"Record winter predicted" Snow chains?

Devrij

Devrij

Devrij

Soldato
Joined
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Bath
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/43...s-Record-breaking-snow-predicted-for-November

Saw this and thought "I live in a valley, how the hell will I get to work?". So I'm looking at getting some chains in case it snows and I need to get up a 2nd gear hill. But now I'm discovering autosocks and all sorts of other new stuff that wasn't around the last time I had to put chains on (back then, it was just chains and you had to hope like hell you could clip them together at the end, none of this fancy tightening them afterwards).

So does anyone here use autosocks, or is the old fashioned chain still the best way to go? Seems about a £15 difference in price, and my gf just lost her job so if they aren't anything special I'll save the cash!
 
meh, they say this every year. If it happens it happens ill just work from home.

Issue with the autosocks is that you will use them to get up the hill and then you have to find somewhere to take them off. If its like my road which has a busy main road at the top I dont fancy it. If you use them on tarmac they dont last long. Id invest in some winter tyres if your that worried.
 
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You probably won't need them (I never have in central Scotland where it actually snows for a while every year) - but if you want to have something just buy the socks or the michellin mesh chains (I've got some of these from the civic).

Chains are a right faf to get on and off unless you opt for the expensive ones (spider type or somethingorother). Snow socks are horrible to handle once they're wet but will do a job!
 
matthab said:
Id invest in some winter tyres if your that worried.
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This TBH. I only use our Punto as a tool for getting from A to B and it makes no difference for that task whether it is on winter or summer tyres so I bung a set of steels with winters on when we get to November.

I can't be bothered getting into another argument on here about the need or lack of but in summary - I've used them on snow on dozens of occasions and on icy roads on many more. Could I have got where I was going on summer tyres on all of these occasions? Yes. Was there less drama involved running the winter tyres? Yes.

I'd not bother with socks or chains personally as I always tend to come across untreated patches of road between cleared sections and taking them off all the time would get on my wick.
 
I have my bmw and now have winter tyres to go on in the next 4 weeks or so.

However I also own a beat up ford ranger 2004. It owes me sub 1k, I was thinking to sell it soon as I only use it to help people move stuff lol. However may keep it to see how the weather pans out.
 
Snow CHAINS in England?! Becuase of a Daily Express article?

Chains are not even permitted in most circumstances you'll find in this country.
 
Winter Forecasting – Responding to the headlines
12 10 2013

Once again it is the season for speculation and big headlines regarding what the weather will do over the winter period. The front page of the Daily Express today claims: ‘Worst winter for decades: Record-breaking snow predicted for November’.

We saw similar headlines last year and instead winter 12/13 ended up being only the 43rd coldest on record with an average temperature of 3.3C and flooding until the turn of the year.

What the Daily Express has failed to explain to it’s readers is that there is absolutely no certainty about what weather the UK will see over the winter period. The science simply does not exist to make detailed, long-term forecasts for temperature and snowfall even for the end of November, let alone for the winter period, which does not officially start until 1 December.

While we have seen a return to more normal, cooler temperatures for this time of year, this is no indication of what we can expect over the next four months with regards to temperatures and when we might see snow. It is far too early to tell.

Ultimately, we’re heading into winter and it is perfectly possible that we will see the whole range of weather that we get in winter at some point over the coming months, including snow and freezing temperatures, but also heavy rain, windy weather and mild conditions too.

Our five day forecasts and warnings will provide you with the best possible guidance on any periods of cold weather, frost or the likelihood of snow, giving detailed local information across the UK to help you make the most of the weather over the coming months.
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http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/winter-forecasting-responding-to-the-headlines/
 
Chains do work well, my dad has some as he lives 1000ft up the side of a valley in north wales so they're pretty much essential in the winter! They are a bit of a faff to take on and off as you obviously can't use them once you get to clear tarmac.

I'd personally use winter tyres if is your run of the mill 'shopping car' as there are few downsides using them in the summer months but a lot of up sides if it snows and you live in a hard to get to place.
 
[TW]Fox;25104566 said:
Chains are not even permitted in most circumstances you'll find in this country.
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True, but helpfully the circumstances in which they are permitted (when there is snow on the roads) are the same circumstances where you would get most use out of them.
 
Last year the roads would not have been possible to get up, winter tyres or not, so now that I drive to work I was thinking it'd be prudent to pick something up. I used to use chains a lot snowboarding in the states, so I know they can be a real life saver!

I guess I'll hold out a bit longer since that express article has been discredited, but OlI may get some socks to chuck in the boot just in case.
 
This country would be a far far better place if all the tabloids and chav TV was turned off and closed down tonight. Then give me a sniper riffle and anyone who moans about it gets shot first. A few months later and we will have a much better country.
 
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