I love the snow

[very-near]

Does anyone fit chains in the UK? And how does it affect the car in terms of handling? I've seen them in use on the continent but don't really know much about them. Other than we watched a lorry driver get his out and fit them whilst we were waiting for a train in Switzerland.

The Swedish have to fit winter tyres by law to their cars from November to April IIRC

 

[tandemman]

Cars need to have pigged tyres in Norway or Winter tyres. pigged tyres have a lower speed limit and yes they do salt the side road in Norway etc Ice is Ice and the laws of physics always apply. no studs/chains = no grip, whether you have no wheel drive or all wheel drive.

 

[tandemman]

Cars need to have pigged tyres in Norway or Winter tyres. pigged tyres have a lower speed limit and yes they do salt the side road in Norway etc Ice is Ice and the laws of physics always apply. no studs/chains = no grip, whether you have no wheel drive or all wheel drive.

 

[al78]

Does anyone fit chains in the UK? And how does it affect the car in terms of handling? I've seen them in use on the continent but don't really know much about them. Other than we watched a lorry driver get his out and fit them whilst we were waiting for a train in Switzerland.

No, because chains are only really useful when the snow is lying right across the road, not in the sort of marginal conditions you get in the UK where snow tends to be light and patchy and there is like 2% ice, 98% dry tarmac. Chains and studs also damage the road surface if used on bare tarmac.

The UK simply does not get snow to the extent that colder countries do so it is nonsense to expect us to be as capable of handling it as them. It would be like expecting the UK to have Bermuda style building codes just in case we get another 1987 windstorm.

 

[al78]

Does anyone fit chains in the UK? And how does it affect the car in terms of handling? I've seen them in use on the continent but don't really know much about them. Other than we watched a lorry driver get his out and fit them whilst we were waiting for a train in Switzerland.

No, because chains are only really useful when the snow is lying right across the road, not in the sort of marginal conditions you get in the UK where snow tends to be light and patchy and there is like 2% ice, 98% dry tarmac. Chains and studs also damage the road surface if used on bare tarmac.

The UK simply does not get snow to the extent that colder countries do so it is nonsense to expect us to be as capable of handling it as them. It would be like expecting the UK to have Bermuda style building codes just in case we get another 1987 windstorm.

 

[Downward]

Worse now than it was at kicking out time.
Luckily they shut the schools at 12pm and many workers did a runner a few hours early.

 

[Downward]

Worse now than it was at kicking out time.
Luckily they shut the schools at 12pm and many workers did a runner a few hours early.

 

[palinurus]

No, because chains are only really useful when the snow is lying right across the road

And they don't stop you getting stuck in a traffic jam.

Does anyone else like snow then?

 

[palinurus]

No, because chains are only really useful when the snow is lying right across the road

And they don't stop you getting stuck in a traffic jam.

Does anyone else like snow then?

 

[fossyant]

You have to use a good dose of common sense when driving in inclement conditions, but a (proper) 4x4 with locking diffs and all terrain tyres will have a lot more grip than a Corsa which has a regular diff and regular tyres.

But most 4x4's aren't proper ones - come with massively wide road tyres and the drivers some how think they are invincible...ha...ha.... give me a Landy any time....

PS I was overtaking all cars this morning..... MTB's are better than Landy's - I had a good smirk at them stuck in traffic jams due to cars getting stuck on the slightest gradient...

 

[fossyant]

You have to use a good dose of common sense when driving in inclement conditions, but a (proper) 4x4 with locking diffs and all terrain tyres will have a lot more grip than a Corsa which has a regular diff and regular tyres.

But most 4x4's aren't proper ones - come with massively wide road tyres and the drivers some how think they are invincible...ha...ha.... give me a Landy any time....

PS I was overtaking all cars this morning..... MTB's are better than Landy's - I had a good smirk at them stuck in traffic jams due to cars getting stuck on the slightest gradient...

 

[junglegusset]

Wohoo, I'll be out later in my 4x4 showing the regular 2wd drivers why they made such a crap choice of car ...

Laugh it up while you can because for the other 360 days of the year they are thinking that about 4x4 owners.

Took my bike out before, traction is surprisingly good, going to go out for another spin in a bit. Probably hurt myself but it's lovely out there nd a lot of fun. Might commute tomorrow for a laugh, be the first for 3 weeks so won't be going very fast anyway.

 

[junglegusset]

Wohoo, I'll be out later in my 4x4 showing the regular 2wd drivers why they made such a crap choice of car ...

Laugh it up while you can because for the other 360 days of the year they are thinking that about 4x4 owners.

Took my bike out before, traction is surprisingly good, going to go out for another spin in a bit. Probably hurt myself but it's lovely out there nd a lot of fun. Might commute tomorrow for a laugh, be the first for 3 weeks so won't be going very fast anyway.

 

[fossyant]

Traction on an MTB is great, so long as you aren't on the slushy/loose stuff cars leave behind.... - i.e avoid the roads. Great in fresh snow, great and quick (but bumpy) where peds had trodden it down, and OK on roads where it's been compacted, but not shredded...

 

[fossyant]

Traction on an MTB is great, so long as you aren't on the slushy/loose stuff cars leave behind.... - i.e avoid the roads. Great in fresh snow, great and quick (but bumpy) where peds had trodden it down, and OK on roads where it's been compacted, but not shredded...