UK have a strange view regarding wintertyres.

[Zafiro]

Using summertyres during winter isnt working, common sense. Finally insurance companies accept wintertyres on UK roads without charging extra for it.


Many motorists have been put off fitting winter rubber to their cars because reports last year claimed that people were being charged up to 20 per cent more by insurance companies —
or even refused cover — for fitting winter tyres.

“There was a lot of fuss last year over winter tyres, as some insurance companies were classifying them as modifications, and a number of people were refused cover as a result,”
said Ian Crowder from the AA.

Insurers finally support winter tyres - Autocar.co.uk

 

[Centurion]

Lol winter tires seen as modification? But low profile tyres and 21 inch Kahn rims on a Range Rover isn't.

Is this a joke??

 

[Mr Robert]

Haha, silly... they just want to make more money

 

[Gullwing]

So a safety modification costs you more even if it can prevent an accident. BS!

 

[Monster]

Insurance companies are one of the most hated industries in Australia, seems like things aren't that much different over the UK.

 

[mini_cooper4]

England...

 

[Centurion]

So a safety modification costs you more even if it can prevent an accident. BS!

Exactly. In Sweden it's even a law to drive on winter tires during the winter.

 

[AaronT]

That's strange - I also thought winter tires are mandatory during the winter in the UK.

 

[Zafiro]

You gotta love the people in UK. Winter tyres vs summer tyres - We headed to Sweden to compare the performance of summer tyres with winter tyres on snow and in cold conditions – and the results were quite shocking.

Video: Winter tyres vs summer tyres | Videos | Auto Express


My advice to people in England - get winter tyres

 

[Betty Swollocks]

My advice to people in England - get winter tyres

We don't have weather like they have in Sweden. On the odd day or two where we DO have weather like that, then fair enough, they'd be useful. Not grounds for switching to winter tyres though.

I've never used winter tyres ever, and that's after owning several M cars. I coped, even in snow. Of course, tyre manufacturers and tyre suppliers would have you think otherwise.

 

[Deckhook]

I'm getting them for the first on the wife's GTI tomorrow. Will report back how I view the difference.

@Betty, summer tyres aren't designed to work in extreme temperatures and below 7-10C the rubber becomes harder losing its traction. Like you I've always coped but I feel this has been foolhardy on my part and it's only luck on my side that I haven't had an accident up to now.

 

[Zafiro]

We don't have weather like they have in Sweden. On the odd day or two where we DO have weather like that, then fair enough, they'd be useful. Not grounds for switching to winter tyres though.

I've never used winter tyres ever, and that's after owning several M cars. I coped, even in snow. Of course, tyre manufacturers and tyre suppliers would have you think otherwise.

Wintertyres are superior to summertyres and thats a fact. You surviving is nothing than luck or you drive very slow. If anything goes wrong you will be better of with wintertyres and you and your car surviving will raise significantly. Not only are wintertyres better in the snow, also in the wet when its below 10 degrees Celsius. Not having wintertyres is just ignorance.

This makes me laugh:
"There was a lot of fuss last year over winter tyres, as some insurance companies were classifying them as modifications, and a number of people were refused cover as a result"

 

[Betty Swollocks]

@Betty, summer tyres aren't designed to work in extreme temperatures and below 7-10C the rubber becomes harder losing its traction. Like you I've always coped but I feel this has been foolhardy on my part and it's only luck on my side that I haven't had an accident up to now.

I know full well that summer tyres don't work so well below a certain temperature. But you drive your car in a manner fitting the conditions. The UK has managed for so long, why change now? We have a few days (at the most) of bad weather per year. Not enough to justify changing your tyres. You just take a bit of extra care. Unfortunately the British public get suckered in to all the scare stories and shell out money on four new rims and winter tyres when in fact, just taking a bit of extra care works as well.

Wintertyres are superior to summertyres and thats a fact.

Where have I said anything different?

You surviving is nothing than luck or you drive very slow.

Not luck. It's driving within the limits of my car, my abilities and the driving conditions. On the few times (in Holland) when there's been snow, I've coped in my rear wheel drive M3's, Z4 M's etc. Sure, I've had to travel slower than cars with winter tyres, and on the odd occasion I've decided against getting my car out of the garage and found an alternative, but I've never felt the need to fit winter tyres. In ten years I've never had so much as a small bump. I must be incredibly lucky!

The UK is not Sweden, where I agree, winter tyres are essential.

Not having wintertyres is just ignorance.

Complete and utter nonsense. Driving in itself is not without risk. It's all about risk assessment. Some cars don't have all the safety systems of the more expensive cars like the S Class. Does that mean the cheaper cars are dangerous? When airbags first arrived in the S Class, did that suddenly make every other car dangerous? Of course fitting winter tyres in winter makes driving safer. But that doesn't mean driving with summer tyres is automatically UNSAFE. Stop viewing the UK like Sweden. I've yet to experience a winter in 18 years of driving where winter tyres were necessary, and this isn't me being macho. Some winters in the UK (certainly away from the highest ground) don't even see an inch of snow.

Unfortunately the British public will just blindly follow any old crap that they're told whilst garages reap the profits.

 

[Zafiro]

Point remain, if you live in a country were its wet and below 10 degrees celsius you will be better off with wintertyres. Its safer and handles better than a high performance summertyre. If someone not agree with it then its nothing than ignorance and lack of knowledge.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Point remain, if you live in a country were its wet and below 10 degrees celsius you will be better off with wintertyres. Its safer and handles better than a high performance summertyre. If someone not agree with it then its nothing than ignorance and lack of knowledge.

I don't think anybody is disagreeing that winter tyres perform better in temperatures below 10 degrees.

 

[FC123]

Fitted winter tyres to the A1 today, 195/60 means a very smooth ride, but cornering ability is not their greatest feat.

 

[Zafiro]

Snow has come to Sweden and my winter tyres are on (since a few months back).