Snow tires lol...

[SVT666]

It's funny how some of the people saying they refuse to buy winter tires are also the same people who buy or would buy sticky summer rubber.

[850CSi]

It's funny how some of the people saying they refuse to buy winter tires are also the same people who buy or would buy sticky summer rubber.

(all seasons, all the time)

Got it. However, there is some line beyond which it would be irresponsible. I can't place it very well but think about this. Say for example you lived in Alaska and decided that all-seasons were fine. It would probably be as irresponsible as going on a camping trip without enough equipment for the conditions you would likely face. Can you manage with less? Possibly. Responsible. Probably not.

It is a matter of degree. If all you get are say, 10 days of snow per year I'd think all seasons are responsible. If however you get more than a month, that would probably cross that line in my opinion.

Eh there are complicating factors, it's not that simple.

Chicago gets a fair bit of snow, but it's also an urban environment with adequate plowing and lots of salt. Illinois is also flat as a surfboard.

I probably had to drive with actual snow accumulation on the street less than 5 times a year. Slush and ice was a lot more common.

Would I go a winter in the NC mountains without snows? Fuck no. If I had a commute on rural roads in a place with Chicago-like weather? Probably not.

[Raza]

Impressed with all the testosterone-laden "I don't need no stinkin' snow tires meself, a REAL driver doesn't need that shit." going on here.

Everything about driving is managing traction on your 4 contact patches. Said traction is incredibly better on snow tires on snow vs all-seasons on snow. Why would anyone not want that added margin in a place with significant snow every year is beyond me.

Nothing wrong with them.  But why take on the added cost and hassle (and if you live in an apartment like I do, I don't even have a place to store them when not in use) if you've been managing fine without them?

[2o6]

Most of the main roads are clear within a day of snowfall. Even with snowfall, ice and cold/wet, I have never felt out of control with all seasons.

[r0tor]

Why should I need to put snow tires on the Mazda when it only gets out of the garage anymore on nice dry days?

[rohan]

5 Chicago winters, RWD, all-season tires. Drove several times in blizzards. Never had a problem. Don't know a single person who runs two sets of tires.

I apologize for disagreeing with the assertion that we're all stupid.

I run them on the Durango and on ALL of our patrol cars.  Winter tires are way way better in the winter then any all season and dispute what Cougs says they are perfectly safe in all weather conditions below 60 degrees.  In fact below 60 they're safer which is why several roads in the US won't even allow you on without dedicated snow tires no matter what the conditions. 

[Rupert]

Several roads? Which ones? Chains or studded tires or snow tires or 4WD or AWD or some combination are frequently required in mountain passes during snow events, I know, but I've never heard of anywhere that has a snow tires only no matter what requirement.

[GoCougs]

Several roads? Which ones? Chains or studded tires or snow tires or 4WD or AWD or some combination are frequently required in mountain passes during snow events, I know, but I've never heard of anywhere that has a snow tires only no matter what requirement.

lol, he just makes things up.

[Rupert]

(No, really? rohan?)

[Soup DeVille]

Several roads? Which ones? Chains or studded tires or snow tires or 4WD or AWD or some combination are frequently required in mountain passes during snow events, I know, but I've never heard of anywhere that has a snow tires only no matter what requirement.

I'm pretty sure there are some in Alaska, but since none of us live in Alaska...

[mzziaz]

Winter tires are mandated in all of Norway during the season. I believe all seasons are OK, though so it is more of a prohibition against summer tires in the winter.

[rohan]

Several roads? Which ones? Chains or studded tires or snow tires or 4WD or AWD or some combination are frequently required in mountain passes during snow events, I know, but I've never heard of anywhere that has a snow tires only no matter what requirement.

I accidentally left off "winter" in the conditions part.  There are several roads that require dedicated snow tires no matter the conditions during winter.

lol, he just makes things up.

(No, really? rohan?)

That's just comical coming from you two.   

[Rupert]

I figured that was what you meant. Shockingly, I gave you the benefit of the doubt.

However, I'm still curious which roads these are.

[850CSi]

Winter tires are mandated in all of Norway during the season. I believe all seasons are OK, though so it is more of a prohibition against summer tires in the winter.

I can see that. That makes more sense.

[SVT666]

I figured that was what you meant. Shockingly, I gave you the benefit of the doubt.

However, I'm still curious which roads these are.

I'm not in the US, but there is a road just 5 minutes from my house that mandates chains or dedicated winter tires between November and March.  There are several roads like that around here.  I will take a picture of the sign the next time I go that way.  Since I can't drive right now, I probably won't be going that way for about 4 or 5 weeks.

[TurboDan]

We've always gotten 2-3 days of snow per year here (none last year) so I have no experience with this. In the northern part of NJ they get a lot more snow and I think some people buy chains, etc.

That said, do these tires give you better traction on just snow, or snow and ice too? And what's the benefits of studded vs non-studded?

[MX793]

We've always gotten 2-3 days of snow per year here (none last year) so I have no experience with this. In the northern part of NJ they get a lot more snow and I think some people buy chains, etc.

That said, do these tires give you better traction on just snow, or snow and ice too? And what's the benefits of studded vs non-studded?

Studded tires will be better on ice, but they tend to skate a bit on bare pavement.  On ice, you really need either studs or chains.  All-rubber snows aren't going to be appreciably better than all-seasons.

[SVT666]

Studded tires will be better on ice, but they tend to skate a bit on bare pavement.  On ice, you really need either studs or chains.  All-rubber snows aren't going to be appreciably better than all-seasons.

They will be, but ice is ice.  There are tires that are designed for ice use that are noticeably better on ice than even winter specific tires, but studs and chains reign king on ice.  When I was in Calgary, ice was a big problem because they had a lot of "Chinooks" (warm winds warm the area and then the area freezes when the winds stop).  I had winter tires that were more ice oriented and they made a big difference, but still not ideal compared to studs.

[Rupert]

I'm not in the US, but there is a road just 5 minutes from my house that mandates chains or dedicated winter tires between November and March.  There are several roads like that around here.  I will take a picture of the sign the next time I go that way.  Since I can't drive right now, I probably won't be going that way for about 4 or 5 weeks.

Yes, but he specified snow tires, not snow tires/chains/4WD, etc. in addition to being in the U.S.

[S204STi]

I'll get a chance to put these to use this weekend, it sounds like.

I've done numerous snow-drives without them, but with tires as wide as mine, snow/ice rubber makes sense.

[SVT666]

All our highways are covered in snow as of this morning.  The news is calling the conditions "treacherous".

[S204STi]

I forget how laughably narrow the treads were on my first Subaru.  I forget the size... like 165/55r14 or something like that.  Even the crappiest all-seasons were fine in  most conditions.

[Raza]

I forget how laughably narrow the treads were on my first Subaru.  I forget the size... like 165/55r14 or something like that.  Even the crappiest all-seasons were fine in  most conditions.

I think my Passat was 195/65/15 and I thought those were really narrow.

[MX793]

I think my Passat was 195/55/15 and I thought those were really narrow.

My 240SX was I think 195/60R15.  Factor in vehicle weight, and the Mustang has more pounds per mm of tire width than my 240SX did.  I'd need 245s to be comparable.

[2o6]

I think my Passat was 195/55/15 and I thought those were really narrow.

That's crazy. My Yaris wears 185/55/15's, and it's a class size down.

[93JC]

It has been snowing here for a few days, the roads are sloppy, it's -17 ?c/1 ?F, and I don't have snow/winter tires. These are just about the worst winter driving conditions this city experiences in a given winter. I have no problem getting around. I have not been a danger to my fellow motorists. The winter weather is so variable here, vacillating between bitterly cold and pleasantly warm, between wet snow and desert-like aridness, that I don't see the point in buying winter tires. More than half the winter they'd be used on relatively warm dry pavement. I'd wear them out.

[GoCougs]

Yeah, no.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IxroxDO8g8&feature=related

[GoCougs]

Another:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrJuigh2aCc&feature=related

[MX793]

Yeah, no.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IxroxDO8g8&feature=related

That's obviously glare ice beneath.  Anything less than studs isn't going to cut it in those conditions.

[Soup DeVille]

So, what you're saying here Cougs is : Ice is slippery?

My God, why didn't I realize that before?