Winter tyres saved me three times!!!!

[Harrythedog]

[QUOTE=snoop51;1365147][QUOTE=Harrythedog;1364907]

Sorry Harry but I've sat in many a traffic queue on the other side of the motorway the sole cause being people slowing down to gawp at others misfortune on the other side, it happens all the time. I find it a bit sick myself all these sicko's hoping to see a bit of gore.


So you agree this trait is only applicable to the English?

[renault12ts]

Originally Posted by talleres

Borys, I support you. Here's why.

On several trips between Northern and Southern France, I've reached 1,000m above sea level and seen snow/ice on the roads, having to drive gingerly whilst shod with summer tyres. Yet before setting off, I never saw any forecasts of sub-zero temperatures or ice on those routes. I know this because I always check in order to not make the trip, or to do so on the warmest and driest day of the five-six day forecast. In every case where I travelled and yet saw snow/ice, the forecast was for temps above 3 Celsius at the lowest. I know enough about altitudes and temps to know the figures will be a few degrees lower than that. If I'd had winter tyres for some of my trips, I'd have saved probably an hour each way!

During winter three years ago, late at night, I had a scary moment in Northern France, about 30-45 mins before the tunnel (so not at altitude). Travelling at 80mph, I was passed by a French registered car and we were shortly hit by hailstones and icy conditions. I lifted off and braked gently to probably 40mph. My outside temperature gauge quickly moved from +3 degrees to -1.5, and the car that had passed me came off the road ahead of me. Luckily, he didn't hit anything. But thereafter, we continued at about 20-30mph for about another 10km, before emerging from the hail into sleety rain, and a rise in the temp gauge back to about 3 Celsius. I really wished I'd had winter tyres on that night. No forecasts for my route suggested this kind of event, nor sub-zero temperatures. Maybe it was a freak, but I doubt it - because I recall there were road signs warning of the danger of skidding cars and of ice.

You sceptics can search as high and as low as you wish for evidence to refute Borys' posts. I believe him. You're unlikely to find a forecast to match the conditions on the road as some of us have experienced. I know that I never ever set off on any of my long French trips when temperatures are forecast below 3 Celsius, day or night. Because I know the reality can be lower, and will certainly be so when I get to altitude.

Now, with Conti winter tyres on the W203 I drove so often through France, my big headache isn't making progress in the winter in the UK. It is knowing that most drivers around (mainly behind) me think I'm on summer tyres, and will assume they can match my winter tyre grip levels on their (likely) summer tyres. I had several near misses last year where cars clearly lost traction and skidded towards me or the kerb as they tried to keep up with me, especially when they took bends alongside me. So now I drive far more gingerly with my winter tyres on than I know I can (tested the limits last year). I also brake earlier to give the optimists behind plenty of time to avoid hitting me.

You don't have to have them on. And you don't have to believe in their merits. But it'd be a reasonable thing to expect that some of you'd just stop trying to discredit every post on the merits of winter tyres, just because you don't believe in them.

A sensible post, and a sensible approach.

I did not doubt Borys...I suggested that at 1oC, travelling at 90 mph could be considered foolish, no matter what tyres you have on.

The premise of my argument being that you are assuming an unerring accuracy for the outside temp sensor on the car and that the temp will not, suddenly, fall below freezing. In Borys case it did fall...he misjudged the situation. And, as you say...he was on winters, but who else was, and that's the problem too...other people getting it wrong around you at 90mph in dodgy conditions.

[Apial]

Originally Posted by Dieselman

I saw the video's and no-one disagrees that winter tyres do offer more grip in the right conditions, but the speeds on the ice rink were about 10mph. Try the same manoeuvres at 70mph, nothing but studded tyres then works on ice.

How do you know you hit ice this morning, it has to be well below 0c with wind to cause the road to freeze.

Strange as it may seem, I am aware of the Lincolnshire wolds as that area came under my control at work for ten years or so.
Snow was very rarely a problem for my drivers...maybe they can drive better on their summer tyres than you can...

Now that you have AGREED that winter tyres offer more grip under certain conditions, can we agree that these conditions are when there is snow or ice on the road?


"How do you know you hit ice this morning, it has to be well below 0c with wind to cause the road to freeze" Because it was well below 0c with wind, I suppose.... and that further up the road was white and black ice too.

There was more ice last on the road at 8pm. Forecast said 3C. And according to you one of the warmest winters too. Fortunately I am only interested in the temperature when I am driving, not some statistical average, otherwise I would be like you, driving ALL the time on summer tyres, that were designed for SUMMER!

[snoop51]

[QUOTE=Harrythedog;1365155][QUOTE=snoop51;1365147]

Originally Posted by Harrythedog

Sorry Harry but I've sat in many a traffic queue on the other side of the motorway the sole cause being people slowing down to gawp at others misfortune on the other side, it happens all the time. I find it a bit sick myself all these sicko's hoping to see a bit of gore.


So you agree this trait is only applicable to the English?

Never seen it happen in other countries and at a rough guess I've lived abroad for about 10 years of my adult life in various countries. It may well happen in other countries but I've not seen it there, I have though seen it happen here time and time again. I can only go on MY own experiences and see nothing wrong with quantifying where something I have seen has been occurring.

[brucemillar]

Well as one who has sat on the M1 having had my car written off and in the process of trying to get somebody out of their burning car!! I can testify to the behaviour of others in that instance. Anybody who was not blocked by the accident kept driving past. Result two other crashed in quick succesion as they attempted to look at the disaster at the side of them. This was quickly followed up by the inevitable crash bang wallop on the other carriageway.

[CCAALLVVIINN]

[QUOTE=Harrythedog;1365155][QUOTE=snoop51;1365147]

Originally Posted by Harrythedog

Sorry Harry but I've sat in many a traffic queue on the other side of the motorway the sole cause being people slowing down to gawp at others misfortune on the other side, it happens all the time. I find it a bit sick myself all these sicko's hoping to see a bit of gore.


So you agree this trait is only applicable to the English?

Harry, I admire your optimistic view of the public, but I'd not assume that the chap following you will help you sadly.

There are of course exceptions.

[Dieselman]

Originally Posted by Apial

Now that you have AGREED that winter tyres offer more grip under certain conditions, can we agree that these conditions are when there is snow or ice on the road?

IF there was snow,then yes, but there isn't any. Has that FACT escaped you.

[Harrythedog]

Harry, I admire your optimistic view of the public, but I'd not assume that the chap following you will help you sadly.

There are of course exceptions.[/QUOTE]

I'd certainly stop as I have done in the past however I'm not sure if I'd stop on a motorway with all the dangers involved. Fortunately with the popularity of the mobile phone your probably better off ringing 999 ASAP

[CCAALLVVIINN]

Of course the mobile phone should be used to alert the emergency services, but I've never made a bad situation worse by offering sensible help, far from it, but I suspect we'll never agree on this matter.

Lets hope that one day I'm following you rather than the other way round!

Interesting way you sign your posts in view of the last few posts.

[300E]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

Is that number plate a reference to driving a 1 series in the snow, on summers??


I have had 2 1 series btw, I love 'em, but shocking in the snow on summers.

Ha ha yes, there may be an element of truth in that!

The plate was the one allocated to the car , I must have annoyed the BMW dealer!

Incidentally, that little bit of snow in my photo was enough to put some drivers off, I saw a few turning around, not keen on driving through the white stuff!

[Dieselman]

Originally Posted by 300E

The plate was the one allocated to the car , I must have annoyed the BMW dealer!

Talking of reg plates, today I saw one C9OCK on a Passat.

Originally Posted by 300E

Incidentally, that little bit of snow in my photo was enough to put some drivers off, I saw a few turning around, not keen on driving through the white stuff!

They probably had Snow tyres on as well...

What has this Country come to, so wrapped in stupidity and cotton wool, it's unbelievable.

This is the kind of snow they are meant to be for...

[Harrythedog]

Originally Posted by CCAALLVVIINN

Of course the mobile phone should be used to alert the emergency services, but I've never made a bad situation worse by offering sensible help, far from it, but I suspect we'll never agree on this matter.

Lets hope that one day I'm following you rather than the other way round!

Interesting way you sign your posts in view of the last few posts.

I suggest you re-read my post as I stated I would stop as I have done in the past however stopping on a motorway with wife & kids in the car is a different thing altogether. I wouldn't put them in danger.

[Apial]

Originally Posted by Dieselman

IF there was snow,then yes, but there isn't any. Has that FACT escaped you.

If you are going to quote me then at least put something that is relevant. Has it escaped you that winter tyres work on ice too?

[Dieselman]

Originally Posted by Apial

If you are going to quote me then at least put something that is relevant. Has it escaped you that winter tyres work on ice too?

There isn't any ice either, it's too warm.

[Apial]

Originally Posted by Dieselman

They probably had Snow tyres on as well...

What has this Country come to, so wrapped in stupidity and cotton wool, it's unbelievable.

This is the kind of snow they are meant to be for...

No you are totally wrong. Winter tyres do not work once the depth of compressed snow exceeds the ground clearance. And in that picture it clearly has. I have seen more snow than that on the Wolds, but we don't have any motorways.

As a rough guide, once you go deeper than knee depth in fresh snow you run the risk of grounding. Sure you can ram 4ft snow drifts, but once you build up snow beneath the vehicle you lift the wheels off the ground.

Then you are stuck, unless you have a backup plan.