SiPie

Your idea of cycling everywhere WILL fail, I assure you

If your snow gets as deep as we get, you have no chance and will exhaust yourself within a mile. Then it will thaw a bit and ice over and then you are equally screwed.

Good luck

zip106

Nanny state or the Jeermans can't drive.

Now you've told me you live in Scotchland, all becomes clear.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Bikes are allowed studded tyres.... Ice won't be a problem. Deep snow would be but arseholes to going anywhere in that

RA Dunk

I guess Scandanavians can't drive either then.

Leslie

Seems like a big expense when I have found I have been able to cope well enough on the ones I have got. I expect they would be a noticeable improvement but not enough to justify the extra money.

Les

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

No idea what I'm going to do this year. Live in aberdeenshire and the Civic has 18" rims = £600 for tyres. Tried looking out for cheap smaller wheels, but these cars are still too new to get any availability.

Thinking of looking for an old £800 Impreza sport to then sell on again in the spring.

Impreza in the avatar doesnt do winter.

Jamz3k

The Alfa is a complete waste of time in the snow with normal tyres. I don't know why, possiblely user error but I had to be rescued numerous times last year......even by a Hyundai i30, my missus' granda loved that!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Nope; yet to get stuck.....even in the BMWs!

I just let the some air out the tyres to make the tread blocks flex more.

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

I've got a spare set of wheels, with winter tyres fitted - would have been rude to say "no" at the price I paid for them.

Made a big difference last year, having said that, I could still get up our street with the old year round Pirelli's fitted, where as just about everyone else got stuck.

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

im the same 16" wheels with winters fitted, need to get out and about in winter, esp as the mrs is due in feb lol

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Absolutely, yes. The roads around my office turned to sheet ice last year and the car was sliding around even bumbling along at idle.

I bought a spare set of wheels specially for winter use earlier in the year, and they're being fitted with Bridgestone Blizzaks on Wednesday. First hint of freezing temperatures or heavy rain and they're going on the car.

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.p...1&F_F_S=&F_F=1

GC8

A set or pair of used autograss tyres will do what you need and only cost about £50. Theyll still have about 6mm of tread remaining and massive chunks.

Theyre different from normal sized 'winter' tyres which have soft rubber, but theyll do the job better (in snow). The trade-off, of course, is that they wont be as good when its simply cold.

Get some cheap/old wheels and fit them as you need them and for a very small outlay; you wont ever be unable to drive.

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

My old Astra was amazing in the snow with its budget tyres. gripped everything even our steep driveway...

God know how i'll cope with the carisma!

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Hmm, Simon. Sound advice as always. Never thought of that. Seems a 4some of part worn winter tyres can be had for £110 or so on eGay, from a trusted source.

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

got my winter for £50 each from rossendale vulcanising

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

I think people often get confused betwen winter tyres and snow tyres, the former will pay divends in colder weather and on icy mornings/evenings and will stand you in better stead if it does snow, but are not a substitute for studded tyres when the white stuff falls.

If it snows or gets icy, the Impreza stays at home as:

a) 480ft lbs is really not fun in the snow.... unless you're somewhere deserted!
b) No accounting for the other people on the road or the tyres they have on their cars!! Just not worth the risk! Most people in the UK have not the slightest clue about how to drive in snow!

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Snow and ice are when mine comes out A 4WD scooby beats a BMW 3 series or a motorbike in the snow any day!

scud8

iTrader: (1)

I have a set of Nokian's ready to go on. Used them last winter for the time and they were a real eye-opener. It's very hilly here and I had no problems going anywhere - except of course for the people in 2WD with all-weather tyres sliding everywhere.

Leslie

Yes I know the feeling. I used to have an old BMW 535i years ago. It was a good car, pretty impressive performance and handled very well in all conditions except snow.

We used to live on a hilly bit and it often had to be left at the bottom of the hill because it just could not make it up.

Les

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

Complete waste of a 4WD car IMHO.

Rubbish! I have 500nm, (not sure what that is on lbft) all very controlable by my right foot and is my daily drive snow, rain or shine and with winter tyres it has never put a foot wrong.

This I do agree with.

richs2891

No not bothering - even if my BMW arrives in time, and if the snow arrives, then its just either going to have to sit at the bottom of the hill to my house or stay in the garage and the people that I normally drive around can drive me around for once !
TBH if I get snowed in then I would consider that a bonus
Richard

Gigsy

AWD might give you traction in snow and winter conditions but it won't help you turn or stop any better than a normal car. I do a fair few miles v. early in the morning so it makes even more sense to have them on.

The winter boots will be going on mine as soon as I get it back from the bodyshop - keep them on a spare set of wheels that I picked up for £50 so swap is pretty easy.

As cost goes, yes the initial outlay is more expensive but that's it as both sets will last longer since you split the wear across them.

darms

iTrader: (5)

My winter shoes are going on Saturday . Got a cracking deal for 4 x Continental winter contact ts 830.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Nah, cant be arsed, a couple of inches of snow between here and the main road doesnt require several hundred quids worth of new tyres and wheels, I can work from home, the missus can walk to work and the kids go on the school bus. The Galaxy coped really well, must be down to weight and sensible tyres, Saab wasnt that bad, certainly better than the neighbours BMW, she is still traumatized havign got caught out in the snow, strangely some people dont find oversteer fun !

Might try the 500 in the snow for a laugh though, probably pretty good with 125's on !

Devildog

Winter tyre compounds are temperature sensitive. If its 7 decrees c or below they will be fine.

Frosticles

iTrader: (1)

I had a set on my old STi last year (Dunlop SP Winter Sport) Best purchase I made for that car. As soon as the snow came the car never got stuck and we had over 2 feet of snow here!!! Had to pull the wife's Mini up the driveway.
Sold the car in January though and bought a BMW. Not looking forward to the snow this year. Am looking at another set of winters though as said, I can't recommend them enough

Couple of pics.......

SiPie

Mrs SiPie took this pic of me leaving fir work in the Forester last year...

Do you need winter Tyres and a Forrester where I stay...? If you 'need' to get to work, then yes.

Caged "R"

iTrader: (4)

Bought a set of winter continentals from eBay for the mrs car & bought myself a £900 Impreza sport estate!
If I get stuck with that I'm gonna give up..

davyboy

Nope. Will save a fortune and not go out, walk, or work form home.

What important missions are you all doing that you HAVE to drive on the few snowy days we have in this country.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Some of us don't sit in front of a computer screen as means of employment. I know, astonishing but true