With the UK news going hysterical over the heavy snow and how nobody should dare drive has me thinking…
Winter tyres are miraculous things in the snow and if insurance companies told drivers that using summer tyres in snow would void their cover in the event of a crash I’m sure more people would use winter tyres.
Arguably using summer tyres in the snow is as dangerous as using bald tyres in the wet which is illegal.
As for 1000’s of angry drivers in cars getting stuck on a motorway in the snow I guarantee they’ll all have the wrong tyres fitted.
On my wife’s X3 we run winter tyres all year round. It’s an A-B truck that doesn’t need Michelin PCS2 tyres. We actually look forward to feet of snow because it’s ace.
Winter tyres just aren’t publicised in the UK and people lose their minds when it snows. I just find it all a bit silly.
Couldn’t agree more! We have sets of pre-mounted winter tyres for both daily cars and they’re tremendous. I bought wheels off eBay (as they’re for bad weather I wasn’t bothered about cosmetics - round and air-tight is all that’s needed) so they didn’t cost massively.
The first winter tyres I bought were actually German-made remoulds; fully-marked for snow as they’re a legal requirement over there and have had no issues at all with them. They grip superbly and we’ve definitely had our money’s worth out of them at £50 per tyre.
Something else to bear in mind - for anyone with a front-wheel drive car - is that if you’re having problems getting up a snowy hill going forwards, reverse up instead!! By doing this you’re putting more weight on the driven wheels so the traction is greater than going forwards.
It’s not about the tyres it’s about keeping the momentum up and loss of traction down.
I’ve avoided the A6 from Bedford Autodrome to Irthingborough all week and used the icey and now heavy snow covered back roads so that I can keep my speed up. I’m running some nearly worn out trackday tyres on my rear wheel drive van and it’s been great fun.
Couldn’t believe the difference winter tyres make when I first bought a set living in Birmingham in 2010 ish, when it snowed for weeks on end. Now wouldn’t think about a winter without them. You do get Mr Angry, of Offended, flashing lots when you overtake him though!!
Worth it for that alone!
Momentum is good, but eventually you have to stop as some muppet thinks that physics doesn’t apply to him as he has ESP, TC, ABS, fat tyres fro grip, etc and that will save him. Invariably it doesn’t.
I’ve been stuck today in the BMW, should never have set off, as only made it 50 yards. Had to be pushed out of the way so the neighbours could get past. Initially on a hill when I lost momentum, now even on the flat as it just squirms around. Kerbs and parked cars are too close for comfort so it’s staying where it is till I can go back with salt and sand tomorrow. I’ll just be getting it back to my drive then it can sit there till the snow goes.
Considered winter tyres when I picked it up and then thought I’ve spent enough this year, maybe next. Now I’m in the same situation, by the time a spare set and tyres arrive the snow will have gone, but I’ll definitely get a set for next winter.
Stuck at home in my slippers, with a glass of something strong, isn’t all bad.
Well aren’t you the hero… however the truth is that winter tyres are specifically designed, in both tread and compound, to work in snow/cold temperatures, where summer tyres aren’t.
Living in Germany I can say that probably 95% of all road cars over here are equipped with winter tyres.
I can’t imagine driving without them.
The law doesn’t force you to use them just because it is winter time but in snowy or icy conditions.
If you have an accident using summer tyres in the snow or ice you are in trouble.
I know Ben, all I did last year to the car was put it on axle stands, remove the trays and all four wheels. I’ve still not seen the video of you car from that evening at Bedford. Do you still have it?
There seems to be something weird about BMW’s that they can’t cope with snow. Runflats maybe?? If I was a cynic it was a great way of selling another set of wheels? /tyres!! SeanB was stranded at my house with a 130i, while my Leon didn’t seem to care. Navara to the rescue!!
We love our winter tyres and I use Nokian Russian winter tyres on the basis they must know a thing or 2 about snow!
Was very funny Saturday evening as we were towing a Discovery up as hill in our Q3 as the discovery was stuck, very embarrassing for them indeed, best 4x4 by far my arse, if it is on the wrong tyres!
, I must have it somewhere. I’ll look for it…
SeanB was stranded at my house with a 130i, while my Leon didn’t seem to care. Navara to the rescue!!