Don't travel unless absoutely necessary

[Blue in Munich]

Certainly snow chains are a better idea in this country than winter tyres that we would only use for a short period in the winter. This winter we had two weeks early in December and this last few week.

I'd beg to differ. Chains are fine when the snow is fresh and deep, but need to be taken off when you get back to the roads which are clear of snow. If you don't you risk them snapping and flailing your bodywork to pieces. Snow tyres are not just for snow, they work better in lower temperatures than ordinary tyres because of the different rubber formulation and I find them better in the wet because of the additional sipes. Mine tend to go on just after the clocks change and are put away when the clocks go back.

 

[stevelev]

I'd beg to differ. Chains are fine when the snow is fresh and deep, but need to be taken off when you get back to the roads which are clear of snow. If you don't you risk them snapping and flailing your bodywork to pieces. Snow tyres are not just for snow, they work better in lower temperatures than ordinary tyres because of the different rubber formulation and I find them better in the wet because of the additional sipes. Mine tend to go on just after the clocks change and are put away when the clocks go back.

Beat ya to it :ears:

 

[Blue in Munich]

So you did. Fortunately I play quicker than I type.....

 

[CliveW]

Snow tyres are not just for snow, they work better in lower temperatures than ordinary tyres because of the different rubber formulation and I find them better in the wet because of the additional sipes. Mine tend to go on just after the clocks change and are put away when the clocks go back.

Snow tyres and winter tyres are different. What we need in this country are Winter tyres.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Snow tyres and winter tyres are different. What we need in this country are Winter tyres.

Care to share? Because Camskill & National Tyres both seem to think the name is interchangeable, as do I.

 

[CliveW]

Care to share? Because Camskill & National Tyres both seem to think the name is interchangeable, as do I.

As already said, winter tyres are designed to be used on all types of road conditions below temps of 7 degrees when normal tyres become less efficient. Snow tyres are specifically designed for use in the snow and are not so much an "all rounder"

 

[Blue in Munich]

Guess we'll agree to differ then; as Continental, Pirelli, Nokian, Avon, Michelin and Dunlop only list winter or cold weather tyres, and interchange the word snow for winter, I'm more convinced by them.

 

[G1BB0]

proper snow tyres have studs dont they?

I am running 18" low profile wide wheels with summer tyres... for that reason I have been driving about 5 miles an hour on side streets and no more than 20 max 30 on main roads (all ours are 40 limit btw). The amount of time I have had to false brake just to deter the idiots too close behind me! I am going to purchase some 17" alloys and winter tyres in the Autumn when I get my main wheels refurbed.

We have snow socks for our vans, they are awesome. Have to take them off on clear roads but for side roads and hills they are excellent

 

[Blue in Munich]

I know the ones you mean; Nokians are by common consensus the best winter tyres and they simply refer to them as studded or non-studded winter tyres, rather than snow tyres. They are by all accounts awesome, particularly on ice, I've never had the opportunity to test them myself and there's some debate as to whether they would be UK legal as they might damage our pristine, pot-hole free road surfaces........ I am a definite convert to snow/winter (delete as applicable) tyres.