A wee winter tyre tale...

[Ess_Three]

Today I drove to a nearby town. The roads were white with the occasional dark/brown strip where tyres had run.
It was -4.5 when I left the house, -8 at my destination, and -6 when I got back.
I had no traction or braking issues the whole way there (17 miles) and back.

In fact, I tried to see how much grip there was available: I was able to use half throttle easily, with little by way of traction control cutting in.
I was able to brake pretty damn hard and pull up straight, and smoothly, with barely any ABS activation.

Oh, and the snow was deep enough to be using my front spoiler as a snowplough most of the way there, and back.

Winter tyres are ace. I have a set of 4, by the way. 

[Hartside]

Ditto - I did the same this morning in about -8.5°C with loads of snow and ice and it just kept motoring through. No grit in evidence and plenty of grip available. Only snap throttle seemed to provoke any wheel spin. The snowplough front is my only worry now, especially as the snow starts to freeze. With 4 winters on it feels safe and predictable

[Spartacus]

Just put my winter tyres on my ML as well. GTi is a company car so cannot change them.

Difference ( even with 4 wheel drive ) is night and day.

I must admit though that without forums like this I would never have known the difference or even that you could buy winter tyres in the UK. I had them on last winter and keep them on for my annual snow boarding trip.

When I tell people that I have put my winter tyres they stare in disbelief and confusion.

Feels like I have discovered something new !

Anyway they will go on every year from now on.

[GolfTi]

The difference can only be believed by actually trying them.
I am amazed at the difference in traction and braking.
A large outlay I know but if you keep them for 3 or 4 winters then worth it surely.
What price do you put on safety anyway?

I've had a few people giving me stange looks when I've mentioned them but I think they are becoming more popular in the UK especially after the last few weeks..

[Jimble]

How good are they on smooth ice? the reason i ask is cos the roads around my way are generally well gritted but on tuesday night i got slightly caught out, a short trip usually around 30 minutes took just under 3 hours due to very heavy traffic, the cause was a road with a slight incline had frozen over meaning very very slow moving traffic. no snow at all just thin ice.
Now i know that having winter tyres on my car would not of made any difference to the traffic but would they stop me slipping on a slight hill covered in ice?

[Ess_Three]

How good are they on smooth ice? the reason i ask is cos the roads around my way are generally well gritted but on tuesday night i got slightly caught out, a short trip usually around 30 minutes took just under 3 hours due to very heavy traffic, the cause was a road with a slight incline had frozen over meaning very very slow moving traffic. no snow at all just thin ice.
Now i know that having winter tyres on my car would not of made any difference to the traffic but would they stop me slipping on a slight hill covered in ice?

They are OK..far better than summer tyres.
If the road is very smooth and the ice flat and smooth...then I guess nothing will grip.
But in the same way certain winter hiking type boots find grip on ice where a smooth leather soled shoes don't...it all helps.

[Jimble]

Ahh i see, thanks  Ess_three

[gizzywizzy]

Total cock up with my tyres, I am sure I ordered tyres for the 17" shadows which I'd been promised by a mate for £50, what I've got are 225/40/18V Continentals so I can't get the shadow alloys and will have to put these new ones on my monzas and hope for the best as I cannot be doing with sending them back and re-ordering, winter will be long gone before I get the damn things on the car.

I guess I will see come Monday how good they are on the snow and ice.

[am1w]

Total cock up with my tyres, I am sure I ordered tyres for the 17" shadows which I'd been promised by a mate for £50, what I've got are 225/40/18V Continentals so I can't get the shadow alloys and will have to put these new ones on my monzas and hope for the best as I cannot be doing with sending them back and re-ordering, winter will be long gone before I get the damn things on the car.
I guess I will see come Monday how good they are on the snow and ice.

Darling, you have fab tyres and they are now very expensive and also very difficult to source.
You are going to fly around the moors. They are ever so quiet and smooth riding. Lucky lush.

[gizzywizzy]

Total cock up with my tyres, I am sure I ordered tyres for the 17" shadows which I'd been promised by a mate for £50, what I've got are 225/40/18V Continentals so I can't get the shadow alloys and will have to put these new ones on my monzas and hope for the best as I cannot be doing with sending them back and re-ordering, winter will be long gone before I get the damn things on the car.
I guess I will see come Monday how good they are on the snow and ice.

Darling, you have fab tyres and they are now very expensive and also very difficult to source.
You are going to fly around the moors. They are ever so quiet and smooth riding. Lucky lush.

How true Asker with 18's on even if they are winter tyres I probably will be flying around the moors (not in a good way).  Being fitted on Monday now as I had no idea where the locking wheel nut was yesterday, and by the time I'd taken out the dog's bed, the boot buddy and the dog guard to get to the spare wheel and tool kit the guy had another customer to do and was unable to finish me off.  To say I was hacked off is an understatement.  Have you got some winter tyres yet or are you not bothering?