Should we be using winter tyres in the UK?

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5th January 2010, 16:07
Mark in Oshawa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

Well 2 weeks later and here we are, more snow and more cars either crawling along, stuck or abandoned. Someone in a BMW almost came down the road backwards in only half an inch of snow and then about half an hour later with another half an inch on top someone in a FWD car DID come down backwards and almost hit our Fiat.

10 cms of snow up north on the 2nd. I was at my mom-in-laws. My wife's car has just all season tires. I went up to town to get the morning paper,and a coffee. The roads were ploughed, with a sand mix tossed on since at -20 c salt wont work. Drove the speed limit, no issues, just a hair careful because of stopping distances and cornering needing to be taken in mind.

A lot of what you are enduring Daniel is the fact no jurisdiction there has the budget to maintain the roads in winter. Tires help but the fact is snow tires don't work great on glare ice, which is what you get when no salt is used and the snow packs down.
5th January 2010, 17:31
Daniel

there is plenty of grit on the road, the snow just fell down and covered it.
5th January 2010, 17:40
Hazell B

They're getting stuck in a few mm of snow in towns :rotflmao:

I've been playing in my vehicle in our eight(ish) inches of snow and it's been brilliant. Seriously, I shake my head in pity at what this country has become with a scattering of snow and millions of crap drivers.
5th January 2010, 18:15
GridGirl

I managed to drive home from work in 40 minutes as per usual although much of that was due to fewer cars bring on the road. Every time I got to a hill the car infront of me snaked it's way up. It was getting me worried untill I just powered up. :s As said before, I think improved driving skills would help far more than winter tyres.
5th January 2010, 18:27
Mark in Oshawa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

there is plenty of grit on the road, the snow just fell down and covered it.

The grit needs to be ON top. Not just grit either, sand or salt. If the sanders and plows are not out on the roads here, we have similar issues. You guys are just not equipped with the infrastructure to handle a lot of snow....
5th January 2010, 18:30
Daniel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

The grit needs to be ON top. Not just grit either, sand or salt. If the sanders and plows are not out on the roads here, we have similar issues. You guys are just not equipped with the infrastructure to handle a lot of snow....

Bear in mind that I'm talking about sidestreets here Mark, it's simply not cost effective to have enough gritters out to be gritting all the sidestreets whilst it's snowing.
5th January 2010, 18:34
Mark in Oshawa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

Bear in mind that I'm talking about sidestreets here Mark, it's simply not cost effective to have enough gritters out to be gritting all the sidestreets whilst it's snowing.

They do it here as fast as they can. The city I live in has clear roads within 12 hours of the last snowflake...that is ALL the roads. That said, they have to do that here or we would be in trouble some winter's. You are right of course, in the UK it isn't doable with the money and resources available. That tho is my point. You guys have to do what they do in the US south. Figure it is god's problem. He gave it to you, he can take it away....
5th January 2010, 18:50
Daniel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hazell B

They're getting stuck in a few mm of snow in towns :rotflmao:

I've been playing in my vehicle in our eight(ish) inches of snow and it's been brilliant. Seriously, I shake my head in pity at what this country has become with a scattering of snow and millions of crap drivers.

Well it's quite a few inches here Hazell. Don't be a silly northerner who exaggerates things to make people in the South look soft or something :)

There was a guy on BBC news 24 who owned a little tyre shop somewhere in Yorkshire saying that a lot of 4wd owners have been coming in asking for better tyres because the ones on their cars are too biased towards the road. Sure driving skill helps but when you're driving on ice and snow the laws of phsyics come into play and summer tyres suck.

Mark in Oshawa has all season tyres which are kind of a halfway house between summer and winter tyres so they're not totally hopeless in the snow and ice. The ones Hazell has on are probably all weather tyres too which is why along with the 4wd you're getting along just fine.

Summer tyre
http://www.megamodo.com/images/vrede...3_detail_3.jpg

All weather tyres
http://banden.paginamarkt.nl/foto/20...chelin_xt2.jpg

Winter tyres
http://www.gumija.lv/veikals/images/..._snowtrac3.jpg

There are clear and easy to spot difference between the tyres which is why they perform differently and better in their respective environments but whatever.........
5th January 2010, 19:00
Daniel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

They do it here as fast as they can. The city I live in has clear roads within 12 hours of the last snowflake...that is ALL the roads. That said, they have to do that here or we would be in trouble some winter's. You are right of course, in the UK it isn't doable with the money and resources available. That tho is my point. You guys have to do what they do in the US south. Figure it is god's problem. He gave it to you, he can take it away....

Exactly. There was some dozey biznitch in Edinburgh on the TV today saying that it was the counties fault that she'd crashed her VW into a bollard because .... well you know.

Gridgirl's attitude is typical of that of 99.99% of Brits which is "I got home alright so it must be OK and winter rubber must be a waste of money"
5th January 2010, 19:07
Hazell B

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

Don't be a silly northerner who exaggerates things to make people in the South look soft or something :)

Exactly which part of my post mentioned north and south? :rolleyes:

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