I appreciate all of that; Germany changed their legislation in 2010, so not so very long ago. As I declared earlier, I have a reasonable grasp of tyre technology from 30 years working as an automotive engineer; but not for the last 16 years. I do recall one of the problems was the rubber (or composites) they used were prone to breaking up quite quickly and leaving slicks, which constituted an hazard in itself. Motor racing developed tyre technology very quickly and it wouldn't surprise me if that change in the rubber compound and construction technology led to the increased use of all-season tyres, which are by far more practical that seasonal changing for a lot of the vehicle owing population. As for why I think it is unnecessary for them to be mandatory here, I can only say that I believe the accepted tyre technology, if fitted and maintained correctly and driven on in the right manner, is good enough for our climate and conditions. That doesn't mean I disagree that 'winter' or all season tyres do not have advantages, just that I don't believe that is enough to merit a change in the law.
I'd dun lopping around Germany a tad before that... ... but if anyone wants to change tack to track, that's ****ing ace for whatever and doing spins in a 60 ton Challenger is something to enjoy...
Different compounds makes the tyres perform very differently. Quite a few years ago I had an Audi A6 Avant S Line. It was automatic, heavy, 18" or 19" Pirelli Sports tyres on. I spent a week marooned at home as our drive is slightly sloped - I couldn't get the car off the drive, all the tyres did was polish the ice. I got some winter wheels shipped from Germany and it turned my previously marooned A6 car into a form of mountain goat. The difference was absolutely unbelievable. Had them every year since - looking for some new ones as I've just changed car.
Ok, so they recorded a marginal difference on a puddle, using unnamed tyres (was it a comfort contact, premium contact, sport contact?) If you've used them you know as well as I do that they offer less traction in any conditions, you're ****ting yourself if you try and claim otherwise and you know it. I had the latest contental ts whatever's on at the time and sport contact 3's, it would spin the wheels in third gear in the wet in winters and considerably slower in turns, with the summers it barely spun the wheels in second. Not to mention the daytime temperature doesn't actually drop below 7 degrees very often at all and winter tyres cost an absolute ****ing fortune. They're an unnecessary expense in this country. If it gets icy and the grit isn't cutting the mustard, you slow down and adjust accordingly. All except for two and a bit winters I've just continued using summer tyres and never lost control or got stuck anywhere, excluding the snow when I've been ****ing about on the country lanes. My mates, most of which are racing obsessed nutcases, all share my view, as do many well reasoned car journalists, bloggers etc. The only people who seems obsessed about everyone having winter tyres seem to be tyre manufacturers and garages. I wonder why...
I suppose you will know already but it's often cheaper to buy steel wheels and winter tyres than to buy winter tyres for low profile alloy wheels. That's why all the mercs and bm's in Germany run around on them in winter.
Like I said. You are clearly clueless if you can't spot the difference, perhaps it's safer for other road users if you stay off the road
To be fair if one doesn't drive like a **** I can't see when you'd need them myself. I didn't even know winter tyers where a thing and I've always been fine just being sensible in difficult conditions.
Precisely. It's not just that though, in mild wet and dry conditions, which lets face it is the vast majority of our winter, winter tyres are actually considerably worse. This is when people are in their comfort zone and won't necessarily think to adjust and drive slower and more carefully because conditions are better. You're sacrificing performance and safety for 95% of the time for the rarer extremes, when people are generally more aware of the poorer conditions and adjust accordingly. In some parts of the world they are needed, here just a pointless waste of cash really.
Except they aren't worse. As is already proven. I hope they do make it law - see you 'wasting' your cash making you a safer driver would be hilarious. 5 months out of 12 Winter tyres in the U.K. Would perform better than Summer tyres.
I’ve driven winter tyres in Austria. The weather was a mixture of clean / dry and sheet ice It was very cold though (-22c in the morning) so I’ve no idea how they’d work at higher temperatures, but I found them fine on dry roads and absolutely amazing on the ice...I genuinely couldn’t believe how well they performed
So I just had a look at the temps last winter at my local weather station. 11 months average above 7c, January average of 5c. 29 days frost in total. So out of those 5 months, you would in fact be an unsafer driver for 122 days out of 151. Yep, really important Maybe they should make it a legal requirement for everybody to tow a trailer around with a set of wheels, a four poster ramp and a scoket set, so every time the temperature changes above/below 7c, we all have to pull over and change our tyres? You've been conned by a sales pitch, face it.
Got a BMW 7 years ago this month and couldn't get up a very slight incline in the Lake District when that had snow came in 2010, had to leave car at bottom of road and walk to the hotel. Came back here next day and got winter tyres fitted - great. Next day drove car from home in snow to dealership for check and took courtedy car home - same car as mine but on summer tyres. When it was time to take car back, needed 5 people to help push car through the same snow winter tyres managed earlier. Wouldn't be without them in snow/ice now, but seem to have milder winters recently, however always swap over once ice forecast. Tip - get another set of wheels for the winter tyres as tyre fitters ruined 3 of my tyres when taking the off first time. Managed to get 4 tyres and alloy wheels from dealer for not much more than the tyres alone cost, very surprised and meant I had 4 spare tyres for the future too.
