snow tires

[cookiedough]

this past 3 inch snowfall 2 days ago had a hair raising situation going to work in the morning going up a fairly steep hill shaded by trees rural road from a stop sign saw 2 FWD vehicles spinning and spinning  no way getting up the hill was icy and slightly snow covered, more so icy thanks to all the traffic on that road due to main road still fricking closed to get to Madison WI to work.  I take that way since pretty much ONLY option to get into town all year long vs. going thru much heavier traffic with more idiots on the road to contend with going another way more used daily.  I prefer going the backway rural country roads even in the winter although the deer sightings daily near me are hair raising enough but sure beats heavy, heavy traffic going the other way into work.  Nothing worse than going 25 mph in a 55 speed zone in snowy conditions unable to pass for miles and miles when safe to drive say 45 mph with a lineup of cars in front thanks to someone only going 25 mph for 20+ miles holding up traffic line of cars.

I just got my blizzak snow tires put on my FWD car done Sunday for the Monday morning commute to work knowing it was going to snow yet again.  I slowly crept up close to them both spinning and spinning their front tires hoping they would STOP doing it but they were in the middle of the road taking up both lanes and NO way I could turn around with a car coming up behind me from the stop sign.  So,  I was really afraid I too was going to be spinning since both idiots am sure did not gain enough speed at the bottom by stop sign to get up that steeper hill.  I went very slowly 1-2 mph slow and steady trying not to spin the tires and both cars ahead stopped spinning and I had to go about 4 feet into the left side ditch about 1 foot tops near their left side of cars for much over to the left anymore and down I would go into the steep ditch off the road.  My snow tires only broke loose just barely a few times making it up the hill NO problems.  I was sweating it for sure either ditch run off the road or hitting the side of their cars if they or I slid sideways.

that one instance so far this year snow tires paid for themselves safe and sound no ditch run or hitting their vehicles in the middle of the road.   I will take decent dedicated snow tires with a FWD vehicle over ANY 4wd or AWD vehicle with all season or even all terrain tires, am a believe in them seeing as how 3 of my 4 vehicles I have dedicated black steel rims with snow tires for winter use 4 months of the year on.    ONLY issue is storing 12 regular all season tires with separate aluminum rims in my basement, NO ROOM NOW to walk clearing a path in one loop in my 24 x 46' full basement.  BEST thing I ever did was in 1993 build a small ranch home with FULL basement for storage needs was going to build a bi-level home with the 2 car garage below the house with not much of a basement then for storing tons of stuff. 

[sandy]

Thanks for the reminder why I moved to AZ 48 years ago.

[Serk]

Reason #32,767 I live in The Republic...

This just doesn't look enjoyable.

[scooperhsd]

Serk - you sure got that right


The best winters I ever spent was when I was stationed in Pensacola and Jacksonville FL

[RP#62]

I like to see snow.........on distant mountain tops.  But that's about it.

-RP

[Wizzard]

Well you can find joy in the snow if you look, but if don't you will have less joy and still the same amount of snow. 

[old2soon]

           Most of my adult life was spent lookin at the world thru the windshield of an 18 wheeler. Far far too many folks assume they actually know how to drive when conditions deteriorate. I'm here to tell you most-well above 80%-do NOT know how to drive when the roads and conditions there of go crappola. cookie-those doom koffs spinnin their tires are a Perfect example of What I'm talkin bout. They Have already LOST Traction and spinning those tires only make it worse. I grew up in snow country learned my lessons at an early age and honed those skills over the years. In an 18 wheeler when conditions deteriorate I personally git off the road soonest so I do NOT become part of the problem. I've asked a Lot of dispatchers over the years which is more important-deliver a load a day or two late or file an insurance claim cuz the customers load went down the side of a mountain or thru a field and is now scattered all over the landscape. Part-hell Most of the reason I do NO long distance travel in my cage if snow and ice are in the offing. Nudder words I pick my times. Course bein retired helps!  RIDE SAFE.

[Gryphon Rider]

Well you can find joy in the snow if you look, but if don't you will have less joy and still the same amount of snow. 

My winter joy has increased in the last few years as my son, now 14, has become good at shovelling.  He gets paid by me and the neighbors, so he enjoys it too, other than the earlier wakeup times.

Yes, good ice/snow tires make a huge difference in winter.  I recently replaced my Dodge minivan with a Chrysler minivan of the same year.  I kept the winter tires (on rims) from the old van to use on the new one, but installed TPMS sensors in each, as the Chrysler has a TPM system.

Something that is not widely advertised is that many (perhaps all?) winter tires have two different levels of tread wear indicators (TWI), with the higher ones indicating when the tires should be replaced for use in winter conditions, and the lower ones at the same level as non-winter tires, indicating when the tires should be replaced for use in non-winter conditions.  I don't think there is an industry-wide standard for winter TWIs.  On previous cars I have used half (or more) worn winter tires as summer tires, and new winter tires in the winter.

[Wizzard]

When I was in the automotive business I sold Blizzaks. The best winter traction in the industry hands down. 

[Pappy!]

What is this thing you call.......snow?

[cookiedough]

Thanks for the reminder why I moved to AZ 48 years ago.

yah, but depending on where you live in AZ if closer to the Mexican border, you get illegals coming over and drug traffickers from Mexico gunning down innocent children and wives..   I suppose you can get that anywhere in the US though?   ???

AZ says is  a dry heat, but 110 is still 110 no matter how I see it...   I would gladly ride my cycle in 40 degree temps over 95+ degree heat.

The one time I went down to AZ was in March and loved it though was a toasty 60 to 70 range I think and very nice weather considering WI was below zero at the time bitter cold.   I was the ONLY ONE swimming at the hotel's outside pool was near perfect temps but the locals guessed I was from WI ONLY ONE brave enough to bear that kind of cold thinking I was nuts...

Anyways,  what most people also need to realize is the stopping/braking distance is GREATLY reduced on snow and even ice to a lesser degree with snow tires vs.  regular all season tires.    That has saved my butt a few times as well in past winters.  One thing I totally HATE with my rear wheel drive truck in 2wd is even with 1 cm of snow spinning my rear drive tire off the line NEEDING to get going ASAP,  then the stupid traction control idiot system comes on limiting wheel spin by reducing engine power and braking automatically.  Sucks having to use 4wd with 1-2 cm's of snow to get moving from a stop sign.

[sandy]

AZ says is  a dry heat, but 110 is still 110 no matter how I see it...

When it's 118, we wish it was 110.

[cookiedough]

AZ says is  a dry heat, but 110 is still 110 no matter how I see it...

When it's 118, we wish it was 110.

yah,  was going to put 120 is still 120 but never been to Arizona when over 70 degrees or so in wintertime so have no clue how fricking HOT it gets down there.  HOT is HOT and not much you can do to stay cool in that kind of temps best to stay inside IMO.    At least in -20 you can bundle up with clothes to somewhat stay warm enough for a few hours at least anyways.    Still cannot ride a cycle in either extreme IMO.  I have seen just a few times with few inches of snow on the ground a few cycles on 2 wheels in town which IMO is dangerous and just dumb even if say a dirt bike size lightweight so if it goes down which it will eventually you can pick it up and push it home.

[3fan4life]

Reason #32,767 I live in The Republic...

This just doesn't look enjoyable.

No it doesn't.

But it looks Cool as Crap! 

[cookiedough]

I wonder if these older wings would do any good in snow as they do in dirt?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMrxee_fazo&t=68s

[Bighead]

What is a snow tire. I really have no clue. Tell me what a snow tire is.

[old2soon]

What is a snow tire. I really have no clue. Tell me what a snow tire is.

        Dad gum rebel rednecks ain't gotta clue!  RIDE SAFE.

[Bighead]

Dennis we ride on what we got. Might change out some more aggressive mudders on the 4x4 If goin to tha mud pit. But snow  tires? We havent a clue.

[bscrive]

I keep snow tires on both cars in the winter time otherwise you end up in the ditch. But once we retire we're never going to see snow again.

[RP#62]

AZ says is  a dry heat, but 110 is still 110 no matter how I see it...

When it's 118, we wish it was 110.

yah,  was going to put 120 is still 120 but never been to Arizona when over 70 degrees or so in wintertime so have no clue how fricking HOT it gets down there.  HOT is HOT and not much you can do to stay cool in that kind of temps best to stay inside IMO.    At least in -20 you can bundle up with clothes to somewhat stay warm enough for a few hours at least anyways.    Still cannot ride a cycle in either extreme IMO.  I have seen just a few times with few inches of snow on the ground a few cycles on 2 wheels in town which IMO is dangerous and just dumb even if say a dirt bike size lightweight so if it goes down which it will eventually you can pick it up and push it home.

Yeah, but you don't have to shovel heat.

-RP

[0leman]

Out here we are allowed to have studded snow tires.  You can put them on First of Nov, of by end of March.  I personally don't like them.  They cause damage to the roads and give tire folks more money to take tires off/on.  Plus they don't tend to grab the road as good during periods of dry/non slick roads.

I do have my tires sipped when I buy them.  They are not as good as studs but can leave them on the vehicle year round.   I have been using them for nearly 19 years on various vehicles and tires.   So far haven't ended up sliding off the road or pushing the guy in front. 

[cookiedough]

Out here we are allowed to have studded snow tires.  You can put them on First of Nov, of by end of March.  I personally don't like them.  They cause damage to the roads and give tire folks more money to take tires off/on.  Plus they don't tend to grab the road as good during periods of dry/non slick roads.

I do have my tires sipped when I buy them.  They are not as good as studs but can leave them on the vehicle year round.   I have been using them for nearly 19 years on various vehicles and tires.   So far haven't ended up sliding off the road or pushing the guy in front. 

never heard of anyone sipping their all season tires, is it worth it expense/time wise and can it be done on all tires?  When the darn stealership told me I needed NEW snow tires already at 6/32 or so I should have told him my story of just a few days prior those so called 'needing replaced' snow tires saved my keester going up a hill with 2 FWD vehicles spinning their tires with me doing a left side ditch run partially off the road going up very, very slowly past those 2 cars with very minimal slippage was amazing to say the least thought I was going to either go off the road or slide into them both hogging the middle of the road. 

Just irks me do the fricking recall and get me outta there.  Although,  one time long ago about 10 years or so ago the one toyota dealer did tell me my RAV4 SUV head gasket was bad at 24K fricking miles under warranty of course leaking coolant and he showed where which was glad for that since got it fixed under warranty and got rid of it other major issues on it as well - a lemon for sure which at the time was suppose to be the #1 rated SUV by far of all of them - guess even the good ones have major issues?

[0leman]

Cookie, I have had my "All Season" tires sipped and also the more aggressive truck tires sipped.  Some say the "sipping" will add mileage to the tires.  I have not proof of that as have gone thru several tires that went the projected distances.  This is on roads that are "chip coated" and eat tires up. 

I have stopped on ice covered steep roads with a front wheel drive car due to idiots in front of me spinning out, stopped then started up and passed them without problems.  Yeah sipping works on ice, doesn't help on deep snow.

[Mr Whiskey]

What is a snow tire. I really have no clue. Tell me what a snow tire is.

WINTER SNOWCONTROL SERIE 3 RUN FLAT - SIZE: 195/55R16

[cookiedough]

speaking of those that have snow tires,  I found 3 sets by mfgs. heard of but never dealt with.  They are FEDERAL, NEXIAN (or Nexan), and NOKIAN (or nokia).  Anyone ever heard of them and use their snow tires with good results and longevity of them?   
There is another one called Sumimoto or something like that Sumi... something that is off brand and although review said good snow/ice traction, the noise was VERY loud while driving but ONLY 93 bucks each.  My blizzaks can tell are noisier than all season tires,  but more than tolerable and were quieter since this is the 4th winter having them on and I know as they age and wear down,  snow tires get louder and louder on the hwy. 

1 review I read said all 3 are good but Federal's are pretty noisy while the other 2 are pretty quiet running and just as good as blizzaks I have mostly used in my life.  The price of 17 inch federals I found were ONLY 94 bucks each while the other 2 were 112 each vs. the blizzaks same size are around 150 bucks each. 

I think you should be able to get 4 winter seasons (possibly 5 depending on mileage worn and when you take them off/on) on a set of snow tires most say 25-30K miles is about it for mileage.