Spikes

Watching the local Petrolheads slithering about on the untreated roads today put me in mind of the 70's in affluent Germany.

The Bundeskrauts all seemed to have a set of wheels, fitted with spiked tyres, hanging on their garage wall.

At the first sniff of a bit of snow, off would come the Summer tyres and on would go the spiked ones.

Classic German practicality.

"Sounds and smells of Deutschsland" ? The indescribable sound of cars with spiked tyres going past. Not a sound you hear over here.

I think they were banned in the late 70s Brum, I seem to recall reading something in the Sixth Sense that they were ripping up the roads. I believe that drivers were encouraged to use chains.

Thanks for that mate.

I was posted to Woolwich in '78 so must have missed that happening.

Our vehicles had spare sets of studded tyres for use in Norway where we use to deploy every winter in support of AMF(L). In 1984 I believe their use in UK was illegal but it made an interesting if noisy run down to Marchwood from Bulford.

Winter tyres are the new black in Germany and have been for many years - the rubber used is of a harder compound and offers snow and ice more resistance where summer tyres lose grip.

Chains are a requirement in certain areas of the Reich, fatherland....errr, east well you get the idea, with the Polizei imposing hefty fines upon those who flount the law (as usual and bloody hurray, wish they did that over here).

Our ambulances, in Cologne, had winter tyres fitted from 1st Nov until 1st March each year as a general precaution due to treacherous road conditions. Cologne is only a few miles shy of the Eifel region which sees severe weather every year. We used to run a few transfers there as it was a lungen kurort.

In Russia I had two sets of wheels, one summer one winter. the summer ones were nice mags, the winter ones old rims with winter tyres, no studs. worked brilliantly

Whilst I was posted to Herford, Germany I fitted a set of spike tyres onto spare rims onto my Beetle.

After the winter followed by a quick posting, I sat down with one of those 'MFO Box Nail Pullers' and extracted all the spikes from the tyres and sold the set onto the German neighbour.

My current car, a Mondeo was due last month all 4 tyres for renewal. After last years weather fiasco and possible trips to Germany coming up soon, I bought 4 x Bridgestone 'All Weather' tyres. One of the best decisions I ever made.. Last week I was up in Glasgow and Yorkshire in that terrible weather. The tyres were just what I needed.

By the way, Germany has it in Law, which demands Winter tyres to be fitted from Dec until April for all Cars Hgv etc. This includes forein vehicles passing through!
Although it is reported widely that the above rule is a 'MUST DO'! Actually, it only says it is an offence to drive in 'Snowy, Icy and slippery' conditions or cause a hold up due to summer tyres fitted! Instant fines are applicable, with Points on your Licence if you are caught doing so, with doubling the fine possibilities.

Car Insurance companies may well not payout if you have Fully Comp Insurance if one subsequently has an accident which can be proven that incorrect tyres were fitted in winter, regardless of the road conditions.

i have just yesterday come back from germany and whilst over there the law was changed on the 29th of november regarding winter tyres.this was in the paper.

The law came into effect at 00.01hrs 29th November 2010 and applies to ALL road users in Germany (foriegners are NOT excluded) and states when the road conditions are icy, frosty or snowy (including slush) you MUST have either 4 season tyres (with the snowflake mark) or proper winter tyres. If you're parked up you cannot be fined, but using the "wrong" tyres costs €40/tyre and a possible loss of insurance (and resulting criminal proceedings)if involved in an accident.

i got 150 euro fine for doing something i do all the time on my motorbike in england the traffic was stopped and there was a tailback for as far as the eye could see so i filtered between the cars slowly which i now know is an offence in germany, i will know next time!

Go to Jail, go directly to Jail, do not pass GO!

oldtimer wrote:

i have just yesterday come back from germany and whilst over there the law was changed on the 29th of november regarding winter tyres.this was in the paper.

The law came into effect at 00.01hrs 29th November 2010 and applies to ALL road users in Germany (foriegners are NOT excluded) and states when the road conditions are icy, frosty or snowy (including slush) you MUST have either 4 season tyres (with the snowflake mark) or proper winter tyres. If you're parked up you cannot be fined, but using the "wrong" tyres costs €40/tyre and a possible loss of insurance (and resulting criminal proceedings)if involved in an accident.

i got 150 euro fine for doing something i do all the time on my motorbike in england the traffic was stopped and there was a tailback for as far as the eye could see so i filtered between the cars slowly which i now know is an offence in germany, i will know next time!

Have I got this right oldtimer. In the last few days you were in Germany, in the weather we've been having, on a MOTORBIKE ?

Holy shit !

I was thinking just that!!

[quote="brumi]

Have I got this right oldtimer. In the last few days you were in Germany, in the weather we've been having, on a MOTORBIKE ?

Holy shit ! [/quote]

sorry brum but yes,i left england before any snow here ,my family come from switzerland and i went to a funeral there and stopped off in germany for a couple of weeks with friends.

i knew there would be snow there but unlike this country they know how to deal with it and the main roads are clear,i went to norway in febuary and have the right tyres to deal with the snow and ride to the conditions.

little did i know what i had let myself in for on arriving back here otherwise i would have stayed in germany the roads here were horrific and it was a nightmare,yet there was no more snow here than some parts of germany yet they seem to be able to keep the main routes open there.


the hard part now is cleaning my bike of all that road salt and yes i am mad or so people tell me riding a powerful superbike at 63 in any weather but i have always rode a motorbike.

paul.

Good for you then Paul, hats off to you mate.

RCT - Ride Crappy Tricycles

Sorry, Couldn't resist and my old man would be chasing me with a spade could he see what I wrote LOL

oldtimer wrote:

i have just yesterday come back from germany and whilst over there the law was changed on the 29th of november regarding winter tyres.this was in the paper.

The law came into effect at 00.01hrs 29th November 2010 and applies to ALL road users in Germany (foriegners are NOT excluded) and states when the road conditions are icy, frosty or snowy (including slush) you MUST have either 4 season tyres (with the snowflake mark) or proper winter tyres. If you're parked up you cannot be fined, but using the "wrong" tyres costs €40/tyre and a possible loss of insurance (and resulting criminal proceedings)if involved in an accident.

i got 150 euro fine for doing something i do all the time on my motorbike in england the traffic was stopped and there was a tailback for as far as the eye could see so i filtered between the cars slowly which i now know is an offence in germany, i will know next time!

Just got back from Germany myself and heard about the "winter tyre" law while I was there. Luckily I didn't have any problems.

However I didn't know filtering was illegal in Germany. Kind of negates the advantages of a motorbike.

Mike

I live in the Black Forrest and I find the law on tires is correct
There is nothing worse than trying to get around in thick snow when someone cannot be bothered to buy the correct equipment .I am a Frozen Food delivery driver delivering in Villages some of which are way up in the hills
Stu

you must be use to the snow now,all them years in germany bear

Hey You know me !!???? Come on spill the beans ?
Not everyone knows bear

Got it !! the man with the Brownie Camera

yes thats me, brownie no one was safe in bunde or lubbecke as i always had that lieca camera won in a poker game in the pigs bar in my pocket.

are you back in walbroon ? thought you were coming back to england.


knew it would not take you long to figure out who it was thought the motorbikes might give it away,great roads for biking down your way back out in april or may.

paul.

I (we) returned top Grimsby and then gave up and came back I am now in Karlsbad not far from Waldbronn .......long story .............I think I was a bit hard on you back then eh mate
sorry and if you ever get down my neck o the woods drop in
Stu

How the hell have I a REME badge above my rank ??????????????????

water under the bridge mate, always behaved badly hence the posting out of bunde to lubbecke,should not have rode round camp on the troop bike like it was a race track.
even ocs orders did not stop me doing it i had been warned.


it was your site so your rules so forget it i did.

paul.

stuartmartin wrote:

How the hell have I a REME badge above my rank ??????????????????

When you are promoted to Sgt you will transfer to the elite.

Hey,

that's good that you two know each other, how much of a coincidence is that.