London roads impassable to 4x4s

[The Liberator]

Heard a bang outside 10 minutes ago, looked outside to see some wazzock trying to uncouple his Rav4 from a three inch kerb, and failing.

 

 

London drivers: GR0.375 at driving in snow. He has now abandoned it, and is presumably 'phoning Hirst Cabs as we speak, to continue his journey.

[mouseflakes]

'phoning

13.5/10 for a very proper apostrophe Mr. Liberator. Glad I'm not the only one that still does this.

[Lukas]

You UK-guys got only one little problem: Nobody seems to drive with winter-tyres! No wonder there is chaos, I wouldnt be able to drive around in the snow with summer-tires too. :roll:It doesnt matter if there is 8 month snow or just one month a year, winter => winter-tires, summer => summer-tires! All problems solved.

[pogweasel]

I should think that 90% of drivers are not even aware that there are different types of tyres.Add to that the UK domestic housing arrangement being based around tiny shoeboxes with zero storage, where the chuff are you supposed to keep you winter tyres the rest of the time?

[Lukas]

Every tire-dealer is offering tire-storage over the year, for very little money. Tires can be stored in the garage, in the basement, you can hang them on the wall...

[pogweasel]

Again, totally unfeasable here. Tyre depots only have space for a limited stock anyway without having hundreds of other folks sets cluttering up the place. Not that many homes have garages, and fewer still have cellars (particularly in my part of the world, they just get soggy). Rented garages are hard to come by these days as the blocks of them get demolished to build more tiny "affordable" houses...

[Minimad5]

How easy is it to get winter tyres though' ?A small place not too far by mine had one complete set of winter tyres, and has tried amazingly hard to get more.But due to the weather he is finding it hard to either get them delivered or at the right price.I think this weather can reveal some shocking driving, only yesterday on the way to college i seen a Primera doing 40mph sideways down a hill !He would of been fine if he didn't panic and slam on his breaks.I also love the foot to the floor 120mph, going no were idea that alot of people seem to have -(I can think of a porche driver i witnesses, who thought that flooring it, then stuffing his coat under one wheel would help.... it didn't)

[The Liberator]

I should think that 90% of drivers are not even aware that there are different types of tyres.Add to that the UK domestic housing arrangement being based around tiny shoeboxes with zero storage, where the chuff are you supposed to keep you winter tyres the rest of the time?

I think you're probably right, Pog. What happens to all the original fitment wheels and tyres when they've been replaced with 18" rimz and low-profile Wee-Long tyres though? Do they just get taken to the skip/thrown in the canal/dumped outside the charity shop? (I think I may have answered my own question).

[garethj]

in the garage, in the basement, you can hang them on the wall...

Hey baby I'm your telephone man Meri Wilson, 1977 ©

[Mr Lobster]

As Pog says, 90% of UK drivers won't even know that winter tyres exist. Its very true about newer houses having bugger all storage as well, garages that aren't big enough to fit a car in (builders know this and know that with the endless obsession of the masses to buy crap and then stick the old crap in the garage few people are actually bothered that they can't get a car in) and nothing in the way of outdoor storage unless you buy a shed.I'm thinking that a set of winter tyres for the Toledo might be a very good investment for next year though. I'd be surprised by the lack of ability of the Rav4 driver though, unfortunately I've seen enough of idiots driving recently to not be in the least bit surprised

[pogweasel]

I think you're probably right, Pog. What happens to all the original fitment wheels and tyres when they've been replaced with 18" rimz and low-profile Wee-Long tyres though? Do they just get taken to the skip/thrown in the canal/dumped outside the charity shop? (I think I may have answered my own question).

Quite. But it means you can get cheapo winter rims for buttons, just then you have to luzz out £200 on tyres for them. My BMW came with 18in wheels when I bought it with the originals MIA, so ready for this winter I got some OE 15in alloys for £30 for the winter tyres. Haven't got round to putting them on yet and TBH I think I won't bother fetching the car out until the snow has gone anyway. My van has only 1 set of wheels but needed new rubber anyway so just for M+S tyres on, they'll most likely be kippered by spring anyway

[Rod/b]

I'm awaiting delivery of a set of Vredestein Wintrac Extreme's for the Sportage. It's quite capable but I reckon we're going to see more of this kind of weather so worth the expense. The summer tyres can go in the shed.

[Cavcraft]

Rather cleverly I think I skipped/sold some winter tyres I had that would be ideal for my current daily motor.

[retrogeezer]

hahaha, looks like he slid a fair way too....nice bit of steering damage hopefully.There is a slight incline as you turn out of my road. The car I was behind (Zafira) stopped at the bottom and did not appear to want to attempt it. Another car (Corsa) seemingly stuck half way up with the driver making no attempt to do anything. Me in Bluebird drive around the 1st car, straight up the hill in 2nd passing the second car with no problems at all.

[VWPowered]

winter tyres i'm rolling on 145/13's baby scary

[Akron]

Or as an alternative what about all season tyres? I use Vredestein Quattrac 4 all year round, I can't complain about the grip in all conditions, probably not the best for track days but I never drive like that anyway.

[Rod/b]

All seasons are a bit of a "jack of all trades" solution. They're alright in the winter, and alright in the summer.

[Guest]

I've not gone to work in the taxi due to the weather conditions, I took the bus. Looks like I made the right choice, the roads are in a right state - slush all over the place. The damp has turned my shoes from beige to a rich mahogany and my trousers have tide marks. My coat and gloves are in the Charmant and I couldn't be bothered getting them out, so I'm braving the weather in a Greenwoods suit, what a complete dolt.To make up for having to use public transport, I'm going to the pub on the way home where I will have a few ales and some kind of hot dinner. Possibly sausage and chips!

[Milford Cubicle]

I think if you have good quality all season or summer tyres you should be OK if you're living somewhere where it only snows one or two times a year.Last winter I managed to move about OK with a nice set of Michelin Energys - even up some very steep hills in fresh snow. I only bought the winter tyres because they weren't quite good enough for me, but I live in the Highlands and it snows here quite a lot.If you're struggling for traction, you should let a bit of air out of your driven tyres, just enough to see the sidewall visibly compress a little, it makes a big difference.P.S. LOL at the RAV-4.

[pandamonium]

My Bluebird has been spot on in the snow too, but I reckon the front tyres are down a few psi too. I just put the autobox into 2nd and crawl away!

[brammy777]

Speaking of 4X4s in snow, I was very shocked this morning to see a Lada Niva pass where I was standing, looked to be coping with the snow very well.

[wuvvum]

The 205/55x16 Toyo Proxes tyres on my Saab are GR2 in the snow - absolutely no traction whatsoever and not a great deal of lateral grip either. Although to be fair they are, how can I put this, suffering from a receding hairline after hooning round Marham in October. By contrast, the equallly-close-to-the-legal-limit 135x13s on the 104 are superb. Narrow tyres FTW.

[The Liberator]

hahaha, looks like he slid a fair way too....nice bit of steering damage hopefully.

I've just been out to get some supplies, so I took the opportunity to look round the other side - he's made a pretty decent attempt at turning it into a 3x3, with the nsf wheel wedged between the kerb and wheelarch at about 30 degrees from vertical.

[Justin Case]

This morning I was treated to the sight of some oaf in a BT van (Trafic I think) gradually come to a halt with full revs and wheels spinning madly, while our neighbour calmly backed out her 207 CC and slowly and steadily trundled off up the road. Oh how I laughed when he had to back all the way down the road

[trigger]

My work mate who i used to take to work just rang me, I helped him find and buy a Nissan Almera a couple of months back now, Well he's just wrote it off by driven it into a bollard. He said he was turning a corner to collected his wife and slid straight into the bollard at 10mph.And I'm about to drive to work in it. Can't wait.

[pandamonium]

Speaking of 4X4s in snow, I was very shocked this morning to see a Lada Niva pass where I was standing, looked to be coping with the snow very well.

Why were you shocked?

[brammy777]

I havent seen one for ages thats why! Im certain theres a Niva collecter round here.

[Pete-M]

The 205/55x16 Toyo Proxes tyres on my Saab are GR2 in the snow - absolutely no traction whatsoever and not a great deal of lateral grip either. Although to be fair they are, how can I put this, suffering from a receding hairline after hooning round Marham in October. By contrast, the equallly-close-to-the-legal-limit 135x13s on the 104 are superb. Narrow tyres FTW.

The Audi has Bridgestone 205/55/16s on the front and the same size Pirellis on the back. So far I've hardly even noticed the snow. ABS has kicked in a couple of times when I've been a tad ambitious slowing down, but otherwise it's ace.4x4 the win!

[andrew e]

Don't forget half the public are happy to put cheap "Woosung ditchfinders" on there cars, and they don't grip in the dry, let alone the wet, heaven forbid snow. But they are cheap.As proof I pushed a S reg Fiesta on 155/13 Nankangs up the hill earlier, when those skinny little things should have been GR8.

[chaseracer]

Last winter I managed to move about OK with a nice set of Michelin Energys - even up some very steep hills in fresh snow...

Yep, same here: diseasel B'lingo with Energys all round, and living up on a hill. No probs with grip so far, unless I choose to play a bit