Ok, this may be a bit of an extreme comparison, but has anyone watched the fantastic program, Ice Road Truckers ? If not, these guys have their Trucks march across Canada on ice (frozen rivers/lakes etc) snow and almost arctic conditions with their spiked and I'd expect winter tyres that are build for those conditions. Even then, these guys are not saved by them, you still see them slide around and cant in some instances pick up speed and slow down and they drive
If these guys cant, what makes a GTI with a winter tyre and drivers with very little experience in those driving conditions fair any better ?
You can throw arguments about all day long based on no experience and hypothetical examples...
Those who live in areas where the average temperature is around zero for weeks/months on end, and where it snows, and where the roads aren't cleared will not get out of their driveway with 'summer' compound 225 wide sledges fitted to their FWD Golf.
Been there, tried that...fitted Winter tyres and the problem goes away.
You can drive however you like...but if the grip isn't there, no amount of smart arsed driving is going to find it...
If it's there, and you have tyres that are actually designed to make the best use of it...you have a fighting chance.
This is from experience, not hypothetical examples or internet theorising.
Perhaps out continental cousins set rules about using winter tyres (and have the corresponding drop in accidents) because it's all good craic?
No?
