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Snow tires - worth it?

F

Farang

Lifer
I have a 2wd truck with a V6 engine. Newer (~7k miles) all season tires. I'm moving to an area where snow stays on the ground most of the winter, and I have to commute 10 miles to work each day. I'll also have to go across a narrow mountain pass a few times over the winter.

I've got by in a similar climate with sandbags all winter and chains when necessary, but I was never forced to drive the car each day. And if the mountain pass is "chains required," well it seems to me all seasons with chains are going to be just as good as snow tires with chains.

How much of a difference do snow tires make in your experience? Do they make chains unnecessary for in-town driving? That is, packed snow and ice?
 
I've used full season for several winters on my Maxima. They suck in heavy fresh snow but otherwise are tolerable. IMO a key thing is how is your snow removal? In Rochester in my experience it's phenomenal, so other than when snow is literally falling in the middle of a storm the roads are cleared and salted to kingdom come. I visited Ottawa a few years ago at least a day after a storm and the major roadways were still caked with snow, it was sub-standard in that city.

Chains are not used by anybody here. Snow tires or snow+studded, but to be honest I'd say the majority of people simply use all seasons, although many do have winter wheels and tires/
 
StageLeft said:
I've used full season for several winters on my Maxima. They suck in heavy fresh snow but otherwise are tolerable. IMO a key thing is how is your snow removal? In Rochester in my experience it's phenomenal, so other than when snow is literally falling in the middle of a storm the roads are cleared and salted to kingdom come. I visited Ottawa a few years ago at least a day after a storm and the major roadways were still caked with snow, it was sub-standard in that city.

Chains are not used by anybody here. Snow tires or snow+studded, but to be honest I'd say the majority of people simply use all seasons, although many do have winter wheels and tires/
Click to expand...

All seasons + 2wd pickup = teh suck.
 
Are you talking taking 2 over to the west side? Lots of weight and your all seasons will be fine, buy some easy to install cable chains for when they are required and your set.
 
compman25 said:
Are you talking taking 2 over to the west side? Lots of weight and your all seasons will be fine, buy some easy to install cable chains for when they are required and your set.
Click to expand...

Yes, but I also have to drive 20 miles round trip every day on 2 in Wenatchee.

Mix tire would have been a good idea but doesn't really appeal to me now since I haven't put that many miles on the all seasons I bought new, no reason to get rid of those.

Thanks for the info everyone. I guess I'm still left a bit confused, but considering my commute is flat and the plowing is good I think I might try toughing it out to start unless I find a good deal on Craigslist.
 
Huge difference. Bridgestone Pole Positions + factory chrome wheels for Spring/Summer/Fall. Michelin Xi2s + junkyard painted wheels for winter.
The LS isn't the best car in the snow, but with the Xi2s, I'm as comfortable driving it as my old Cavalier with Xi2s.
 
with a RWD, you can safely run mixed tires. I'd suggest a second pair of wheels and some aggressive snow tires that you can swap on without a trip to the tire store.
 
spaceman said:
get studs
Click to expand...

No, studded tires are illegal in most areas because they tear up the roads.

If you want a more all-around tire, get a "Performance Winter" rated one. Those are like all-seasons, except with more siping and a compound more resistant to hardening in lower temperatures. If you want you can even drive them year-round.

If you want utmost performance, get "Studless Winter" rated tires. You do not want to drive those year-round, though.

A "true" winter tire has a "snowflake on mountain" symbol on it.

If you are going to change tires for the seasons and normally do your own tire rotations, I'd recommend putting the winter tires on a separate set of wheels. You can get steel wheels for pretty cheap, or budget alloy ones. You'll save money after only a year or two.

I highly recommend dedicated Winter tires if you will be driving often on actual snow. Of course if the area is really well plowed, then it may not matter. However, if snow remains on the roads, then consider this: A Winter tire can stop in 2/3 the distance of an all-season tire. You may think "oh, I'll slow down in time for that red light" but what about if the car from the side road doesn't and you have a green light?
 
Are snow tires worth it? Depends how much your car is worth and if you live in an area with snow. If your car is worth more than the cost of 4 tires, then yes.
 
exdeath said:
Are snow tires worth it? Depends how much your car is worth and if you live in an area with snow. If your car is worth more than the cost of 4 tires, then yes.
Click to expand...

True, I guess I just wanted to hear that they made a difference before making the investment. Looks like I can get a newish set of wheels and tires on Craigslist for $400 or so.
 
Zap said:
I highly recommend dedicated Winter tires if you will be driving often on actual snow. Of course if the area is really well plowed, then it may not matter. However, if snow remains on the roads, then consider this: A Winter tire can stop in 2/3 the distance of an all-season tire. You may think "oh, I'll slow down in time for that red light" but what about if the car from the side road doesn't and you have a green light?
Click to expand...
This then begs the question "Does the cheapskate behind me have the same stopping power?"
 
IMO they make a huge difference. I drive a RWD car all year in Minnesota so traction is obviously a concern. I will say that some all-seasons are better than others in snow, but none are nearly as good as quality snow tires.
 
Zap said:
No, studded tires are illegal in most areas because they tear up the roads.

If you want a more all-around tire, get a "Performance Winter" rated one. Those are like all-seasons, except with more siping and a compound more resistant to hardening in lower temperatures. If you want you can even drive them year-round.

If you want utmost performance, get "Studless Winter" rated tires. You do not want to drive those year-round, though.

A "true" winter tire has a "snowflake on mountain" symbol on it.

If you are going to change tires for the seasons and normally do your own tire rotations, I'd recommend putting the winter tires on a separate set of wheels. You can get steel wheels for pretty cheap, or budget alloy ones. You'll save money after only a year or two.

I highly recommend dedicated Winter tires if you will be driving often on actual snow. Of course if the area is really well plowed, then it may not matter. However, if snow remains on the roads, then consider this: A Winter tire can stop in 2/3 the distance of an all-season tire. You may think "oh, I'll slow down in time for that red light" but what about if the car from the side road doesn't and you have a green light?
Click to expand...


not illegal here
nov-end april
i dunno where ur from, but if i dont get down to pavement u aint getting out my driveway w/o awd or trying to launch like a rocket 😛

my buddy and his blizzaks learned 1st hand
 
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