driving to austria - any advice please?

Admin wrote:

Ignore the outdated nonsense that's often spouted about winter tyres - modern ones are brilliant; high speed rated and will last for several winters. Wouldn't have thought they'd cost the earth in "camper van size" either.

I have M+S rated tyres on my soft roader. I recently learned that I can spin the wheels in a straight line in dry conditions in 2nd gear :twisted: There is IME apparently still a compromise in the quality of road adherence with hybrid/winter compounds. I have the manufacturers recommended tyres fitted.

bandit wrote:I have M+S rated tyres ... I recently learned that I can spin the wheels in a straight line in dry conditions in 2nd gear :twisted:

Madam might care to reflect that M+S does not stand for Monza + Silverstone... was one drag-racing? You are the Stig and I'll have my fiver... :lol:

That is a bit worrying TBH. What brand are they? I ran a set of Vredesteins for the last 4 winters and never lost traction.

Dunlop Grand Trek M+S. I let the OH drive through Snowdonia....he got the tyres squealing round a few bends. He says it was just at the point of losing traction in 2 wheel drive.

In the mountains it's very sure footed, it's just important to remember that it's not a car, and the rubber does seem to have some limitations.

I have driven a few laps of Silverstone in a Vauxhall Touring Car. I was rubbish :roll:

Admin wrote:

bandit wrote:I have M+S rated tyres ... I recently learned that I can spin the wheels in a straight line in dry conditions in 2nd gear :twisted:

Madam might care to reflect that M+S does not stand for Monza + Silverstone... was one drag-racing? You are the Stig and I'll have my fiver... :lol:

That is a bit worrying TBH. What brand are they? I ran a set of Vredesteins for the last 4 winters and never lost traction.

Like the M+S bit, Admin :mrgreen:! Yes, The winter tyres were a new experience for me when I moved to Euroland, and actually will slip and slide and make a bit more noise than summer tyres, due to the block design and deeper tread. The big difference comes with the winter, where the same compound that lets you loose traction easier in dry, warmer (above 7 deg C) temperatures can stop you 50% quicker in the slush or snow than a standard summer tyre.

PS: WINTER M+S tyres have an mountain with a snowflake icon on their walls. Standard M+S are not winter tyres!

I do take care to type M+S...and not S&M :shock:

I'm not the Stig, I could not reach the pedals, and I'm keeping the fiver :P

hmm winter tyres...i like the idea of more gear. got my snowshoes, now get some for the van too. nice. but they're only a year old so will have a nose tomorrow see if i can see this Marks and Spencer label before doing anything rash.

plan has updated now to one of the following:

a) leave folkestone around 6pm by chunnel on the 18th. drive until we can drive no more, sleep in german motorway cafe in the van, then up early, espresso fueled early start up bregenz pass into austria, squeeze in an afternoon on the snow at ischgl/st anton, drive on to destination in italy other side of resia pass.
b) leave folkestone around 8am by chunnel on the 18th, drive all day, kip in van near belpiano at top of resia pass italy, arise and get first taste of snow at said resort for the 19th before short drive to destination and showers (!)

leaning with b as means a whole rather than half day on the snow, but a means driving more at night which is probably less stressful traffic wise. don't mind driving, don't like traffic.

thanks also for info on vignette, i was aware of these but must say I've got away with them loads before, normally in a hire car from italy - i'm going into austria for just a day to begin, then back a week later for a week. bit annoying but €7.70 pretty reasonable.

I didn't get the Austrian vignette last time but then I didn't realise it cost a cuppla hundred EU if you got busted. Actually, I didn't understand anything about them but I might buy the vignetee this time. The Swiss stop you at the border and make you hard over cold hard cash.

Benny - regarding your German motorway sleepover; your morning coffee will be rubbish but they get better as you head south.