German snow !!!

[mjh511]

Been driving the zed in Germany since June had many many admiring looks, positive comments and compliments - it all felt pretty good - I had always intended to drive the car home before Christmas and take a hire car for Jan /Feb as the winter in Germany can be bad - but how lucky was I when the snow came in November!!! - I have been severely embarassed on the road having to abandoned the car in the middle of nowhere, slightest incline it looses grip, its like driving on a knife edge the most crappiest cars are able to kick sand in my face (or in this case snow) - I have lost a lot of confidence in the car, how can it be sooooooo bad, its now parked up at the factory where I am working waiting for a thaw so I can take it home and leave it there - really embarassing - I have a Astra hire car with snow tyres now and its brilliant !!! - on top of all this I have one of THOSE wifes.

Merry Chrismas !

[gazhull8474]

Why haven't you put snow Tyres on your 350z your insurance is void if you haven't. It's rear wheel drive that's why it slides a bit and loses grip alot more in case you haven't realized.

[spursmaddave]

The Zed has big fat tyres and RWD it has no right to be 'good' in snow, whereas the 'crappy' cars have FWD and skinny tyres so are not good in the snow, just better. If you have to drive it then why not get Snow Tyres or Snow Sock or Snow Chains

[sparky370z]

hang on. your complaining that a RWD 300bhp sports car should be "good" in SNOW. no cars are good in snow unless they have big tyres and 4WD. my mate has a crappy BMW RWD 1 series and it is more than useless in the snow!!!!

[rtbiscuit]

put snow tyres on it and it becomes useable.

 

doesn't make the 350z rally equivilant but its useable.

 

to be honest i don't find rwd in the snow that bad; but thats my personal opinion. had rwd for the last 8 years and drive them as a daily driver, come rain, sun or snow.

[mjh511]

All the BMW and Mercs are rear wheel drive and appear to be getting around with confidence which I believe is due to the snow tyres - expected to take it home before the snow came so no snow tyres, to buy a set of snow tyres for a couple of months is not cost effective - not complaining that it not 'good' in snow I knew it wouldnt be 'good' in the snow because I'd read articles about it but my shock was how bad it is - had at least a foot of snow to date and its snowing now it will stay parked up for the forseeable future.

[spursmaddave]

I thought that legally you had to have Snow Tyres fitted in Germany

 

Found this after a quick search -

 

"Driving on snow-covered roads in Germany is permitted only if your car is equipped with the proper tires. There are dedicated winter tires as well as all weather tires that may be acceptable. Use of regular summer tires in snowy or icy conditions can result in a fine and, much worse, loss of your insurance coverage in the event of an accident."

 

So I would leave the Zed parked up if it doesn't have Tyres with the proper symbols on

[gazhull8474]

Dave you are correct mate and alot of uk insurance companies will only give you 45-60 days of insurance cover as well. If you stay longer have to inform the insurance company before you leave.

[spursmaddave]

Dave you are correct mate and alot of uk insurance companies will only give you 45-60 days of insurance cover as well. If you stay longer have to inform the insurance company before you leave.

 

Then the OP is very lucky he didn't hit anything

[sparky370z]

yup my bro in law lives in germany (he's posted out there), he says that most, if not all cars have winter tyres. he has a second set of steels with winters fitted. its illegal to drive without them.

[gazhull8474]

Yeah same I'm based out there as well. Don't drive the car in the winter out there

[BulletMagnet]

If the police stop you in Deutschland without winter tyres, it's a €650 fine

[gazhull8474]

It's also a void on your insurance which is the biggest thing. If people don't need to drive there car then don't.

[sasha@lazytrips]

Drove all around Germany over the last week on rubbish summer tyres, albeit in a 4wd TT with all the ice & snow that was around. From what I got, it is not illegal to drive with summer tyres, but in the case of an accident, regardless of the circumstances you are liable if you have summer tyres and your insurance will not pay out.

[BulletMagnet]

Drove all around Germany over the last week on rubbish summer tyres, albeit in a 4wd TT with all the ice & snow that was around. From what I got, it is not illegal to drive with summer tyres, but in the case of an accident, regardless of the circumstances you are liable if you have summer tyres and your insurance will not pay out.

Better check whether or not it's illegal for you being a brit under UK law in another country.

All I know is that several of my german friends confirm that it is a legal requirement to have winter tyres fitted to your car in germany during the winter months, hence why most drive around on steelies over there in the winter

[gazhull8474]

Bullet your exactly correct mate lived in Germany for 8 years in total with the army and by law winter Tyres are a must

[BulletMagnet]

Bullet your exactly correct mate lived in Germany for 8 years in total with the army and by law winter Tyres are a must

I lived in Germany from 1980 - 1995, so I knew also

[rtbiscuit]

i've never lived in germany but i've liked their sausages since 1985 and i also knew