Snow Tires

In my experiences, because snow tires work better in snow up to a certain amount and conditions, and then there is snow tires with chains..

Some all weather tires are not all rated to lower temps that snow and ice may be present, where most really good snow tires will be better rated to work..

Snow tires are typically mounted on stock size wheels and are better that way than on wider performance wheels..

But after you throw all of this on, and then all-wheel drive, part-time-4-wheel-drive, full-time-4-wheel-drive, real-locked-4-wheel-drive, etc., it will still be a matter of the driver not exceeding the laws of physics... :)
Dan F
 
Dan hit on all the major points. To add, snow tires remain pliable at lower temps then traditional all season tires will. This allows the tire to "bite" into the snow/ice far better and dramatically improves braking distances on slippery surfaces.
 
I live in the Northeast and 2 of my 3 cars are RWD. It’s been my experience that on so many occasions, I would never get home if I wasn’t running winter tires. I’ve been driving dedicated winter tires for 30+ years (FWD & RWD) and wouldn’t even consider going through the winter without them. Some consider it a hassle to have to switch between summer and winter tires, and I guess storage can also be an issue.

Here’s a good example of All Season vs. Winter Tires: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y
 
Here's a good example of the difference snow tires in deep snow can make:



The black Subaru has snow tires. The red Subaru does not.
 
EarlJackson said:
I want to know why are all so adamant about snow tires when we already have all weather tires. This article clearly says that all weather tires suits all weather conditions 5 Reasons To Switch To Snow Tires During The Winter | Service Plus 416 : Toronto Automotive Garage. Even then, people prefer snow tires. Why is it so?
Click to expand...

Do you run and train with tennis shoes? You could but after a while it will get uncomfortable and your speed and agility is limited.

Ask your self this, If I invest thousands into a vehicle on top of the initial cost + insurance rates whats an extra 700-1000$ to give me stopping power that FAR exceeds all seasons aka no seasons. All seasons work ok in light snow but deep snow you will get stuck and I PROMISE YOU, ICE all seasons have NO GRIP what so ever. I'm crazy about my tires and have winters for all of our cars. I switch them out myself or if I'm in a rush the dealer does it for 35$.
 
It all depends on the environment you live in. I live in northern Minnesota. I drive a 2012 Camaro that come from the factory with all season tires on it. I drive it year round and I really don't see the need for a winter specific tire. I have never owned a 4wd and all my other vehicles have either 2wd pickups or fwd cars with all of them having all season tires this car has been the best in snow. I also have never really seen the need to have or the expense of having a set of winter specific tread on any of my vehicles. If the snow is that deep I really don't want to travel, I would have the same thoughts if I owned a 4wd. It would be a different story if my car came with a set of Pirelli's from the factory then I would be shoeing up the car with winter tread because the performance tires aren't really meant for temps below 40F. For some there job may be dependent on them to get to work but for me my job isn't that important.

My friend owns a Fiesta and for the winter he changes to a snow tire from his all season and does claim he has better traction.

For me the little bit you gain from the winter tread doesn't make up for the expense of another set of rims and tires and the room that is takes up in the garage to store them. JMO.
 
Not sure why it won't let me edit my thread but it should have read "how harsh" the environment you live in.
 
The newer tread compounds and tread designs used in winter tires are a big step forward, even compared with good winter tires from a few years ago. They keep getting better all the time.

I run (very good) all-season tires on most of my vehicles during the warmer months. If I drive something in winter weather, it's equipped with dedicated winter tires. Period. Even with AWD (Audis) or 4WD (Tahoe), there is simply zero comparison between how even very good A/S tires perform in snow compared to dedicated snow tires when it comes to critical abilities like stopping and turning ("not getting stuck" is of minimal real concern IMO, I want control over what the vehicle does once it's moving). And when it comes to dealing with ice....if you haven't driven good "ice tires" then you simply cannot imagine what a difference they make. Yes, you can maintain complete control over your vehicle on glare ice, *IF* you have the right tires and know how to drive properly.

Try back-to-back comparisons between various tires and you'll become a believer. AWD/4WD are nice (I have a good thirty years of experience with AWD), but neither is as important to me as good winter tires. I'd rather drive a good 2WD vehicle with good winter tires than on of my AWD/4WD ones with all seasons.

Simply gotta have complete control over your vehicle at all times, under every condition. Exscuses like "I hit black ice, so it wasn't my fault that I caused a crash!" *really* tick me off. Yeah, I feel *VERY* strongly about this one...people who'd never drive intoxicated do drive with dangerously ill-equipped vehicles and somehow think there's a diff.

Oh, and...[INSERT another of my usual lectures here about knowing what you're doing behind the wheel] I know people who don't even do Emergency Stopping Distance tests when they get new vehicles/tires...apparently they think that "things'll just work out OK" despite having zero objective data about what to expect.
 
I guess personal preference, winters can get kinda bad here, so I spent 24.00$ on cable chains. Kinda a pain to put on, easy to take off. The townships around here clean up pretty quick, so I don't need them on long.
 
I watched the snow hooners... :)

Believe you will always get better traction if you ease into the gas instead of flooring it like the snow hooners... :)

For me anyway, flooring it only breaks traction sooner than easing away...

And flooring it breaks a lot of parts then or later...

It hurt to hear that guy redline his car out there and he had absolutely the worst tires to be out in that stuff..
Dan F
 
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