Meanwhile somewhere in Europe, the snow shoes are off

"Tentacle, Dutchman, drives French" (Tentacle) 02/23/2014 at 14:01 • Filed to: None

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So, I put the winter tires on early December. I swapped them for my summer tires today.

The tally: Snow days? Zero. Frost days? Maybe a handful. I had to de-ice windows maybe 4 times in total. Black ice? Not even a slither. I haven't seen a single snow flake this winter.

At least last year the Michelin Alpin 3 tires were worth their investment (same as the years before) but this year? I would have been completely trouble-free on my summer tires.

Last year pulled this trick:

BATC42 > Tentacle, Dutchman, drives French 02/23/2014 at 14:11

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I have the same one on my car (also a Xsara), weren't really useful this winter, swapping the summer tires on next week.

duurtlang > Tentacle, Dutchman, drives French 02/23/2014 at 14:18

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I should've done the same. I came back from Hamburg a few hours ago, it was 12 degrees outside, it felt like spring and I was doing this whole Autobahn trip on noisy winter tires. This was my first season on snow tires and I can't say my experience has made a strong case for snow tires for our climate.

Tentacle, Dutchman, drives French > duurtlang 02/23/2014 at 14:47

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As I mentioned, they were worth the time, hasle and initial investment cost last winter, the winter before, and so on. I got mine in Januari 2010 and have been glad ever since.

Well, this "winter" (extended autumn really) excepted.

By the way Duurtlang, did you catch the bit about a certain C4 diesel??

duurtlang > Tentacle, Dutchman, drives French 02/23/2014 at 14:51

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I know you're right, rationally, but because this was my first year with them I haven't noticed the benefit first hand. I'll be using winter tires next year too though as I do understand the benefit when winter isn't skipped like it has been this year.

And no, I had not seen your C4 piece. Yet. As I said I was abroad until a few hours ago and my ultracheap hotel didn't offer wifi. But I'll read it now.

Eazy-O > Tentacle, Dutchman, drives French 02/23/2014 at 15:34

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Meanwhile (two weeks ago) in Slovenia:

This week:

Bonus comedy pic:

I'll keep my winters on for a bit longer, just for kicks. :)