I thought about winter tyres and they would have made more sense when I was working but now it seems a bitt OTT for the odd days where a) they'd make a difference and b) I have to drive.
The other thing that becomes abundantly clear in this sort of weather is that 90% of people haven't got a clue about driving on snow and ice and many think that the common form of 4WD is some sort of magic grip making system. (I had my old LWB Land Rover - with some proper rubber - on throwing shapes once upon a time....but I was trying v hard and the snow was a few inches deep )
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
The tyres on the Defender are big grippy things, I can't remember the name now but they're about as much as you'll ever need for any terrain, the problem is they're not great road tyres. The ones on the Range Rover are road tyres and we were sliding a bit the other day driving home in the early evening, but the electronics cover most of it up. I reckon I could get through most stuff in them even if I have to drop the pressure to really low to get us moving in a really slippy bit.
The Defender hasn't moved out of the garage for weeks, if that comes out then it's bad because everyone prefers the comfort of the Range Rover.
The old couple in the other house on our lane couldn't get out because of ice, so we just popped down to the builders merchants and bought a load of road grit/salt and did the lane. I'm expecting to the be the talk of the village now because it's a bit muddy now it's melted all the ice and the dog walkers will be complaining about the state of their shoes.
Mussels wrote: ↑Mon Dec 12, 2022 7:58 am
Looking at my bamboo bent in half I'm reconsidering my choice to use it as a screening hedge, now waiting to see if it springs back up in a few days
It will, but you may find other reasons to regret it. Bloody invasive thug, and that just the ones sold as "Non invasive". DAMHIKT
Michelin Cross Climates for the win / compromise.
I've used them for years and never not been able to complete my journey / commute, daughter and wife also use them.
Taipan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:40 pm
No. I told my wife to take my car tomorrow and will show her how to put in snow mode. She should be fine, but I'll nervously await her return tomorrow afternoon!
I was smug when I had the Jeep with all season tyres and loved going out in snow but I saw several other 4x4s sliding out of control on summer tyres, the tyres are more important than the drive system.
The other problem that became obvious quickly is that although I could move other people couldn't and I often ended up stuck behind other cars.
I grew to hate VW intelligent electronics - because, not only did they stop me being able to drive up a mountain road, you couldn't turn the electronic stuff off
As you say, decent tyres, understanding of how to drive and it should be ok, but the bastard electronics sometimes fuck it all up!!
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
I just used my snow chains for the first time, plastic rather than metal so I don't have to keep taking them off. I nearly didn't make it up the first hill as oncoming traffic stopped my run up, thankfully they gripped just enough, and my wife got to work but they look more impressive and capable than they are.
Steering a rear wheel drive car on wide summer tyres was interesting, chains on the back don't do much for that.
Mussels wrote: ↑Mon Dec 12, 2022 7:58 am
Looking at my bamboo bent in half I'm reconsidering my choice to use it as a screening hedge, now waiting to see if it springs back up in a few days
It will, but you may find other reasons to regret it. Bloody invasive thug, and that just the ones sold as "Non invasive". DAMHIKT
It's all in planters so shouldn't be troubling my neighbours. One neighbour has some really old bamboo unrestrained that hasn't spread so there are some types that are ok.
Taipan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:40 pm
No. I told my wife to take my car tomorrow and will show her how to put in snow mode. She should be fine, but I'll nervously await her return tomorrow afternoon!
I was smug when I had the Jeep with all season tyres and loved going out in snow but I saw several other 4x4s sliding out of control on summer tyres, the tyres are more important than the drive system.
The other problem that became obvious quickly is that although I could move other people couldn't and I often ended up stuck behind other cars.
I did think about winter tyres but it has 22" wheels on so they'll be a fortune. I'e looked at 2nd set of wheels and it'd be cheaper todoit that way and of course protect my good wheels, but then realistically how much snow do we ever get in the sarf east. Plus the wifes mini is superb at going up our hill. A few years back She went round my neighbours q7 that was stuck!
Yorick wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 12:35 pm
Being very quiet in the villa coz SWMBO is on a Zoom call speed awareness course upstairs
It's 3 bloody hours.
Wifey did one of those earlier in the year, got caught for something like 44 in a 40 in Wales. As she went past the camera van I remarked that it was a 40 limit, that was a camera van, she seemed to be going too fast. Because I knew what the speed limit was and had seen the van it was my fault she got caught. She did the course from the camper somewhere in southern Spain.
Yorick wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 12:35 pm
Being very quiet in the villa coz SWMBO is on a Zoom call speed awareness course upstairs
It's 3 bloody hours.
Wifey did one of those earlier in the year, got caught for something like 44 in a 40 in Wales. As she went past the camera van I remarked that it was a 40 limit, that was a camera van, she seemed to be going too fast. Because I knew what the speed limit was and had seen the van it was my fault she got caught. She did the course from the camper somewhere in southern Spain.
KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 6:50 pm
Right now I wish there was an interesting non-bikes found on the internet thread, cos I REALLY love this...
KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 6:50 pm
Right now I wish there was an interesting non-bikes found on the internet thread, cos I REALLY love this...
You can start a thread y'know, but that really is the silliest Chevvy truck job I've seen. No secret that I'd like a 50s stepside wagon...but I'd actually like to drive it in the real world.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
Having a couple of beers with a pal at my fave bar.
There's about 40 folk sat about enjoying the warm sun.
But I just looked around and we're the youngest by about 10 years
It's the clever old farts from UK spending 3 months here escaping the shit UK weather.
And they're certainly enjoying the cheap booze prices