observer Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 One for Ste here: believe it's rumoured that a new EU directive will require drivers to fit "winter and summer" tyres on their cars, supposed to be coming in in Germany first? I believe some Countries already require chains fitting in snow and icy conditions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Original Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 This has been in force here for the last two winters!! if you dont its a fine of 40 euros and your insurance can refuse to pay for any damage caused because of not having tyres fitted to suit the roads conditions...so now everyone has winter tyres fitted the only exception is that Trucks do not need to fit Winter tyres... very logical isnt it.. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Well that's a typical barmy Euro law then..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Guess they won't have to grit the roads then. Are any of the eurocrats directors of tyre manufacturers by any chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Original Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 They still grit/salt the roads but the Accident rate has gone down a little bit so its not all bad... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Steve, any measure would reduce road accidents.... imagine how many crashes would be avoided on the german autobahns if they brought in reasonable speed limits!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 How are we expected to know when our winter time ends or our summer time begins and vice versa ... or would suitable tyre types and changes be expected on a daily basis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 It would reduce the traffic. The blonde drivers would still be in the garage reading the instructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Good point Dis; I can see folk now, having watched the weather forcast, rushing out to change there tyres round for the next day - so more silly EU nonesense! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 It would reduce the traffic. The blonde drivers would still be in the garage reading the instructions. Is that blond males, females or BOTH Had a scare last time I had a flat tyre. My other half was determined that he was going to change it rather than the neighbours seeing me doing it. Male pride and all that !! But being a 'Hyacinth' type person wandered out to watch... good job I did as was just in time to stop him jacking my car up using part of my sill which apparently 'felt' like a jacking point Men The first thing I ever learned after passing my test was how to change a wheel.... thought my dad was being mean at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Original Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 How are we expected to know when our winter time ends or our summer time begins and vice versa ... or would suitable tyre types and changes be expected on a daily basis The change of tyres is expected to be form October to April and the way the Germans are it wouldnt surprised me if they did expect you to change your tyres on a daily basis...depending on the weather.. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Guess it will create some jobs in the garage industry - folk driving in like a pit stop for an all round change - but where do the spare tyres go?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Call me stupid here Obs ... but wouldn't you just keep your tyres for the next seasonal tyre change Suppose if you could afford two sets of actual wheels then you could just swap the whole lot over yourself for free... unless of course you are a boy racer with trendy expensive alloys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Original Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Most have two sets now!!! i do and when there on offer its far cheaper in the long run!!! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Now heres a thought.... sort of related Many tyres have to be put on a wheel in a certain direction becasue of their tread pattern. So.... what happens if you have a puncture in a left hand tyre but your spare wheel and it's tyre have the opposite tread direction... would you know or would you care Same could go for people replacing their own full set of wheels at winter/summer time. Maybe it could be even more dangerous than leaving the original tyres on after all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Errm, I was thinking of two sets of wheels - not sure five wheels plus the current spare would fit in the boot - plus the weight would increase petrol consumption. Perhaps - one car for summer and one for winter?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 WHY would you carry the summer/winter set around with you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Just in case the weather changed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Could you just not leave the Winter ones on all the time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Perhaps you could just have two of each type of tyre on all the time Anyway... what about my tyre tread 'direction' question.. it's bugging me now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 If you have directional tyres fitted and you have to use your spare as a replacement and it would be going in the wrong direction, you are recommended to treat the spare as temporary, drive at a reduced speed and have the proper wheel repaired and replaced ASAP. This being the case then it may be better to have an omnidirectional tyre fitted to your spare. Information from Dunlop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Thanks Asp.... I'll sleep much better tonight now Worst part about it is that I have just been reminded that my car has a space saving wimps wheel anyway so I have no idea why it was bugging me in the first place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 On reflection, this seems to be a stupid and uneccessary rule, invented by a Brussels beaurocrat when he wasn't fiddling his expenses. Given that folk drive round with defective lights, no licence or insurance, mobile phone in hand - without as much as a glance from a copper - I think on balance we can ignore this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 bring back the reliant robin. one less wheel to worry about what happened to the idea of rotating the tyres on a car to prevent uneven wear. if you have uni directional tyres then that defeats the purpose.(wonder how many people actually did/do rotate the tyres.) the best solution would be for everybody to have two cars with a set of winter tyres on one and summer tyres on the other. just think of the tax revenue that would rake in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 When I had a car the tyres used to rotate automatically every time I went out. Damn clever these Japanese chappies!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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