why do all of europe use summer and winter tyres, and britain keeps the same tyres on all year. Whos right?

Answer 1

Winter tyres have different tread patterns and % of silica in the rubber, by making winter tyres softer they can grip better in low temperatures than summer tyres which can be very hard, have little grip, at around freezing. Some people do change tyres, just there is no legislation to make people do it so they don't, unlike other countries which do, are you sure Spain, Portugal, Greece make people change tyres, cause they would have less need to than the UK, people don't change their tyres here in Ireland, milder climate than the UK.

Answer 2

This is a ploy by the tyre manufacturers to sell more tyres under the pretext that if you fit winter tyres you can drive just as safely as you do in the summer. This is of course a complete load of bollocks if you live in a place where it freezes and snows a lot. What we really need to do is drive according to the conditions and think a bit. What an absurd suggestion!

Answer 3

When we had snow in Britain, I used to have a set of snow tyres from Finland, known as "Hakapalikas" (Not sure if I've got the spelling right on that!)

These were tyres which had a very narrow contact area; a bit like bicycle tyres. They also had very stiff side-walls, which meant that the "feel" of the tyre was second-to-none, and you could sense the slightest patch of ice or snow through your fingertips. The grip level was fantastic, but for normal driving, they were fairly hopeless. As an aid to safety, they were extremely beneficial, but there was always the temptation to pass other vehicles on snow; steaming past in complete control as they slithered towards an uncertain future....or lack of one....as the case may be.

Incredibly, I recall driving to work through 18ft snow-drifts back in the 70's....nowadays they grow tomatoes in winter and the roses continue 'til Christmas.

However, there's another thing people should know about England. We have by far the most dangerous snow in Europe!

I'll try to explain why.

Anyone who puts on skis will know that the colder it gets, the better the grip on snow. At -25 deg.C, driving on snow is a bit like driving on well compacted sand.....plenty of grip and very predictable.

In England, I can only ever recall two occasions when we had very cold, powder snow like they get in Finland and the Alps. One was in 1968 during the RAC rally, and the other was in 1981/2 when the temperature dropped to -25 and the snow was deep and crisp and even.....like Canada. It was fabulous to drive on.

Even so-called "black ice" has a fair degree of grip at very low temperatures. (Isn't all ice colourless and clear?)

The moment that the temperature climbs back towards freezing point, the less and less grip you get, until eventually, we end up with a mixture of water and ice, which is absolutely the most lethal thing on which to drive.

Because England is a temperate climate, most of our snow is sloppy, watery stuff and very, very dangerous, and for that reason alone, people who cannot drive on snow should stay at home. The trouble is, where do you begin to learn how to drive on snow if we don't get any?

Unfortunately, the worst thing on snow are ABS brakes!

The best way to stop a car on snow, is to aim for a pile of the fluffy white-stuff, stamp on the brakes and throw the steering wheels sideways....the weight of snow will stop you very quickly as it builds up against the wheels, but you can't do that with ABS.

I'm just grateful that I drove at a time when we had lots of snow, because I know how to deal with it.

Finally, why do modern cars have such ridiculously wide wheels?

The last thing you want on snow and ice is an acre of rubber on each wheel trying to make contact with the road.

Answer 4

Because it's not worth changing tyres just for the three days of snow we DO get!

Answer 5

Many Germans fit their cars with tyres with tungsten carbide studs to give them grip in snowy and icy conditions. These mean that the speed at which the car may be driven is reduced.
It is rare that conditions in Britain warrant such tyres.
RoyS

Answer 6

not a question of "who's right" just that parts of europe have move severe winters than great britain... and our tyres over here are universal........ only use snow chains etc, in extreme snow..

Answer 7

what is the point of changing your tyres for a few months of the year, who needs the hassle!

Answer 8

i dont think it really matters in britain. though some doom-mysters might like you to think we're all gonna melt or freeze to death, the weather aint really that extreme here to warrant a change in tyres

Answer 9

this is **** because spain have an inter compound tyre so its both just as france & germany
britain has the same so what are you gobbing about

Answer 10

Does it snow in Britain?

I know it snows in Germany, Austria, France, etc. That may be the primary reason.