Saw my first casualty of this years snow!!

[dragon]

Some guy in an A3 was a bit ***** in this mornings snow has has managed to have a heavy shunt with a high kerb. Think i'll leave my motor safely tucked away in the garage.

Always amazes me how badly some people drive in the snow especially after it has been compacted by other vehicles. Heavy braking is not the way to go!!

 

[NHN]

Oh dear, people think as soon as snow comes they can start powersliding, drifting etc, mindless idiots dont consider the consequences of there actions sometimes & the fact you could hit a person or another car doesnt even come into there minds.

 

[RedDejavu]

Oh dear, people think as soon as snow comes they can start powersliding, drifting etc, mindless idiots dont consider the consequences of there actions sometimes & the fact you could hit a person or another car doesnt even come into there minds.

True however if you consider all that and take your car into a safe place where no cars around the fun could be amazing:].

 

[Cruiser89]

A new shape Corsa decided he could make it up the hill... He didn't. Slid all the way back down and then smashed into two cars...

 

[leeds2592]

After "drifting" in my Clio in last years snow on an abonded stretch of road and smashing into a curb, I'm very cautious in my A3.

Not many worser feelings than skidding on snow/ice and not being able to do anything!

 

[SAiLO]

It's all about being gentle in those road conditions.

 

[Shadowman]

Yep....drive carefully and have the right tyres fitted..........my Dunlop Wintersport 4d's are just unbelievably good.....cars slithering and sliding all over the place where I live, but the S3 is absolutely solid and it's like driving on a wet road at worst.....really impressive.

Obviously you need to be sensible with your speed and stopping distances, but that's just common sense......or at least it is for those of us with common sense..

 

[riggssuzuki]

Yep....drive carefully and have the right tyres fitted..........my Dunlop Wintersport 4d's are just unbelievably good.....cars slithering and sliding all over the place where I live, but the S3 is absolutely solid and it's like driving on a wet road at worst.....really impressive.

Obviously you need to be sensible with your speed and stopping distances, but that's just common sense......or at least it is for those of us with common sense..

Agree completely. Winter tyres, sensible driving and snowy conditions are a breeze. Even my BMW 335d managed one of the worst winters i can remember with not a slide or twitch. THe Scandanavians can all be wrong!!!! They drive large powerful rear drives but with the addition of common sense and good tyres. We get 1/2 inch of snow and it turns to bloomin carnage on the roads. Aberdeen is a joke when it snows. People just lose their minds. If you are not happy in the conditions and are not confident then going out and driving at 15 mph is not the correct thing to do. STAY AT HOME!!! OR GET A LIFT!!!!!

 

[yummymummy]

Driving in severe winter weather poses many challenges.

 

[RedDejavu]

oh yes especially with quattro system so much grip is incredible!

 

[IceHanger]

another one for winter tyres, my Vredstains are excellent, up and down hills, passed so many stuck cars today and not even had the TCS light on lol

 

[Plastic_Badger]

I've got vreds too.
My first set of winter tyres I can't believe the difference!
Went up a massive hill covered in fresh snow this morning no problem what so ever. Two policemen on foot carefully walking along the pavement looked extremely confused as I cruised past them.

 

[TDI140]

Got to do 12 miles in the snow FWD audi probably fail i think lol, i got a colour change :-L

 

[JohnboyC]

God I miss my A4 2.5TDi Quattro Sport Avant (fantastic car) in this snowy weather !!! I purchased a BMW 118d as a "shopping trolley/commuter car" which it does well, but it has no "factor X" and "no grin factor". All I will say is that is completely RUBBISH in the snow. !

So, I am coming back form the dark side soon and going to get an Audi S3 ! 2008/2009 model !

 

[Veedubnoodle]

I love driving in the snow! I can watch people slip and slide and spin the wheels all they want outside my house and still cant get up the hill....and then I calmly reverse out of the drive way and drive up the hill as they all look at me completely confused!
No snow tyres on my car either, just good clutch control and as bit of common sense :icon_thumright:

 

[Kwatrow]

Had to drive about 80 miles in relatively light snow conditions today on all types of roads. Had a few moments on the quiet residential roads and on the country lanes when hills were involved. I've got the four wheel drive, but I think it's all down to the tyres. I can't be doing the hassle of changing tyres for the seasons, but does anybody have any recommendations for an all weather tyre for when my current ones run down. I am quite prepared to forego a bit of ultimate dry weather grip for improved snow/wet weather.
K

 

[crawley86]

I've got vreds too.
My first set of winter tyres I can't believe the difference!
Went up a massive hill covered in fresh snow this morning no problem what so ever. Two policemen on foot carefully walking along the pavement looked extremely confused as I cruised past them.

Do you have all 4 tyres or just the ones which put power down?

 

[@udi A3]

When fitting snow tyres ( i keep meaning to) do you fit on the driving wheels only or all four on a 2wd?

 

[Plastic_Badger]

I have an S3 and have them on all 4.
I think you would want the same on a 2wd to give grip on all 4 corners.

From what I found today the winters help braking and cornering as well as overall stability and traction when pulling away so you'd want them front and back.

 

[IceHanger]

When fitting snow tyres ( i keep meaning to) do you fit on the driving wheels only or all four on a 2wd?

u should be fitting 4 tyres as the non driven wheels still help with cornering and breaking, just fitting fronts will make it tail happy when cornering and breaking

 

[@udi A3]

Thanks, I really must look for some winter rims!

 

[JohnE]

My A3 is better than my old Jag - but not brilliant. The wheels/tyres are too wide - great for summer grip but not so great in snow or the wet - personally, I'd trade ultimate grip at high speeds in summer for better all-round grip, but everyone wants huge wide wheels and rubber band tyres these days - mainly for appearance sake.

 

[Artimus]

My A3 is better than my old Jag - but not brilliant. The wheels/tyres are too wide - great for summer grip but not so great in snow or the wet - personally, I'd trade ultimate grip at high speeds in summer for better all-round grip, but everyone wants huge wide wheels and rubber band tyres these days - mainly for appearance sake.

You sound like you need some all season tyres in your life, they make a hell of a difference in cold\wet weather & work pretty well in summer too - just don't be tempted to thrash them when it's hot or they won't last.

All Season - Four Season - All Weather - Car/MPV Tyres - 18" R18" - 225/40/18, 225/40R18

 

[JohnE]

You sound like you need some all season tyres in your life, they make a hell of a difference in cold\wet weather & work pretty well in summer too - just don't be tempted to thrash them when it's hot or they won't last.

All Season - Four Season - All Weather - Car/MPV Tyres - 18" R18" - 225/40/18, 225/40R18

Thanks for that - due some rears soon, I will check these out.

 

[Kwatrow]

Had to drive about 80 miles in relatively light snow conditions today on all types of roads. Had a few moments on the quiet residential roads and on the country lanes when hills were involved. I've got the four wheel drive, but I think it's all down to the tyres. I can't be doing the hassle of changing tyres for the seasons, but does anybody have any recommendations for an all weather tyre for when my current ones run down. I am quite prepared to forego a bit of ultimate dry weather grip for improved snow/wet weather.
K

That'll be a nobody then.

 

[fangio]

In the '50s when I learned to drive on the road, my army driving instructor gave me an excellent piece of advice:-

"Treat the controls as if there are fresh eggs between you and them."

Stood me in good stead for 50-odd years, and I was driving buses during the winter of 1963.

 

[J.R.]

Anybody tried these AutoSocks ? http://www.autosock.co.uk/

 

[pinterovski]

My S3 in action!

 

[RedDejavu]

LOL you went ape! Just wonder how many new stonechips that will cause...:/

 

[alexi77]

Its all about knowing what you are doing, too much right foot and too little brain control. Having said that power sliding in an empty car park teaches you alot about how good you think your car control is. Why not stay at home unless essential. quattro is great, its other people sliding into you thats a worry....

 

[IceHanger]

Its a shame you cant find big open areas to have a bit of fun in as well as learning what you car does these day, you can learn so much about how a car reacts in snow and the best way to use the controls in an hour or 2 of hooning. I used to have disused airfield not far from me, spent many afternoons up there, and managed to hit the only oil drum on the site in my Alfa hahahah. To many people seem to jump down your throat when you find a carpark for some "car control" practice

 

[DJ-S3]

Its a shame you cant find big open areas to have a bit of fun in as well as learning what you car does these day, you can learn so much about how a car reacts in snow and the best way to use the controls in an hour or 2 of hooning. I used to have disused airfield not far from me, spent many afternoons up there, and managed to hit the only oil drum on the site in my Alfa hahahah. To many people seem to jump down your throat when you find a carpark for some "car control" practice

Couldn't agree more. If there was a place for people to play in their cars then there wouldn't be people doing it on the roads. I don't agree with it on the roads, but a UNUSED car park, you end up getting people looking as you like you've run over their child or something!! My friend owns a unit in a industrial estate so I go to play there.

 

[mjr901]

I say Let'em frown.....

 

[45bvtc]

I've got vreds too.
My first set of winter tyres I can't believe the difference!
Went up a massive hill covered in fresh snow this morning no problem what so ever. Two policemen on foot carefully walking along the pavement looked extremely confused as I cruised past them.

I agree, what's the problem:





With 4x 19-inch VREDESTEIN Wintrac 4xtreme tyres fitted to ALL 4-wheels - just 100% grip. For me, my most amazing manoeuvre was to complete a 3-point turn, ok a 5-point turn, on a steep snow/ice covered hill in front of several cars slipping and sliding to get up the a totally traffic blocked hill, just so easy. Note; I was trying to make a doctors appointment otherwise I may have tried to help, then again, if guys want to drive on snow and ice covered hills with summer tyres...

 

[roysterdsb]

........my Dunlop Wintersport 4d's are just unbelievably good.....cars slithering and sliding all over the place where I live, but the S3 is absolutely solid and it's like driving on a wet road at worst.....really impressive.

They are phenomenal tyres aren't they, that's the same set up i've got on my S3 and it was so composed even in the thicker stuff.

 

[riggssuzuki]

Would just like to mention that when i see people state they either have a front or rear wheel drive car and it means they wont make it in snow it drives me mad!!!! I had my 335d M Sport during the bad winter in 2010. I regularly drove untreate roads i the wee early hours. No issues at all. I fitted a good set on winter tyrs and just got on with it. My advice to people is if you are not confident then dont ****** drive!!!!!!

 

[45bvtc]

Would just like to mention that when i see people state they either have a front or rear wheel drive car and it means they wont make it in snow it drives me mad!!!! I had my 335d M Sport during the bad winter in 2010. I regularly drove untreate roads i the wee early hours. No issues at all. I fitted a good set on winter tyrs and just got on with it. My advice to people is if you are not confident then dont ****** drive!!!!!!

EXACTLY!

It's tyres, tyres, tyres.

Drivers just don't understand/appreciate what makes a winter tyre work in cold conditions and why a summer tyre doesn't. There is not one tyre manufacturer that recommends their 'summer' tyre to be used in sub 7ºC conditions, not one.

As for tyre pattern/tread then compare the following (you decide) on my RS3 (exactly the same on my TT):

 

[45bvtc]

Most snow tires now also use a specialized siping pattern, a zigzagging pattern cut many times through each tread block. These cuts split the tread block into multiple jagged “fingers.” When the tread makes contact with the road tarmac/snow/ice, the multiple parallel cuts allow the tread block to flex, thus bringing the jagged edges of each “finger” into contact with the snow or ice, greatly increasing the tread's surface area and allowing the diamond-shaped edges to bite into the snow.





The sipes 'hold' the snow, and there's nothing that sticks better to snow than snow - take a look at the snow hanging off a rooftop...

 

[riggssuzuki]

Most snow tires now also use a specialized siping pattern, a zigzagging pattern cut many times through each tread block. These cuts split the tread block into multiple jagged “fingers.” When the tread makes contact with the road tarmac/snow/ice, the multiple parallel cuts allow the tread block to flex, thus bringing the jagged edges of each “finger” into contact with the snow or ice, greatly increasing the tread's surface area and allowing the diamond-shaped edges to bite into the snow.

View attachment 10206



The sipes 'hold' the snow, and there's nothing that sticks better to snow than snow - take a look at the snow hanging off a rooftop...

I am amazed at the amount of people who do not understand the concept of winter tyres. They ar convinced that its the car thats at fault. Yet i point out that a huge number of Scandanavians drive large capacity performance rear wheel drive cars and have no isses whatsoever in conditions far far worse than ours. I have proven to disbelievers over and over just what a huge difference it makes being on the correct tyres. But again its not JUST tyres its also the driver!!!! Some folk just shouldn't be out in anything other than perfect conditions..... I have seen absolutely shocking driving standards over the past few days. Grrrr some people just grip my flamin hoop!!!!!! :sign_omg:

 

[riggssuzuki]

As soon as he digs it out he is off and running!!!!

Why can some people just not grasp the benefit of winter tyres. Its like they dont want to believe it and its black magic and lies!!!! Some people just should not be out in these conditions. I say again if you are not confident dont drive. Driving at 20mph is a danger in itself. It causes long tail backs and increases the risk of large trucks being unable to make it up hills you selfish stupid people!!!! Grrrr.....sorry rant rant rant :sign_omg::Flush:



Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice - YouTube