Winter tyres... worth the price?

fivetide

Beachview wrote: »

You need the full set. Otherwise the car may skid and become more difficult to control if you only have 2 winter tyres fitted to one of the axles.

If you only fit half a set of winter tyres your insurance company won't be happy either. They insist that 4 must be fitted.

This is exactly what I am talking about.

Winter tyres or not, drive to the conditions and this won't happen.

Like to see the bit in an insurance policy that says four must be fitted. The only issue I believe you have is ensuring that that same type are across the axle. Beyond that, it doesn't matter.

Ultrasonic

A video showing difference of 2 vs 4 winter tyres:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7xXDMkVFlE

Tucker

And if you still believe summer tyres are fine in winter conditions... watch this very good test which compares them on a ski slope!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/66692/winter-tyres-4x4-grip-test-video

Even a 4 wheel drive car with summer tyres was absolutely hopeless!!

Iceweasel

Tucker wrote: »

And if you still believe summer tyres are fine in winter conditions... watch this very good test which compares them on a ski slope!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/66692/winter-tyres-4x4-grip-test-video

Even a 4 wheel drive car with summer tyres was absolutely hopeless!!

There are many more examples on YouTube but some people will not believe that winter tyres are necessary - no matter what you say or show them. They 'have managed fine with no problems for years'. Why change the habits of a lifetime.

There is a current discussion thread on a well-known BMW forum where 'experienced careful drivers' are insisting that winter tyres are not needed and with 30 odd years of experience their best advice is 'adapt your driving style to suit the conditions'.

Other equally experienced and careful drivers are trying to prove the point that winters are a good idea, but neither side is going to convince the other.

Stooby2

The slightly more aggressive tread of winter tyres will give better grip in snowy / icy conditions and will, probably more crucially, reduce braking distance on slippery surfaces quite substantially. Whilst people may well have driven for 30 winters without getting stuck, they probably never had to emergency brake or swerve to avoid a collision, or if they did, failed. This is where winter tyres will come into their own.

GolfBravo

Iceweasel wrote: »

There is a current discussion thread on a well-known BMW forum where 'experienced careful drivers' are insisting that winter tyres are not needed and with 30 odd years of experience their best advice is 'adapt your driving style to suit the conditions'.

For me the choice is easy: no winter = no driving for at least a couple of weeks in winter - can't even make it to the main road due to snow.

Iceweasel

GolfBravo wrote: »

For me the choice is easy: no winter = no driving for at least a couple of weeks in winter - can't even make it to the main road due to snow.

Quite a scary picture - obviously driving style was not sufficiently adapted.

bigjl

Why do people with 5 or maybe 10 years driving experience assume that people with 20 or 30 years experience no nothing?

The last decade has had very mild winters till 09.

I have ridden from Watford to Holborn on a 125cc motorbike at 5am with uncleared roads and 2ft of snow on the road.

My biggest concern is with those relatively new drivers driving on winter tyres that thinnk they can drive at the same speed as normal due to the tyres they have fitted.

Not a good idea for all these motoring journos posting videos on YouTube that are made to show what the journo wants them to show

Yes, winter tyres are better but if you still drive too fast for conditions you will still have an accident.

The only way to get tangible improvements in winter safety in cold and icy conditions is to make them complulsory.

scheming_gypsy

GolfBravo wrote: »

For me the choice is easy: no winter = no driving for at least a couple of weeks in winter - can't even make it to the main road due to snow.

That BM has a crumpled back end, and was just part of the Daily Mail's 'it's snowing it's snowing' report. It looks more like it got hit from behind and shunted off the road, unless it managed to bounce off its rear end.

GolfBravo

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

That BM has a crumpled back end, and was just part of the Daily Mail's 'it's snowing it's snowing' report. It looks more like it got hit from behind and shunted off the road, unless it managed to bounce off its rear end.

I think it just went backwards through the wall.