What happened to snow tires?

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Dom Carlino

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What happened in the US that everyone has forgotten that snow tires exist. We have had had a normal upstate NY winter and as I walk around the parking lots I see maybe one out of fifty cars with appropriate tires. There are no such thing as all season radials, especially in the real winter. Seems like people are just content to slide off the road and get stuck instead of spending on a set of winter tires. Just my rant tired of driving 20mph behind the guy with his flashers on heading out to get coffee and lottery tickets while I'm trying to get to work.

Dom
 
I picked up a set of Hankook all terrain tires this fall, and they handle the snow really well. I was rather disappointed this morning when the predicted 13" of snow didn't arrive, we only got 3" since the storm tracked a bit to the north of Buffalo.
 
My 03 has the Yokohama's on it and the 2010 adren got the Pirillis on it....



The yoks are SOOO much better ...



Todd Z
 
When I first met my wife, she had a Ford Escort with studded snow tires. That thing was better in the snow than my 4WD.
 
Have a set of Bridestone Blizzak's on my ST. Have used them on previous vehicles as well. They are everything they claim to be. Ice, snow and mush, they go through anything. Love 'em, Bob
 
We don't get enough here in the DC area to justify snow tires. Even last week when we got a massive amount in a short period time the stock tires on my 2010 STA were just fine.



A lot of times it is not what kind of tires they have on their vehicle but what type vehicle they have. Fits, Prius, Civics need to stay off the roads when it is that bad. I would drive around these cars up a hill and then park atthe top and run back down just to help push the cars up the hill because they were blocking traffic.



I don't care what the cost of gas is, I will take my AWD STA and my AWD Subaru Legacy anyday over those little front wheel drive things any day.
 
I've used all season tires in MN and haven't had too many problems. the only time I went into a ditch was being young and dumb (tried to floor it through a snow drift across a road, but hit some icey ruts and slid into the ditch). 4wd and good treads are good enough for me around here. If I did have the money to buy a new set of wheels and Tires I probably would though.
 
i plan on getting a good set of all terrains but i do know what you mean about people who dont know how to drive when the weather is bad i was stuck yesterday on a road there it was just slush , you could see the pavement but no one would go faster than 20
 
Because I'm old and remember this stuff.... Time was that changing over to snow tires, two of them anyway, was routine when almost all cars were rear-drive. You needed them. #1, radial tires became common and a radial will go better on snow than a bias-belted tire and #2, most cars today are front-drive and go better in snow than rear-drive cars.



Until this year I had a set of 4 Blizzaks for my wife's Taurus and it went as good in snow as my Trac and stopped better. (They wore out and I got all-seasons since she doesn't drive nearly as far to work as she used to.) I have 4 generic snow tires on my Focus company car and it is a total beast in snow.
 
I'm a believer now. I have some Chinese snowtires on my AWD Saturn VUE and I was amazed at the stopping and turning, obviuosly traction at takeoff isn't a problem with the AWD. I have my brother and a good friend converted as well. The ST has BFG ATs and does fine in the snow with those. But I'm always looking for a cheap set of rims for it so some day I may have a set of snows for it. And if we go out in the snow we take the VUE primarily.



I have been noticing more cars around Cleveland with snowtires every winter.
 
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We are having our coldest in a long time here in Houston. 19 last night and again tonight. Definitly snow on the way 1" to 3" (dont laugf)....It will be intresting to see what drivers do...



We do have our own set of problems with drivers though, not relating to the cold. Much of it is related to the economy. I think it would be the same in snow areas'. Many folks are living check to check nowdays. I know many families of 4, that have good incomes. But they cant aford intertainment away from home. It is outragous what it cost my brother to take his family to a ballgame. They have to plan it and save for it. If we had to have winter tires here. Him and half my church would be driving 20mph.



I myself went from almost $100k, 6yrs ago. To $24k last year. $12k year before. $0 the year before that. From 4 to 1 vehicle. Blessed my house is paid for. The economy aint gettin better. So knowing what it is like. I can think before I wonder why some dont have or dont do.
 
I know the economy is a big factor and I can certainly understand, I think what gets me the most is the people who can afford but will not or actually just dont know enough about cars/tires. I think with all the electronic wizardry cars have today (and I like that stuff) there is a misunderstanding of the need for tires.

 
Dom said:
There are no such thing as all season radials...
Click to expand...



Pet peeve time! Actually there IS such a thing, I have seen them. I think you are trying to make the point that "all season radials" aren't as effective as good old fashioned snow tires, to which I will agree.



:banana:



I think most people don't buy snow tires due to the inconvenience factor of having them. You need to store them, swap them, often get different rims, etc. It's just a PITA for many. And, to be fair, good all season on a front-wheel drive car, driven by a driver that knows what they are doing will get you just about anywhere, and if the road conditions are so bad that they won't (or your skills are such that you can't handle it), then you shouldn't be on the road.



TJR
 
I just wish these Michellin Cross-Terrains would hurry up and wear out like the ones on my '07 did after just 22k miles. They SUCK in the snow.



The BFG Long Trails were so much better...
 
I have a 08 Adrenalin 2wd. This year I bought a extra set of wheels and 4 Firestone Winterforce tires. I have had no trouble at all. No I don't go off road but on ice, slush, and even in 10" snow this last week I did real good for 2wd.
 

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