As I've always said, a performance car - even with the best winter tyres - may still need chains. Sensible of @RedBullMax to keep a spare set handy. Although perhaps he should have fitted them sooner.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Not just the tourists who are clueless, came across this in the village this morning, local, albeit about 80, revving the tits off it and polishing the ice underneath to perfection, took 4 of us to push it out!
@jonty, its reassuring you find them easy to use. My only experience with chains is struggling to install the basic tangled ones that come with rental cars.
The cu09 chains get dearer as the size increases - roofbox.co.uk sells the 104 model/size for £215. Which size did you get?
225/50/R17
I checked the price: £132 plus £26 VAT - so not far off your quoted fig.
On a separate note - we have decent winter tyres - Continental WinterContact TS 860 - but I found they were sliding all over the place on `English` snow (the dump 2-3 weeks before Xmas). And no, they`re not old. Bought in Feb 2017 and taken off in April.
Any idea why this should happen ?
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Not old?
Purchase date is less important than manufacture year stamp on sidewall
Don’t know this tyre does it have snowflake symbol??
Once the tyre is over approx 5 years old the rubber hardens and the tyres don't perform as well, although I don't think that model is 5 years old yet (I have circa 4 year old 850's on the front and 860's on the back)
https://www.kwik-fit.com/tyres/information/tyre-age
Tyres need a while to bed in too, were they brand new with very few miles on them or straight out of storage?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Snowornever: interesting - I`ll check the manu date but I`m pretty sure this particular tyre is relatively new (and highly rated).
DB: they were put on about 3 weeks before the snow - but didn`t see much use between fitting and the snow.
After all it is free
After all it is free
I have a theory that ‘english’ snow is just about the worst there is for traction. Proper, cold powdery snow is definitely easier. Wet english sludge is terrible stuff.
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foxtrotzulu wrote:
I have a theory that ‘english’ snow is just about the worst there is for traction. Proper, cold powdery snow is definitely easier. Wet english sludge is terrible stuff.
British Rail would agree with you on that
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How to read the manufacturing date of your tyres (and many other things that you probably don't need):
I have a theory that ‘english’ snow is just about the worst there is for traction. Proper, cold powdery snow is definitely easier. Wet english sludge is terrible stuff.
Sometimes the weather is such that it's just above zero throughout the day with sun and additional snowfall along with sub zero temps every night for weeks.
This builds up a thick layer of ice resembling a toboggan run which has slush on it during the day.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Although the 1.5 hybrid Yaris I had last week sadly didn't seem to have the same capability, must have been something wrong with it.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@SnoodlesMcFlude,
Loads of advertising stickers, rear spoiler, big wheel arches, a pair of "go-faster gloves" and your Yaris will be killing it
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
DB wrote:
@SnoodlesMcFlude,
Loads of advertising stickers, rear spoiler, big wheel arches, a pair of "go-faster gloves" and your Yaris will be killing it
Was only a rental thankfully! Felt a bit jipped as it didn't feel like 4wd and 400hp, which is what I was led to believe from watching rallying all year.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
SnoodlesMcFlude wrote:
DB wrote:
@SnoodlesMcFlude,
Loads of advertising stickers, rear spoiler, big wheel arches, a pair of "go-faster gloves" and your Yaris will be killing it
Was only a rental thankfully! Felt a bit jipped as it didn't feel like 4wd and 400hp, which is what I was led to believe from watching rallying all year.
Yes I felt the same when I tried expert race skis from the rental shop, they even had Marcel's signature on them. I skied nowhere near as well as Marcel, maybe it was just a bad tune.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 8-01-18 22:33; edited 2 times in total
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Golf Estate with AWD. Michelin Crossclimates (all seasons with the snowflake symbol)
Should be good to go or will chains still be needed for really serious deep snow / ice ??
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@sheffskibod, depends on conditions I suspect. The FWD Yaris managed fine on whatever winter tyres Budget/Avis saw fit to put on it, but there wasn't too much snow/ice on the road.
If I was driving regularly (as in twice a season) driving to the alps then I'd want to buy some chains. If you get stuck then at best you lose some time from a very expensive holiday.
@sheffskibod - in my experience with AWD+Winters, probably only a 1:6-1:8 chance of your AWD+CrossClimates needing chains but when you'll need them, you'll need them.
We were in our apartment 2 weeks before Christmas to do the usual pre-season rental prep and it was the first time I'd seen other Swiss proprietors driving up the exit road, then slowly reversing back down again - obviously not making it all the way to the top. These all would have their winters on. All four that morning had to put their chains on and then do it again. Just an unlucky combination of lots of snow, cleared but compacted; and then icing of the thin surface layer. It looked quite innocuous.
So chains aren't always for those 'snowmaggedon' conditions.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
On the contrary. I once had to put chains on when a spring shower of wet snow defeated my winter tyres. When I drove back a few hours later bright sun had melted the snow and the road would have presented no challenge to bald summer tyres.
My knock-off zipgripgo thingies arrived today, all the way from the Orient. They look like ..... big orange zip ties. Certainly seem pretty robust, but I have absolutely no idea if they will be any good at all. They are only a back-up to 4wd and winter tyres and I would invest in some chains if going anywhere serious but I thought they might be worth having of West Berkshire ever gets a serious dump of snow. The only reason I can think that these knock-off versions might be inferior to the originals is if they are made of a plastic that becomes very brittle in the cold.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
foxtrotzulu wrote:
My knock-off zipgripgo thingies arrived today, all the way from the Orient. They look like ..... big orange zip ties. Certainly seem pretty robust, but I have absolutely no idea if they will be any good at all. They are only a back-up to 4wd and winter tyres and I would invest in some chains if going anywhere serious but I thought they might be worth having of West Berkshire ever gets a serious dump of snow. The only reason I can think that these knock-off versions might be inferior to the originals is if they are made of a plastic that becomes very brittle in the cold.
Edit : Just checked amazon.de, one guy trashed them when he reversed. He also scratched the inside of his wheel arches. Looks like they sent him a flawed product and the supplier admitted this.
My knock-off zipgripgo thingies arrived today, all the way from the Orient. They look like ..... big orange zip ties. Certainly seem pretty robust, but I have absolutely no idea if they will be any good at all. They are only a back-up to 4wd and winter tyres and I would invest in some chains if going anywhere serious but I thought they might be worth having of West Berkshire ever gets a serious dump of snow. The only reason I can think that these knock-off versions might be inferior to the originals is if they are made of a plastic that becomes very brittle in the cold.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
foxtrotzulu wrote:
dublin2 wrote:
foxtrotzulu wrote:
My knock-off zipgripgo thingies arrived today, all the way from the Orient. They look like ..... big orange zip ties. Certainly seem pretty robust, but I have absolutely no idea if they will be any good at all. They are only a back-up to 4wd and winter tyres and I would invest in some chains if going anywhere serious but I thought they might be worth having of West Berkshire ever gets a serious dump of snow. The only reason I can think that these knock-off versions might be inferior to the originals is if they are made of a plastic that becomes very brittle in the cold.
It looks like rhey could snap under stress/pressure - would not want a piece of it closer to the break fluid tube flying off at high velocity...
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@mooney058, I am sure they can snap, but the mass is so small that they really wouldn’t do any damage as far as I can see. A few grams at <20 mph can’t have much momentum. In addition, the vids I’ve seen suggest that they are most likely to snap when you set off, not when moving at speed.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Yeah I'm not sure how much damage a chunky ziptie could do to a brake line, especially as any chains etc. are mainly for slow speed driving. To me they look like a good option to have in the UK, not too much money and easy enough to keep with the spare wheel on the off chance we have snow.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@SnoodlesMcFlude, That was my thinking, and worth £12 or whatever just to have in the boot in case. Clearly no substitute for proper chains in the Alps, but might be useful in the U.K.
Looking at the videos where they have failed I suspect part of the problem is insufficient friction between tyre and zip tie. The solution would be to do them up VERY tightly or, if you’re feeling extremely keen, deflate tyre slightly, attach zip ties, and then reinflate. FWIW, I’m not convinced you could tighten them enough by hand. A pair of pliers would give you a few extra clicks and that might make all the difference.
I've got one similar and it's really good, can adjust tension and cuts off the lose end neatly as well without leaving that razor sharp bit. Downside would be that you lose the 'reusable' element of the swanda things.
I've got one similar and it's really good, can adjust tension and cuts off the lose end neatly as well without leaving that razor sharp bit. Downside would be that you lose the 'reusable' element of the swanda things.
Yes, it migh5 be a pity to lose the reusability aspect. Also, those are BIG cable ties and I wouldn’t be sure this device could do the job.
Interesting to see the range of amazon reviews for these cable ties. They range from 1 star to 5 stars. I particularly enjoyed this one.... ‘Just got this a week ago. Really good chains, easy to put them on and take them off. Plan to go to Manchester for Christmas vacation, this could help a lot. Also the price is good.’
I reckon he should just stay at home and avoid Manchester. It’s grim up North!
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@foxtrotzulu, the one I’ve got could probably do them, it’s surprisingly strong.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@SnoodlesMcFlude,
Quote:
@foxtrotzulu, the one I’ve got could probably do them, it’s surprisingly strong.
It's more about the size than the strength. The 'tongue' of these things is over 1.2cm wide. I've never seen zip ties that big before. Anyway, I certainly won't be carrying around yet another bit of kit just in case!
After all it is free
After all it is free
@martinm, spoken like a true Northerner! You probably keep whippets and have gravy with everything too. The North/South divide is at J27 of the M5.
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Nope, anything North of Salisbury Plain is in the North
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@martinm, @SnoodlesMcFlude, @boredsurfin, Damn you all for trying to make out I'm a Northerner
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