SOmebody asked for test of summer tyres in winter conditions?

[Peskarik]

Here is a nice article with a lot of interesting info (also pertaining to winter tyres):

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0905_2008_mitsubishi_lancer_evo_vs_2009_subaru_wrx_sti/index.html

An outtake for impatient:

With summer tires on Continental's groomed surfaces, the Evo X and STI slide around in comic slow motion, like props in a Buster Keaton movie (look it up, youngsters). The extra wear on the Evo's Bridgestones show up in the numbers: 0-to-40 mph in 30.1 seconds versus 16.1 seconds for the STI. Neither can reach 60 mph before running out of test surface. The Evo brakes 40-0 mph in 428 feet, the STI takes 391. The Mitsu's summer-tire figure eight takes 76.5 seconds at 0.10 g average, and the Subie needs 71.4 seconds at 0.21 g. That's no misprint. It shows how much more time and space it takes to drive on snow and ice with the wrong tires.

now imagine a GTI in those conditions 

This winter I was running summer tyres  :embarassed:
One day I got caught up first on ice-covered roads (snow-melt-freeze over night) and then on snow-covered roads (it was snowing like hell). That was a 40mph road (I do not do highways on daily basis anymore, I prefer doing 40mhp in 5th gear at relaxed 1500RPMs. Yes, my E30 is tuned to 300hp/400Nm). I can tell you, I was praying to God to save me! Breaking and acceleration is nigh on impossible, especially on snow. It is just terrible, I tell you.

[icenutter]

0-40 in 30.1 seconds! 

[Egbutt Wash]

Thanks for the answer.

[Egbutt Wash]

After reading that I ordered my winter tyres at the end of summer (when they were cheap).

[Hurdy]

I'm running winter tyres and after yestedays trip to work....I'm really glad I have them!!!!!!!

The trip to work normally takes 8-10 minutes and took me just over an hour!

Highlights/Lowlights of wrong tyres/bad driving......

2 collisions of other cars blocking the only road down the hill to get me to work, so had to turn around and go up the hill
3 cars all side by side trying to pass each other going up the hill and all going nowhere. I had to stop behind them and when one gave up and rolled back and turned around, I simply set off and passed the other two
At the top of the hill I turned a corner and an old guy was laid on the floor in the road in front of me,I stopped, put the hazard lights on, got out of the car, asked if he was okay (he was, but couldn't get up!), so I helped him up and another old guy at the edge of the road said he was with him and they only had to walk 2 mins back home. Good job I had winter tyres otherwise I'd have probably skidded straight over him.
Steep hill down into the valley was fun on a road with near virgin snow, but managed it and then took a decent run to come up the other side passing another two cars see-sawing their way up the same road, but going nowhere!
Next a bloke pulled out in front of me from a parking spot to come DOWN the hill, causing me to stop. What a KN0B! Most people with summer tyres would have been screw3d, but the winters saw me set off again without drama.
Then a woman in a Suzuki 4x4 broke too hard on a steep incline with camber and slid straight into the pavement - you guessed it - she looked like she was on normal summer road tyres and couldn't drive for toffee in snow.
Finally a guy in a UKMail van seesawing his way up a steep hill as I'm coming down. I pulled in to let him attempt to pass me and after 10 minutes of him not going anywhere I got cheesed off and got out of my car and told him exactly what he was doing wrong - 5Krpm at full throttle and seesawing the wheel is just plain wrong.

The moral of the story - tyres suitable for the driving conditions and a little common sense of how to drive in poor conditions FTW!!!!!!