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[Bullet]

hi guys im in a bit of a quandry...having bought my omega and remembering what a mare my last one was in the snow and not fancying a repeat performance, i am now trying to prepare myself and my pride and joy for whatever the british weather might have in store for us.
my problem is do i go down the route of snow chains in the boot ready for any unexpected white stuff or fit some snow tires to the drive wheels, having used neither any advice would be greatly appreciated...cheers and beers

[Andy B]

... any advice would be greatly appreciated...cheers and beers

Leave it on the drive & buy a cheapo Astra 

[freecall666]

get some weights as well, and put in boot!!

[Vamps]

get some weights as well, and put in boot!!

Agreed, I put some sand bags in the boot, made a big difference. Funny though that the estate managed perfectly well..

[Agemo]

Agree with all the above, plus you need good tread on ALL tyres, not just the fronts.  Plenty of rims about if you wanted a "winter" set. 

[cem_devecioglu]

first question is : do your daily commute include steep hills with generally frozen roads if  yes
you will need chains or studded tires.. if not then 4 winter tires will do the job .. must add here,
winter tires also have grip on the road depending on their thread depth , if they are less then 5 mm or they are older then 3 years basically your tires not very different then a summer tire..

and for the chains : there are 2 different models , one complete metal and other combined material but
mostly plastic which doesnt damage the car like the other but on a clean road will be broken easily..

so you decide

[cem_devecioglu]

for winter tires I'll say 4 names which is tested and have good results..(please be sure they are no older then 6 months)

Kumho KW19 (only this model) ,
Goodyear UG7+ or UG500 (hardly found ,noisy but built for ice surface) (top of the list),
Conti 830 (top of the list)
lassa Snoways 2

micheline alpine (deffo NO)

[bored bigyin54]

i wish i could get snow chains as i live on a steep hill and when the white stuff comes i dont get out

[feeutfo]

Obviously snow chains are not for use on clear Tarmac. In case that needs saying.

In remote areas there might be a case for them but once back into urban areas but personally all throughout the snow of the last two years I can't see a case for anything more than m+s tyres with/or snow six in the boot.

Guess it depends how quick the council clear the roads in your location. A judgement call.

[Entwood]

I have a set of chains which go into the boot when the weather changes... only take a couple of minutes to fit ... I can then drive off the estate safely .. into the layby and chains off .. another couiple of minutes ... to drive on the cleared main roads. Reverse procedure on return home.

The councils keeps the main roads well clear, but we just never see clearance on the estate ... all they did last year was spread some grit on the surface .. totally useless.

It is importamt NOT to drive on cleared roads with chains on .. it will wreck both the road (illegal) and the tyres (expensive). Given the state of the roads IMHO even M&S tyres would be uesless on the Omega... so I opt for the chains and a small amount of work ..

[Elite Pete]

I've been hoarding mud and snow tyres, got 6 now so a good selection

[Vamps]

I bought some chains last winter, but once I put the sand bags in the boot I had no problems so never used them, that said my drive is onto a main road, the estates were bad, but from compact snow turned to ice, still managed but had a few botom moving moments......

[Bionic]

I have only ever used the same tyres and in any weather I have not to this day become stuck, slipped and slid a few times is all that has happened. I drive to the road conditions and stay easy on ther hot pedal. The only time I have used chains was in the Ausrtrian Alps when I was driving coaches and the noise was lousy and the normally comfortable ride suffered. The 'dangle berries' od taking them off or putting them on put me off them for life.
I tried winter tyres with studs once and they were far better but the costs were high. Then there was the cost of having to have a spare set of wheels with the normal tyres on for when the snow went.
Best you can hope for is a set a true winter tyres which you can use all year but have poor life, or a quality All Weather tyres you can use all year and adapt your driving to the conditions. As with everything else what you pay for is what you get and good tyres ain't el cheapo's. Don't worry about what other drivers are doing either, if they want accidents caused by their impatience and poor driving ability let them get on with it.