c_maguire

Thing is, if you take a walk round a supermarket carpark nowadays and look at the tyres on the cars then you'll find a hell of a lot with LingLongs or the like on them. And many of those cars are under 5 years old so the owners have probably gone straight from the OE tyres to the LingLongs. If these people even consider Winter tyres do you think they'll go for Conti 850SP's or some cheap Chinese garbage?

Winter or Summer I'd rather have decent Summer tyres than what they are using. Unless it's snowing the Summers will work better than whatever they are using.

SEDITION

iTrader: (1)

Yes I've seen the same tests and usually buy the ones Motormännen recommend. At the end of the day, you pay for what you get.

After having studded Nokians, I've sold them and bought higher speed rated friction tyres this year precisely because the roads have allowed higher speed driving over the past two Winters.

Carnut

Another option would be to buy a cheap car (one that's less than 4 good winter tyres) and then who cares if you crash

GWJ

There is section of society that will just want to run their cars on the cheap. These are the same people that think servicing the car is a waste of money and its just so garages can make money out of them.


Safety, quality and efficiency mean nothing to them.


I too notice what tyres are fitted, I equate the quality of the tyre to the quality of the owner and think if this guy has fitted cheap crappy tyres, what else has he skimped on. Same applies if I am looking at a used car to buy

Luan Pra bang

Problem is that tyres are a rip off and many tyres places are shameless theives. I have seen first hand how maby 5 mm tyres unscrupulus tyre places talk people into changing and it does not surprise me that people need to save money. It seems like most of the motor trade is engaged in mass fraud these days, from back shop tyre fitters to main dealers.

Matteeboy

My VW dealer tried that one. The tyres lasted another 11 months before needing replacing...

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

This! I've only ever been stuck once yes, May be winter tyres would have helped but good old fashioned British folk helping each other out, got me over the hill. Me and about 50 other cars!

Of course they are a benifit, but certainly not a necessity in my opinion, especially in our climate.
People who crash in such conditions have no idea how to drive for the conditions around them and just expect their car to work everywhere.

The mushy stuff behind the wheel is the most important factor, not the tyres!

sprigeteer

iTrader: (9)

I've never fitted winter shoes. I lived in the South for most of my driving life, in quite a flat area. So, as long as I took it steady, the Summer tyres were fine. Now, up in the Borders, with lots of hills and lots of very early/late starts/finishes at work on B roads and tracks, it's a different story with travelling temps rarely getting above 2 or 3oC. The roads are not quick ones either, so the tyres are not getting warmed through. The Summers feel out of their depth and grip is in short supply. Even at low speeds they feel unsafe. So, bit the bullet and an going to try some winter tyres. Proof will be in the pudding.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Just make sure you do a bit of research and get some that actually work, they may cost a few quid more but it will be worth it.

sprigeteer

iTrader: (9)

Absolutely, could not agree more - I've opted for Michelin Alpin A4's. Good all-rounder, good prices and decent reviews. Plus, I could find stock locally. It's amazing how many places tried to push Ling Longs etc, but people must be buying them.

Matteeboy

Well our brief coldish patch has gone and it's into double figures again today - none of us died.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

No, but up here plenty of people with no common sense trying to drive around on standard tyres blocked the way for those of us with more brains and who therefore decided to not be stupid and selfish and put on the right tyres for the conditions

Matteeboy

[QUOTE=f1_fan;11592966]No, but up here plenty of people with no common sense trying to drive around on standard tyres blocked the way for those of us with more brains and who therefore decided to not be stupid and selfish and put on the right tyres for the conditions [/QUOTE
Chris; why does your usual sense of humour desert you when it comes to tyres?

You live UP NORTH where it's a LOT COLDER. We have two palm trees in our garden, potatoes arrive earlier than anywhere else, there's a top notch vineyard just down the road.

It's WARMER here; should those in the Canaries fit Winter tyres in their "Winter?"

SEDITION

iTrader: (1)

I got the A5s and they are working admirably over here.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Which is why my post started off with 'Up here....' as in 'Where I live ...' as in 'the North'! Not sure why you are taking umbrage at my post

Matteeboy

Okay, it sounded like an attack; it wasn't.

Anyway, Happy New Year (almost)!

Raptorman

iTrader: (1)

Never bothered with winter tyres, can't see the point. Never had
a problem in 20 odd years driving.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

No worries, I think my beef is that half the country do not really need them whereas the other half of the country probably does, but they come out with tosh like 'I've never had any problem on standard tyres', then they get stuck and those of us suitably tyred end up stuck behind them

And Happy New Year to you too btw

Carnut

It's not a LOT WARMER in Cornwall. I used to have a hill on the farm that i used to grit for the cows when there was ice on the ground and it was a ball ache. Not just the odd time but what felf like every bloody morning in winter every winter.
You're talking 1/2 degrees difference not a tropical climate and not only does Cornwall have ice it also have a less efficient gritting service and high sided roads with lots of tree lines etc.

Speak to all your farming buddies that you know and they will tell you how BIG a problem ice is in Cornwall. Freezing water for the animals that needs smashing each morning (with a big hammer) and pipes all round the farm needing defrosting with pipes cracking and needing to be repaired.

Fuçking Palm trees and vinyards give me a break would yah. I used to have a nice big palm tree in my front garden in Bodmin and Truro and have pictures of them both covered in snow but for the life of me i can't get them from my wifes Facebook to here.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Just about everyone has a their own personal Vineyard here, all the ones that aren't on my hill are covered in snow at the minute, 30cm fell the on the 27th and while my bit is snow free all the surrounding roads are buggered.

But I have AWD and Pirelli SottoZero winter tyres so no worries here except on one back road to one of the worst hit places which is just ice, tried to go that way yesterday ended up reversing, turning around and going another way after about 50m.

All the idiots pootling about on summer plastic lingalongs getting in the way blocking the roads, grip levels haven't changed for me since september when I put them on and it's been as cold as -15 in some of the surrounding areas, most I have seen is -2 at my place.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I do have full set of snow chains somewhere in the spare wheel well (along with jump leads, tyre weld etc). Never had to use them LOL

Think they were £15 a pair at the time.

Matteeboy

It's currently 12.5 degrees here - we had two cold days were it got close (but not below) zero. The forecast is now around 10 degrees for the forseeable future.

The official warmest place is the Isles of Scilly - which as you know being such as expert, is just off the coast of Cornwall.

Yep, we had two Winters of snow but that was three years ago. The last two have been very mild with virtually no ice. It's a marine climate with warmer air coming off the Gulf Stream - that's also why the West Coast of Scotland can be milder than expected but the East coast is freezing.

But you know all that because you're an expert...

Anyway Happy New Year - stayed in the camper last night at a mate's party. A splendid party crash pad. I am now feeling a tad wobbly...

Carnut

It's currently 12 degrees here up North in Manchester. .5 degrees difference.
Yep about 100 miles from you and surrounded by the Gulf Stream

If we were talking about snow tyres i would agree but we're talking about winter tyres which operate in cold conditions, Cornwall does have cold conditions and does have ice with slippery road conditions.

I actually agree with alot of what you say, if you do live south of Yorkshire and you aren't*dependant on your car so have the ability to stay at home or take it easy for a short distance then fine, I'm sure you can manage.

My gripe is that you talk as if Cornwall is a tropical climate detached of anything that resembles the rest of the UK and doesn't have ice. My first experience of winter tyres was when i used to live in Cornwall (i bought a car with them already on) and that too was a year with no snow in Cornwall but despite that they aided braking etc.

If you don't want winter tyres fine but should you choose to they can and do help even in Cornwall. (admittedly for less of the year)

Matteeboy

Not when I fitted them...

The previous Winter, it snowed right down to Devon; we had none.
It is warmer here; it might only be by a bit but it's significant.

Right now, I'm glad both car and van are on top quality "Summer" rubber.

scoobyskool

iTrader: (1)

Fwiw i also have done 4x4 response driving for last few years - these are thee guys that go out and ferry doctors and police etc to places when they have to get somewhere and most normal people have cleared the roads - only one guy i know has dedicated winter road tyres on his new rangey - almost everyone else just using ordinary all terrain tyres and always get the job done


Also worth mentioning - all the volunteers cars are 4wd - there are no 2wd cars with high quality winter tyres that do this service

Matteeboy

13 down here, 4 in Brum, 5 on the East Coast.
No no no it's not warmer here at all...

hodgy0_2

Everyone knows Cornwall is significantly milder than the north Mattee, only an idiot would suggest otherwise

Matteeboy

Hahahaaaa

Matteeboy

Many of you have these just outside your house yet?

Carnut

How's your tropical climate at the moment Mattee, after posting a pic of your new car a few days ago in Bodmin (Cornwall) on a white, sleet covered car park you are now having temperatures going below freezing with forecasts showing wintry showers and snow.