Winter Tyres

[Rolfe]

I saw the TV footage last night from Aberdeen, a bunch of cars slithering around with no control at all.  One nearly went sideways into a lamp post right in front of the camera.

I can understand why winter tyres aren't mandatory in Britain, but why on earth don't we see some public information stuff about the advantages of fitting them?  For Pete's sake, why don't we see bloody advertisements from the tyre manufacturers telling us all about what their product can do for us in these conditions and trying to sell us some?

I swear if it wasn't for this forum, I wouldn't even know such things existed.  Everything I've seen about them has either been on here, or on links followed from here.  The single other instance was a small, diffident little note in the window of a local garage where I stopped for petrol, just reading "winter tyres now in stock".

Every day now, we get traffic reports saying such-and-such a road should only be attempted by four-wheel-drive vehicles.  Yeah, on summer tyres I suppose and watch them slither too, even if they slither with better control.  A few traffic reports saying only to attempt the road if you have winter tyres fitted might concentrate some minds.

Rolfe.

[MDSS MK6]

And indeed if they made more of the fact that once the temp drops below 7c you are better off with winter tyres. As I've said before, once you drive in the alps in the winter & appreciate the total lack of drama as everyone has a set of winter tyres it makes a heap of sense. You'd imagine the insurance companies might have a vested interest here too!

[Rolfe]

Well, I've got mine on now and it's difficult to say much because "lack of drama" is about it.  We had snow lying yesterday evening and again this morning, but I just drove as normal and nothing out of the ordinary happened.  Since I don't have a crystal ball set to an alternate universe where I didn't fit the things, I don't know how it would have been without them.

I'm still not 100% sure about this "just put a pair on the front wheels" part, but I'll let you know how I get on.

Rolfe.

[Ess_Three]

I saw the TV footage last night from Aberdeen, a bunch of cars slithering around with no control at all.  One nearly went sideways into a lamp post right in front of the camera.

Aberdeen Council fails again.
They have evidently learned nothing from last winter.
Not unsurprising, sadly.

Most of the locals seem just as stupid too...

Every day now, we get traffic reports saying such-and-such a road should only be attempted by four-wheel-drive vehicles.  Yeah, on summer tyres I suppose and watch them slither too, even if they slither with better control. 

Last winter I spotted several X5s and the like, slithering about with no real traction (not surprised with 285 wider tyres!) whilst I drove along with no more drama than summer tyres in winter, in my little FWD hatchback.

[Rolfe]

Hankook Icebear?

That's what it seems to say on my front tyres now.  I have no idea if it's good or bad, but 48 hours on I'm still alive!

Rolfe.

[Ess_Three]

Hankook Icebear?

That's what it seems to say on my front tyres now.  I have no idea if it's good or bad, but 48 hours on I'm still alive!

Rolfe.

Hankook make some good tyres...although Asker won't approve as they aren't a 'Permium' maker...but I'd say you'll be just fine on those tyres.
They will be vastly better than your old summer tyres...as you've experienced.

[Steve30]

I just replaced mine today with PS3's 150 a corner, will let you know how they are once run a bit. Kwicksh*t wanted 190 a corner , I said to the guy behind the desk, who are the mugs who pay this sort of money and get raped by you guys , he just gave me smile  . The tyres seem much quieter than the Dunlop's.

[Snoopy]

The main roads in and around us were exactly the same this morning as the backstreet. No gritters nothing.

[Hartside]

Same here, we had about 3 inches this morning and the roads hadn't been gritted.

[am1w]

Hankook Icebear?
That's what it seems to say on my front tyres now.  I have no idea if it's good or bad, but 48 hours on I'm still alive!
Rolfe.

Hankook make some good tyres...although Asker won't approve as they aren't a 'Permium' maker... but I'd say you'll be just fine on those tyres.
They will be vastly better than your old summer tyres...as you've experienced.

They do and they are not considered, by the powers that be, a Premium make.