Snow Good

[DodgyKnee]

Hello,

I have a 54 reg 2 litre T4 Hatchback with the standard 17 inch wheels and new (last year) Bridgestones. Unfortunately, I live on a slight hill and the road is covered in snow/ice and it's almost impossible to get up the hill. I noticed lots of other cars from Micras to Mondeos coping easily, but mine just can't. It doesn't matter whether the traction control is off or on (loads of wheel spin or no motion at all, respectively) or which gear (eg not over revving it and taking it easy). I have taken to driving my wife's Hyundai i30, which hardly even notices the snow and ice.

Anyway, has anyone else noticed this? Or are the Bridgestones just really poor in this weather (if that's the case, I may change them before next winter). I have been driving for almost 25 years and have never had such poor grip in these conditions.

Thanks.

[t-spiritpete]

Hello,

I have a 54 reg 2 litre T4 Hatchback with the standard 17 inch wheels and new (last year) Bridgestones. Unfortunately, I live on a slight hill and the road is covered in snow/ice and it's almost impossible to get up the hill. I noticed lots of other cars from Micras to Mondeos coping easily, but mine just can't. It doesn't matter whether the traction control is off or on (loads of wheel spin or no motion at all, respectively) or which gear (eg not over revving it and taking it easy). I have taken to driving my wife's Hyundai i30, which hardly even notices the snow and ice.

Anyway, has anyone else noticed this? Or are the Bridgestones just really poor in this weather (if that's the case, I may change them before next winter). I have been driving for almost 25 years and have never had such poor grip in these conditions.

Thanks.

Hello mate, just this afternoon I was chatting to a mate who drives a Toyota Rav and he commented that he had just replaced the Bridgestones on the front for some budget ones and it has transformed the car in regards to the amount of grip it now has, I said maybe because they were worn out but he said no, it had been poor in the wet since new so whether that helps answer your question? I'm sorry but I can't remember what the budget tyres were called but I could find out for you.

Best regards ... Pete.

[Jamesbelfast]

Compare the width of your tyres to the cars that can handle the icey conditions and you'll find they are narrower. My son drives a 1994 Clio diesel with skinny 13" wheeels and can go most places in such conditions.

Contrary to popular belief larger diameter and broader tyres don't always give more grip even in dry warm conditions - because grip is about ground pressure. Think of young kids slidng down the snow covered hill on a broad plastic sheet.

Realistically drivers in this country aren't prpepared for such conditions - that's why in some European countries it is mandatory to use winter tyres which involves a different set of rims or always carry a set of snow chains which effectively reduce contact area.

It may be cheaper to buy some road salt than change the tyres LOL!!!:)

[DodgyKnee]

Thanks for the answers fellas - and if you could remember the name of the tyres Pete then I would be grateful - it's a bit embarrassing being told by my wife that her Hyundai is better!

[jamesholden]

Thanks for the answers fellas - and if you could remember the name of the tyres Pete then I would be grateful - it's a bit embarrassing being told by my wife that her Hyundai is better!

It's not that surprising, my grandmother lives near a steep slope and all sorts of cars used to come sliding back down again yet my friends trusty 20 year old square Micra used to bolt straight up it. Light car with a small amount of power and it'll skate over the surface rather than getting bogged down. Good choice on the i30 by the way, I think there a bargain.

[Phoenix999]

Hello,

I have a 54 reg 2 litre T4 Hatchback with the standard 17 inch wheels and new (last year) Bridgestones. Unfortunately, I live on a slight hill and the road is covered in snow/ice and it's almost impossible to get up the hill. I noticed lots of other cars from Micras to Mondeos coping easily, but mine just can't. It doesn't matter whether the traction control is off or on (loads of wheel spin or no motion at all, respectively) or which gear (eg not over revving it and taking it easy). I have taken to driving my wife's Hyundai i30, which hardly even notices the snow and ice.

Anyway, has anyone else noticed this? Or are the Bridgestones just really poor in this weather (if that's the case, I may change them before next winter). I have been driving for almost 25 years and have never had such poor grip in these conditions.

Thanks.

That's a shame :( I have been driving on sheet ice and my car coped extremely well and that includes driving up my road which is a slight hill. I have seen numerous cars failing on ice but still mine was so good. I am impressed with the way it got me through

[scotchglen]

we have a 1.8 t4 with the 17'' alloys with michelin pilot exalto's on front and have exactly the same problem in fact it struggles to pull away on the flat.purchased the car with these tyres on but won't be putting them on again when they need replacing.we could'nt work out why the car would'nt pull away either did the same as you traction control on traction control off pulling off in 1st and second and getting nowhere ended up with me getting out the car and pushing while the wife drove.read a review on the michelins which said the tyres were excellent apart from in snow and ice and were summer tyres.when comes to replacing front tyres i shall be reading lots of reviews on ALL WEATHER TYRES.fed up of getting cold,dirty and sliding around as much as the car is when pushing it.

[BALIKBAYAN]

There is one solution to your problems. Get a set of proper wintertyres.

The rubber is different from the rubber in summer tyres. Winter tyre rubber is softer and don't get too stiff when it is cold (+ 7 degrees C is cold). Summer tyres get too stiff during winter, and will not work any good.

Winter tyres should NOT be wide.

With proper winter tyres you should get good contact if your feet on the accelerator pedal are not too heavy.

Remember to keep the wheels rolling, as lang as the wheels roll you do have some contact. No heavy feet. Don't do any suddenly steering wheel motions, no hard breaking, not push the pedal to the bottom when starting.

[taximan1256]

Had a pair of talon triangle 215/55/17 fitted by hawleys tyres in sheffield 3 weeks ago and have had excellent grip in all the recent snow and icy conditions we have had up to now, these have kept me working when others have stopped did heathrow yesterday no probs southampton tomorrow. Pulled a range rover out of a snow drift on monday much to the owners embarassment (women driver of course) so i am pretty chuffed with the result of these all weather tyres £140.00 fitted didnt break the bank either, slightly noisier than normal but who gives a sh*t paid for themselves already.

[vmssys]

Bridgestone Potenza hi performance tyres on my 2.0vvti t-spirit. Its a throw back to my days owning an MR2 and then a 3.0TT Supra and always wanting the best and most grippy tyre. These tyres run the car like its on rails no matter how hard you drive in the dry/wet (within reasonable limits of course). But there is a compromise. They are crap in the snow!

Stick cheap tyres on to get better traction in the snow and then live with them for the other 340+ days/year snow free.

I always remember the Original Fit Yokohamas on my MR2 and doing a 270 degree as I pulled onto a big roundabout. In those days the Bridgestone PP SP02/3 were the dogs gonads and recommended in all the forums. I changed tyres once I had worn out the originals and from that point it was a different car is respect to handling. Still crap in the snow. But I did drive that car to Munich twice on the Autobahns reaching 152mph (downhill) remembering that this is considered a normal/legal speed over there. I drove in the severe cold winter but limited snow driving but found it safe as long as you took it easy.

[9BarStrata]

Yep

Same story here, recently fitted 17" wheels and got some goodyear eagle f1's too. fantastic in the dry, brilliant in the wet, sh1te in ice and snow . I put the old diamondback's back on the front and away she goes.

[vmssys]

going back to the bridgesones on my 2.0vvti. There is a short hill which I have to get up before turning into my culdesac. I worked out the hill is about 1 in 9 and in the compacted snow I have absolutely no chance.

My gf has a 2.0D4D with budget tyres and she sales up and down the hill all the time without so much of a slip. I drove today and not a slip as I went up the hill. I could still see my 2.0vvti abandoned at the bottom waiting for the thaw!

[ssid]

going back to the bridgesones on my 2.0vvti. There is a short hill which I have to get up before turning into my culdesac. I worked out the hill is about 1 in 9 and in the compacted snow I have absolutely no chance.

My gf has a 2.0D4D with budget tyres and she sales up and down the hill all the time without so much of a slip. I drove today and not a slip as I went up the hill. I could still see my 2.0vvti abandoned at the bottom waiting for the thaw!

Hi

My wife kept getting stuck (Avensis 1.8 vvti) up the hill on our road and becoming a real pain. Tried some Avon ICE touring (£77 from ATS for 205 55 R16) on the front wheels only as an experiment - amazing - going up and down snow covered hills (roads of course) with no problem whatsoever. Funny to see a smug 4x4 owners as I accelerated away from him.! I am going to buy a set for my Avensis Diesel next winter as it is a lot safer with these tyres in temperatures below 7c. Only negative is they are noisy on the tarmac and possibly lower fuel economy.

Mine has been just about OK as it has Bridgstone ER30's on which are a bit chunky whereas my wife has Michelin Primacy HP's on which are apparently and evidently not good in the snow. The extra weight of the diesel may help may help as well.

Anyway I was genuinely blown away by the grip of these winter tyres on ice and snow covered roads.

[jed50]

I have a T4 D-4D and it has the Dunlop SP3000's on it. (standard fitting on a 2003 model I think) It is the worst car in the snow that I have ever had.

If you look at the tread on modern tyres, they all seem to be just straight lines in the tread. Years ago you got blocks on the tread, which meant more grip in the snow.

I will be replacing them with budget tyres with blocks rather than the straight lines, but I think I will be losing mileage in doing so. I think that budget tyres use an inferior rubber than more expensive ones so dont last as long. Does anybody know this to be true?

jed

[enyajtrebor]

Goodyear NCT on all 4 wheels of the T180 and I have to say so far they have provided reasonable grip whiich includes some up hill work. Far better traction than my old 51 plate 1.8 VVti.

Notice I said so far, we will see what happens when the next lot of snow arrives !!

[Beagh1958]

I'm presuming your tyre pressures are around the 30 to 35 psi mark. Why don't you just drop your pressures down to 20 / 25 psi mark, massive increase in grip. A lot cheaper than having 2 lot's of wheels & tyres. Unless you live in the highlands or up on the Mourne Mountains.

Regards, Beagh.

[Johan007]

I think that budget tyres use an inferior rubber than more expensive ones so dont last as long. Does anybody know this to be true?

No, budget tyres last for ages getting harder and harder over time with very poor wet grip. The only time they are any good is in snow.

Best all-round cheap tyre for the UK roads IMO are Falken FK432.

[Q.S.]

Hello,

I have a 54 reg 2 litre T4 Hatchback with the standard 17 inch wheels and new (last year) Bridgestones. Unfortunately, I live on a slight hill and the road is covered in snow/ice and it's almost impossible to get up the hill. I noticed lots of other cars from Micras to Mondeos coping easily, but mine just can't. It doesn't matter whether the traction control is off or on (loads of wheel spin or no motion at all, respectively) or which gear (eg not over revving it and taking it easy). I have taken to driving my wife's Hyundai i30, which hardly even notices the snow and ice.

Anyway, has anyone else noticed this? Or are the Bridgestones just really poor in this weather (if that's the case, I may change them before next winter). I have been driving for almost 25 years and have never had such poor grip in these conditions.

Thanks.

Avensis GS (1.8Vvti), 2002 with standard 15 inch wheels, Michelin (summer) tyres, absolute pants in the snow.