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

[grober]

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.

Met Office: Strathclyde: severe weather warnings

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

This will undoubtedly be of great comfort to my friend who has just returned from hospital after fracturing his upper arm after slipping on ice last week.
Likewise numerous motorists will be rejoicing while waiting for the insurance assessors report as to whether their car is to be written off or not following a spate of minor accidents last week I can't predict the weather but I can confidently predict their insurance premiums will going up considerably next year ------ balmy weather or not.

 

[Mercy1]

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?

I can think of a number of steep hills 'in the south' I would not like to face on a snowy day...

It's a matter of personal judgement, isn't it? If you live on a steep hill and need to negotiate sharp, hilly bends and travel on tricky journeys, you just might think its worth staying mobile on those snowy days - few and far between or otherwise.

If you live and travel in a flatter area then it's true you probably don't need winter tyres.

People know their own circumstances and will choose accordingly - it's their money. I don't think people on here are telling people they should use winters, and I don't think others can categorically state that they don't need them (and mock them mercilessly to boot!)

 

[artyman]

My son's house was inaccessible for a few days last year and he is only a few miles from me, but on average impassable roads are rare down south so I don't consider winters a requirement. Should I live 'oop North I expect I would consider them.

 

[Dieselman]

I can think of a number of steep hills 'in the south' I would not like to face on a snowy day...

Which is where your argument falls apart...there is generally a distinct lack of white fluffy stuff in the South of England and the forecast for this year is temperatures above normal and normally it doesn't get cold enough for a good frost, let alone snow.

Living at the top of one I do know what a hill is.

 

[Dieselman]

my son's house was inaccessible for a few days last year and he is only a few miles from me, but on average impassable roads are rare down south so i don't consider winters a requirement. Should i live 'oop north i expect i would consider them learn how to drive.

^^... :d

 

[Dryce]

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

According to my car it was 12.5 degrees in South Lanarkshire early this evening.

Compare that with last year ... the UK is just weird.

 

[Dieselman]

Last year was unusually cold against long term averages and trends.

I bet the Girlies were out in their bikinis, weren't they? Anything above 2c is considered tanning weather in Scotland, isn't it?

 

[Apial]

Dieselman, are you saying that artyman does not know how to drive? I do not follow you punctuation symbols useage. It does appear to me that you are making inappropriate comments about another members driving standards, however I would welcome your correction on this.

On another matter I am sorry to read this week that a doctor from Grimsby was killed when his Toyoata Previa was in head on collision with a hearse due to road surface ice. Drivers urged to take care on icy roads after man dies in head-on collision | This is Grimsby

Sadly this is not the first death locally this winter in Lincolnshire that saw the death of a lorry driver in another accident caused in part by ice on the road.

Cars fitted with studless winter tyres have much improved handling on ice as this video shows Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice - YouTube Of course studdded winter tyres would be better, but they would cause damage to the road and are not an option in countries where ice is not permanent through the winter.

The use of passive safety aids has been a major factor in reducing traffic fatalities, and studless winter tyres can play their part alongside ABS, seatbelts, electronic stability aids, and airbags etc in achieving this.

 

[Dieselman]

On another matter I am sorry to read this week that a doctor from Grimsby was killed when his Toyoata Previa was in head on collision with a hearse due to road surface ice. Drivers urged to take care on icy roads after man dies in head-on collision | This is Grimsby

From reading the article it appears that the driver(s) weren't driving in a fashion suitable for the conditions. It doesn't say that if the vehicles had winter tyres fitted they wouldn't have crashed.

Sergeant Dave Mitchell, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "Winter is here and drivers should be under no illusions. The early morning ice yesterday was severe and this is an unclassified road which has not been treated.

"People think that until it is snowing the roads are not slippery. But they are extremely slippery.

"The roads do not need to be all white to be slippery. We would urge drivers to use extra care and be vigilant in case of ice."

Driving according to the conditions. Is that the same as learning to drive in a fashion suitable to the conditions? To me, probably yes, to you, probably not...

 

[Apial]

I'm glad dieselman you are having a look at the links that I post.

Now what do you make of the second link to the winter tyre video on ice? Imagine instead of the car colliding with a padded bag that in fact the test was conducted at a busy intersection. And as its nearly Christmas lets make it a bit more fun. We will leave it up to you to discover if it is black ice or not. Bags I get the studless winter tyre car and you can have your pick of what is left.

No doubt your driving skills will enable you to stop in time, but we will have to deny you ABS as that might be classed as cheating.

Re your final comments.Drivers make mistakes. Sometimes they end up being fatal ones . Passive safety devices can prevent a lot of these fatalities. I am sure that the driver involved in the accident was driving on standard tyres and also thought that they were driving suitably for the conditions as they perceived them at the time. Perhaps they did not have a low temperature warning device in the Toyota? They will not be the last driver to be caught unaware on black ice.

 

[Mercy1]

Which is where your argument falls apart...there is generally a distinct lack of white fluffy stuff in the South.

I don't believe it does fall apart actually. Only if you think that there is no possibility of snow. Which of course is patently untrue.

You seem to be of the view that if something doesn't happen all that often, you should not bother to take precautions against it...

But I am not burgled that often - doesn't mean I don't take out insurance. My house has never burned down - but I have insurance. London was rarely flooded - why did they waste all that money on the Thames Flood Barrier?

Of course, if I was flooded out - likelihood about once every 100 years! - then I could probably salvage something from the mess. Similarly, if it does snow really badly, I could probably get by with ordinary tyres - but I know winters would get me through better.

It's all a personal judgement - but being prepared makes the comparatively small cost worthwhile for some of us...

 

[Geoff A]

No harm in you being smug. Enjoy the moment, as i's nice not to have to scrape windows clean and shovel driveways.
I did point out the failings in handling and loss of fuel economy from fitting winters to my car, if you had cared to notice my earlier comments.
I suspect you're employed - not self-employed - so its ok for you who gets paid for having time off work. I lost a week's work last year because my C class wouldn't pull itself off the drive. And working for myself means that a set of winters is cheap insurance against it happening again (if indeed it ever does).
And whatever I spend on motoring costs goes against my tax and thats a win win either way.
The way I see it, I can't lose. So now I'll allow myself to feel smug - Merry Christmas everybody :bannana:

 

[Shude]

I suspect you're employed - not self-employed - so its ok for you who gets paid for having time off work. I lost a week's work last year because my C class wouldn't pull itself off the drive. And working for myself means that a set of winters is cheap insurance against it happening again (if indeed it ever does).
And whatever I spend on motoring costs goes against my tax and thats a win win either way.
The way I see it, I can't lose. So now I'll allow myself to feel smug - Merry Christmas everybody :bannana:

I'm the same - I am an IT contractor. I could work from home but if someone needs site-support then I need to get there really and I charge by the hour! It doesn't take too many lost days to cover a whole set of tyres.

Even if it doesn't snow the car still needs to have tyres on it so I'd be wearing out my summers instead.

 

[Dieselman]

Another warm (if wet) day Guys.

Thanks....

 

[whitenemesis]

 

[clever dicky]

...........but they would cause damage to the road and are not an option in countries where ice is not permanent through the winter.

The use of passive safety aids has been a major factor in reducing traffic fatalities, and studless winter tyres can play their part alongside ABS, seatbelts, electronic stability aids, and airbags etc in achieving this.

Please, tell us which countries you might believe this to be the case. People always have the option of snow chains, althougb i wouldnt recommend those sock things.

 

[grober]

Snow chains----- useful technology in extreme circumstances BUT only useful where you can guarantee you will be driving on snow ALL THE TIME. They may be appropriate for alpine type holidays at altitude where snow lies for several months AND they don't salt/grit the roads but in the UK where you may regularly experience hard packed snow /ice/ slush/standing water/loose grit/dry pavement all within a few miles their use is limited. Drive at anything over 20/30 mph in such conditions you will rapidly destroy your tyres/wheels/chains. That aside the major objection to them IMHO is the problem of mounting them on the wheels. Unless you do this in reasonable conditions IN A SAFE LOCATION its a very unpleasant experience. Think numb and bleeding fingers soaking gloves/clothes and trying to remember exactly how to do it from last winter [ you did practice mounting them on the wheels several times beforehand in the dry didn't you? ] But to me the clincher is the time and the place when you suddenly feel the urgent need for them is usually in very unpleasant weather conditions with no place to go except in close proximity to lots of other vehicles speeding past on slippery surfaces in limited visibility--- this in many cases means its simply not worth the risk to life and limb to even attempt it.

 

[Dieselman]

the place when you suddenly feel the urgent need for them is usually in very unpleasant weather conditions with no place to go except in close proximity to lots of other vehicles speeding past on slippery surfaces in limited visibility--- this in many cases means its simply not worth the risk to life and limb to even attempt it.

If one is stuck in snow and need snow chains, how are other vehicles speeding past?
Either one doesn't need the chains or one would be an incompetent driver so should stay off the roads in snowy conditions.

I'm not sure what snow lying on the road make viability poor, either.
I've driven loads of times on snow on perfectly clear days and nights, I've also driven in blizzards, which is when all the drivers with Xenon headlights are going to wish they didn't have them, just as I recently saw in foggy conditions recently and why Mercedes always fitted slightly yellow lamps by design.

 

[grober]

If one is stuck in snow and need snow chains, how are other vehicles speeding past?

They would be the ones with winter tyres on.

 

[tazco]

I'm the same - I am an IT contractor. I could work from home but if someone needs site-support then I need to get there really and I charge by the hour! It doesn't take too many lost days to cover a whole set of tyres.

Even if it doesn't snow the car still needs to have tyres on it so I'd be wearing out my summers instead.

I too am the same as currently contracting in Brighton and am travelling from Swansea each week with wife and baby and don't really want to lose a day's wages or be stuck on the motorway with a 9month old.

I do agree with some of the comments about lack of winter etc but having experienced it last year.. and the fact that I rack up about 2500miles a month feel that it is worth the hassle of changing etc...

There.. said my gambit!