Are you going to drive without winter tires this season?

[BrokeBastard]

Just curious how many people don't buy winter tires. Debating whether to get some or not after last winter.

 

[perchie15]

If you Do buy the Nordiq ones from canadian tire they are awesome had them on my car they were great!!!
But now that i have a truck i dont bother i have 4wd so . just gotta have atleast some decent grip on the treads.

Its all really your choice. if you wanna risk your life or someone elses? and or your car to. But does help if a person has winter tires. no getting stuck on black ass as ur stopped at a red light

 

[87112]

I have these year round.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Sport+A/S+Plus

 

[ReluctantPooner]

I think I will invest in a set of cross country skis. If we get that kind of snow again - the roads will be impassable, because of all the other cars stuck in the middle of the road.

And god knows the buses won't get you anywhere. They can't deal with the hills.

 

[Guardian Angel]

I have never used winter tires. Live in the Chuk where winter is definitely a test. If the roads are a mess I try to stay home. If I have to venture out in extreme weather I take it slow use the unpacked snowy part of the road and cross my fingers the rest of the way.

G.A.

 

[jim]

I have never used winter tires. Live in the Chuk where winter is definitely a test. If the roads are a mess I try to stay home. If I have to venture out in extreme weather I take it slow use the unpacked snowy part of the road and cross my fingers the rest of the way.

G.A.

I made the change to winter tires after not using any for many years here in Edmonton. The difference is incredible! I had to go without for 2 winters and let me tell you that I'm budgeting for some of these next month:

Nokian

 

[Bare_Facts]

I gotta agree with you Jim. That first year with the winter tires was an eye opener, and I wouldn't go without now. I'm as worried about getting going as I am about stopping.

 

[uncleg]

Gotta have them even if I don't need them. I drive for a living and the powers that be tend to check for winter tires where I go. This year with the Olympics it's going to be a bitch trying to go north without them. Any excuse to keep you off the road.

 

[HeMadeMeDoIt]

I have summer tires on my car and will buy winter Michellin Blizzaks for the winter.

Any suggestions on whether I should keep my 19in chrome wheels and slap the winters on them or just get 18in steel rims and get the winter tires for them?

 

[xxxbrian]

Get the steel rims. It will save salt & sand damge to your chrome rims & when the steel rims start to corrode, you can have them cleaned up & repainted. Plus, if you do get into a slip / slide and strike a curb, it's the cheaper steel jobbies that take the hit.

And to add to this, if you can go 16" or 17" - better then 18" winters. 18" winters are OK, but smaller is better for winter.

 

[Krustee]

Regular stopping, one can plan ahead & use the gears, but when I have no choice but the brake pedal I just cannot stop as quick with those hard, relatively slippery tyres.

The primary reason to get winter tyres is to improve your stopping ability, not your ability to move ahead on bad roads. Winter tyres have softer rubber compounds & more sipes to allow the tire to conform to irregularities in the road & thus provide more friction. All season tyres, especially those rated for high milage, have few sipes & a harder rubber compound & thus have a much lower friction coefficient when they are cold.

The hi-lited above is the biggest reason to install winter tires.

Most people do not even consider what the temperature does to the rubber of their tires.

Good winter tires will have a different rubber compound & as stated above, much more tread block & "sipes" to allow the tire to grip softer terrain, expel water from the tread & bite into snow.

Here's a good article I read on MSN about the subject.

(NC)-There is a common perception that winter tires are only necessary for people living in snow-clad, mountainous regions. Others think that winter tires wear out more quickly than all-season tires because they are more expensive. Both of these are misconceptions. Michelin-certified Alliance Tire Professionals dealers have dispelled these myths and more below to help you and your family stay safe on the roads this winter season.


MYTH: All-season tires deliver the same performance on ice and snow as winter tires

FACT: Winter tires are designed specifically to provide more control and traction over ice and snow. Most people believe that all-season tires can deliver the same performance, however, this is false. In fact, winter tires deliver as much as 25 to 50 per cent more traction than all-season tires, which can very well be the margin you need to stop in time or to turn to avoid trouble.

Winter tires are designed with a special compound that allows for more flexibility for better grip and stays soft even in the coldest of temperatures. Winter tire technology is specifically designed to expel water and dig down through snow to the road surface, maximizing your ability to start, turn and stop. The softer rubber compound of winter tires can perform in temperatures as cold as -40 degrees Celsius before hardening, whereas all-season tires can begin to harden at temperatures of -7 degrees Celsius.


MYTH: There is no real difference between the tread design on a winter tire and an all-season tire - they are basically the same

FACT: The wider and patterned grooves of winter tires allow for better traction and efficient channels to drain water and push out snow, while the common zigzag shape of the grooves allow for more snow to be packed into the tire and then eject as the tire rotates for deeper snow traction. The sipes (small cuts in the tread block) also help cut through the water and slush, providing better traction. Conversely, all-season tires have flatter tread designs that may provide a smoother highway ride, but fail to force out snow as effectively as winter tires. Additionally, all-season tires use sipe technology significantly less, resulting in less traction than winter tires.


MYTH: Winter tires are more expensive and don't last as long as all-season tires

FACT: A lot of people believe that winter tires are too expensive, but by rotating between your summer tires and winter tires you are prolonging the life of both sets - every kilometre traveled on your winter tires is saved on your summer tires and vice versa!

Remember: Four winter tires are recommended to achieve maximum traction and control over ice and snow. Ensure you're well equipped this winter and enjoy safe travels all season long.

http://news.carjunky.com/car_maintenance/the-cold-truth-about-winter-tires-ab412.shtml

 

[Guardian Angel]

I made the change to winter tires after not using any for many years here in Edmonton. The difference is incredible! I had to go without for 2 winters and let me tell you that I'm budgeting for some of these next month:

Nokian

Hmm. Thanks Jim, maybe it's time.

G.A.

 

[jetsam]

Get the steel rims. It will save salt & sand damge to your chrome rims & when the steel rims start to corrode, you can have them cleaned up & repainted. Plus, if you do get into a slip / slide and strike a curb, it's the cheaper steel jobbies that take the hit.

Good advice, also before you buy ask if they will swap your tires spring and fall free of charge. Most places do this now but make sure. Another thing, if you don't have the storage space some places will store your unused set of tires for a fee.

 

[jim]

Hmm. Thanks Jim, maybe it's time.

G.A.

You are welcome GA. The reason I like the Nokians is that they are year round but not "All Season" they are "All Weather" good for snow and rain and their compound is both flexible in and stick in the cold yet will give you long tire life.

 

[viola]

Yes!

On summer tires I've flipped onto the roof of the car twice in winter, on European roads in my youth, the second time I was extracted through the windscreen, the roof was flattened and I was lucky.. Luckily I lived long enough to immigrate to Canada!

Now I have a set of alloys with summer tires and rusty steels with winter tires, usually swapping about Nov 1st..


Definitely the way to go!