why can't people drive in the slightest bit of bad weather!?

[paultap]

I few years ago we had a lot of snow here in South wales, I live at the bottom of a steep hill and the snow proved too much for my 4wD Subaru impreza turbo on summer tyres... Well... after the local kids had decided to use the hill as a great place to sledge down that is!..I decided to leave the car in its usual place outside the house, none of my neighbours were going anywhere so I thought all would be fine.

One of my neighbours boyfriends decided to come around and show the world what a Landrover discovery can do and decided to drive up the hill, for no other reason than to show off! He got 3/4 of the way up the hill and was then met by a kid on a sledge coming down (obviously egar to make the most of a day off school).. He stopped the landrover on the steep hill on what was by now a compacted Bob sleigh track.... The discovery proceeded to slide 50 yards backwards down the hill veered to one side and went straight into my car, smashing the rear bumber and lights and rear wing on one side.

After I had bitten my lip and resisted the temptation to have a public swearing fit, we amically sorted the situation and a repair was sorted through the guys insurance, they also picked up the bill for me to have a 4WD hire car whilst the repair was being dealt with, a few days later, Enterprise car hire provided me with a brand new,top of the range VW Tiguan. It was a turbo diesel automatic. I had the car for Two weeks whilst my Subaru was being repaired, I honestly did not want to give the thing back!...

It was an excellent car and proved to be much better in the snow than my Subaru too. (my impreza turbo had no high/ low range gear box, unlike my previous non turbo impreza which although slower was far superior in the snow- especially going down steep hills in snow!)

 

[User00003]

llike Jagare says, on ice, studded tyres is the business. can't believe they're not allowed here, my Mrs family in the US run them every year in Vermont and NH and I honestly can't say they'd survive without.

 

[countrryboy]

llike Jagare says, on ice, studded tyres is the business. can't believe they're not allowed here, my Mrs family in the US run them every year in Vermont and NH and I honestly can't say they'd survive without.

But how often do u generally get conditions that need them? Esp long term for months at a time. I would imagine the countries that use them will be driving on packed snow roads consistantly for months at a time?
Would they not damage the already ducked the roads when dry and clear which is most of the time really.

And as pretty much everyone has said its not the fact folk havenae got the tools, it's more the fact far too many folk have no common sense and would just get stuck in more ackward places or attempt to climb/come down hills which they are just asking for trouble.
In the town i live there is a steepishhill just past me but folk still park in the exact same placs they park in the summer (ie 5-8 cars 1 side then 5-8 the other etc) so creating a fairly tight cichane? up a steep hill, and then they wonder why the bin wagon cannae get up there?

I used to hate driving my l200 in the snow and would far prefer to drive my wee scrapper 2wd skoda pickup with winter tyres, these big pick ups are just to heavy any sort of tiny gradient they will run on with little enging braking hereas the skoda as soon as u took foot of would beginn to slow. Never like to touch the brakes if i can help it.
End of day still only 4 small bits of rubber stopping ur motor from slipping/sliding and ur big 4x4 is 2-21/2T lot of wieght.

Mind 1 shoot i was picking up one of those cold/snowy winters 4/5 years ago, driving on packed snow/ice in places the guns had auto BMW/Mercs 4wd with big fat tyres i was amazed they managed to get back at 11's to change motors, the ammount of times u seen them slide down hills as they touched the brakes, they must of been sh***ing it

 

[bewsher500]

Winter tyres wear faster when its over 5c. The quality friction tyres are just as good in the snow as studded tyres but tyres with studs are best when its icy. I've got Friction tyres on the caddy and studded on the mitsu. When we get the snow and ice i use the mitsu. saves having to plough the road before i go to work.

Am am sure some brands do but in my experience it is not the case
i ran nokian Wr G2's continually for 18 months on an Audi
they lasted longer than the Michelin Pilot Sport 3's I took off yesterday

this included long motorway journeys and a lot of B roads

 

[David T]

I'm pleased to hear that! I've not had any training, and my experience is beyond doubt that for going up gradients, as well as general driving, in ice and/or snow, the tyres designed for the job knock the others into a cocked hat.

Perhaps I should go and get trained on how to make summer tyres, which nowadays are essentially rock-hard cut slicks, grip on frozen roads!

Guess we'll just have to do the gentlemanly thing and agree to disagree.

 

[Dalua]

Guess we'll just have to do the gentlemanly thing and agree to disagree.

I guess so: but I remain interested to know how, never having used winter tyres, you are in a position to comment on their utility. This is really a bit like the open sight vs scope debate, and you arguments against winter tyres are much the as those made against scopes.
Winter tyres clearly won't give folk any idea how to drive in poor conditions, but they might save them from the results of their inadequacy - just as a scope will not make you a good shot, but might save you from errors in sight-picture.

You're clearly very good at driving in poor conditions, and with your skill and experience, you assess road conditions and drive within you ability and that of your vehicle and tyres.
You presumably tend to avoid circumstances where you feel you're likely to get stuck: and when you have got stuck, you assess the situation as being one in which anyone would have got stuck - although of course never having used winter tyres, your judgment on that might be impaired.

 

[Ranger22]

I have used both types of tyre but I have never seen the need to put snow tyres on any of my cars. When I started in the forestry industry you were give an Escort van to get about in. These had normal tyres on and we got through snow up to 6 inches deep. It's technique. 4wd drives have made it easier to get about but you still need to know how to drive them. Nothing is particularly good on ice, chains and studs are best. 4wd trucks can be more of a problem on ice than cars. A shovel is always handy

 

[Jagare]

But how often do u generally get conditions that need them? Esp long term for months at a time. I would imagine the countries that use them will be driving on packed snow roads consistantly for months at a time?
Would they not damage the already ducked the roads when dry and clear which is most of the time really.

And as pretty much everyone has said its not the fact folk havenae got the tools, it's more the fact far too many folk have no common sense and would just get stuck in more ackward places or attempt to climb/come down hills which they are just asking for trouble.
In the town i live there is a steepishhill just past me but folk still park in the exact same placs they park in the summer (ie 5-8 cars 1 side then 5-8 the other etc) so creating a fairly tight cichane? up a steep hill, and then they wonder why the bin wagon cannae get up there?

I used to hate driving my l200 in the snow and would far prefer to drive my wee scrapper 2wd skoda pickup with winter tyres, these big pick ups are just to heavy any sort of tiny gradient they will run on with little enging braking hereas the skoda as soon as u took foot of would beginn to slow. Never like to touch the brakes if i can help it.
End of day still only 4 small bits of rubber stopping ur motor from slipping/sliding and ur big 4x4 is 2-21/2T lot of wieght.

Mind 1 shoot i was picking up one of those cold/snowy winters 4/5 years ago, driving on packed snow/ice in places the guns had auto BMW/Mercs 4wd with big fat tyres i was amazed they managed to get back at 11's to change motors, the ammount of times u seen them slide down hills as they touched the brakes, they must of been sh***ing it

I had a Skoda pick up for many years. with winter tyres on it was great in the snow. Very true what you say about the L200 Not a patch on the skoda in 2 wheel drive but great with the studded tyres on and 4 wheel drive.

 

[David T]

I guess so: but I remain interested to know how, never having used winter tyres, you are in a position to comment on their utility. This is really a bit like the open sight vs scope debate, and you arguments against winter tyres are much the as those made against scopes.
Winter tyres clearly won't give folk any idea how to drive in poor conditions, but they might save them from the results of their inadequacy - just as a scope will not make you a good shot, but might save you from errors in sight-picture.

You're clearly very good at driving in poor conditions, and with your skill and experience, you assess road conditions and drive within you ability and that of your vehicle and tyres.
You presumably tend to avoid circumstances where you feel you're likely to get stuck: and when you have got stuck, you assess the situation as being one in which anyone would have got stuck - although of course never having used winter tyres, your judgment on that might be impaired.

Dog and bone spring to mind.

 

[jase kaye]

If you must travel be prepared
Shovel

Flask of hot drink

Extra clothes

Blanket

Extra boots (wellingtons)

Felt a right dick getting on the bus this morning, took me an hour to get on it

 

[Dalua]

Dog and bone spring to mind.

At least this dog is commenting on a bone he's actually tried!

 

[David T]

At least this dog is commenting on a bone he's actually tried!

Yup, keep going.

 

[private fraser]

Heard an advert on the radio this morning for Audi Quatro.
It said that you never need to listen to the weather forecast again.
Slightly irresponsible I think, there are muppets out there who probably will believe it