Hey, well spotted!, I ommitted the FWD, not many folks in my local community drive a big Merc Or a BMW, but if they do i would presume they fit them to the rear.

Sniff!

A sales was in am today in a sleek sexy SL Merc, ( & he expected me to purchase offen him?)

i said that must be fun in the Snow,

Yes he said that is why I have just fitted 4 brand new winter tyres.

There is a video on U Tube showing what fitting winter tyres on the front does.. If you want a U turn at 30mph, go ahead and fit on the front only.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCyiBoTxCao&feature=related

Your fitter is a danger to others.

Edited by madf on 07/12/2011 at 15:21

That last line is exactly what my sensible tyre fitter mate said.

And imho & experience there is a slice of the rural community with more than a smidgen of motoring nous particulary in respect of driving in poor traction conditions.

Anyway would I be revealing my age if I mentioned a very popular FWD car that had a tendancy to somewhat dramatically lift off oversteer even when running on 4 good & matched tyres?

Only experienced as a passenger mind.

Edited by dieseldogg on 07/12/2011 at 16:07

In a FWD car with fronts only, a dab of additional throttle to pull the thing back into line is the correct (if counterintuitive) action to take.

It is a better solution than no winters at all, as long as you remain aware of the limitations and drive accordingly!

How can you drive accordingly, in bad weather you are more likely to be taken by surprise and when that happens with unmatched tyres front and rear tyres being aware of the limitations will not help, things will happen to fast. If a fatality is caused and having unmatched tyres is a potential contributory factor would the fact that a tyre fitter said it was OK help with your insurance claim and any Police action.

All manufacturers say fit in sets of 4, some will say it is to maximise sales but they do know a thing or two about tyre safety.

How would you feel if the car spun and killed a child because of unmatched tyres.

In a FWD car with fronts only, a dab of additional throttle to pull the thing back into line is the correct (if counterintuitive) action to take.

It is a better solution than no winters at all, as long as you remain aware of the limitations and drive accordingly!

How can you drive accordingly, in bad weather you are more likely to be taken by surprise and when that happens with unmatched tyres front and rear tyres being aware of the limitations will not help, things will happen to fast. If a fatality is caused and having unmatched tyres is a potential contributory factor would the fact that a tyre fitter said it was OK help with your insurance claim and any Police action.

All manufacturers say fit in sets of 4, some will say it is to maximise sales but they do know a thing or two about tyre safety.

How would you feel if the car spun and killed a child because of unmatched tyres.

Erm, Thunderbird,

Why would one be taken by surprise? if one was knowingly driving in poor conditions? and if one does not realize conditions are poor, one should not be driving.

I have never yet been "surprised" by poor traction, yes on occassion realizing a fraction too late that I had pushed the envelope a trifle far ,but with the grace of god, moderate skills & perhaps a touch of good fortunate, recovering the situation, but only because I would not "push it" unless it was essentially safe to do so, i.e. that by doing so I was only putting myself at risk?

One should not be "surprised" if one is competent to drive, and is concentrating on driving, as absolutly one should be in poorer conditions.

Or else stay at home.

just a thought

M

As indeed do I!

Touche.

But seriousley, no I am not a driving God, my eyesight is poor, especially at night and I never figgered myself to be a fast driver as I recognised I did not have the requisite skills.

However i do take my driving seriously, which is not to say that I do not occassionally lapse or make mistakes, i.e. momentary inattention.......cor would you look at the body on that!

but so far over 35 years and 700,000 odd thousand miles without a serious accident I can perhaps have some reason for feeling a trifle smug?

I reasonably feel that this is mostly down to defensive driving, i.e. leaving a safe gap in front, planning ahead, consideration for other road users, factoring in road conditions and ones own skill set.

I may well now cause a multiple pile up on the way home, but I'll try not to.

And no I have never been "surprised"...........yet

PS

If you meet me on the road watch out for the light being reflected offen my personal Halo.