Winter tyres in the wet and lots of torque...

[grober]

Can I publicly thank all those drivers that have splashed out to buy, then fitted, Winter tyres.

I'm really enjoying the warmer weather and dry roads.

Sub zero temperatures in Scotland first 3 days of this week- rain on top of black ice.

The Courier - Bear Scotland denies blame after multiple collisions on M90

And a video of a particularly nasty example from last year-- yet more evidence that winter tyres for artic lorries should be compulsory in the winter months at least north of the border.
Man dies after three lorries crash on the A9 | Dundee and Tayside | STV News

 

[R129mine]

just put my first ever set of winter tyres on my r129, pirelli sottozero's as i got a good deal on them. snow disappeared 2 weeks ago and might not come back till next year knowing my luck but last 2 winters were very challenging driving in the snow and would not want to repeat that again. better safe than sorry + i will my summer tyres will last longer so not that much of a hardship

 

[wemorgan]

Can I publicly thank all those drivers that have splashed out to buy, then fitted, Winter tyres.

I'm really enjoying the warmer weather and dry roads.

The cost of my winter tyres is minimal to my heating oil bills. So I'm glad I've 'wasted' money on winter tyres as I'll be quid in on my heating bill this winter.

ps. can you let me know when you'll be putting on your lycra cycle shorts next summer - as by the same logic I'll prepare myself for a cold and wet summer

 

[Dryce]

Sub zero temperatures in Scotland first 3 days of this week- rain on top of black ice.

The Courier - Bear Scotland denies blame after multiple collisions on M90

Was that blamed on black ice or a blowout?

And a video of a particularly nasty example from last year-- yet more evidence that winter tyres for artic lorries should be compulsory in the winter months at least north of the border.
Man dies after three lorries crash on the A9 | Dundee and Tayside | STV News

This one led to a prosecution of one of the drivers involved for dangerous driving.

So not quite the 'evidence' you suggest.

That said common sense would suggest that for any vehicle regularly transiting the A9 or similar roads in winter - particularly overnight - that there is a very case for fitting low temperature tyres.

 

[Dieselman]

you should change your name to Grumpy Dieselman its getting booooring now.

So is all the High Fiving about Winter tyres.

We don't get bad enough weather on a regular basis in the UK to justify all the hype around Winter tyres.

Since you guys stuck them on the temperatures have climbed to a balmy 11c and lovely sunshine.

Thanks Guys, can a few more please put them on as I would really like a nice 15c, then you might come out of your super insulated cotton wool boxes and live a little.

 

[Dieselman]

Sub zero temperatures in Scotland first 3 days of this week- rain on top of black ice.

Winter tyres have no better effect on sheet ice than regular tyres, you need studded tyres then.
Winter tyres are for snow and in the majority of the UK we just don't get any.

 

[Dieselman]

ps. can you let me know when you'll be putting on your lycra cycle shorts next summer - as by the same logic I'll prepare myself for a cold and wet summer

In some respects you are close to the truth here.

As a result of GW the trend is for Winters to become warmer and wetter and Summers to be wetter also.

 

[whitenemesis]

So, you've not in favour of winter tyres in the UK then Will?

 

[Dieselman]

So, you've not in favour of winter tyres in the UK then Will?

I was actually saying thanks to all the Guys fitting them as since they have been fitted temperatures have risen to nice mild temperatures, which is great.

The long range forecast doesn't include any snow. Kind-of hard to see the advantage of Winter tyres then...


It just seems that we have become a bit too "protective"...

 

[whitenemesis]

I have fitted winter tyres and risking being ridiculed, have to say I find them no worse than my summer tyres in this damp weather, early mornings with temps around the 7c mark are defo better.
I had them last year also and it was a revelation in how they handled the snow/ice and salt covered roads.
I suppose it's just comforting to know, should we get a sudden cold snap, even one cold frosty morn, I can drive out with confidence.

And defore you say it, yes I drove all through 2009 winter on summer tyres navigating my cross-country commute through the snow without incident. I knew no better then but having experienced winters, I wouldn't go back!

Each to their own! Let's not keep denigrating the choices of others?

 

[Dieselman]

have to say I find them no worse than my summer tyres in this damp weather, early mornings with temps around the 7c mark are defo better.

The O/p started this thread to disagree with that finding, which is correct?

For months on here we have been reading about how we all need Winter tyres and there has been much back slapping when people announce they have them, but the reality is we don't because in the main we don't get cold or snowy enough Winters to warrant them.

What people fail to say is that there are downsides to running Winter tyres, they offer less ultimate grip in no snow conditions, lower levels of steering feedback and handling control and consume more energy.

I know I will be flamed for this and possibly now cause myself a problem when in snow, but I've never had Winter tyres, have never been stuck in snow other than when out playing in it, have never put off a journey either for business or pleasure and have driven in worse conditions than the last two Winters.

By observing weather trends and forecast I believe we won't see serious snow this year so put up this poll.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/ot-off-topic-forums/119992-will-snow-winter-2011-a.html

Let's see at the end of the Winter period.

 

[Apial]

I was actually saying thanks to all the Guys fitting them as since they have been fitted temperatures have risen to nice mild temperatures, which is great.

The long range forecast doesn't include any snow. Kind-of hard to see the advantage of Winter tyres then...


It just seems that we have become a bit too "protective"...

And the same forecasters were saying it was going to snow in October.

But I'm sure we will have ice, and thats when the friction tyre scores over the standard tyre.

 

[Dieselman]

And the same forecasters were saying it was going to snow in October.

No they weren't, the Met office never said it was going to snow then.

You are taking gutter press scaremongering and believing it.

But I'm sure we will have ice, and thats when the friction tyre scores over the standard tyre.

You need studs for ice. Open treads makes no difference.

The idea behind open tread blocks is that the snow packs into them without shearing off the base snow so provides traction. That snow then falls out due to the grove being wide and fresh snow packs in.

Not sure what you mean by a friction tyre?

 

[finisterre]

We have had ten days of snow, ice, and slush already this month. Maybe more.

We have plenty of grip to spare in the warm, when it is sub zero adding winter tyres has helped us get about in a generally relaxed way.

I don't know where you live dm but here (in Buxton) they make sense.

 

[Dieselman]

I don't know where you live dm but here (in Buxton) they make sense.

Maybe...

None of our staff who work that area have reported any issues at all.

 

[finisterre]

it wasn't impassable (a couple of higher roads have been closed for a couple of days only) it was tricky, if you are passing through you would probably not really be too inconvenienced. But stick your house on a single track untreated over 400m steep lane and the difference is worthwhile.

I have failed to get home once in my fwd van shod with Falken M+S and the mrs came out in the BMW to pick me up. The same day the neighbours in their TT on summers walked the last mile home.

Anecdotal maybe but it has not left me feeling ripped off by Mr Michelin-Alpin.


(when I say Buxton I don't actually live there, I live in the countryside nearby)

 

[whitenemesis]

The O/p started this thread to disagree with that finding, which is correct?

Both are correct!

He admitted to "planting" it, if I did that I would also loose traction.

 

[Dieselman]

Anecdotal maybe but it has not left me feeling ripped off by Mr Michelin-Alpin.


(when I say Buxton I don't actually live there, I live in the countryside nearby)

I can see the requirement for you as you live in one of the highest and hilliest parts of the UK, although as you say the different vehicles does make this anecdotal, but look at where members on here who have fitted Winter tyres live and travel. A considerable number live in or around major conurbations and a significant proportion live in the South of England.

Do those people need Winter tyres? Well, we shall see, but my thoughts so far are not.

I'm not a million miles away from you but lower, and grew up living on the edge of the Peak National park, so do know what snow looks like.

 

[grober]

Was that blamed on black ice or a blowout?



This one led to a prosecution of one of the drivers involved for dangerous driving.

So not quite the 'evidence' you suggest.

That said common sense would suggest that for any vehicle regularly transiting the A9 or similar roads in winter - particularly overnight - that there is a very case for fitting low temperature tyres.

I quoted these examples as they had a motoring connection. I could have quoted other non motoring examples.

from the sensational:-

The Courier - Woman's face impaled after slipping on ice in Perth

to simple attrition:-

The Courier - Icy blast fills up A&E waiting rooms

The point being not directly related to motoring but simply to illustrate that not all parts of the UK experienced the balmy 11 degrees temperature or warmer weather and dry roads mentioned by other posters.

 

[Dieselman]

The point being not directly related to motoring but simply to illustrate that not all parts of the UK experienced the balmy 11 degrees temperature or warmer weather and dry roads mentioned by other posters.

I see you are correct, in Strathclyde it's only been 10c..but not to worry, 11c is forecast for Sunday...

Tarbert weather forecast - Met Office

Got some severe weather on the way as well Chaps, heavy rain.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/st/st_forecast_warnings.html

It was actually -1c daytime temp here last w/e, but no snow.