Severe Winter Weather: ESSENTIAL PREPARATIONS, TRAVEL ADVICE, DRIVING TIPS & CLOSURES

haminka · 04-03-2018 11:17AM

Heroditas wrote: »

We don't get enough snow to warrant snow chains. The chains would destroy the roads unless we got ridiculous amounts of snow.

The only thing I'd say would be recommended is a decent pair of snow boots. The amount of people in wellies and hiking boots I saw those few couple of days was staggering. None of them has proper grip. Hiking boots are designed to have a good grip on rocks and have a hard sole which slips. Wellies are good for wet muck but they won't keep you warm and, again, the sole may slip.
I invested into these few years ago and took them out again this year. The best money spent ever:

http://www.ashfieldsbb.co.nz/womens-nytro-gtx-winter-boots-steel-grey-cane-softly-blue-salomon-snow-boots-sp-19751.html?cPath=272

Heroditas · 04-03-2018 11:21AM

haminka wrote: »

The only thing I'd say would be recommended is a decent pair of snow boots. The amount of people in wellies and hiking boots I saw those few couple of days was staggering. None of them has proper grip. Hiking boots are designed to have a good grip on rocks and have a hard sole which slips. Wellies are good for wet muck but they won't keep you warm and, again, the sole may slip.
I invested into these few years ago and took them out again this year. The best money spent ever:

http://www.ashfieldsbb.co.nz/womens-nytro-gtx-winter-boots-steel-grey-cane-softly-blue-salomon-snow-boots-sp-19751.html?cPath=272

I bought a pair of the snow grips in 2011 right after the last big event and they've sat in the boot of the car since then.
I finally managed to use them this time around. I honestly had a huge grin on my face as I put them on and declared triumphantly:
"SEE! I told you I'd need them eventually..."

Agreed re the hiking boots and wellies. Absolutely useless.

Wanderer78 · 04-03-2018 11:25AM

Heroditas wrote:

Agreed re the hiking boots and wellies. Absolutely useless.

My 15 year old hiking boots and shoe grips were just fine all week

YFlyer · 04-03-2018 11:26AM

Nettle Soup wrote: »

Ivan Yates ask same question. He said there was 9000 in the army but only 300 active on a given day during the big snow. Who knows what they actually do most of the time.

Wasn't majority of them on security duty when President George W Bush visited?

4ensic15 · 04-03-2018 11:29AM

irishrover99 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why their was only 720 army personnel deployed during the the storm. (Correct me if I'm wrong on this number)
Seriously what else are they used for in this country.

They could help with food deliveries and road clearance in the major town and cites,

If Emma hadn't stalled, can you imagine how bad things would have been.

How many full time army do we have in the country?

I'm not slagging them off personally but all I see them do all year is provide escorts for the president, criminals going to court and money going to/ from the mint in the sandyford.

&20 is more than the number of military deployed overseas. It is about as many as were available to go to the border in the 1969 emergency. Most of those out during the snow were on training courses which were interrupted by the snow. The Naval Service is undermanned and can't be expected to bring ships home to deliver food in vehicles it doesn't have. The air corps is undermanned and can't be expected to deliver food in nvehicles it doesn't have. Military bases with guns and ammunition in them need to be guarded. The defence force has a limited number of vehicles. Some have to be kept available to deal with incidents like LIDL. Some troops haven't been able to go to their own homes for days and see that their own famiiies have food. The selfishness of some people is staggering. They expect troops to put themselves at risk hunderds of miles from home so that they can have fresh milk nin their local sho!

Heroditas · 04-03-2018 11:30AM

Wanderer78 wrote: »

My 15 year old hiking boots and shoe grips were just fine all week

You had grips though.
Guess it also depends on the state of the paths. Compacted snow is lethal if you're wearing wellies!

Wanderer78 · 04-03-2018 11:32AM

Heroditas wrote:

You had grips though.

I'd say they would have been lethal without them, probably would still have tried them though

Discodog · 04-03-2018 11:39AM

haminka wrote: »

The only thing I'd say would be recommended is a decent pair of snow boots. The amount of people in wellies and hiking boots I saw those few couple of days was staggering. None of them has proper grip. Hiking boots are designed to have a good grip on rocks and have a hard sole which slips. Wellies are good for wet muck but they won't keep you warm and, again, the sole may slip.
I invested into these few years ago and took them out again this year. The best money spent ever:

http://www.ashfieldsbb.co.nz/womens-nytro-gtx-winter-boots-steel-grey-cane-softly-blue-salomon-snow-boots-sp-19751.html?cPath=272

By accident I found a pair of Salomons in TK Max Years ago. The label say rated to -25 so ,as I work outdoors, I bought them. They come out every winter when it's really cold & are a life saver.

Bekina Steplite Wellies are extremely good. Warm, strong & with excellent grip. They are the only boots that grip on wet rock.

Mountainsandh · 04-03-2018 11:51AM

haminka wrote: »

Snow chains won't help you if you're stuck in a drift.

Yeah, I have snow chains but there wasn't a hope in this instance, because of the drifts. But I have used them in the past for the "normal" snow we get, being a bit up high, and I'll be glad to have them in the boot today when I chance heading out for the main road, just in case there is a spot of bother on the way down.

I think a great job was done by all in this event.
We were well warned, and for the South East here, the coordination and execution of the afters has been spot on. Local counsillors kept us informed throughout on Facebook of the work as it progressed, mapalert text messages did same.
I was lucky to be under no pressure to go anywhere until today, but if anyone out in the sticks had an emergency, provided they had contact with outside, mobile or otherwise, help was swift, as the stories of people having medication delivered, or being taken to hospital by firecrews/locals combined attest.

The emergency press conference yesterday was really helpful and informative, and well timed.

We will support our local businesses to help them make up for lost time, and hopefully there won't be too much harm done.

Of course my ESB didn't go off, so it's easy to stay positive in comfort. I hope people who got cut off got their power back real quick, I think how we all fare in these situations really depends on that nowadays.

alta stare · 04-03-2018 11:56AM

haminka wrote: »

The only thing I'd say would be recommended is a decent pair of snow boots. The amount of people in wellies and hiking boots I saw those few couple of days was staggering. None of them has proper grip. Hiking boots are designed to have a good grip on rocks and have a hard sole which slips. Wellies are good for wet muck but they won't keep you warm and, again, the sole may slip.
I invested into these few years ago and took them out again this year. The best money spent ever:

http://www.ashfieldsbb.co.nz/womens-nytro-gtx-winter-boots-steel-grey-cane-softly-blue-salomon-snow-boots-sp-19751.html?cPath=272

In all my years of wearing hiking boots iv never slipped in them even during the last few days. Iv hiked across boggy mountains in wet weather, heavy snow you name it and iv not slipped. I do accept a good pair of snow boots would be ideal but they are not worth spendin big money on for our rare snow events. Cheapin out on them is pointless too.

lolo62 · 04-03-2018 11:59AM

alta stare wrote: »

In all my years of wearing hiking boots iv never slipped in them even during the last few days. Iv hiked across boggy mountains in wet weather, heavy snow you name it and iv not slipped. I do accept a good pair of snow boots would be ideal but they are not worth spendin big money on for our rare snow events. Cheapin out on them is pointless too.

My mum gave me a pair of those rubber attachments with spikes on them and they were the business. I just stuck them and left them on myclarks leather boots for the whole event. Only down side is I might as well have been wearing ice skates when I walked on the tiles in my local petrol station! They pop on and off easily though. I'd recommend them to anyone looking for something cheap and cheerful but efficient for future snow events.

An Ri rua · 04-03-2018 12:01PM

alta stare wrote: »

In all my years of wearing hiking boots iv never slipped in them even during the last few days. Iv hiked across boggy mountains in wet weather, heavy snow you name it and iv not slipped. I do accept a good pair of snow boots would be ideal but they are not worth spendin big money on for our rare snow events. Cheapin out on them is pointless too.

I stuck on a pair of dutch para boots that I bought initially 20+ years ago when I bought my first bike. Indestructible, not as nice as Germans, but pretty much impossible to slip in the last week's conditions.
Perfect for driving too. A bit awkward for driving normally but no slipping on the pedals due to compacted snow undersole.

haminka · 04-03-2018 01:05PM

_Dara_ wrote: »

Especially as when there is no snow, winter tyres and snow chains really damage roads! You need to be 100% sure the snow is coming to use them. We often can’t be sure of that in Ireland.

Winter tyres don't. Winter tyres aren't snow tyres, they are just softer.

acronym Chilli · 04-03-2018 01:43PM

_Dara_ wrote: »

Especially as when there is no snow, winter tyres and snow chains really damage roads! You need to be 100% sure the snow is coming to use them. We often can’t be sure of that in Ireland.

Winter tyres are not what you think they are. Clearly you're not the only one misinformed.

They look like normal tyres unless you know what to look for. They are generally not studded affairs. They are normal looking tyres except the rubber compound is optimised for colder weather use and the tread pattern has features that help with winter hazards like snow.

Even without snow, winter tyres are significantly superior to summer tyres once temperatures drop below 7C.

It would make perfect sense in Ireland to switch from Summer tyres and alloys to a set of winter tyres on steel rims from about Halloween to St. Patrick's Day. It would keep your nice alloys in good condition, keep you safer all year, and give best performance and wear.
A high quality all season tyre like Michelin CrossClimates would be another compromise option (that's what I'm using these days).

Even in countries with lots of snow, people dont drive all winter on chains. Studded tyres are in fact banned in Germany (on public roads). Winter tyres are mandatory there.

Info:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_tire

Irish Steve · 04-03-2018 01:44PM

wakka12 wrote: »

Of course Ireland shouldn't have same regulations and provisions as that country you live in does. But we should have some more toned down versions seeing as snowfall is not so rare here that it never causes disruption , for instance everyone in Ireland should maybe simply own a pair of snow chains in case ,rather than being made drive in snow tyres all winter

Snow chains for all? Not a good idea, for a number of reasons, and I used to carry snow chains in the UK before we moved here, because I needed them at times in some areas, and after 2010 I got snow chains for my vehicle, even though it's 4x4.

This week, I didn't need to fit them, and I have been out and about on some days, in 4WD there was never a lack of grip this week. You wouldn't get snow chains on to the tyres on some of the BMW's and the like that I've seen sliding in all directions over the last couple of days, there's not enough clearance on the wheel arches to get them in, let alone move once they were fitted, the wheel arches and items close to the wheels would be destroyed in seconds.

Too many people here can't change a puncture, let alone fit snow chains, badly fitted snow chains are more dangerous than no chains.

Snow chains are only useful in conditions where there is snow under the wheels, but if they end up on tarmac, they won't last long, and the damage then done when they break up will be significant. They are not a lot of help on packed ice, which is what we end up with most of the time, the snow of the last week was exceptional both in terms of quantity and type, it's very rare we get powder snow here, most of the time, we get wet frontal snow that packs into a block of ice almost immediately, and snow chains on that sort of snow don't help as much, as they can't cut into the ice and provide a grip.

The best way to deal with snow and ice is to pretend there's a wine glass under your right foot, and drive in a way that avoids breaking the glass, and avoid making sudden direction changes. Takes some practise, which most people don't get, once you've mastered the technique, it's surprising where you can get, even with a car that's supposedly not good in snow, try a really old rear wheel drive Ford from the 70's on cross ply tyres, you're in for a shock!

I've seen a number of people doing stupid things with their cars over the last few days, it beggars belief how they got their licence in the first place, but that's probably a subject for another time and a different forum.

actaphobia · 04-03-2018 01:49PM

Irish Steve wrote: »

Snow chains for all? Not a good idea, for a number of reasons, and I used to carry snow chains in the UK before we moved here, because I needed them at times in some areas, and after 2010 I got snow chains for my vehicle, even though it's 4x4.

This week, I didn't need to fit them, and I have been out and about on some days, in 4WD there was never a lack of grip this week. You wouldn't get snow chains on to the tyres on some of the BMW's and the like that I've seen sliding in all directions over the last couple of days, there's not enough clearance on the wheel arches to get them in, let alone move once they were fitted, the wheel arches and items close to the wheels would be destroyed in seconds.

Too many people here can't change a puncture, let alone fit snow chains, badly fitted snow chains are more dangerous than no chains.

Snow chains are only useful in conditions where there is snow under the wheels, but if they end up on tarmac, they won't last long, and the damage then done when they break up will be significant. They are not a lot of help on packed ice, which is what we end up with most of the time, the snow of the last week was exceptional both in terms of quantity and type, it's very rare we get powder snow here, most of the time, we get wet frontal snow that packs into a block of ice almost immediately, and snow chains on that sort of snow don't help as much, as they can't cut into the ice and provide a grip.

The best way to deal with snow and ice is to pretend there's a wine glass under your right foot, and drive in a way that avoids breaking the glass, and avoid making sudden direction changes. Takes some practise, which most people don't get, once you've mastered the technique, it's surprising where you can get, even with a car that's supposedly not good in snow, try a really old rear wheel drive Ford from the 70's on cross ply tyres, you're in for a shock!

I've seen a number of people doing stupid things with their cars over the last few days, it beggars belief how they got their licence in the first place, but that's probably a subject for another time and a different forum.

Nice patronising post. The reality is that Irish driver training dues not cover snow driving or indeed how to change a puncture. So I guess we should all be driving 1970s Fords.

_Dara_ · 04-03-2018 01:50PM

acronym Chilli wrote: »

Winter tyres are not what you think they are. Clearly you're not the only one misinformed.

They look like normal tyres unless you know what to look for. They are generally not studded affairs. They are normal looking tyres except the rubber compound is optimised for colder weather use and the tread pattern has features that help with winter hazards like snow.

Even without snow, winter tyres are significantly superior to summer tyres once temperatures drop below 7C.

It would make perfect sense in Ireland to switch from Summer tyres and alloys to a set of winter tyres on steel rims from about Halloween to St. Patrick's Day. It would keep your nice alloys in good condition, keep you safer all year, and give best performance and wear.
A high quality all season tyre like Michelin CrossClimates would be another compromise option (that's what I'm using these days).

Even in countries with lots of snow, people dont drive all winter on chains. Studded tyres are in fact banned in Germany (on public roads). Winter tyres are mandatory there.

Info:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_tire

Oh no, I lumped winter tyres in with snow chains. THE HUMANITY!

Rodin · 04-03-2018 01:51PM

actaphobia wrote: »

Nice patronising post. The reality is that Irish driver training dues not cover snow driving or indeed how to change a puncture. So I guess we should all be driving 1970s Fords.

Or self-educate on how to change a wheel.

MadYaker · 04-03-2018 02:03PM

acronym Chilli wrote: »

Winter tyres are not what you think they are. Clearly you're not the only one misinformed.

They look like normal tyres unless you know what to look for. They are generally not studded affairs. They are normal looking tyres except the rubber compound is optimised for colder weather use and the tread pattern has features that help with winter hazards like snow.

Even without snow, winter tyres are significantly superior to summer tyres once temperatures drop below 7C.

It would make perfect sense in Ireland to switch from Summer tyres and alloys to a set of winter tyres on steel rims from about Halloween to St. Patrick's Day. It would keep your nice alloys in good condition, keep you safer all year, and give best performance and wear.
A high quality all season tyre like Michelin CrossClimates would be another compromise option (that's what I'm using these days).

Even in countries with lots of snow, people dont drive all winter on chains. Studded tyres are in fact banned in Germany (on public roads). Winter tyres are mandatory there.

Info:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_tire

I wouldn’t be seen dead driving a car with steel wheels. So you’re telling me I’m going to have to buy another set of alloys just for snow tires? No way.

Rodin · 04-03-2018 02:05PM

MadYaker wrote: »

I wouldn’t be seen dead driving a car with steel wheels. So you’re telling me I’m going to have to buy another set of alloys just for snow tires? No way.

I bought a new set of alloys (smaller than original wheels).
Worked out cheaper than getting a set of winters for the bigger wheels and easier to change.

acronym Chilli · 04-03-2018 02:31PM

haminka wrote: »

I know that you can hardly expect drivers in Ireland to change to winter tyres in November or October because winter

Why not?
The tyres are better in cold weather, not just in snow. At 4C on a clear night on a country road you've better chances with winter tyres than summer tyres (all things being equal... really crappy quality winter tyres may cause more problems than top quality summer ones). We get plenty of weather between November and March where winter tyres would be better, and once you get snow conditions it makes all the difference between keeping moving or just stopping dead.

I'll make the disclaimer here that I only partly take my own medicine. I have Michelin CrossClimate all season tyres on my own car, so I don't need to change them during the year. However, they are winter-certified, so I could also legitimately drive them all year in Germany, or Austria for example (but not, for example in Finland).
https://www.michelin.ie/tyres/learn-share/buying-guide/ever-heard-about-winter-tyre-regulations
I drive about 30k miles a year, and value the stopping performance in poor conditions. I already this winter met a snowfall (and snow on the road) traveling back to Dublin on N7. It didn't stick long, but I was safer on my tyres than I would have been on summer tyres, and I'd have been safer still if other drivers had winters/all-seasons.

That said, I didn't go out driving in the snow this time as I didn't need to and I was sure I'd meet some muppet on summer tyres, unable to move, and get stuck behind them (or worse, meet someone who was unable to stop and get crashed into). However, I kept the car clear of snow and dug-out, and made sure I was able to move it in case there was an urgency.

and for the sake of three days of snow you can't have a fleet of snow ploughs and diggers etc. sitting somewhere just in case. The machinery needs to be services and maintained and used to be any good. And you just don't get that over here to justify the expense.

I've more sympathy with that argument. There's also the question of keeping staff trained and competent. However, I'd want to know how it's managed in some other parts of the world where snow is more occasional than dependable. e.g. in part of Germany I know (NRW), snow is definitely not a dependable annual big-event, and often when it does come it's a dusting. But now and again they get heavy falls and they definitely don't shut down.
Say Essen:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/essen-weather-averages/nordrhein-westfalen/de.aspx
Seem to have a few snow-days each year, but with depths typically of 2-4cm. 2010 they got blasted of course, with 36 days and 25cm.
Muenster would be another:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/muenster-weather-averages/nordrhein-westfalen/de.aspx

Worth-it/waste-of-money is a valid question, to be looked at with Cost Benefit Analysis. If we don't need the ploughs, then it's a simple bonus for Ireland, as I don't see that we're paying for protection against some other sort of disaster that the Germans don't have to.

Rodin · 04-03-2018 02:33PM

Originally Posted by haminka View Post
I know that you can hardly expect drivers in Ireland to change to winter tyres in November or October because winter

Why not?
Saves the tread on the summer tyres too.

acronym Chilli · 04-03-2018 02:39PM

MadYaker wrote: »

I wouldn’t be seen dead driving a car with steel wheels. So you’re telling me I’m going to have to buy another set of alloys just for snow tires? No way.

I'm not your mother :rolleyes:, I won't give out to you when you wear high-heels on the ice either because you won't be seen dead in sensible shoes

Happily, if you read the post properly there's another solution. Tip:
Even though I tend to approach driving from the point of view of performance and results rather than cosmetics, it's the cop-out route I sheepishly admit to taking myself.

_Dara_ · 04-03-2018 02:42PM

acronym Chilli wrote: »

Why not?
The tyres are better in cold weather, not just in snow. At 4C on a clear night on a country road you've better chances with winter tyres than summer tyres (all things being equal... really crappy quality winter tyres may cause more problems than top quality summer ones). We get plenty of weather between November and March where winter tyres would be better, and once you get snow conditions it makes all the difference between keeping moving or just stopping dead.

I'll make the disclaimer here that I only partly take my own medicine. I have Michelin CrossClimate all season tyres on my own car, so I don't need to change them during the year. However, they are winter-certified, so I could also legitimately drive them all year in Germany, or Austria for example (but not, for example in Finland).
https://www.michelin.ie/tyres/learn-share/buying-guide/ever-heard-about-winter-tyre-regulations
I drive about 30k miles a year, and value the stopping performance in poor conditions. I already this winter met a snowfall (and snow on the road) traveling back to Dublin on N7. It didn't stick long, but I was safer on my tyres than I would have been on summer tyres, and I'd have been safer still if other drivers had winters/all-seasons.

That said, I didn't go out driving in the snow this time as I didn't need to and I was sure I'd meet some muppet on summer tyres, unable to move, and get stuck behind them (or worse, meet someone who was unable to stop and get crashed into). However, I kept the car clear of snow and dug-out, and made sure I was able to move it in case there was an urgency.

I've more sympathy with that argument. There's also the question of keeping staff trained and competent. However, I'd want to know how it's managed in some other parts of the world where snow is more occasional than dependable. e.g. in part of Germany I know (NRW), snow is definitely not a dependable annual big-event, and often when it does come it's a dusting. But now and again they get heavy falls and they definitely don't shut down.
Say Essen:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/essen-weather-averages/nordrhein-westfalen/de.aspx
Seem to have a few snow-days each year, but with depths typically of 2-4cm. 2010 they got blasted of course, with 36 days and 25cm.
Muenster would be another:
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/muenster-weather-averages/nordrhein-westfalen/de.aspx

Worth-it/waste-of-money is a valid question, to be looked at with Cost Benefit Analysis. If we don't need the ploughs, then it's a simple bonus for Ireland, as I don't see that we're paying for protection against some other sort of disaster that the Germans don't have to.

The places in Germany that only get occasional snow would benefit from the equipment and training in place for the snowier parts.

acronym Chilli · 04-03-2018 02:47PM

_Dara_ wrote: »

Oh no, I lumped winter tyres in with snow chains. THE HUMANITY!

Don't worry about it! it's just that there's a lot of ignorance on the topic in the Irish market, and as a result people using poorer products than they should.

That said, the market is maturing. The first time I bough four season tyres (2012, Hankooks), they were a curiosity. Next tyres I bought were Michelin CrossClimates just after they came out and again a little unusual. However, those have been a big success for Michelin and with most recent set in September they were definitely a (relatively) mainstream option among better informed drivers.

Rodin · 04-03-2018 02:50PM

acronym Chilli wrote: »

Don't worry about it! it's just that there's a lot of ignorance on the topic in the Irish market, and as a result people using poorer products than they should.

That said, the market is maturing. The first time I bough four season tyres (2012, Hankooks), they were a curiosity. Next tyres I bought were Michelin CrossClimates just after they came out and again a little unusual. However, those have been a big success for Michelin and with most recent set in September they were definitely a (relatively) mainstream option among better informed drivers.

Need to make the CrossClimate + in bigger sizes

Calibos · 04-03-2018 03:18PM

Rodin wrote: »

Need to make the CrossClimate + in bigger sizes

I've had the intention of fitting these for years when my current Pirelli Summer 245/40 R18's wore out. They needed replacing finally this Summer but as soon as I started researching I found the Crossclimates were not available in the size I needed. A bit more research might have told me that the nearest size might have fit but I said to myself, "Sure feck it, when are we going to get major snow again like 2010 anyway". I ended up buying Pirelli Summers again.

Absolutely kicking myself

acronym Chilli · 04-03-2018 03:28PM

_Dara_ wrote: »

The places in Germany that only get occasional snow would benefit from the equipment and training in place for the snowier parts.

I was thinking about that too, but it didn't stack up for me, at least not fully.

It definitely helps a lot from the training/competence point of view. If you have civil defence crews or whatever in a mild part of the country who never get much snow experience, you can rotate them down to the mountains periodically for training and on-the-job experience and maintain your skill base. The snowy regions are so dependably snowy that you can pretty much build a schedule for this.

The plant and equipment piece is trickier as although Germany is a big country, it's not huge, so generally when there's a major snow event, large parts are affected simultaneously. It won't be so common that Muenster is snowed in while typical snow-regions are not. So when the less snowy part of country needs equipment, the snowier regions need it too and cannot release it.

Even with that proviso, there could still be a benefit that rather than have snow ploughs bought and sit idle for years, you'd buy them in all regions, and rotate the ploughs (like staff) from warm areas to cold areas and back to keep them all "active" and in use. It wouldn't necessarily save you on capacity, but would help prevent the entirely possible but ridiculous situation where you buy gear, keep it years, and then when you need it it fails to work.

Charles Babbage · 04-03-2018 04:45PM

acronym Chilli wrote: »

That said, the market is maturing. The first time I bough four season tyres (2012, Hankooks), they were a curiosity. Next tyres I bought were Michelin CrossClimates just after they came out and again a little unusual. However, those have been a big success for Michelin and with most recent set in September they were definitely a (relatively) mainstream option among better informed drivers.

Absolutely. In Ireland we get a lot of cool wet roads and such tyres perform well in such conditions, decent in snow and obviously decent in the dry as well.

Ireland has a smaller range of weather than most places, so swapping tyres summer and winter is possibly not warranted. But then the tyres fitted should reflect that, we should not be fitting "summer" tyres or the same ones fitted in Sicily. New cars should come with all season tyres in these islands and I am not sure why they do not (especially as January is the busiest month for car sales))

Pwindedd · 04-03-2018 04:49PM

Calibos wrote: »

Rodin wrote: »

Need to make the CrossClimate + in bigger sizes

I've had the intention of fitting these for years when my current Pirelli Summer 245/40 R18's wore out. They needed replacing finally this Summer but as soon as I started researching I found the Crossclimates were not available in the size I needed. A bit more research might have told me that the nearest size might have fit but I said to myself, "Sure feck it, when are we going to get major snow again like 2010 anyway". I ended up buying Pirelli Summers again.

Absolutely kicking myself

Would these all climate tyres be a good investment for someone with a very low annual mileage but reliant on car in all weathers. Thinking that if I did buy some they'd last me a good while (less than 3k miles a year at present)

Severe Winter Weather: ESSENTIAL PREPARATIONS, TRAVEL ADVICE, DRIVING TIPS & CLOSURES

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