Even though it is raining down in the village, there has been a blanket of snow on Strandafjellet. The transition from rain to sleet and then to solid, white snow at the top of the mountain is almost imperceptible. Winter is on its way. This wagon train had ended up off the road at Hardangervidda on Tuesday. Photo: David Kjeilen – Full throttle today In the premises of Stranda Bilservice there is a rattle and a bang when the nut pullers make the wheel bolts fly around. At high speed, strong arms throw the summer tires off the cars and lift new winter tires into place just as quickly. – This is the day when people have woken up. They have seen that the mountain tops have turned white, and then it’s full steam ahead, says Frode Bergersen at Stranda Bilservice. Frode Bergersen and the six others at Stranda Bilservice are in full swing with changing to winter tyres. Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit / news There are usually two employees who work in the hall. This day they are up at seven. – We have people we can call when things go wrong. So we have a good crew when needed on days like this. On the floor are stacks of winter tires just waiting to be placed on a car that is going out on Norwegian winter roads. Now the summer cover should be off and the winter cover on. Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit / news Danger warning from Yr It is the danger warning from Yr that has struck. The meteorologists warned of snow showers above 600 – 800 meters in Møre og Romsdal and southern Trøndelag from the night to Tuesday and beyond until Tuesday evening. There has also been snow and snow drifts on mountain passes such as VIkafjellet and Hardangervidda. Yr has issued a danger warning for snow in the mountains in Møre and Romsdal and in Trøndelag. Photo: Yr – Winter comes as a surprise Even the car owners notice that winter is knocking on the door. They are ready to take care of anyone who has been unlucky and has ended up in the ditch. – We have received many calls about the conditions on the mountain. The phone rings in one set. Winter comes as a surprise to people, says car owner Kjetil Øverland, daily manager of Stranda Bil. Kjetil Øverland, daily manager of Stranda Bil, says it seems that winter surprises people every single year. Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit / news The experienced car repairer thinks people wait too long to change to winter tyres. He has seen many thinly worn summer tires on winter roads over the years. -. Some still drive with tired summer tyres. They would like to wear them down as much as possible before they change. So I say: By all means get winter tyres. The calendar doesn’t lie, he says. This is on Strynefjellet. Here the driver had to come forward with a broom and scraper. Photo: Benthe Juklestad / news Tire shortage This winter is special. There is a shortage of winter tires. The reason must be that several tire manufacturers have factories in Russia and that these have been affected by the sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine. In addition, a lack of rubber has been reported. – Yes, we notice this. We ordered 1,000 tires and we have received 600. There are many dimensions that we have not received and which we have to buy in from other suppliers. Many types of tires are made in Russia. Lack of rubber is certainly a cause, and too few tires may have been produced during the corona, says Bergersen. – Should have been out earlier The tire dealer at Stranda also believes that people wait too long to change to winter tyres. He thinks some people would prefer to have a long summer season and want as short a season as possible with winter tires on the car. – Yes, many people should have reacted sooner. Around 20 September, people can start with studless winter tyres. But winter tires are often a little more expensive than summer tires. And people don’t want to wear out their winter tires by driving on them for too long. But there is little to save on this. says Frode Bergersen.
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