J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by AllyG

Tony_H wrote:Ally. I'd be interested to know what you bought, from where, and what you paid for them. And more importantly how they handle in the snow. Please.

Tony,
I have bought snowchains from snowchains.co.uk but unfortunately I will have to wait 3 working days to get them, which is a pity as I now have 1 1/2 inches of snow outside the door and possibly more to come tonight!

The tyre people were supposed to ring me back when they'd sourced me some suitable winter tyres but they didn't, so either they couldn't find any or they were swamped by other callers.

Funnily enough, I checked my local Daihatsu dealers, who service my car, to make sure the snowchains would fit okay, and the guy who answered the phone had never heard of winter tyres :shock:

If I get my snow chains and I have a chance to practice with them I will let you know how I get on. I don't want to tell you what they cost because I'm rather embarassed about the fact that the salesman persuaded me out of the cheap ones and I've bought some more expensive ones that are easier to put on and keep their tension (or something like that). I was just fed up by that time and decided to buy them before I spent the rest of my life on the phone. Halfords didn't have any in stock within at least a 45 mile radius of where I live.

Ally

brooksy wrote:
Ally did you write that post just to worry me. :twisted:

.... so if Allys forecast is accurate watch out for another meltdown with the airlines.

I'm sorry for the awful forecast Brooksy, but it's not my fault (or my forecast) it's what the Met Office was saying for Gatwick. I really hope you don't have a re-run of last year.

I've just had another look and they've slightly improved the forecast to 'light snow' on Saturday but Saturday night it's supposed to go down to minus 6 C with further light snow on Sunday and Sunday night.

Home here we have a 60% chance of snow, and all of England and Wales has weather warnings for Thursday, Friday and Saturday for snow and ice. I have been to the supermarket to stock up (just in case).

At least Gatwick and the other airports have had plenty of warning and time to get organized with snowploughs and whatever they use to de-ice the planes etc.

Best of luck everyone :D

Ally

EmmaEvs wrote:Enjoy Admin :D

Hey everybody the cat's going away... What shall we get up to :lol:

Emma,
That's exactly what I was thinking ... :twisted:

Until I remembered that Admin has several assistants who will no doubt be keeping an eye on us all in his absence :lol:

Have a great time, Admin, and don't do anything we wouldn't do :wink:

Ally

SwingBeep,
Thanks, I am trying to buy those Vredestein Snowtrac3 tyres from another company, and I have also bought some snowchains which will hopefully be delivered in the next few days (my Christmas present to myself so don't ask how much they cost!).

Now that I've bought chains we probably won't have any snow ever again, but at least if we do I will be prepared this time :D

Ally

Harrig,
There is a full account of my first boot fitting experience here:

http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/8320.page

Ally

The weather forecast now says heavy snow for Gatwick on Saturday, and 25 mph winds gusting 49 mph, followed by light snow on Saturday night.

I agree with the others, and if it was me I think I'd try and get there early Saturday and book a hotel for the night, in the hope that they get the runway cleared on Sunday. I remember, 40 years ago, having to sleep in an airport because we couldn't leave on our ski holiday (fog) and it was extremely uncomfortable!

Best of luck everyone, and I hope you all get to your destinations on time complete with luggage etc. and have a great time when you're there :D

Ally

Thanks SwingBeep :D

£41-50 sounds much cheaper than the prices I've been looking at. You are quite right, my tyre size is indeed 175/65R14. I currently have the Kleber Dynaxer HP2 tyres on all 4 wheels, and I have no complaints with them.

How do you buy tyres from Camskill - do they post them or what?

Maybe I can order some winter tyres even if I can't get any right now.

Ally

Tony,
Normally we have a very mild climate here, with only a few days of frost and a couple of snowflakes during the winter so we don't usually have a problem. But you are quite right and I am thinking of getting some snow chains for the really extreme weather we've been having over the last couple of years. January I couldn't drive up or down our road for about a week in the snow and my daughter had to stay in town with friends to be sure of getting in to school to sit her January modular AS exams. She will be sitting her A2 modules this January and I don't want that worry again.

I would like to have the winter tyres for the increase in grip in cold wet/icy weather and I'd just put them on in the autumn and forget about them until late Spring. I suppose it means my normal tyres would last twice as long because they'd only be getting half the mileage.

Brooksy,
My husband drives the tractor - I drive a very small and cheap Daihatsu Sirion which manages very successfully to carry washing machines, tenant's rubbish etc. and loads of kids around the place (oh yes, and an 8 foot Christmas tree!).

Emma,
I will pm you for prices on wheels.

Ally