winter car tires

[Cheeky]

are winter tires worth it?

how are they on snow, ice, and even dry conditions?

i have a front wheel drive sedan, and was wondering if this would improve safety.

[Ed62]

Just do what I did. Buy a snowblower. You won't have much snow after that. I don't think any tires will perform well on ice, but I might be wrong on that.

Ed

[Black wallnut]

Keep in mind while you are reading my answer that I have over 1,000,000 miles driving exp.

It really depends on what your state (or thge states you will be driving in) allow and the weather conditions you will encounter. Studded snow tires are a big help, but with front wheel drive yuou will need all four studded. Avoid driving on ICE unless there is an emergency reason. Snow tires with a M&S rating will help a bunch on snow covered roads.

Good tires will not lessen your stopping distance or allow you to increase your speed under adverse conditions.

On bad roads slow down but be aware that there is a point where driving too slow can and will put you at an increased risk of having an accident, on curves that are supered especially. If you drive too slow your car will slide sideways!

In deep snow or steep terrian tire chains are the best traction aiding device; even cable chains are so much better than just snow tires.

The best equipment for winter driving is expierence, knowledge, and not making any sudden movements with your vehicle. Feather pressure on brakes and throttle do wonders!

BTW I have not used anything other than all season tires with a M&S rating in years. I've had a mix of rear wheel drive and 4 wheel drive vehicles and have kept them on the road in miserable conditions. I have had to use tire chains a few times in the mountains while hunting but more for down hill control on slick compact snow.

[crokett]

On bad roads slow down but be aware that there is a point where driving too slow can and will put you at an increased risk of having an accident,

Yep. Its amazing how many people don't know this - it is one of Newton's laws of motion I have made use of driving in snow.

[JSCOOK]

Simple answer ... YES! ... but it may vary depending where you live and how MUCH snow & ice you get during the winter season.

While the M&S rating does help in mild to moderate snow belts regions, these tires are really no comparision to GOOD snow tires ... ones that meet the "Severe Winter Traction Standard" ... see this site for the straight up facts on Snow tires:

http://www.snowtire.info/

are winter tires worth it?

how are they on snow, ice, and even dry conditions?

i have a front wheel drive sedan, and was wondering if this would improve safety.

[TheRic]

are winter tires worth it? ....

South Texas NO
North Canada YES

Where are you located?

Bottom line, it depends on weather you receive.

[Hoover]

Mud and snow tires should give you adequate protection. Do not spin your tires in snow or ice. You would be amazed how many drivers "gun it" trying to get out a jam, and wind up in the ditch because of doing just that.
If the roads are that bad to drive on, maybe you would be better off taking a
"snow day". Driving on snow and ice requires common sense, and reading the road underneath your wheels.

[JSCOOK]

Another benefit to actual snow tire, is being able to avoid (stop, move, turn, etc) better than the guy sliding towards you ... saved my bacon a few times to say the least.

WHERE exactly are you "Cheeky"

[onedash]

Back in the late 80's I was driving in a Wisconsin Blizzard. THere was over a foot of snow on I-94 and we could only do about 25...The snow pushing up on the rusted out floorboards were making my feet bounce all over....Anyhow we got from Racine to Madison in 4 hours or so. The snow stopped. I was on the highway doing about 50 on what appeared to be a clear road (black ice)all of the sudden I was sliding backwards on the wrong side of the road. A few more circles and I was off the road. It happened so fast I don't even think I reacted at all....
Luckily a few trucks pulled over right away and got us back on the road.
Then later on I was trying to drive up a long but not to steep of a hill and the car stopped about half way up...My good year eagles were smoking and they were on ice. They didnt even touch the pavement....
Backed down and tried again. Made it about 3/4 of the way. an hour later a truck came by and gave me a push up the hill. The other side was much rougher and I should have tried that earlier but a trip that normally took around 4 hours took over 8....
Wish I had snow tires or chains that day....

[HarmsWay]

Interesting subject and since we had a foot of snow last week - one that has come up alot here. Firstly, there is no perfect tire for all conditions. ALL are a compromise. Best on dry pavement is a wide soft slick. Best in snow is a narrow toothy soft tire. Best in rain has channels to divert the water. Etc... Hard compounds wear slower than soft compounds. Unless you want 2 or 3 sets of tires (readily available of course) most people that occassionally see snow will use the all-season compromise.

In a typical winter here, we'll get the opportunity to drive on snow for 0-3 days. Obviously snow tires don't make a whole lot of sense. My advice for local friends is use a good set of all-seasons and carry radial chains. Even if they drive to the ski hill every second weekend. If your winter means predominantly snow, then a set of snow tires just for the winter makes sense.

Bob

[bigsteel15]

Even up here in snow country (this year, finally) most people use MS rated all season tires. In the city that is. If I lived in a rural area I would definitely have an extra set of winter tires, studded or not. Growing up we always had studded tires in winter but technology has almost erased that requirement.

[HarmsWay]

Yeah, they use much softer rubber compounds now. When I lived on the prairies I had studded winter tires (that I used for all 10 months of the winter!). I drove nothing but rear wheel drive vehicles back then. Lots has changed. I'd take my current 4 wheel drive even if it had summer tires over any of those vehicles with studded winter tires.

Bob

[JSCOOK]

And remember when someone would spin the studded tires and they caught and you could sometimes here the stud ricochet off the inside of the wheel wells ...

Growing up we always had studded tires in winter but technology has almost erased that requirement.