Winter Tires

F

flyinghighagain

Active member
well its starting to become that time of yr again where people gota cool off their jets while accelerating and braking and start getting used to driving in snow and ice and such. I just recently bought my first car and its got the nice all season tires on dem right now. Me being a broke college student wants to know if its really beneficial to drop the 4 bills on some winter tires if I'm going to be going to my local hills about 2-3 times a week and want to know if I'll feel to added control and braking power of these tires and if it'll help me avoid accidents. Cause all i know is I'll defiantly regret not buying them when I'm either stuck in a ditch or plowed into someones bumper on my way to the hill definite bummer.
 
I dont think it would be worth it, just stick some chains on there if your really feeling bad. Just drive slow and you'll be fine, buying tires JUST for winter is really expensive.
 
winter tires will DEFINITELY help your braking and cornering, and it will be harder to spin if you are parked on ice. If ur broke though, it is alot of money, but they last a long time as long as you don't roll them in the summer or do donuts and stuff with them.
 
there is quite a difference, especially if you get studs. I was out last night in the jeep with all seasons on, first snow of the year too. the driving was insane, coudlnt get far at all. however, the roads weren't plowed and it was decently icy. winter tires will make a huge difference, if your too poor to get new ones look for a good set of used.
 
i got chains for my truck, but my dad has studs. The little plastic ones work marvels. What kind of car do you have though. I had some mud tires on my jeep, but it had lockers, and a GREAT 4WD system. This ment that i really didn't need the tires, i just got used to driving with them.
 
There is a night and day difference between all season tires and good studded snow tires. However, you really don't need dedicated winter tires unless you're going up in the mountains where the roads aren't maintained as much. If you're going to the ski hill I doubt you'd ever need anything more than all seasons; the only reason I have snow tires is because I backcountry ski and it can be a bitch to get to trailheads on powder days sometimes.
 
I had bridgestone blizzaks on my volvo and they made so much of a difference when driving on snow and ice it was unbelievable.  It is a lot of money though so I dont know if it would be worth it for you, but they do make a huge difference
 
if you have awd/4wd it won't make as big of a difference as if you have fwd/rwd. if yo u have f/rwd i would recommend snow tires because yes they do make a big difference, and you'll thank yourself if your driving on snowy roads a lot.

but yeah snow tires really are expensive, so you really have to judge if you'll be driving in shitty conditions enough to warrant them. the good thing though is snow tires usually last a long time because you're only using them in the winter, and it'll make your all seasons last longer too!
 
i have an outback and i just bought one of the best all season tires, i forgot which one it was cause im tired. i think its toyo, and it was 500, i had winter season tires on my first car cause it was 2 wheel drive, but my last 2 cars it was all season and they worked really well for me. it all comes down of how well you can drive in winter conditions and i never had to put chains on my car when i first started driving. i have been driving for 7 yrs now.

what kind of car do you have tho
 
well first we need to know what kind of car you have, and if there is an option what drivetrain it has.  Also, where do you live? How far is this "ski hill?"  how much snow around this area do you get? and does your state allow drivers to stud their tires? if you get a lot of snow and have an intense drive to the ski area, and you are short on cash right now, i might suggest studding up your all seasons and get some new tires in the spring.
 
i drive a 97 acura tl fwd unforutnetly and its slighty bigger in size so it shouldn't get whipped around on corners....i live in southern ontario canada which isn't too bad for snow and the roads usually get plowed pretty quick followed by tons of salt which is alright but i do drive down to ellicotville like 3-4 times a month to go hit the slopes there and they get lots of lake effect on the way and those storms come outa nowhere.

but i think i'll just settle for my all seasons right now or keep my eyes out for a pair of used tires with a decent amount of thread left.
 
i'll look into studding my tires not sure if its legit here but that'll be a last option and i feel fairly confident driving in snow and such
 


don't stud your tires, it will completely ruin them and you'll be left in the position to buy new tires in the spring. the thing with all season tires is that they work in all seasons except for winter. for tires i would recommend bridgestone blizzaks or yokohama iceguards, both are very competent tires in the snow, because what you have to remember is that and this will sound crazy. Brakes do not stop a car, tires do. Because the tire is your direct contact with the road, skimping out on tires especially in the winter can directly have an effect on your safety.

the lesson, save up money and buy snow tires. if you have questions about snow tires pm me im an automotive engineering student, and have resources to answer any questions you might have.
 
You will notice an increase in traction with winter tires, however I don't feel they are totally necessary. If you are mature enough to not drive like you got your liscence yesterday, you should be fine.
 
ok considering the car you have and where you live, i would just run the all seasons as is.  I grew up in michigan, and my mom had a honda accord, which i am sorry to say this for all you acura fans out there, is the same as a TL.  she had good all seasons on it and i drove this vehicle up to boyne and nubs, about 3.5 hours from my house, every weekend, through snowstorms and whatnot, with no issues.  as long as your current tires are not worn out, and are not a cheap ass walmart special, i would just run them.  you just need to drive more carefully and conservatively with this set up.  i think you will be fine.  
 
however what people are saying is totally true about snows. they kick total ass and are your best bet, but your can get by with the all seasons.  
 
I disagree.

On my last car (ford escort), I was too cheap to buy new winter tires(The set I had were used heavily). I took a corner at 5 mph, on deep light snow, and it didn't turn AT all. I went straight into the curb, with my wheels turned. Took out everything in the front end and I had to scrap my car.

On my next car (Honda civic), I bought two brand new winter tires for the front, with the intention of going back the following evening to get the rear tires. On a corner at 80 km/h, I hit a puddle of slush and it was game over. I did a 540 and hit the ditch so hard that my trunk flew open and all of my things rained down on the highway. Another scraped car.

On yet again, another vehicle (Ford f-350), I had all season tires in perfect shape. I was on a hill and was braking lightly. The tires started slipping, and I was forced to drive into the snowbank to avoid an accident with the car infront of me. My 8000 Lb of steel truck would've won, but I still would've felt bad.

Finally, I was in daddy's summer car, his Mercedes. It was springtime, but still icey up my friends almost vertical driveway. I figured that I could make it, so I tried. The tires failed, and the crest of the hill, and I started the 200ft super slide, backwards. Again, I was forced into a ditch, damaging the trunk and rear lights....oops!

I am now the proud owner of 600$ worth of winter tires.

 
Go to www.tirerack.com. Order a set of Winterforce snowtires from a little over $200. Find a tire shop to mount them cheap.

You will see an increase in traction of about 40% with snow tires compared to BRAND NEW all-season tires.

It makes a massive amount of difference. I drive in Western new York with the lake effect, and can go thru any storm, anytime with snowtires, even when i had a FWD car, I never got stuck.
 
ALL.

If you only have them on the fronts, your rear end of your car will be all over the road because it will half the traction the front tires have.
 
If you drive to the conditions you'll be fine. ie don't drive fast, don't follow close behind, never slam on your brakes - infact avoid using brakes as much as possible.. downshifting is far better. don't turn sharply etc. in saying that though I have chains for when the going gets tough, sucks that your state doesn't allow them cause they work well
 
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