iiyamadude 6 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 So whos on snow tyres already? I suppose those up in Hokks might be, still a bit early here. I think last year it was 2nd week of December before I got it done. Always dangerous when the snow falls and people haven't changed, my friend who works at a car shop says it is always good for their business! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Didn't get it done on the weekend so this morning drove to work on snow covered roads still with normal tyres. Adds a bit of excitement! Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 As long as it is fun excitement and not the crashing kind! Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Changed to snow tyres about a couple of weeks ago. I usually change to winter tyres around mid Nov, but my normal tyres had sod all tread on them so thought better to change early just in case the police happened to check my tyres. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I am taking the car for the 6 month maintenance tomorow and I will also change into snowtyres. Link to post Share on other sites
-30deg 0 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Changed mine last night. A 3 hour ordeal as car rolled forward, sliped off jack, jamming jack on 45 deg angle under car and 1 wheel also on 45 deg. This technique is not recommended. But sucha are the hazards of living on a hill. Anyway all done by darkness. Just as well as started dumping with snow in Furano after midnight. Still going almost 24 hours later. About 30 cm on the ground. Link to post Share on other sites
neversummer 0 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Are snow tyres a propoganda tool? I don't have snow tyres, yeah it is a little slippery but that is the same when driving someone else's car who have snow tyres, and I didn't have snow tyres in Europe or in Australia so am wondering if they are all they are made up to be. My Japanese friends, and foreigners alike, think if you don't have snow tyres you will kill yourself on the roads. Anyone else not buying into it? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Obviously you haven't been on a frozen road (snow covered road is different)... consider yourself lucky. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Have you ever tried snow tyres, neversummer? If I visit Niseko, remind me not to be driving near you in blizzard/icy conditions.......! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Mate they make a huge difference. You might be able to just get by without them (although I wouldn't recommend it) but it's so much better with them. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Put em on the car neversummer. We drove a van in Niseko in Janaury with snow tyres and was awesome - no concern about slipping all over the road like it was an ice rink. Still had to drive carefully of course, but it was WAY better than I imagined it would be. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Quote: Are snow tyres a propoganda tool?....Anyone else not buying into it? I think our friend is having a larf here. They make a big big difference. Link to post Share on other sites
yari 0 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I would highly recommend snow tyres especially if you live in area that has ice and snowfall. They make the big difference and if look at statistics for accident you will see large number is with normal tyre. Sorry my poor English! Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Yep they make a huge difference I always use snow tyres in winter. I have driven a car before without snow tyres no comparison. And if you got a 4wd car with snow tyres even better still, of course you still have to be careful if you drive around like Nigel mansel in the snow you are still going to come a cropper. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 I sure wouldn't want to be driving around in normal tyres all winter. Apart from the fact that driving is easier with the snow tyres, I think it's pretty irresponsible to live somewhere like that all season on normal tyres. Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I was in Stockholm and a Swede was telling me about how an early snowfall caught everyone out. No one had snowtyres on and Stockholm was littered with abandoned cars. Their half hour drive home took 3 hours and they only managed that because they were in a 4x4. I have always had snowtyres in Japan in winter. Mainly because in northern Tohoku you'd be mad not to have them. I was driving in the mountains in Akita through heavy falling snow in a 4 x 4 with snowtyres and at one point I contemplated putting on the snowchains. So if you're going to a ski resort & you're driving you'd be mad not to use snowtyres. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I don't live in snow country (well not mad snow country anyway) but I still have snow tyres and would not want to be driving round in winter without them. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Originally Posted By: neversummer Are snow tyres a propoganda tool? I don't have snow tyres, yeah it is a little slippery but that is the same when driving someone else's car who have snow tyres, and I didn't have snow tyres in Europe or in Australia so am wondering if they are all they are made up to be. My Japanese friends, and foreigners alike, think if you don't have snow tyres you will kill yourself on the roads. Anyone else not buying into it? Buying into what? As stated above, you must be plain stopid not to use snowtyres if you live/work or spend a lot of time in a snow resort! OK for the weekend tourist chains will suffice but for any longer you NEED snowtyres Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 It was a wind up right neversummer? I don't live in a place that get mad amounts of snow, but enough for me to want to have snow tyres. They do make a difference. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 think this says it all Link to post Share on other sites
neversummer 0 Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 In all seriousness, I was being totally honest as I haven't seen a real need for them here. There is never much ice, not even on the road to Sapporo this morning or tonight when it was snowing heavily. I used snow tyres last year on work cars but not on mine and didn't really notice the difference so I asked a legit question. There aren't many places on the road that are hairpin corners or off cambre slopes so with careful driving, you shouldn't get into trouble around here but I am sure over confidence will get the better of people some time during the winter. I will make it my business to not be one of them and will, on recommendation from many on SJ, look inot getting some snow tyres. Oh, if i lived where those guys in Tubby's vid did, who knows what to do, not drive, I don't know. Link to post Share on other sites
telehugh 0 Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 driving w/o snow tyres makes you mad, bad and dangerous to know ... get the tyres changed. Even in a 4WD on reg tyres you will slip-n-slide. Hugh PS I'm still in shock from today's quote from auto-bacs to replace my knackered snow tyres with new ones, Yulp. Link to post Share on other sites
kkk 7 Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 What's the damage telehugh? Link to post Share on other sites
9ii 0 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 How much have you guys paid for snow tyres? I need to get some for my car and suppose it'll be in the next few weeks. Link to post Share on other sites
wattiewatson 0 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Originally Posted By: neversummer In all seriousness, I was being totally honest as I haven't seen a real need for them here. There is never much ice.... When i got to japan i thought the same thing. I had come from Vermont where they had studded tyres. When i saw that the japanese version was studless, i thought it was a con. So i drove my first season in northern Nagano (iiyama) without snow tyres. I got around ok and the tyres i was using would never pass a MOT check (WOF or mechanical check). God bless Japan and its two yearly shakken. Then after winter, when i could see the steel belts in the tyres i bought some snow tyres. They make a huge difference. Its like light and day. In summer it sometimes feels like you are on a gravel road (you move around a bit under braking) but they are fine. My advice is buy the snow tyres and leave them on all year. For two reasons: - they really do make a big difference. - If you have an accident you are going to be in the can if you dont have them. I was once told that it was a legal requirement to have them if you lived in the snowline, never figured out if this is true but everyone has 'em. - The IC employees regularly check for snow tyres or chains at IC on-ramps in northern nagano / Niigata. The cops in Iiyama, (near Nozawa) sometimes do. Long story but a local resident made the cops have a go at my mate. they let him off because the tyres were 'all weather' but it took a while. Last thing, snow tyres dont help you with ice, dont know why the ads sometimes say they do. Thats a bunch of bollocks. You need studded tyres for that. I got mine at a used tyre store. Cant help you in Hokkaido but in Nagano i found one near Aki-numa traffic light on route 18. Saved me a bundle of cash. Matt Link to post Share on other sites
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