Winter Tyres

[Sportsman]

But it doesn't work. It's a myth. You would be better off with a couple of old bits of carpet, or snow socks.

 

Sorry but it does work, based on my often repeated practical experience.

Myself and Prince Charles' head gamekeeper once drove the Cockbridge - Tomintoul road in a snowstorm doing just that. We were the last vehicle through before they closed the road for 3 weeks. BTW that was not in his company landy but in my old Mitsubishi Galant

[corydoras]

Sorry Dave but for you to be right, one helluva lot of other people have to be wrong.

 

http://www.drivers.com/article/354/

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/seaso...r_motoring.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/05/...ain664800.shtml

 

Fitting a pair of these instead would have been a much better option

Edited November 17, 2011 by corydoras

[Steve Walker]

I can find some sites which recommend temporarily reducing tyre pressure to 60% of normal - but only for serious off-roading, not for use on the road. I think it probably relies on having the kind of serious big high profile off-road tyres that people use on proper off-roaders too.

 

eg;

 

http://www.4x4tirereview.com/airdown.html

[nursejudy]

never thought this topic would generate so many posts...

[Sportsman]

Sorry Dave but for you to be right, one helluva lot of other people have to be wrong.

 

http://www.drivers.com/article/354/

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/seaso...r_motoring.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/05/...ain664800.shtml

 

Fitting a pair of these instead would have been a much better option

 

Cory, all of your links refer to driving around on soft tyres, not what I was advocating at all. I am referring to negotiating specific obstacles such as a snow drift or steep incline. The larger footprint does increase traction and because you will be driving a very short distance at low speed through the obstacle and then re-inflating the tyre to normal pressures the argument about instability or overheating doesn't arise.

I think we are talking about two different things but next time I get stuck in the snow I know what I will do to get out

 

http://www.arctictrucks-experience.com/?pageid=3913

 

"In Iceland people have been experimenting with using bigger tires in snow for over 25 years. People used to use snow chains on the tires to increase the traction and to pull you further through the snow. Soon people discovered that by lowering the air pressure to 2-5 psi, large tires could make a normal 4wd vehicle drive on top of a soft snow."

 

but what do they know!

Edited November 17, 2011 by Sportsman

[Phone]

NJ,

 

And, we're NOT through.

 

According to CANADA - the advice given so far in this thread comes from "jerks" who don't really know. Usually some antidotal evidence of a personal experience where they were just lucky. (They mean well)

 

In CANADA they know snow.

 

They also know how to spell "TIRE" not tyre. Transport Canada's Winter Tire Safety Tips can be found at

 

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safeveh...s-index-468.htm

 

For those who don't want to "look" Canada suggests snow tires on all four wheels even if it is a two wheel drive vehicle. (Wonder if I read that right?)

 

Phone

[Colin Brett]

So what's your opinion on the reducing tyre pressures in snow theory Colin?

Well I once won a competition within the industry that asked the question whether to lower or increase pressures for better traction.

The answer was to increase the pressure as this would open up more tread/grooves/sipes and thus provide better grip.

 

It seems most off-roaders get by using lower pressures.

On our roads doing this could result in PC Plod pulling you over for having under inflated tyres.

It's probably [well it is certain really] that matching your driving to the conditions is the answer. If you can't do that, stay at home.

 

All I can say is I'm pleased I'm out of it now. It's dirty, wet, cold horrible job and I was the boss?

I got out when I couldn't match or outwork my fitters.

[corydoras]

For those who don't want to "look" Canada suggests snow tires on all four wheels even if it is a two wheel drive vehicle. (Wonder if I read that right?)

 

Phone

Same as France then, but in France its not a suggestion, it is the law. (They say pneu not tyre or tire) Edited November 17, 2011 by corydoras

[Phone]

Cory,

 

That makes sense. I didn't read it carefully and I really don't know. What I may have briefly scanned may have been part of French Canada's laws??? (or suggestions?)

 

Phone

(I know, there is no such place as French Canada, but you know what I mean)

[corydoras]

Cory,

 

That makes sense. I didn't read it carefully and I really don't know. What I may have briefly scanned may have been part of French Canada's laws??? (or suggestions?)

 

Phone

(I know, there is no such place as French Canada, but you know what I mean)

I think the proper term is Quebec. We (or at least I) call them French Canadians. The real Frogs call them Quebecois.