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Post by tyrednexited on Nov 24, 2020 9:50:02 GMT
...after the first really heavy frost here overnight on Sunday, I was re-hanging picture yesterday evening when I realised it was bl**dy cold. The central heating, which should have been running by then, wasn't. All indicator lights OK, but the boiler hadn't fired up. I couldn't see a pilot light (but it is damned difficult on my boiler anyway) so I played around trying to get it t light (if indeed it was ever out), then reset the gas valve and lo, we have heat. Not sure what I've done (and it was all fine this morning) but it doesn't bode well  . |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2020 10:09:44 GMT
Piskies.
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Post by tyrednexited on Nov 24, 2020 10:14:02 GMT
....not allowed to travel here from Cornwall during the lockdown....
Might be Gremlins, though.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2020 10:45:50 GMT
You've reminded me though, I didn't get our boiler serviced last year, so need to get it done soonish. Very old floor standing gas boiler, Potterton thing, seems to be hewn from rock and utterly indestructible. Hasn't given us a single problem in the 11 years since we've been here. Gas servicing man always says "nothing wrong with it, probably immortal". I expect it's pretty inefficient though, it kicks out a fair bit of heat into its cupboard, but that's handy for wet boots and coats. Noisy tho and right next to the living room, so it's pretty audible when it fires. Wakes me up at 6am when it comes on too. Would like a more modern one, but the expense, the expense. Also, I'd not be allowed to replace it in the same place, as it's in the middle of the house adjoining a chimbley breast, and a new one would have to be located on an outside wall I believe. Which would be even more expensive.
My "winter woes" wondering this morning is winter tyres. Groan. What with the recent good vaccine news, it may well be possible to go on a ski trip in February, if the stars align. But I don't want to fly, so would drive to the Alps, which will mean compulsory winter tyres in some areas. I'd be using the Civic if this unlikely event comes to pass, which has 17" alloys with 225/45/17 tyres. If I wanted to get some 16" steels, what tyre size would I need to replicate the existing combined wheel/tyre size?
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Post by EspadaIII on Nov 24, 2020 10:52:44 GMT
I think HJ in his Telegraph column a few weeks back mentioned a website which gave you the conversion sizes if changing wheel size..
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2020 11:17:22 GMT
Thanks, hadn't thought of looking for an online calculator. Oponeo has one, it's saying 205/55/16 for me, and looking on Autotrader I can see lesser trimmed models of my car wearing 205/55/16s, so that'll be as close as I can get I expect. I think I'd prefer 16" wheels on my car anyway, bit better ride quality. Looks like £392 for a set of steels with mid-range winter tyres rated at B for wet grip (Nexens). Hmm.
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Post by EspadaIII on Nov 24, 2020 11:24:24 GMT
At less than £100 per corner including wheels and winter tyres it's not a stupid price.
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Post by tyrednexited on Nov 24, 2020 13:12:42 GMT
Thanks, hadn't thought of looking for an online calculator. Oponeo has one, it's saying 205/55/16 for me, and looking on Autotrader I can see lesser trimmed models of my car wearing 205/55/16s, so that'll be as close as I can get I expect. I think I'd prefer 16" wheels on my car anyway, bit better ride quality. Looks like £392 for a set of steels with mid-range winter tyres rated at B for wet grip (Nexens). Hmm. ...I have a feeling that you posted that the Civic had been recently re-shod, otherwise I might have suggested just fitting Crossclimates to the OE rims at not far from that price per corner, and then leaving them on. 3Peak marked, so AFAIK qualified to meat the legal requirements. (Even with relatively new tyres already fitted, an option might be to swap them and retain the ones that come off for future refitting) |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2020 13:33:39 GMT
Good idea, TNE. Yes, the car had brand new tyres (nice Bridgestones) on it when I bought it. And still only done 3k miles in it. I think though that if I switched to Cross Climates, it'd be hard to justify putting the summer tyres back on it. Could probably flog the part worns on eBay.
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Post by tyrednexited on Nov 24, 2020 13:47:56 GMT
Subject to correct spec, that OE size seem to be just over £100 per corner fully fitted. Difficult to know what the wear characteristics will be compared to the Bridgestones, but one of the reasons behind suggesting it was that I'd just leave them on throughout the year. (you're not doing much mileage anyway, are you?  ) It's a (relatively) easy purchase, no faffing about in a few months, no need to store four wheels, and anything you get back for part-worns is largely money in you pocket vs new rims and winters. (And, you could probably easily delay purchase until/if you find you really need them). |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2020 13:56:42 GMT
Yeah I think you're right. Good call. Goodyear Vector 4Seasons also 3PMSF rated, available at just over £90 a corner too. £40 quid less for 4, not to be sniffed at. Looking for Kleber Quadraxers too but can't find any reference to my size. Do you know of any other 3PMSF rated all-season tyre makers?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2020 14:41:56 GMT
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Post by Humph on Nov 24, 2020 14:59:57 GMT
For what it's worth, the Qashqai used to have Bridgestones on it but I changed all 4 to Crossclimates a couple of years back. Much quieter, seem to be wearing well, and, well, they are all season thingies.
I've still got the full winter tyres on the Merc from last year. Didn't ever get around to taking them off this year. Wearing very well, and seem more resistant to potholes etc. Noisy buggers though.
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Post by Humph on Nov 24, 2020 15:06:52 GMT
...after the first really heavy frost here overnight on Sunday, I was re-hanging picture yesterday evening when I realised it was bl**dy cold. The central heating, which should have been running by then, wasn't. All indicator lights OK, but the boiler hadn't fired up. I couldn't see a pilot light (but it is damned difficult on my boiler anyway) so I played around trying to get it t light (if indeed it was ever out), then reset the gas valve and lo, we have heat. Not sure what I've done (and it was all fine this morning) but it doesn't bode well . On it's way out that I fear. Oh, Happy Christmas when it comes... 😈 |
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Post by tyrednexited on Nov 24, 2020 16:05:23 GMT
On it's way out that I fear. Oh, Happy Christmas when it comes... 😈 ..it's a Glowworm; built like the proverbial brick outhouse; spares still readily available (and I have a tame plumber)...... ...but, should the worst happen I can always rub two boy scouts together and light the open fire (which has been a nightly event for some weeks now - I'm running out of boy scouts) and the immersion will provide hot water. ...and, for the belts and braces, there is ample heating and hot-water capability in the 'van. ...so, off you go and start teasing the dog |
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