Winter tyres, snow socks and chains.

Third Opinion

Third Opinion

Third Opinion

Soldato
Joined
3 Jun 2005
Posts
5,365
Location
West Sussex
Probably more of a regional question.

Are any really worth it as I am not sure about cost vs wear?

Here in Sussex we had bad weather Friday and Saturday. Even living in a rural area I couldn't have driven more than a 1/4 mile before finding myself on clear roads.

Obviously chains would be ridiculous in these conditions, I take it snow socks would wear out pretty fast as they would mainly be on metaled roads.

I realise other parts of the country have been hit hard.

So what is the score with winter tyres? Will they wear quickly on clear roads?

I have seen all sorts round here like snow socks only on the rear of a front wheeled drive Astra estate, some clown sparking away in a Range Rover with chains on.

I am of the thinking that I drive for such ridiculously short distances on icy roads I would just prefer to poodle along at 5 mph rather mess about with the cost and possible make the car worse on clear roads.

What you guys think?
 
I have taken the plunge today and ordered a set of winter tyres for my c250 estate. The grip levels on the 255/35/18 rears is frankly shocking. Half an inch of snow renders it useless on anything other than flat ground. I'll let you know how I get on when they're fitted.
 
Chains work really really well but are only worth it if you live up a hill or something, my parents use them to get to their house when it snows.

But you have to put them on at the bottom of the hill and take them off as soon as you get to clear roads.

I've got all season tyres on one of my cars and they are a ton better in the ice/snow than summer tyres, feel a bit 'squidgy' in the warm but as its on a tiny eco box (toyota yaris) it doesn't bother me atall!
 
Third Opinion said:
Probably more of a regional question.

I have seen all sorts round here like snow socks only on the rear of a front wheeled drive Astra estate, some clown sparking away in a Range Rover with chains on.

What you guys think?
Click to expand...

Lol'd at Mr Range Rover, just had a mental image of him driving everywhere sparks flying like it was a normal day.

I wish I had got winter tyres as our streets a nightmare. This is what I get for being cheap!
 
The car I'm driving at the moment is utterly useless in the snow and gets stuck almost immediately. I've been using AutoSock snow socks to keep it mobile. They're great but they are quite inconvenient.

Obviously you can't drive on clear roads with the snow socks on. So, you have to pull over... in to snowy lay-bys, usually. Then you get stuck there instead. :D

Either that or you have to stop in people's way, which I'm not keen to do, in order to remove them. Can just be a bit annoying at times, because you just want to continue with your journey.

Bit messy as well. Not much of an arch gap for me so I have to get mucky.

Good if you're in trouble though.
 
[TW]Fox;23604093 said:
I must say this is a particularly interesting and fresh question on which we've not had much debate. It is most unlike flogging a dead horse.
Click to expand...

:p You do make me laugh sometimes Fox.


To elaborate on what Fox is trying to say the OcUK collective myself included knows for a Fact that you don't need any adjustments to your car in any way other than turning the heater up & clearing the snow before you leave.
Any other adjustments or add ons you apply to your car indicate you cannot drive & are more than likely Gayer than John Inmond.

Please Sticky the Above. :D
 
It's just going to nowhere. Half of us think we need winter tyres and they are essential and if you dont fit them and make your car look like you've had your alloys nicked then you are essentially a ***** akin to somebody who fits Linglongs to the car. The other half think that there is far from sufficient evidence that they are credibly better than decent UHP tyres in anything other than snow and ice and that the roads you drive on are not covered in snow for a sufficient amount of time for the tradeoff in some areas to be worth it. The winter tyre brigade constalty post snow videos to show how wrong the UHP tyre brigade are. The UHP tyre brigade constantly link to wet weather/aquaplane/dry performance data to show how wrong the winter tyre brigade are.

The two sides will never agree, each side calls the other side idiots and trolls, and we go round and round.

Then something pivotal happens - ie it snows, so the winter tyre brigade claim victory. Or it's 13c on Christmas Day, and the UHP tyre brigade claim victory.

Just buy whatever you want.
 
[TW]Fox;23604150 said:
It's just going to nowhere. Half of us think we need winter tyres and they are essential and if you dont fit them and make your car look like you've had your alloys nicked then you are essentially a ***** akin to somebody who fits Linglongs to the car. The other half think that there is far from sufficient evidence that they are credibly better than decent UHP tyres in anything other than snow and ice and that the roads you drive on are not covered in snow for a sufficient amount of time for the tradeoff in some areas to be worth it. The winter tyre brigade constalty post snow videos to show how wrong the UHP tyre brigade are. The UHP tyre brigade constantly link to wet weather/aquaplane/dry performance data to show how wrong the winter tyre brigade are.

The two sides will never agree, each side calls the other side idiots and trolls, and we go round and round.

Then something pivotal happens - ie it snows, so the winter tyre brigade claim victory. Or it's 13c on Christmas Day, and the UHP tyre brigade claim victory.

Just buy whatever you want.
Click to expand...
Can you please cut and paste this for any MORE winter tyre debate
And yes I do fit winter tyres :D
 
My UHP tyres have only made me wet myself once and that was today, comming off a clear motorway onto a downwards slip road under bridge, no grit and a total snow covered road, oh dear, a few sideways moments later all was well with the world.

Am I now going to go out and buy some winter tyres? Erm no, it's pointless, I would be trading better performance for 4 weeks of the year, vs 48 weeks of worse performance.
 
Firestar_3x said:
My UHP tyres have only made me wet myself once and that was today, comming off a clear motorway onto a downwards slip road under bridge, no grit and a total snow covered road, oh dear, a few sideways moments later all was well with the world.

Am I now going to go out and buy some winter tyres? Erm no, it's pointless, I would be trading better performance for 4 weeks of the year, vs 48 weeks of worse performance.
Click to expand...

Noooooooooooo not this again
 
Set of snow chains came with my e60 and fit the e39 as well, went out Saturday used them for a particularly steep hill, it's a nice set no faffing around just a rigid 3/4 ring and some chains which all works from the front, I found it easier to use the jack than bugger about with all the turning 1/4 then tighten the e39 is so easy to jack up.
 
fadetoblack said:
Some of us Aren't Townies who call Concrete jungle a home ;)
Click to expand...

Me either, in addition I visit the lakes for 3-4 weeks a year and stay well off the beaten track, I've been doing this for years, my time is usually over winter, never been proper stuck, not even during the last few years of really bad weather.

But nice try ;)
 
[TW]Fox;23604150 said:
It's just going to nowhere. Half of us think we need winter tyres and they are essential and if you dont fit them and make your car look like you've had your alloys nicked then you are essentially a ***** akin to somebody who fits Linglongs to the car. The other half think that there is far from sufficient evidence that they are credibly better than decent UHP tyres in anything other than snow and ice and that the roads you drive on are not covered in snow for a sufficient amount of time for the tradeoff in some areas to be worth it. The winter tyre brigade constalty post snow videos to show how wrong the UHP tyre brigade are. The UHP tyre brigade constantly link to wet weather/aquaplane/dry performance data to show how wrong the winter tyre brigade are.

The two sides will never agree, each side calls the other side idiots and trolls, and we go round and round.

Then something pivotal happens - ie it snows, so the winter tyre brigade claim victory. Or it's 13c on Christmas Day, and the UHP tyre brigade claim victory.

Just buy whatever you want.
Click to expand...

Perhaps you should just highlight personal circumstances such as job role, disposable income and regional geography instead of trying to argue the science.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom