One of the items on my ‘to do’ list is having my car fitted with a full set of winter tires. I’ve been driving since 1984 (reluctantly, because I hate it), but never had any of my consecutive cars (three in total) fitted with winter tires. The reasons were obvious: the limited number of snowy days and the short distances that I travel. However, last winter was horrid and long with early and heavy snowfall, resulting in extremely bad and dangerous driving conditions.
"Even experts prefer ... winter tires.",
that's what this add is saying. Cute, no?
that's what this add is saying. Cute, no?
Photo from the internet.
Winter tires are not compulsory in Belgium (yet), but more and more people tend to have them installed. And those who had them last winter, all testify that they really do make a difference. They are recommended as soon as temperatures drop below 7°C (which is not the case yet) and from mid-October till mid-April. So I ordered a set two weeks ago at my local car mechanic, who called me last weekend to tell me that they had arrived and that I could bring in my car on Wednesday (yesterday). Which I dutifully did, hoping that I could pick up it up with its new ‘shoes’ this morning. However, the shop was very busy with cars parked all over the place. Most of them waiting to get a new set of winter wheels. In the meanwhile I'm grounded, but if all goes well I should be able to retrieve my car tomorrow morning.
I think the relatively high cost, (mine cost 650 Euros for four tires fitted on new steel rims – 1,000 Euros, if you prefer aluminium rims), is justified considering the extra safety they offer. Although I have this strange gut feeling that we won’t get any snow this winter. Just my luck!
Tell me, are winter tires compulsory where you live and if not, do you have them installed anyway, for your own safety?
13 comments:
will try again since it didn't accept my first post. We use an "all season" tire where we live since we rarely get ice and snow. You are right, those are expensive tires and you only get to use them for a few months out of the year. I guess you store the other tires in your garage and replace the snow tires once winter is over. Your safety is more important than the small inconvenience of getting the snow tires installed. Happy motoring!!!!!!
Just got a new set of winter wheels ( tires and rims but no caps) last Tuesday for my car ( bought it this summer)
Total cost: CAN $ 1000.00 ( managed to get a coupon of $60.00 through the mail)
They are compulsory in the province of Québec from Dec 15 to the end of March but I always have them on in the first week of November and off at the end of April because of my commute for work and I have maintained this practice even though i don't have to travel for work any more because one never knows when a snow fall can happen ( as the mid-Atlantic states experienced last week).
Not required here [central France]but always had them in Denmark and in Norway we had studded winter tires to give even more grip. Have 4 wheel drive which was great in last winter's snow as we live at the end of a tiny lane. This year we've ordered 'snow socks' which are an alternative to snow chains -- easier fit and cheaper to buy -- just in case.
leuk die ijsbeer :-)
I believe the tires that we have on our vehicles are considered "All Season" tires. Pennsylvania has tricky weather. But if you grow up here, you are used to it. It's only the "outsiders" who can't handle the snow.
Drive safely!
m.
Not in the UK. When we had our apartment in the Alps we always said that if we were spending more time there we would have invested in another set of winter tyres. We also have a 4x4 car so it responds well to snowy conditions, as the tyres are wide and the car heavy.
For what it's worth I think that peace of mind is important and you've done the right thing.
PS I'd like to know more about Antoinette's 'snow socks'. We are skiing at Christmas and have recently changed our car, so the snow chains no longer fit :o( Perhaps socks are a good alternative?
Bob, My car mechanic - who's a good friend - has accepted to store the tires in his warehouse, my garage being small and the tires (with the rims) being rather heavy.
The Beaver, That's slightly more expensive than my winter tires (but I have a small car, and therefore small tires :)). However, I didn't get any caps and was lucky that the regular caps also fit on the new rims.
N&A, You do get around!! The 'socks' sound fun. Did you knit them yourself? :) - Also see Gaynor's comment.
Mark, Thank you. I guess that when one is used to snow, driving in it isn't half as bad as when you're only confronted with it once every decade.
Gaynor, Winter was very bad last year and driving to work at half past six in the morning on freshly fallen snow was very stressful. So the tires are a wise investment, ... I guess :)
They are not a requirement in the UK and normally we get so little snow that it's not worth having them. We usually get some snow that only stays around a few days, even if it's fairly deep. Last winter was truly exceptional and we usually get snow like that once every ten years or so - I'm really hoping we don't get another winter like that this year !!
The main problem here is that even if your own car performs well in snow, the roads are so choked with traffic that you still can't get anywhere.
Last year the main roads were snow-ploughed during the heaviest snow but the side roads were impassable, so people still couldn't get home or to work - they just stayed in a traffic jam that wasn't moving for hours. There were also so many abandoned cars, presumably ones that couldn't handle the snow and were therefore left where they were, the drivers giving up and walking home.
Consequently, snow tyres wouldn't really make much difference to any of this and we might as well just stay "snowed in" at home.
In rural areas they probably would be worth having but once you get anywhere near a town - forget it !!
@Gaynor - they're a tip from The Scotsman. I'd never heard of them before. Basically they are like chains in that you fit them over the tires but they are made of some very heavy duty material and cost about £50 for a pair. 'Which' rates them as about 90/95% efficiency of chains. With a 4x4 that is still, at £100 for 2 sets, a good alternative especially as a back-up. We managed quite well without last winter.
Jean, I remember the images from Britain last winter. In similar circumstances I would have stayed home. It was bad overhere too, but still possible to go to work ... And then you have no excuse ... You have to prove that you have at least tried to get to the office, otherwise you have to take a day off from your official vacation quota ... or you don't get paid. Which isn't too bad when it's only one day ... but when it lasts a week ...
N&A, Thank you for supplying the information.
I live in Virginia, just outside Washington DC, and winter tires are not required. I have found that a car with front wheel drive, traction control and anti-lock breaks will do fine in pretty bad conditions.
David
Hi Travel Pinguin - David, welcome to my blog and thank you for posting a comment! My little Corsa has front wheel drive, traction control and anti-lock breaks, and I find all of these features very efficient too. Maybe I'm over-reacting with these winter tires, but last winter was really, really bad. :)
Hmm, it was quite reasonable for you not to have winter tires in the past years. Though, if you were to ask me, getting winter tires fitted is still a good investment because you are basically ensuring your safety on the road. It may be a bit more expensive than normal tires, but you do get added safety, which is priceless.
Regards,
Sebastian
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