Anyone here not going to buy winter tires?

[cktc9]

...update.

I took a closer look at the suv's tires: Yoko Geolandar G91's, and written in small letters "Radial Tubeless M+S"

The snowflake symbol is "better", but an M+S rating meets the rules.

To storm rider: thanks for the PMC tire reference. I got my 4x4's tires and wheels from tirerack in the USA back when. Nice to see a similar offering in Canada.

 

[Lo-ki]

Put mine on already.......I feel so much safer parked in my driveway.
It's when I it the road that even with the tires are on with all the other idiots on the road in a bit of snow that worries me.

 

[sybian]

I will admit,with my location I worry more about getting stuck, and walking home in the mountains, than other drivers slamming into me.
Being self employed, and living hundreds of Klms from the nearest town, if a heavy snowfall happens, I will delay my trip to town a day or so, to let the traffic beat back the ice to pavement.

 

[Mr Jones]

According to studies, 95% of drivers think they are better than the average driver, just sayin....

Studded winters for me, but live in the mountains.

 

[JimDandy]

Clearly Albertans are no better at driving in snow than Vancouverites when they don't have winter tires on. 73 collisions after a little snow in Calgary last night! This basically proves how important winter tires are when driving even in minimal snow.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/dozens...hits-southern-alberta-1.3615895?autoPlay=true

JD

 

[scooner]

Clearly Albertans are no better at driving in snow than Vancouverites when they don't have winter tires on. 73 collisions after a little snow in Calgary last night! This basically proves how important winter tires are when driving even in minimal snow.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/dozens...hits-southern-alberta-1.3615895?autoPlay=true

JD

10 cm of snow is close to 4 in of snow combined with winds up to 90 kph was almost blizzard conditions in some places, it was more than a little snow

 

[JimDandy]

10 cm of snow is close to 4 in of snow combined with winds up to 90 kph was almost blizzard conditions in some places, it was more than a little snow

I grew up in the Maritimes. It was not worth mentioning unless it was at least 6 inches (15 cm) in the Maritimes (the women there had the same comment about a fully erect penis lol). We will likely get at least one 10 cm snowfall in Vancouver this winter, so again, everyone should have snow tires!

JD

 

[sybian]

Most people don't realize BC is unique. By legislation, the definition of winter tires includes "3 season" radial tires that come standard with your car. These have the designation of "M+S". It's rare for people to drive with summer tires.

My colleagues at work were bantering back and forth today on this very subject. Even though you have snow tires, the idiots on the road don't. As PerbMod pointed out, he got whacked by one of them. This thread echos how some believe they know how to drive in snow with regular tires. Our climate is also a consideration. It's was really rare for us to have the nasty winter like we had last year. My feeling is history won't repeat itself again. I think the stats support this.

If I was driving, I'd own a pair of cable chains instead. They're a fuck lot cheaper than snow tires. Just learn how to install them, keep them in my trunk and you're good to go.

.....and don't stop in the middle of the Trans Canada Highway to install them, in a snowstorm, you've already been driving into for an hour........and then wonder why people are slamming into the concrete barriers all around you.

Sometimes I wonder how some Truckers get their licences to operate.

 

[sevenofnine]

in Calgary there is most likely close to 73 accidents on a normal day.

I actually like them, ice tires.

but like I said they don't improve your driving skills at all.
I think in some instances it gives drivers a false sense of confidence,
a stupid driver is still a stupid driver,

I think I took three defensive driving courses over the years.
and you drive according to the conditions of the road,
it shouldn't really matter what fucking tires you have on, you drive accordingly

first snow storm of the year, I did not have my ice tires installed, did fine on a new set of all seasons.
saw an accident one block from my house, a lady decided to park her car on top of the stop sign.

not to knock on immigrants but long time older Albertans know what driving can get to in an alberta winter,
a lot of new immigrants can barely drive, and the first few snows, well are challenging

and then there is the young people who have four wheel drive and snow tires who think their invincible'

quite a few people have ice tires and they never take them off, summer driving wears them down pretty quick,
you would not believe how many bald winter tires there are.

um
three years ago my sp, invited me out to her place out of town for a late night supper and drinks.
it was winter, I had my old clunker, before, I bought ice tires for it, and they were worn,
her lane was long and narrow, not a lot of parking choices,
as it happened I got stuck going home.

with a new set of winter ice tires, I went to a late night hockey game in the country the snow had drifted through, like shit, I thought,
but they were amazing, never spun a wheel..

I do like them,
but you guys think there a miracle, will stop all accidents from happening and all this bs.

they don't improve ones driving skills at all. and that is the problem.

 

[Riza]

Anyone that has seen me knows I drive a Eclipse soft top. Fancy rims and tires. No plans on snow tires on it. If its snowing or snow on the road the car stays in the driveway nice and safe. I know my limits and I know my car limits and snow is not a option to drive in. I won't be one of the morons driving around in a summer car with summer tires stuck and backing up traffic in the middle of the road.

 

[LM987]

The definition of a snow tire does include most all seasons.
IF your tire has M+S, and 3.5mil of tread, you are legal to drive on all BC roads after Oct 1.
The winter snowflake is a marketing item, that does work, but this is not the only proof of legit wither tires.
Last 4 years my cars have had A/S M&S on them. Been up north, to alberta in the winter, and around VCR last year no issues. Only issue was when snow was too deep and my front air dam was dragging, so I couldn't get out of my subdivision. No winter tire would have helped.
Going with AS again this year.

Do you know that Winter tires are NOT required in Alberta at all? Crazy

From BC Transport
About Winter Tires

Drivers must obey winter tire and chain signs throughout the province from October 1 to March 31.

Winter road conditions across most of B.C. often include snow and ice. We recommend drivers install mountain/snowflake tires for cold weather driving and, for extreme conditions, carry chains.

It is the responsibility for the operator of a vehicle to understand the conditions on the roads they regularly drive and equip their vehicle for those conditions.

Video: Safe Winter Driving Starts with Safe Winter Tires
British Columbia accepts tires displaying the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol OR the M+S (mud and snow) symbol, with at least 3.5 mm tread as winter tires. Some tire manufacturers choose to mark their tires with both designations.

Check your tires for at least one of these symbols:


The 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol on the side of the tire
These winter tires offer the best traction on snow and ice, and in cold weather.

Also known as mountain/snowflake or alpine.


The mud and snow symbol on the side of the tire
These winter tires offer better traction than summer tires, however, they are less effective than 3-peaked mountain and snowflake tires on snow and ice, and in cold weather.

MS, M&S, Mud and Snow symbol tires are the legal requirement. This includes All Seasons if they have the symbol on them. We do however recommend the snowflake symbol for winter conditions.

All winter tires must have:


3.5mm tread
Tires must have 3.5 mm of tread remaining to be considered winter tires. Tires that are worn have reduced traction and should not be used in winter weather.


Matching winter tires
You must have at least 2 matching winter tires on the primary drive axle, but we recommend using 4 matching tires on the four outside corners of the vehicle - even when driving a 4X4 vehicle. Mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal construction and size compromises stability, and should be avoided

 

[abjectpatient]

IMHO, Winter tires matter for people who leave the city, and live in places with real winters. Coming from Calgary, they matter there, and if you've ever driven with winters and all-seasons in a place like Calgary you'd know the difference from personal experience. After going half a winter in a Volvo on all seasons, then switching to winters, I was surprised by the remarkable increase in traction (i.e. no tire spinning, no difficultly up hill). Preventing snow pack is important, so is having rubber that doesn't become to hard in freezing temperatures. But here in Vancouver, asides from whatever happened last winter, how often is that a factor? I'd reckon you might actually just end up putting excessive wear on winter tires here due to the temperate winters.

not to knock on immigrants but long time older Albertans know what driving can get to in an alberta winter, a lot of new immigrants can barely drive, and the first few snows, well are challenging

Most Albertan's regardless of their origin forget how to drive in snow over the summer. Every year, first snow, collisions everywhere, vehicles in ditches, douches in giant trucks on the QE2 speeding despite poor visibility.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=pile...AUICygC&biw=935&bih=949#imgrc=7XG6LiLQ5w6TgM:

 

[PerbMod]

4 wheel drive does not help you on ice, all 4 wheels spin and you are super fucked. In most winter conditions, you are far better off with 2 wheel drive, the right tires and an abundance of caution. You should also ALWAYS have a winter driving kit in your car. Blankets, flares, shovel, kitty litter or other gripping agent, plus food and water and a fully charged cell phone. Also dress for the weather with boots, gloves, warm coats. Some of the idiots who hit the ditch end up dead because they keep the engine running to stay warm while their exhaust is blocked, or then they run out of gas and freeze to death. On many interior highways, help can be a long way away. 20 years of Northern BC and Alberta driving here.

 

[cktc9]

4 wheel drive does not help you on ice, all 4 wheels spin and you are super fucked. In most winter conditions, you are far better off with 2 wheel drive, the right tires and an abundance of caution.

...ummm. No. On any slippery surface, allwheel drive and 4wd will always drive better than any 2 wheel drive when driven with the same tires and care and attention.
And most 2wd vehicles are actually 1 wheel drive. The differential will always send power to the wheel that turns the easiest. Even a limited slip differential may not help, as the clutches need a bit of force to activate. At least with 4wd, you get 2 axle drive, so at least one front and one rear wheel will both turn. Odds are at least one of those has enough traction to get you moving.
If you have locking differentials, then you become like a bulldozer, all wheels must turn, and then you do get moving, unless you gun the engine and dig 4 nice holes in the deep snow.
If you have AWD, your anti-lock braking system is used to detect which wheel is spinning, and then selectively brake that wheel, and force the others to turn. Not a bad system, but the sudden braking and release of the individual wheels can cause instability, so don't go too fast, or you'll find yourself going down the road sideways.

With careful driving and good tires, I can get a front-wheel drive further into the slippery stuff than I can a rear wheel drive.
But with locked differentials on a 4x4, I can go pretty much until I'm high centered. If I need to, I can also let air out of the tires down to about 8 psi (still safe on my 4x4's over-sized tires), and drive on top of the packed snow.

Bottom line: all vehicles 2wd, 4x4, AWD, may change the number of powered wheels, but most vehicles are 2 wheel steering, and 4 wheel braking. Unless you go slower on slippery roads, you're only asking for trouble. ...or the rear end of my 4x4, with it's 1/4" thick steel tubing rear bumper, since I will be driving carefully.

 

[CrazyCoyote]

In Vancouver, if you are not going to Whistler every weekend, All Weather tires are a good option, especially with AWD. All Weather, NOT All Season. Nokian WRG3 or Nordman WR (these are the rebranded Nokian WRG2). Kal Tire. The Nordman's are better on snow and ice than the WRG3 according to Kal Tire tests, and they are about 35% less expensive. My 2 cents.

 

[JimDandy]

4 wheel drive does not help you on ice, all 4 wheels spin and you are super fucked. In most winter conditions, you are far better off with 2 wheel drive, the right tires and an abundance of caution.

...ummm. No. On any slippery surface, allwheel drive and 4wd will always drive better than any 2 wheel drive when driven with the same tires and care and attention.
And most 2wd vehicles are actually 1 wheel drive. The differential will always send power to the wheel that turns the easiest. Even a limited slip differential may not help, as the clutches need a bit of force to activate. At least with 4wd, you get 2 axle drive, so at least one front and one rear wheel will both turn. Odds are at least one of those has enough traction to get you moving.
If you have locking differentials, then you become like a bulldozer, all wheels must turn, and then you do get moving, unless you gun the engine and dig 4 nice holes in the deep snow.
If you have AWD, your anti-lock braking system is used to detect which wheel is spinning, and then selectively brake that wheel, and force the others to turn. Not a bad system, but the sudden braking and release of the individual wheels can cause instability, so don't go too fast, or you'll find yourself going down the road sideways.

With careful driving and good tires, I can get a front-wheel drive further into the slippery stuff than I can a rear wheel drive.
But with locked differentials on a 4x4, I can go pretty much until I'm high centered. If I need to, I can also let air out of the tires down to about 8 psi (still safe on my 4x4's over-sized tires), and drive on top of the packed snow.

Bottom line: all vehicles 2wd, 4x4, AWD, may change the number of powered wheels, but most vehicles are 2 wheel steering, and 4 wheel braking. Unless you go slower on slippery roads, you're only asking for trouble. ...or the rear end of my 4x4, with it's 1/4" thick steel tubing rear bumper, since I will be driving carefully.

Now that is what I call an informed post! Bravo

JD

 

[JimDandy]

In Vancouver, if you are not going to Whistler every weekend, All Weather tires are a good option, especially with AWD. All Weather, NOT All Season. Nokian WRG3 or Nordman WR (these are the rebranded Nokian WRG2). Kal Tire. The Nordman's are better on snow and ice than the WRG3 according to Kal Tire tests, and they are about 35% less expensive. My 2 cents.

Great tip! Though I will be going to Whistler every weekend so does not apply to me.

JD

 

[LM987]

I always laugh to myself when I see 4x4 in the ditch in the winter.
4x4 will help you get going, but has ZERO benefit when you hit the brakes.

 

[Aesthetics>all]

4 wheel drive does not help you on ice, all 4 wheels spin and you are super fucked. In most winter conditions, you are far better off with 2 wheel drive, the right tires and an abundance of caution.

If you have locking differentials, then you become like a bulldozer, all wheels must turn, and then you do get moving

^this is true, I managed to get my car up and down the driveway in 3” of snow with drag radials, I’m giving all the credit to the spool diff I used to have

 

[ddcanz]

Currently running BFG AT T/A KO2s- M&S and snowflake. 1/2 ton Ram 4X with some sandbags in the box over the rear axle
This will be my first year in the snow with them- I'm expecting superior performance.
Previously I've used Michelin LTX A/T2 M&S with great success.
From experience, Pirelli A/T are shit, as are Goodyear Wranglers.
Just slow down, be aware of the conditions and the surroundings and drive like a "white man".
For those easily offended I apologize in advance.