Why do some new cars have steel wheels ?

silverwhistle

neilmcl wrote: »

Really. Strange how yet again the country always comes to a standstill whenever we get the slightest bit of adverse weather during our "temperate British winter".

I used to live in the Alps where you had to have snow tyres or chains with you over the winter, so virtually everybody put on the tyres (chains reserved for exceptional snow). On one visit home a couple of years ago I walked in to Maidenhead for some Christmas shopping and a couple of pints. On the walk back up Castle Hill a little snow had fallen and I ended up giggling as to why the cars weren't moving and sliding so much. It was quicker to walk!

I'm not interested in cars and have a s/h i20, but I put snow tyres on, partly because I drive to the mountains every winter for a couple of weeks. There's also the additional security aspect of having them even when it's cold and damp. I'm perfectly capable of driving in bad conditions, and did so _without_ snow tyres when I first moved to the mountains, but soon saw their value. It only takes one incident where they prove their worth to make them worthwhile.

So, I shall continue to use them, and just hope I'm not hit from behind by someone who doesn't..

shammyjack

Drive on Goodyear Ultragrip 8s in the winter and have a set of chains in the spare wheel well just in case. Little snow or ice this year but when it comes I keep going in my little Yaris Verso when Chelsea Tractors are in the ditch .

The bonus is the added grip a softer winter tyre gives in cold wet weather !

Iceweasel

Contrary to what some cynics may suppose I am in no way connected with the tyre industry or motor trade.

But yes I fervently advocate the use of winter tyres from November till April when there is a likelihood of temperatures below 7°C.

Why? - because I am aware of the greater safety that winter tyres give to everyone that use them.

Not everyone has the ability to drive safely on cold greasy damp roads.

M jonesy jonesy jones might have those those skills.

Djene might have those skills.

I might have those skills.

But sure as hell everyone doesn't.

And if fitting winter tyres can help reduce the costs of winter then why do we not avail ourselves of advancing/improved technology.

What costs?

A buckled wheel and steering geometry knocked out by 'nudging' a kerb - £250 upwards. A new wheel and tyre for my car would cost £550.

A collision with another vehicle - several £1000s when you include days off work and lost NCB as well as the actual cost of repairing the vehicles.

British industry loses countless millions every year due to people being late or not getting to work at all when there even a slight snowfall.

The average cost of a 'slight' injury in the UK is £14,600

The average cost of a serious injury is £186,000

The average cost of a fatality is £1.69 million.

Don't believe me? - want a breakdown?

Here is how the figures for a single serious injury accident (per person) is made up:
Medical & ambulance costs - £13,500
Lost output - £22,500
Human costs - £153,000

I didn't invent these figures in some crazy desire to increase the profits of some tyre company.

These figures are from the Department for Transport- and they are already 3 years out of date.

The DfT’s calculations take into account:

Ambulance and medical costs – covers costs incurred during the 18 months after the accident, including ambulance services, inpatient and outpatient hospital treatment, district nurse services and provision of medical appliances.

Direct economic costs of lost output – calculated as the value of expected loss of earnings and employer contributions.

Human costs – based on people’s ‘willingness to pay’ to avoid pain, suffering and grief.

I just feel that if we can reduce the number of accidents in wintertime that are due to slippery conditions, we will not only save the country millions of pounds in needless, avoidable medical costs, and in lost production - but we save precious lives and grief of relatives too.

Shame on you Jonesey for thinking I was posting my feelings on this matter for personal financial gain.

bsms1147

I have never known anyone to use winter tyres, so saying that they are in common use is not something I'm used to.

Yes, sample size n=1, but still.

Spicy_McHaggis

Iceweasel wrote: »

Contrary to what some cynics may suppose I am in no way connected with the tyre industry or motor trade.

But yes I fervently advocate the use of winter tyres from November till April when there is a likelihood of temperatures below 7°C.

Why? - because I am aware of the greater safety that winter tyres give to everyone that use them.

Not everyone has the ability to drive safely on cold greasy damp roads.

M jonesy jonesy jones might have those those skills.

Djene might have those skills.

I might have those skills.

But sure as hell everyone doesn't.

And if fitting winter tyres can help reduce the costs of winter then why do we not avail ourselves of advancing/improved technology.

What costs?

A buckled wheel and steering geometry knocked out by 'nudging' a kerb - £250 upwards. A new wheel and tyre for my car would cost £550.

A collision with another vehicle - several £1000s when you include days off work and lost NCB as well as the actual cost of repairing the vehicles.

British industry loses countless millions every year due to people being late or not getting to work at all when there even a slight snowfall.

The average cost of a 'slight' injury in the UK is £14,600

The average cost of a serious injury is £186,000

The average cost of a fatality is £1.69 million.

Don't believe me? - want a breakdown?

Here is how the figures for a single serious injury accident (per person) is made up:
Medical & ambulance costs - £13,500
Lost output - £22,500
Human costs - £153,000

I didn't invent these figures in some crazy desire to increase the profits of some tyre company.

These figures are from the Department for Transport- and they are already 3 years out of date.

The DfT’s calculations take into account:

Ambulance and medical costs – covers costs incurred during the 18 months after the accident, including ambulance services, inpatient and outpatient hospital treatment, district nurse services and provision of medical appliances.

Direct economic costs of lost output – calculated as the value of expected loss of earnings and employer contributions.

Human costs – based on people’s ‘willingness to pay’ to avoid pain, suffering and grief.

I just feel that if we can reduce the number of accidents in wintertime that are due to slippery conditions, we will not only save the country millions of pounds in needless, avoidable medical costs, and in lost production - but we save precious lives and grief of relatives too.

Shame on you Jonesey for thinking I was posting my feelings on this matter for personal financial gain.

The vast majority of that must be Human Costs aka insurance payouts for negligence. So winter tyres don't really come into your arguement here.

AdrianC

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

The vast majority of that must be Human Costs aka insurance payouts for negligence. So winter tyres don't really come into your arguement here.

They do if the extra grip is the difference between hitting something and not hitting it.

Spicy_McHaggis

AdrianC wrote: »

They do if the extra grip is the difference between hitting something and not hitting it.

No they don't.

You're either negligent or you're not, if you're not then why would your insurance pay out?

shammyjack

Why do we have this argument every winter ?

Statements like " I can drive on slicks in deep snow, I am a better driver than you and probably have a bigger !!!!!! " !

The biggest !!!!!! is the one who ends up with a bent motor because he was driving on summer slicks .

The only thing that annoys me is that I have to thread my way in and around the "Dicks " every time we do get some snow or have to wait 10 minutes for another " !!!!!!" to scream and slide his way up an icy narrow road !

Djene

I see that some people are very pro winter tyres, and some arn't. We're all entitled to our own opinions and choices. In my opinion, I don't see the need in a city like mine (Edinburgh). All the main roads are gritted in the winter, and the side streets that are not, your never going more than <10mph when it's icy.

I know how to drive my car when I'm on ice, and I've never had any issues, even in a rwd car with nearly finished tyres. I understand some people like the added confidence they get from winter tyres, but I from personal driving expirience don't see the need.

Iceweasel

Djene wrote: »

I see that some people are very pro winter tyres, and some arn't. We're all entitled to our own opinions and choices. In my opinion, I don't see the need in a city like mine (Edinburgh). All the main roads are gritted in the winter, and the side streets that are not, your never going more than <10mph when it's icy.

I know how to drive my car when I'm on ice, and I've never had any issues, even in a rwd car with nearly finished tyres. I understand some people like the added confidence they get from winter tyres, but I from personal driving expirience don't see the need.

That's fine Djene - I respect what you are saying when stated like that - without any name-calling or references to blind parakeets, that some folks seem to have to resort to.

Some of these 'key-board warriors' have not a clue and seem to believe that everything they do (or don't do) is a must and one is foolish if one does anything differently.

The reference to 'having a driving ability resembling that of a blind parakeet' really made me smile - I happen to know for a fact that one of the 'blind parakeets' who posted in favour of winter tyres is a former Rally Championship winner.