Winter driving questions & weather report?

Hi,

I will be driving through Switzerland, parts of northern Italy,
Austria and southern Germany in late February / early March this year
in my Volvo 850 T5.

I have driven in snowy conditions before and have a set of
snow-chains.

Is it essential for me to have winter-tyres for this trip? I can get
hold of a set of winter wheels with Vredestien SnowTracs for a good
price if I need to.

What kind of weather can I expect this time of year in the regions I
will be visiting? I would like to stay in the south-east part of
Switzerland if possible. Any recomendations for places to stay?

What other equipment would you advise I take with me?


Many thanks,

M.Jordan

Felly sgrifennodd Mark Jordan :
I would like to stay in the south-east part of
Switzerland if possible. Any recomendations for places to stay?

Do you mean the Engadine? If so, you will either have to face one of the
all-year mountain passes (probably the Julier) or put your car on the
train. The Engadine is high up anyway. Personally, I'd be prepared to do
it with chains though, rather than forking out on snow tyres (I think this
is normally permitted ... ?).

Lots of nice places to stay there, though I've never skied there; only
been there in the summer.

Adrian

--
Adrian Shaw ais@
Adran Cyfrifiadureg, Prifysgol Cymru, aber.
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Cymru ac.
http://users.aber.ac.uk/ais uk

Mark Jordan wrote:

Hi,

I will be driving through Switzerland, parts of northern Italy,
Austria and southern Germany in late February / early March this year
in my Volvo 850 T5.

I have driven in snowy conditions before and have a set of
snow-chains.

Is it essential for me to have winter-tyres for this trip? I can get
hold of a set of winter wheels with Vredestien SnowTracs for a good
price if I need to.

Driving with snow chains for any distance is a real pain. On the other
hand it is possible that all the roads will be snow free and you'll
never use them anyway. It's a bit of a gamble, but since it seems you'll
be driving a long way I'd go for the snow tires personally. Also, if you
drive through tunnels you may need to stop and remove chains and then
put them on at the far end, or otherwise drive very slowly. As far as
the law goes you'll be OK with summer tires and chains.


What kind of weather can I expect this time of year in the regions I
will be visiting?

It's the Alps in winter - you could get everything from bright sunshine
to raging blizzards in the same day. You should certainly be prepared
for driving in snow.

I would like to stay in the south-east part of
Switzerland if possible. Any recomendations for places to stay?

What other equipment would you advise I take with me?

Snow shovel (usefull if you park and then find a snow plough has gone
past and left a nice solid bank of snow infront of your car!), ice
scraper, brush to sweep the snow of the car (one of those that come with
a dustpan is about the right size), sunglasses, pair of old gloves for
putting chains on with. Make sure the washer fluid is topped up.

Hi Mark

beside what Steven and Adrian wrote:

Winter tyres are not meant for snow only, but for cold conditions in
general. A winter tyre is more pliant than a summer tyre. A summer tyre
becomes hard like stone in cold conditions, and will have a (much) less
grip also on dry roads.

Also summer tyres will make snow chains give a contra productive effect:
The driving wheels with the cahins have more grip, the car will be
faster and this will make the wheels with the summer tyres break out easier.

There are definite recommendations to have winter tyres everywhere,
where the temperature falls below zero degrees celsius.

Florian

"Steve Haigh" wrote in message
...
Mark Jordan wrote:

Is it essential for me to have winter-tyres for this trip? I can get
hold of a set of winter wheels with Vredestien SnowTracs for a good
price if I need to.

Driving with snow chains for any distance is a real pain. On the other
hand it is possible that all the roads will be snow free and you'll never
use them anyway. It's a bit of a gamble, but since it seems you'll be
driving a long way I'd go for the snow tires personally. Also, if you
drive through tunnels you may need to stop and remove chains and then put
them on at the far end, or otherwise drive very slowly. As far as the law
goes you'll be OK with summer tires and chains.

I fully agree

The correct name for these kind of tyres is "winter tyres", not "snow
tyres". They are more effective than summer tyres in cold temperatures and
on wet roads, as well as in snow. The modern ones are not affected by the
speed limitations of their ancestors.

Their convenience compared to chains easily makes up for the initial cost -
bear in mind that while you are using them you are not wearing out your
summer tyres - if you are not planning to change car for a few years, then
in the end you will not really lose - use winter tyres in winter (even in
the UK) and summer tyres in summer, and you summer tyres will magically last
twice as long.

Felly sgrifennodd Marco Cattaneo :
use winter tyres in winter (even in
the UK) and summer tyres in summer, and you summer tyres will magically last
twice as long.

But there must be some disadvantage, otherwise we'd use them all the year
round. Do they wear out quicker on ordinary tarmac? Do they drive as well?
Why are they illegal in Norway and Sweden [1] after mid April (though
compulsory before)?

Adrian

[1] if I remember correctly


--
Adrian Shaw ais@
Adran Cyfrifiadureg, Prifysgol Cymru, aber.
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Cymru ac.
http://users.aber.ac.uk/ais uk

Mark Jordan wrote:

I will be driving through Switzerland, parts of northern Italy,
Austria and southern Germany in late February / early March this year
in my Volvo 850 T5.

I have driven in snowy conditions before and have a set of
snow-chains.

That sure comes in handy.

Is it essential for me to have winter-tyres for this trip? I can get
hold of a set of winter wheels with Vredestien SnowTracs for a good
price if I need to.

You should get them, no doubt, unless you want to do it the same way as
the dutch people ;-)! Where do you live and what are the temperatures
you get in winter season? Winter tires are worth their money from at
least 5°C(if not 10°C) and lower, as they're weaker as the summer tires
- hence braking distance is better, grip in wet, icy, snowy conditions
etc. All-season is in fact a lame excuse, they fail about every test.

If you want to know the best tires from the last years no problem:
195/65 R 15 T: Goddyear UG 6, Michelin Alpin A2, Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3
185/60 R 14 T: Michelin Alpin A2, Semperit Wintergrip, Bridgestone
Blizzak LM 18
205/55 R 16 H(T): Bridgestone Blizzak LM 25, Continental WinterContact
TS810, Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2

The Vredestein is average in each size.

What kind of weather can I expect this time of year in the regions I
will be visiting? I would like to stay in the south-east part of
Switzerland if possible. Any recomendations for places to stay?

As others stated everything from bright sunshine and 10°C to blizzard
and -15°C. Be prepared for the worst I'd say.

What other equipment would you advise I take with me?

Antifreeze for your doorlocks (DON'T LEAVE IN THE CAR) and of course for
the windshield. Best is to check the liquids before you go, you won't
want anything to freeze.

Adrian D. Shaw wrote:
Felly sgrifennodd Marco Cattaneo :

use winter tyres in winter (even in
the UK) and summer tyres in summer, and you summer tyres will magically last
twice as long.


But there must be some disadvantage, otherwise we'd use them all the year
round. Do they wear out quicker on ordinary tarmac? Do they drive as well?
Why are they illegal in Norway and Sweden [1] after mid April (though
compulsory before)?


I've never been to Norway or Sweden, but are you sure we are talking
about the same thing here? I can imagine studded snow tires being
illegal in summer but winter tyres should be OK, shurely?

The downside to winter tyres would be increased drag due to the tread
design, leading to more noise and poorer fuel economy. I've never
actually bought a set, but I imagine they cost more than summer tyres too.

Adrian D. Shaw wrote:


But there must be some disadvantage, otherwise we'd use them all the year
round. Do they wear out quicker on ordinary tarmac? Do they drive as well?
Why are they illegal in Norway and Sweden [1] after mid April (though
compulsory before)?

Yes they wear quicker but not on tarmac. It is in fact more a matter of
tmeperature. The warmer it is the softer the winter tire is which leads
to the previous statement of wear. Of course the winter losses grip the
softer it is and you should change to summer at about 5°C to 10°C. If
you use spiked ones you'll have to change at a certain date (and may use
them from a certain one).

Guy Perry wrote:
Adrian D. Shaw wrote:


But there must be some disadvantage, otherwise we'd use them all the
year round. Do they wear out quicker on ordinary tarmac? Do they drive
as well? Why are they illegal in Norway and Sweden [1] after mid April
(though compulsory before)?
I run dunlop wintersport m3 here in the UK
They are great when its cold but become a bit mushy when it warms up
(too soft)
before that I had nokian "all season" they were great esp on snow
No UK type barns seem to even bother stocking them but mytyres.net can
get most.
I discovered winter / snow tyres when I had a boxster, porsche allways
recommend winter tyres below 7-8 road temps which we get a lot of in the UK
A