"Bill Again" wrote in message
...

"Dave Hall" wrote in message
...
Some drivers need all the help they can get in wintry conditions, but
listening to the advice "don't go out" would do the trick.

How many times does the news show idiot drivers frantically
wheelspinning to
make progress in the snow?


... and others taking their cars into waist-deep water like Bond in his
Lotus
Elan. I suppose when it only comes half way up a duck, there's a great
temptation to assume that indicates the water depth.

--
Dave.
UK VW Type 3 & 4 Club
http://www.hallvw.clara.co.uk/
------



It amazes me when I see people drive into flood water, even if they know
the street and can tell from the situation that the water can only be a
few inches deep. What they can't see is the ten foot deep hole that the
flood has washed out!

But the comments here on winter tyres seem to suggest that they are only
necessary for snow. Normal tyres are not suited to cold weather. Below
about 7C the tyre becomes somewhat harder and no longer provides as good a
traction as it does in warmer conditions. Winter tyres are designed with a
"softer" mixture and cope much better in the cold, they are designed to
cope better with damp, wet roads, and reduce the risk of aquaplaning in
heavy rain. It's not just snow, you know.

Personally I think that anything that gives me better traction and road
handling is worth it. I have the impression that I am in the minority
here.


Correct, but their disadvantage in the UK climate is they're not ideal in
mild, dry road conditions. It would be great to think that when it's proper
cold it won't warm up the next day... but it invariably does.

--
The DervMan
www.dervman.com