Snow tires

[buachille]

You could always learn to drive in a manner suitable to the conditions, carry a shovel & some rock salt & if things get really bad, stay off the roads until conditions improve.

Infact, given your quote, just stay off the roads eh?

Any reason for the kind of nasty comment at the end of your post (you been drinking?).

I am long past the age of being a boy racer and I drive safely. What I was saying is that I can drive safely on snow at a higher speed than people on summer tyres. Don't assume I am some kind of demon driver - I am not!

Everybody else who has replied to my OP has been pleasant and offered constructive advice or comments. What's your problem?

 

[[TW]Fox]

His problem is that you seem to think a set of snow tyres enables you to overtake traffic travelling at 30mph on snow covered roads.

This is ridiculous.

 

[buachille]

Wow, got over-reaction? A few days of snow and you rush out and have your tyres replaced with snow tyres?

Great in the snow but pretty crap when it isnt snowing, ie, the other 350 days a year in this country. If you wanted snow tyres its best to have them on a spare set of wheels and fit them in adverse weather.

You will have a considerable performance deficiency when the snow goes away - even countries that get proper snow all the time take them off in the summer.

Now I'm wondering if I should have started this thread. I was trying to help anyone who had the same problem as me.

How is buying snow tyres an over-reaction? I've been getting stuck in snow and mud for years with this van, and now the problem is solved.

The tyres are winter tyres but are also marked as tyres that will help when driving on mud. In summer I often have to take the van off road and I was always getting stuck.

 

[buachille]

It's ok, he drives for a living, he MUST know what he is doing

I'm contemplating some winter tyres on my spare set of wheels.

I don't drive for a living. I drive to get to work, and that includes some pretty rural locations (i.e - lots of snow in winter - mud in summer).

 

[mjt]

which tyres did you buy?

 

[buachille]

His problem is that you seem to think a set of snow tyres enables you to overtake traffic travelling at 30mph on snow covered roads.

This is ridiculous.

I'm talking about roads with a half inch of snow or slush cover on them, where everyone on summer tyres is forced to drive really slowly. I can overtake without creating any risk.

Did you think I meant overtaking traffic through six inches of snow?

 

[paradigm]

Stable door & Bolts ???

Not really, as I'm off up the Alps in just over a week!

 

[Scania]

Any reason for the kind of nasty comment at the end of your post (you been drinking?).

I am long past the age of being a boy racer and I drive safely. What I was saying is that I can drive safely on snow at a higher speed than people on summer tyres. Don't assume I am some kind of demon driver - I am not!

Everybody else who has replied to my OP has been pleasant and offered constructive advice or comments. What's your problem?

My problem is every night this week (I work nights) I have been held up by and / or seen accidents that generally have been caused by idiots who seem to think they could drive faster than anybody else in the prevailing conditions.

I manage perfectly well in these conditions despite driving a vehicle that's far from suited to snow & ice simply because I adjust my driving accordingly and forget the usual deadlines that I work too - better to arrive late than not at all & all that....


You say your no demon driver yet your comment re overtaking people driving slowly on snow covered roads seems to contradict this entirely - [TW]Fox sums this up perfectly.

If you don't want harsh comments, think before you post.

I'm talking about roads with a half inch of snow or slush cover on them, where everyone on summer tyres is forced to drive really slowly. I can overtake without creating any risk.

Did you think I meant overtaking traffic through six inches of snow?

Like I don't think you have here.

Not really, as I'm off up the Alps in just over a week!

Fair enough, enjoy!

 

[buachille]

My problem is every night this week (I work nights) I have been held up by and / or seen accidents that generally have been caused by idiots who seem to think they could drive faster than anybody else in the prevailing conditions.

I manage perfectly well in these conditions despite driving a vehicle that's far from suited to snow & ice simply because I adjust my driving accordingly and forget the usual deadlines that I work too - better to arrive late than not at all & all that....


You say your no demon driver yet your comment re overtaking people driving slowly on snow covered roads seems to contradict this entirely - [TW]Fox sums this up perfectly.

If you don't want harsh comments, think before you post.

I've been driving since I was 17 and I am now 39. I have never had an accident or even a bump.

This thread was created in order to possibly help anyone who was experiencing the problems I was with traction. I might as well not have bothered eh

 

[buachille]

which tyres did you buy?

They are Kumho's. Not sure of the model - I'd have to go out and have a look at the van.

 

[mjt]

nm

 

[West]

Our crews use 'Snow Socks' any use to you?

 

[buachille]

Our crews use 'Snow Socks' any use to you?

I know a guy who goes to ski in the Alps a lot and he was talking about something that sounds like this (just googled snow socks). If I go back to summer tyres maybe I'll try these next winter.

How effective are they? And how easy to put on (how long does it take)?

I gather from your picture you are in the emergency services so I'm guessing they must be effective. You guys need to be able to get to where your going!

 

[West]

They've used them for a couple of years now and theres loads of work atm so they must be effective

 

[buachille]

They've used them for a couple of years now and theres loads of work atm so they must be effective

Well once these snow tires wear out, I'll look into it. Thanks for your reply.

 

[mjt]

Well once these snow tires wear out, I'll look into it. Thanks for your reply.

please remove the snow tyres in spring and do not put them back on until november-december.

 

[Fr0dders]

Well once these snow tires wear out, I'll look into it. Thanks for your reply.

nobody is suggesting that winter tyres are a bad thing, especially if you live up in the highlands of scotland. They were saying on the weather the other day that they were dropping as low as -15 in places so can understand how the conditions can be worse than down south in england.

But in the summer, the temps will rarely if at all drop below 7 degrees. Buy a spare set of wheels from a scrap yard, and fit some summer tyres to them. Just swap them round once the cold weather goes.

 

[ins0mn1ac]

They are Kumho's. Not sure of the model - I'd have to go out and have a look at the van.

What happens if your van is sat outside covered in snow?

 

[Wicksta]

I really couldn't believe the difference in winter tyres when I moved to Munich, I hate to say it but overtaking at 20-30mph would be easy (and safe) if you are following someone on all weather tyres. I landed at the airport and the taxi driver was doing about 50mph in the worst ever snow conditions I'd seen (and maybe ever seen, it was a very cold winter there in 1999). Obviously the advantage there is that they plough/grit a lot more, but we are talking -15 degrees that night and snow that wasn't going anywhere.

I'd never bother fitting them here though, we don't really have the climate for it.

 

[Scania]

I've been driving since I was 17 and I am now 39. I have never had an accident or even a bump.

This thread was created in order to possibly help anyone who was experiencing the problems I was with traction. I might as well not have bothered eh

Good for you mate, you seem to miss my point.

I was having a go as you deemed yourself above everybody else who tends to drive slowly when theres snow (however much) on the roads, the point being freshly fallen snow ,however little, increases the chances of a skid, not to mention it could say be covering a patch of otherwise unseen black ice.

If I had £1 for every car I've seen over the past few weeks nearly and / or actually lose it whilst doing a similar overtake you referred to then I'd be out on the town now spending the proceeds!

Like me, you drive for a living, thus, I'd kind of hope & expect you'd know slightly better than to overtake the slower traffic in said conditions.

Perhaps, had you been involved in an accident (no, I'm not wishing that on you!) then perhaps you'd think differently.

I hope you drive differently to how your initial comment describes to me, I detest "I can drive better than others in bad conditions" drivers, to me it shouts arrogance and above all, ignorance.

Perhaps I'm wrong about you, perhaps not.

With hindsight, perhaps you should have written your post differently and I'd have probably not said a word.

Happy new year! - Now, I have been drinking....