New world record for uselessless in the snow.!

[Iain]

Well just to add to the misery, mine has been fantastic in the snow!
Has anyone mentioned winter tyres

I've got to be honest, that's what I fitted back in November and I have neither been stuck or got stuck due to a problem with traction. I don;t even feel smug anymore
There have been that many posts on here and over on the other side regarding this subject that I've lost count, yet some still will not take the advice of others and get themselves sorted. (after all,this forum is designed for people to help each other. Isn't it?)
Friends, you wouldn't go out in the snow in flip flops or plimsolls would you? Not really suitable for the conditions, yet you expect your car to perform in the equivalent footwear!
C'mon guys please.

 

[Iain]

Are winter tyres actually any good. If I actually bought some would all my winter driving probs be solved?

Yes they are good.As for solving all your problems, maybe not. You might change your tyres over, but look at all the people that would get stuck on their summer attire (excuse the pun) and halt your progress.

 

[Iain]

Its crazy to spend huge money on tyres for 1 or 2 weeks of the year. Remember we havent had snow like this for years.. normally we get a day or two of slush. Use them from November until March then as they are better than summer rubber below 7 degrees.

If you really do need winter tyres then look for part worns on a set of steel rims or something.

Or dont buy 700 quids worth of Continental snobbery. when Falken or Kumho will do

 

[st4]

I've got to be honest, that's what I fitted back in November and I have neither been stuck or got stuck due to a problem with traction. I don;t even feel smug anymore
There have been that many posts on here and over on the other side regarding this subject that I've lost count, yet some still will not take the advice of others and get themselves sorted. (after all,this forum is designed for people to help each other. Isn't it?)
Friends, you wouldn't go out in the snow in flip flops or plimsolls would you? Not really suitable for the conditions, yet you expect your car to perform in the equivalent footwear!
C'mon guys please.

Iain the gadget?

I find it perplexing how many snow threads are over there, much more than on here??

 

[Alps]

i`ll wait till the summer and get a set of part worn winter tyres (remember to put it on my list!) hopefully demand will be smaller for them then and price cheaper also!

i remember them going pretty cheap in the summer when i was looking for tyres! (part worn)

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Or dont buy 700 quids worth of Continental snobbery. when Falken or Kumho will do

Oo-er.

mytyres:
Cheapest Kumho in 225/45 R17 fitment £143 each
Continental in 225/45 R17 MO (Mercedes-specific) fitment £164 each

Not a massive price differential is it?

My experience of Continental tyres is that they lasted much longer than other tyres fitted to the car, without noticeable detriment to ride and handling, which makes me think an extra £80 might not be a bad idea if I'm spending close to £600 anyway.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

i`ll wait till the summer and get a set of part worn winter tyres (remember to put it on my list!) hopefully demand will be smaller for them then and price cheaper also!

i remember them going pretty cheap in the summer when i was looking for tyres! (part worn)

I'm thinking of waiting until summer too. My usual tyre fitter is unusually uncompetitive - he said his suppliers have upped prices due to demand.

I can continue to use the ML providing that the thaw does come relatively soon, but if it's weeks off then I might have to bite the bullet now.

 

[Apial]

I am surprised that nobody in the media has even mentioned the words "winter tyres". I could see a Top Gear race with Clarkson and Co battling it out with various 4x4s and exotica to be thrashed by the car with winter tyres. James May on winter tyres versus the Stig on summers ones?

 

[c43]

I am surprised that nobody in the media has even mentioned the words "winter tyres". I could see a Top Gear race with Clarkson and Co battling it out with various 4x4s and exotica to be thrashed by the car with winter tyres. James May on winter tyres versus the Stig on summers ones?

The BBC had some board level guy from Ocado on last week talking about winter tyres as they have now fitted them to their delivery vehicles on the basis of safety and customer satisfaction. He said they had looked at it previously but it wasn't cost effective. They revisited and decided it was, apparently only adding 9p to a delivery which they will absorb.

He was making all the right noises and seemed quite clued up (or well briefed) on the subject at least.

 

[Lockking]

Yesterday I thought stupidly that as I had a car in the garage I could maybe take it out after a week locked away. How wrong I was. To cut a long story short I got stranded 4ft off the end of my own drive and had to be rescued by a Jeep. My car isn't just bad in the snow it is the absolute worst in the snow. A greased tray would have afforded me more traction than my Michelin clad w203. Back to driving my wife's little Kia-it could climb the Alps!

The CLK's not moved for a week. Been down to the good old 406 Auto. Still we've not had it that bad comparred withe the rest of the country. Just back roads iced over when it all froze.

 

[Iain]

Iain the gadget?

I find it perplexing how many snow threads are over there, much more than on here??

Both sides there has been more than enough. I think all these snow post should be locked now.

 

[Jack Wood]

Another convert here to Winter tires. Having suffered with not been able to get out of the lane for 3 days due to snow I eventually tracked down a set of 17 Base Cayman alloys fitted with 1000-mile-old Conti WinterContacts. Since fitting them I have not been even remotely stuck. Been able to get up and down hills that I have seen softroading 4x4 struggle on, and even pulled a stranded Scooby out of my works carpark with it!!

However, no that the snow is melting (here at least) the other thing I have noticed is that on the greasy, damp, dangerous roads that are being left behind, I have similar levels of grip as I have in the dry!! Just plain astounding!!

I think it is a common mistake that "winter" tires are just for when it snows. As has been said above, the overall performance in these wintery conditions is vastly improved over the standard summer offerings.

I, for one, am converted and will be sourcing some winter tires for the C63 ready to fit for next winter, whether it snows or not...

 

[CE230]

Never mind the snow what about the freezing fog?

 

[arrowsix]

looks very old and cold..nice pic

 

[Iain]

Oo-er.

mytyres:
Cheapest Kumho in 225/45 R17 fitment £143 each
Continental in 225/45 R17 MO (Mercedes-specific) fitment £164 each

Not a massive price differential is it?

My experience of Continental tyres is that they lasted much longer than other tyres fitted to the car, without noticeable detriment to ride and handling, which makes me think an extra £80 might not be a bad idea if I'm spending close to £600 anyway.

Camskill Tyres
225/45x17V Avon. £94.41 inc.
Vredestein. £93.08 inc
or Cooper Weathermaster. £92.16 inc

Fitted the Coopers to the wife's Audi Avant and have found them to be more than adequate. When you are after traction at lower speeds rather than Hi-performance/ hi-speed tyres, why pay a premium. might prove to be false economy. Maybe only time will tell.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Sadly couldn't climb the slight gradient to get to the car park, and was unable to park it safely at the point I'd stopped, so I turned around and went home. I couldn't get to our house from either end of the road, and so have left it at my parents which is just about do-able from the main road, and walked the last half mile.

Managed to recover my car tonight. How, I have no idea.

I think there was divin intervention. Snr and Mrs Snr Dazzler were pushing and about to drop, when I somehow got traction all of a sudden and I slingshot (relatively) on my way.

My Dad was amazed I'd managed to get it there when he saw just how poor the grip was even after two days of thawing and a cleared run up.

Sounded blooming lovely!!

 

[RichardM]

I was loaned one with a £2000 excess. I was worried, very, very worried.
It was more difficult to keep on the road than an F1 on an oil spill. Was I glad to hand it back still in one piece!

I recently hired a 118d in Italy for a week and I thought it was a fantastic little car (not saying I would buy one though). Handled really well, was responsive and very economical too.