nippysweeties

So I'm not alone! This will be the first time I've ever bothered with Winter tyres mind you. I hope to get out a lot (camera in boot) this Winter. I know that car insurance is void if you have tyres of a lower speed rating than factory fitted, as is the case with Winter tyres. It seemed odd that I could make my car safer in the Winter, but be penalised on my insurance! Anyhoo, it's all sorted and I am a happy bunny about to be £500 skinter! What tyres have you guys used? The Michelin Primacy Alpin seem to get good a good write up, but I was also considering Vredestein. @thefastone: The Michelin is available in pretty mental sizes so you might find the right size for you. Cheers, Steve.

Turns out I've answered my own question! From the 2006 onwards Impreza manual: Winter tyres should be Q, T or H rated and must have equal or greater load index. From Direct Line: They will annotate my policy to state the car has Winter tyres (there is no actual policy regarding Winter tyres ... Yet!). So that's all goody for me and it's a little more information for anyone else considering this option. Surely I'm not the only one around here that enjoys Winter pursuits in remote places? Steve

Hi there, I am hoping to get Winter tyres this year (planning plenty snow-bound adventures!), but am a little concerned about the legalities. I have confirmed my insurance is invalid if I have a tyre rated lower than W, but there are no Winter tyres rated that high - unsurprisingly! Direct Line have told me to check for a manufacturers Winter tyre rating and if that exists they are happy. Does anyone know anything about this? I am about to check my handbook and will phone a Scooby garage tomorrow, but I figured it's worth a question on here too. The SIDC site search reveals nothing, so I guess I'm the first person to ask about this?! Cheers, Steve.

I was stuck in traffic the other day, for too long, behind some prat that kept his foot on the brake pedal when stopped instead of using his handbrake. They were high level brake lights too! You're right that people do seem to think the fog light thing is cool. Weirdos! Steve.

Keeping my eyes peeled on the other side of the pond. No not the Atlantic, Monikie Steve.

That's interesting because I have exactly the same problem on my '06. I assumed it was just a scooby thing, being as it's a more hardy gearbox/clutch than I'm used to. Maybe not! Steve.

Did you happen by Glentress by any chance? Steve.

Cheers lads, That's a great help. 2 at a time seems fair enough, so that's what I'll go with. Thanks for your time , Steve.

I had a tyre changed out around Xmas and then found out I should have changed all 4 at the same time. Can any of the long term owners tell their experience with this? I understand the mechanics of it - different diameters etc - but is it likely to cause problems to the drive train on a WRX? I can have them all changed out by the weekend if needs be, but I thought I'd ask on here before I take the plunge. Any help, as always, appreciated. Steve.

'mon the wagons Steve.

Nice pics Cal What price for a D3/D300 body only? Steve.

Now you see if they put a curly wig on you and plonked you on the Xmas day telly ... I'd watch that Steve.

Merry crimbo :frosty: Steve.

Only just got your message young-buck27. Cheers, but I'll just limp through and back. 3 hours should be enough to get to Glasgow at 50MPH right?! Steve.

Erm, this might seem a little strange, but I wonder if anyone around Dundee has a spare - full size - wheel with road legal tyre to fit a '06 Impreza, that I could borrow until tomorrow night? I have a puncture, can't get a new tyre until tomorrow, but have to leave my house for Glasgow at 07:00 to arrive home again in the afternoon (it's a snowboard lesson at xscape if anyone's wondering!). I can do it on the space-saver, but in the current conditions I'd rather not unless I have to. If you can help out there will, obviously, be a crate in it for you Cheers, Steve. EDIT: Doesn't matter, according to Subaru Assistance I can do 1,000 miles on a space saver. Who knew?! Also turns out there was no nut spinner (wheel-nut-taker-offer) in with the spare. Hello?! WTF!

I was going to contact them myself, but there's strength in numbers, so maybe we should get a poll or something going? Any ideas? Boats. SS7. Steve

You read my post before I changed it! I really must go and have something to eat instead of sitting here with you lot. Steve.

That's exactly what I was thinking Steve.

This might answer your question: http://forums.sidc.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=109188 If not, then I'm sorry for hijacking your post! Steve.

Clever bistad Does the MAF contain a piece of wire that is heated and then constantly resistance checked, or is that something that used to be on cars moons ago? I have a vague recollection from my youth, but nothing more. Steve.

Well, you know in a cooperage with all them sparks flying it's possible L2_NRM's eyes were not registering colours accurately. The salt covering could in fact be enough in Winter's spa-rse light to trick the eye into seeing a white-ish car, that his brain/eye considered white. Particularly where street lighting is concerned. Coupled with the, all day, long shadows and (depending on the viewing angle) awkward reflections this time of year brings, may in fact sharpen up the edges of a predominantly round edged car causing the on-looker - L2_NRM in this case - to see more of a 'classic' shape than that which was on offer. It may also be that in a hurry to arrive at ones destination, 4hero, you could have taken a slight detour and perhaps passed by Speyside Cooperage. Is it not? Alternatively I may just be talking b0ll0cks. Have I had enough wine yet sir? You decide anyhoo! Steve. PS I had to add the dash in spa*** because spa*** seems to be a bad word. WTF???

He he

Amen to that Steve.

Don't despair. I spent spent a while around Lincoln and can assure you there are some fantastic roads in every direction. It'll take a while, but you'll soon be using the ditches to help you corner (on the wrong side of the road) and grazing the log piles on the kerbside like the best of them. All because it's so flat you can see the road 3/4 corners ahead sometimes Of course you'll have to make the obligatory Friday evening jaunt to Skegness for doughnuts - both kinds - every once in a while. Good luck, Steve.

As above Steve. EDIT Obviously the registration should be 555 LOW.