Why the ballyheck do Brits not use winter tyres?

Mr Jack

Mr Jack

Mr Jack

Caporegime
Joined
19 May 2004
Posts
34,036
Location
Nordfriesland, Germany
It is snowing here in Northern Germany. Yesterday's drive home was im the kind of snow that makes you want to yell "punch it, Chewie" before you pull away from the lights. Or, in other words, the kind of snow that brings English cities to a shuddering halt as everyone nervously crawls around at ten miles an hour. Here? No problems because everyone is on winter tyres.

Why the heck aren't they normal in the UK? They make such a big difference to winter driving. It's been a total revelation.
 
Because it's not snowing here in Surrey, and my Conti PC6 tyres has no issues in the -5c temperature this morning. :p
 
joey1211 said:
Because it's not worth the hassle for two days of snow
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It's not just the two days of snow it makes a difference for. It's all the time it's colder than about 7 degrees and all those icy mornings. It's not like the weather here is worse than that in much of the UK.
 
Our weather doesn't really warrant winter tyres, unless your running r888's but people who do that will generally have a set for winter.

I've got P Zero's currently on my car, in the dry and summer they are good but now with the colder weather their performance has dropped off so I drive within the limits I know they are capable of doing.
 
Mr Jack said:
It's not just the two days of snow it makes a difference for. It's all the time it's colder than about 7 degrees and all those icy mornings.
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This is such a load of nonsense. It's been colder than that most mornings here since about November, and I've not skidded off the road and died yet, or even noticed any real compromised grip. In fact just this morning (where it was -5 as mentioned, on the ungritted minor road of our estate) I had to practically do an emergency stop, with no issues, because some cretin came through our narrow street at 500mph.
 
The lack of legal requirement. Our government have no scientific knowledge whatsoever. You just have to look at the stupid decisions they have made on vehicular legislation. Catalytic converters, diesels, road fund license, fuel duty, electricity.....
Andi.
 
Mr Jack said:
Why the heck aren't they normal in the UK
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Because our climate is such that major snow hits the South East once every 5 years?

We have a set of winter wheels on the Mini and need to make a special trip to the Pennines every year just to use them properly.
 
Mr Jack said:
It's not just the two days of snow it makes a difference for. It's all the time it's colder than about 7 degrees and all those icy mornings. It's not like the weather here is worse than that in much of the UK.
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This is largely a myth and I say that as someone who drives a car fitted with winter tyres and a car fitted with regular uhp tyres.

The only time I have ever derived benefit from the winter tyres is in snow and ice.
 
What would be the drawbacks of running winter tyres all year round? Decreased MPG? High-end stability? Increased tyre wear?
 
joey1211 said:
What would be the drawbacks of running winter tyres all year round? Decreased MPG? High-end stability? Increased tyre wear?
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well you'll have better tyres for those 3 days a year and the rest of the time you'll have tyres that perform worse than your typical mid/high end rubber. When I buy tyres I focus on good wet weather performance as that's what we get here loads.
 
Crossclimate tyres are available. My son had Winter tyres because he goes to Germany when it's a requirement. Simplest solution is a second set of wheels, there will last longer when they match the conditions.
Andi
 
Main reasons as I see it:
-Hardly any snow relative to the continent
-Some people change their car (and hence tyre size) more frequently than they witness genuinely treacherous conditions
-Probably viewed as an unnecessary expense by many, remember that many people won't even know who makes the tyres on their car, never mind what conditions they are suited for
-Hassle of swapping them over
 
No nice ski resorts to drive too at the weekend ?

But with 70% of news cars on PCP's for what 3 years, not economic to think of having another set of tyres, even if during the winter period they may have better grip/longevity than summer tyres. People prefer to invest money in other bells and whistles on the car than safety ?

...now if the insurance company offered a premium reduction ?
 
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