow. [/sarcasm]

Sarcasm? Or just ill infomed? If you can get your car out in the snow - either with winter tyres or snow socks then you can be sure the buses will be running - the ones round here do anyway.

Sure it'll take longer to get to work on the bus, but look at it this way... You're not risking someone else crashing into your car, you're not risking crashing your car, you're not risking returning to your car in the car park with a massive dent in it where someone else has slid into it and driven away, you're not risking your blood pressure heading skywards when you hit some ice and you're sliding all over the place as your ABS is useless. Of course if you can't get a bus, then you need an alternative, but in my eyes too many people risk their lives and cars by adopting a gung-ho attitude venturing out in snow without having a clue how to drive in it (many 4x4 drivers for example). You may need to get out of bed earlier and sure you'll get home later but to avoid all the other stress and other expense associated with driving in the snow then leave your car on the drive and get a bus.

anotherbaldrick

There are roumers, in fact archive footage exists of a bus that was once spotted in this area, however for the last 10 years there has been no sighting and they are deemed to be extinct.

eslick

this is a good article on winter tyres

bit that may get you to think about buying


"And the summer tyre most of us will be using this winter? It needed 43.14 metres! That’s around six car lengths further than the winning Goodyear. It was still doing close to 20mph when the UltraGrip had stopped. And we only started braking from 25mph!"

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/259438/snow_braking.html#ixzz1XlhDGIFG

for me its the question of will it actually snow.

Oh and the buses stop here when it snows as well

custardy

eslick wrote: »

this is a good article on winter tyres

bit that may get you to think about buying


"And the summer tyre most of us will be using this winter? It needed 43.14 metres! That’s around six car lengths further than the winning Goodyear. It was still doing close to 20mph when the UltraGrip had stopped. And we only started braking from 25mph!"

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/259438/snow_braking.html#ixzz1XlhDGIFG

for me its the question of will it actually snow.

Oh and the buses stop here when it snows as well

regardless of snow,the winter tyres perform better in cold conditions

wannabe_sybil

Thank you for all your help.

Re buses - where do you live? Our buses faint at the first snowflake. They abandon all hope before they get to our home, which is actually not in a very hilly place. It would be impossible and too far to walk to OH's work in difficult conditions. Otherwise, if it was just to the town centre, that is exactly what we would do. I've walked home from the town centre before now when a few flakes have fallen and the buses gave up, but for OH there is just too much distance. With some of the bus drivers I honestly believe I am better off walking in severe winter weather. Some drivers round here I let the bus go and get the next one because I don't want to be there when they crash.

Also, bus is two hours EACH WAY on a good day with summer weather.

I keep thinking it is hysteria talking about a bad winter, but we have never really warmed up this summer and the last two have been bad, so why should it not be bad. I just don't want to be caught out.

Horizon - with regard to safety, OH is working on plans to work from home during the absolute worst if it is like last year. Last year got a bit silly. Drawing to a stop outside the house but keeping on gently going forward regardless was, apparently, unnerving.

Horizon81

This has gone a bit off topic but I agree about alternative arrangements with your employer in severe weather. With many office jobs it doesn't matter where you are so working from home with a works laptop or even using your home connection to get onto the work network is a possibility.

But many employers and indeed jobs arent suited to this way of working. It always makes me laugh how weather forecasters and indeed the met office say not to drive unless absolutely necessary. Is going to work absolutely necessary? Not really, but it is if you want to get paid!

Back on topic, I've heard good things about snow socks and they're fairly cheap too, but they are ruined if driving on tarmac. The idea didn't appeal to me really, as I'd need to put them on to get out of the estate then take them off, then put them on again when entering the skidpan that is my work car park which is a bit inconvenient to say the least. Plus I'm a bit of a car nut (as many are in this particular forum) and the thought of getting my pride and joy pranged in the snow and ice is too much to bear, so bus for me wherever possible. As for snow tyres, well I wouldn't want to be swapping tyres on and off the rims so I'd need a second set of wheels (steel wheels as my current ones are alloys) so I'd need to phone Mumbai to inform insurers and can't be bothered with the hassle and all the expense for what may be just 5 days or so of heavy snow.

custardy

Horizon81 wrote: »

This has gone a bit off topic but I agree about alternative arrangements with your employer in severe weather. With many office jobs it doesn't matter where you are so working from home with a works laptop or even using your home connection to get onto the work network is a possibility.

But many employers and indeed jobs arent suited to this way of working. It always makes me laugh how weather forecasters and indeed the met office say not to drive unless absolutely necessary. Is going to work absolutely necessary? Not really, but it is if you want to get paid!

Back on topic, I've heard good things about snow socks and they're fairly cheap too, but they are ruined if driving on tarmac. The idea didn't appeal to me really, as I'd need to put them on to get out of the estate then take them off, then put them on again when entering the skidpan that is my work car park which is a bit inconvenient to say the least. Plus I'm a bit of a car nut (as many are in this particular forum) and the thought of getting my pride and joy pranged in the snow and ice is too much to bear, so bus for me wherever possible. As for snow tyres, well I wouldn't want to be swapping tyres on and off the rims so I'd need a second set of wheels (steel wheels as my current ones are alloys) so I'd need to phone Mumbai to inform insurers and can't be bothered with the hassle and all the expense for what may be just 5 days or so of heavy snow.

as i said.winter tyres(snow tyres are studded) perform better in cold weather
so its not for 5 days
you can keep them on for the colder months

sunshinetours

custardy wrote: »

as i said.winter tyres(snow tyres are studded) perform better in cold weather
so its not for 5 days
you can keep them on for the colder months

Actually mud and snow (M&S) tyres have different tread patterns which is what we tend to have over here so many will be "winter M&S" tyres. you can just buy winter tyres that aren;t M&S marked which are as you say pretty much cold weather tyres

Scandanavian snow tyres as you say will be studded types which obviously are totally unsuitable for over here and I shouldn't think are even for sale

The newer ranges of all season tyres are likely to become more and more popular due to their convenience at not having to change over twice a year. I don't find that a hassle and mine are stored at the dealership as I bought them there. You will find that tyre fitters will gradually offer storage services as time goes on as they do in the US/Canada and Europe