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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:	Cars in the UK
Notice:	Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:	COMICS::SHELLEYELD

Created:	Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2584
Total number of notes:	63384

1628.0. "SNOWCHAINS" by VIVIAN::M_CURRY (The ruby knight thrusted forward with his..) Wed Dec 11 1991 17:28

    Hi everyone,
    
    I was talking to a taxi driver the other night on my way back from the
    pub (****ed as a fart) and we got talking about the weather (surprise
    surprise !). He told me how wonderfully he coped in the heavy snow we
    had earlier this year, and how his taxi kept running because he had
    snow chains fitted.
    
    Does anyone have any experience of snow chains ? Do they really work ?
    How many wheels do you fit them to (ie just the drive wheels, or the
    freewheeling ones aswell) ?
    
    I've seen a few snowchains in the shops and they all look much the same
    as each other, ie rubber band or chain constructions. Are there any
    really **** ones out there that should be avoided ? I'm not atall sure
    it's actually worth spending the money    , but in the last snow it
    took me 45minutes to travel 1.5 miles (it's quite hilly!) and if you
    had asked me then if it was worth it, I would have said yes !
    
    Mike
    
    PS, If this has already been discussed, many apologies, a pointer would
    be appreciated.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1628.1	Advice from Finland, the land if ice and snow	EEMELI::JMANNINEN	IKnowIt'sTrue'causeISawItOnVT	`Thu Dec 12 1991 06:52`	9
	Snow chains are only for getting away from some very slippery place, not for all time driving. Ie. if you are stuck below a slippery hill, you put the chains on, drive the hill up and get the chains away. BUT: it's much, much wiser to have real snow tyres that have enough grip all the time. Preferrably studded ones, if you are allowed to have studs. - Jyri -
1628.2		GVA05::STIFF	Paul Stiff, DSSR, DTN:821-4167	`Thu Dec 12 1991 06:54`	3
	Note 439 has a discussion on chains. Paul
1628.3	I miss hand-pumping the screen washers!	TRUCKS::BEATON_S	I Just Look Innocent	`Thu Dec 12 1991 07:50`	16
	Get one of them Hillman Avenger thingies... I used to work for a software company up in Scotland and those peeps that qualified for a company car were given Cavaliers... potential rathole coming up here. The company office was at the foot of a fairly steep hill and when there was ice or (especially) snow the Cavaliers seemed to have trouble getting up the hill whereas my Avenger would go up the hill slowly, but very surely. Surprising really as the Cavaliers (mark II's) were front-wheel drive, but I was told by an AA engineer that it was because the Avenger had better weight distribution (basically a heavy car in comparison to the Cavalier) for going up snowy hills. More seriously though... I never once was in a car that used chains during the 23 years I lived in Scotland... appart from "Big Jess" as we used to call her, but then she didn't have a car !! Stephen
1628.4		IOSG::FREER	Three spellings short of a dictionary? ..	`Thu Dec 12 1991 09:36`	6
	>> -< I miss hand-pumping the screen washers! >- Bye a 67 Midget and pleasure can be yours! 8^) Steve
1628.5	..nice narrow tyres	NEWOA::ALFORD_J	The intermission fish...	`Thu Dec 12 1991 14:16`	3
	get a 2CV....very good in snow...if you can get them started ;-)
1628.6		CURRNT::PACE::RUTTER	Rut The Nut	`Thu Dec 12 1991 14:57`	5
	>>get a 2CV....very good in snow...if you can get them started ;-) Well, if you rip the bonnet off, it would make a good sledge ! J.R.
1628.7		SBPEXE::PREECE	Just gimme the VAX, ma'am...	`Thu Dec 12 1991 17:17`	15
	Re -. a few... We're not allowed "proper" snow/ice tyres over here.....the snow deosn't usually last long enough to form a permanent ice layer on the road, so the spikes haven't got anything to dig into, except the road surface itself.... for some reason the local authorities get all upset about that, hence, no spikes. Nearest we can get are "knobblies", but thaey cost a fortune and don't last very long (and they don't sell them in the right size for my car, sulk, grumble, whinge, mutter.....) Ian (who's about to buy some chains, having seen the forecast.....)
1628.8	Unless you get an all-wheel-driver...	CURRNT::PACE::RUTTER	Rut The Nut	`Thu Dec 12 1991 17:43`	18
	>>Nearest we can get are "knobblies", but thaey cost a fortune and don't last >>very long (and they don't sell them in the right size for my car, sulk, grumble, If you want a relatively cheap set of M+S tyres, buy Colway Rally Remoulds. They won't last any longer than other tyres of this ilk, but on the other hand they generally last about the same length of time. As for them being remoulds, I've read a few articles on this company and know that their tyres are extremely popular for club rallyists (also get used a lot on the RAC, where the cost will make a huge difference compared to the equivalent Dunlop/Pirelli tyres) and I wouldn't be worried about that aspect of their manufacture. They are available in a number of different sizes, but generally only those that are popular fitment to rally cars... J.R.
1628.9		NEWOA::ALFORD_J	The intermission fish...	`Thu Dec 12 1991 17:51`	6
	Re: the one who asked about snowchains There's a maximum speed of 25mph with them on. Any faster and you can do serious damage to your bodywork.
1628.10	For use in the UK ??.	KERNEL::WITHALLG	Never heard of him	`Thu Mar 25 1993 14:01`	15
	I have read all notes about snow chains - 439.* and this lot, My question is - Can we use snow chains in the U.K -?. If we can, then can you tell me if I would need some in and around Aviemore, Inverness-shire. Do they fit on a Sierra Cosworth ?. Thanks. GaryW.
1628.11	Know nothing about your question, 'cept...	RUTILE::FARTHING	Happy but twisted	`Thu Mar 25 1993 14:15`	7
	GaryW, You can only fit snow chains on a Cossie if it is fitted with winter tyres, otherwise there's not enough clearance between the wheels and the bodywork! This is true for the Sapphire Cossie, anyway. Faz.
1628.12	-1	KERNEL::WITHALLG	Never heard of him	`Thu Mar 25 1993 15:36`	8
	Thanks Faz, the tyres are rubber any clue ?. :-) Gary
1628.13		ESBS01::RUTTER	I'm Buggering Off Soon	`Thu Mar 25 1993 16:08`	10
	� Do they fit on a Sierra Cosworth ?. Out of interest: Is this a 'Sierra Cosworth', or a 'Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4WD' ? If the former, than I don't expect the chains to work too well if you see any movement on the boost gauge ! :-) J.R.
1628.14	not sure	KERNEL::WITHALLG	Never heard of him	`Thu Mar 25 1993 16:38`	10
	Re -1 Is this a 'Sierra Cosworth', or a 'Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4WD' ? Sorry not sure, Im borrowing it for my holiday. GaryW
1628.15	Not me	WARNUT::RICE	VW Beetle for sale in next few months	`Thu Mar 25 1993 16:40`	8
	Depends on the weather, but whenever I've been up there - both driving my own car and on a coach - I've never used or seen snowchains being used. I now confidently expect to be corrected by one of our haggis eating colleagues. Stevie.
1628.16		COMICS::MCSKEANE	praise the lord and pass the ammo	`Thu Mar 25 1993 17:07`	15
	I've driven up to Aviemore in April before and went clattering past a snowplough on the A9. Before I'd time to wonder what a snowplough was doing out in April I drove right into the middle of a mini blizzard!!! I had a rather nervous 1/2 a mile or so coasting without using the brakes till I hit a more sensible speed for the conditions. There wasn't that much snow around but it did give me a fright. I've also driven up there for Hogmany and again the roads weren't that bad. As its pretty late in the season I guess you shouldn't need the chains as most of it has usually cleared away by now. POL.
1628.17		TRUCKS::BEATON_S	I Just Look Innocent	`Fri Mar 26 1993 08:39`	10
	Hoots mon... I'm not sure if this should go here.... I have a new shape Ford Escort... Do you think it'll get through its MOT? Thank you...
1628.19		SIOG::KANE	tb or not tb, that's a Ferrari	`Fri Mar 26 1993 09:23`	2
	Not if Ford kept to the spec.
1628.20	Does anyone actually say this..??	KURMA::SWRIGHT	Whisky Nose @�@ , Strawberry Cheeks..!!	`Fri Mar 26 1993 20:00`	7
	Not if you go about saying things like "Hoots mon" .. They will probably lock you up before you get to the MOT station..!! *:@)
1628.21	Yes,No,well maybe....8*)	KIRKTN::CDOUDIE	I'm virtually real !!!	`Fri Mar 26 1993 20:58`	13
	Of course we do... Hoots mon, help ma boab, Oor Wullie, Daphne Broon..... Same as all those south of the border say.... OK Yah, spiffing shot, that's not cricket..... Do they think we've all got ginger hair and beards and wear kilts as well.......God help us !!!!! I blame TV....colin.
1628.22	Chamonix it ain`t...........	PAKORA::DMCGREGOR		`Mon Mar 29 1993 05:19`	10
	I have to ask...... Why do you require snow-chains to go to Aviemore in April????????. As there`s practically zero snow on the hill there`s little chance of encountering any on the A9. Doogz.
1628.23	Shorts and sun oil ???	KERNEL::WITHALLG	Never heard of him	`Mon Mar 29 1993 13:20`	14
	Doogz, Apparently - so I have been told, it has been snowing and still is in the Cairngorms. Well I hope so anyway as I have been told Im going skiing there next week !. As it is myu first time skiing I suppose that a lack of snow should help my balance. Re the snow on the hill etc - do you now something that maybe I should ?. GaryW
1628.24	Just bring Wellies......	PAKORA::DMCGREGOR		`Mon Mar 29 1993 21:03`	12
	Gary, There has been some snow falling on the very top runs but nowhere near the roads.It has to get pretty bad for the snow to affect the Ski-road and I doubt we`ll see any severe dump of snow till next season.Leave the chains at home. Doogz. P.s. It would be really great if I`m wrong...... P.p.s Val D`isere last Friday,NOW THAT WAS SNOW.........