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  #1  
Old 02-02-2003, 09:56 PM
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Snows or all-seasons?

What exactly is the correct use for a "snow tire"? I have read they wear quickly when run on dry pavement, true? Are they designed strictly for powder/packed snow and ice? If you were to bolt on a set here in NE say in December and take them off April 1st I would guess that 98% of their use would be on wet/sanded/salted pavement not actual snow. Will they wear quickly used like this? Or would I be better off with a good all-season? Price, swapping wheels, extra tire storage, etc. is not an issue. I would like to run dedicated winter/summer tires on their own rims and change seasonally. I obviously would like to have the benefit of true winter tires for the times I really need them but not at the expense of accelerated wear since they would likely see fairly clear NE winter roads most of the time. Any thoughts appreciated. RT

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  #2  
Old 02-03-2003, 09:07 AM
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It's better to think of them as winter tires instead of snow tires. The rubber used in winter tires is different than that used in all season tires in that it stays softer in very cold temperatures. All season or summer tires get harder when they get colder, all season far less. The result of the rubber staying softer in the cold (as well as the tread design) is grip. However, they get even softer in the summer, whereas an all season tire wouldn't change a whole lot. Softer tire = faster wear, esp. in the summer time. It's the accelerated summer or warm weather wear you have to avoid and you would if you had dedicated sets. Thus, it's not a matter of whether you're actually driving on snow or not, but the temperatures the tire is operated in. Take a look at Michelin's Arctic-Alpin or, if money is no option, the Pilot-Alpins.
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  #3  
Old 02-03-2003, 09:59 AM
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I am using old style snow tires with the big bite. Extremely affordable ($238/4 - 195 70R14's - Winter Kings). I am using them on 3 MB's and am very happy.

One set is on its second winter with no appreciable wear. I would guess at this rate that I can get 4 winters out of each set.

100 lbs of sand in the trunck and they go through anything and climb any hill.

I now can sleep at night if my girls are driving home on snow.

Don
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Old 02-03-2003, 10:15 AM
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I'm living with a rear-wheel drive car in a ski town at 7,000 feet (Park City). This has been a dry year, and I'd guess we've also had 90-95% clear(ish) roads where a good all-season tire would be fine. The problem, of course, is that other 5-10%. When there's serious snow on the ground, I won't consider running RWD without snow tires, I know from experience it can be dangerous.

Since I'm not about to change tires every time we get a dump, the alternative is to leave my Michelin Arctic-Alpin's on from early December through April. They're fine for dry roads, and they don't wear unreasonably - right after I mounted them ($380 including mounting and balancing at Costco) I drove to LA for the holidays, a 2,000 mile trip on dry pavement. They performed fine, and there was no measurable wear on my return. I figure I'll get 3 or 4 seasons out of them, using them 5 months a year or so. That's fine for me, it's definitely cheaper than buying and maintaining a beater Subaru or SUV to get through the winter.
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Old 02-03-2003, 11:15 AM
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I like your line of thinking. I used to swap tires everytime a snowflake came down, but it got tiring. I mean, I'm good at it with Cordless drills and 17mm sockets and a good jack, but it was a bit overdone.

Don
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  #6  
Old 02-03-2003, 11:55 AM
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I have some nokians for winter, they are absolutely great. They are pretty beefy, like old time snow tires but with what I assume is a vastly superior tread pattern. I just put them on yesterday, we had only gotten about 4 inches of snow for the winter thus far. This is their 3 rd winter, they still have lots of tread, I expect 2 or 3 more years from them. I go about 5,000? miles a year on them. they cost me $80 each - well worth it.
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Old 02-03-2003, 01:48 PM
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I've got a pair of Blizzaks (Bridgestone, I think) on the back of my 300D and they're working out fine. We've had a few good snows this year (PA) and I've driven up to Watertown, NY twice into some really heavy snow without problems. I put the snow on steel rims from salvage, painted the salvage hubcaps to match the car. Probably should have mounted four snows since turning/braking still require some planning, but at least I can go where I want. Haven't needed any extra weight in the trunk. FMB
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Old 02-03-2003, 06:12 PM
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Consumer Reports just did a test on snow tires which was quite interesting. The ratings vary based on what you want, i.e. deep snow performance, all-around with some wet/rainy roads, handling, etc. I was leaning toward the Arctic Alpin but decided on the Kumho Izen KW-11 due to price. I haven't mounted them yet as we have had ZERO snow this winter - so bad the local ski resort (Bogus Basin) just shut down night skiing until they get more snow! So I haven't had a chance to try them.

I did get a chance to run my "all season" Yokohama Avid H4's in the snow, and on packed snow, they sucked royally. If not for chains in my trunk I'd still be on the side of the mountain. On a side note, the Pilot Alpins did not get good ratings for snow use, but they did well in wet/dry and handling. The Hakkapilita (sp?) was the best all around but was NOT cheap...


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  #9  
Old 02-03-2003, 07:52 PM
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When Boise, ID doesn't get snow it makes a guy wonder.

Michigan has been terrible this year. Cold but no snow. What could be worse than freezing weather and no snow days off school for kids. We've had zero days called off so far.

Don
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  #10  
Old 02-04-2003, 07:42 AM
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Dedicated Snows

If you wind up in a situation where you have to drive a rwd car in the snow (especially while it's still coming down and the roads aren't plowed), a set of 4 snow tires is invaluable. I've always had sets for all my vehicles over the years. Have Pirelli's 210's for the 850 Turbo Wagon (since high performance lo-profile tires are absolutely useless in snow)...they're great...Have Dunlops on the 300CDT and they work great in 3-4 inches. They were less than $50 each from Tirerack. I make sure I have a full tank and I add @ 200 lbs of paver stones in the trunk right up against the front wall when heavy snow is predicted...It turns it into a tractor, even in heavy slush. I always leave them on from November until early spring and get many seasons out of them when used like this. Since I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time anyways, snows are a good investment in my mind.

MikeL

(fromerly from Narragansett)
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  #11  
Old 02-04-2003, 10:04 AM
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This morning proved the point, as we got a surprise dump last night. I had to leave the house at 5:30, well before most streets were plowed, and there was about 8" of fluffy powder in the driveway and the same amount of much less fluffy stuff on the roads. I made it to the office with no traction problems at all, and ground clearance was my only concern (the snow was that deep). Couldn't have even thought about it with all-seasons. If you have a rear-wheel drive car where it snows, get snow tires.
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  #12  
Old 02-04-2003, 11:12 AM
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Wow, lots of good info here. Looks like my worries about excessive wear are unfounded. Well dedicated snows are in the future for sure. This also gives me an excuse to "upgrade" my fair weather wheels/tires...... Hello Tirerack! RT
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  #13  
Old 02-04-2003, 11:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by rwthomas1
Looks like my worries about excessive wear are unfounded.
Wear is quite different with the various snows. The Blizzaks are excellent, partly because of the "soft" rubber in the tires. But they wear very fast. I used a set for two winters, and by the end of the second winter, they were fairly useless, a little less than 10K miles on them.

The Arctic Alpins and Hakka Qs are much longer lived--don't know yet how long.
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  #14  
Old 02-05-2003, 12:39 AM
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Now studs are the solution for me...

But like Dave we have had no snow at all in town this year too. Feels kind of weird driving on studs with sunshine but here it melts and freezes almost every day when we do have precip and that means ice.
The security of the studs is a bonus too when the wife is driving but they are trying to find a way to tax us for studded tires now due to road wear.
Oh well, I'll have em on my car every winter until I die if they let me.
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  #15  
Old 02-05-2003, 08:08 AM
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Re: Now studs are the solution for me...

Quote:
Originally posted by Fisherman
I'll have em on my car every winter until I die if they let me.
Studs aren't allowed in Michigan and several other nearby states (Ohio & Indiana, maybe Illinois?), and tire shops won't install them. I'm not sure what happens if you drive in from another state with studs and get caught.

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