Tires and Brakes

[Paperdoc]

I live north from Michigan, so a bit more snow and colder. For most of my life it was All-Seasons. Always thought winter tires were best, but never did it. I finally made the switch to real winter tires on a separate set of wheels when I bought a used 2014 Mazda 3 that came with the extra set. I realized the first winter they DO make a noticeable difference. A couple years later my son and daughter both bought new cars and also bought wheels and Hakkapeliita tires for winters. They agree that works better than the previous cars they had with All-Seasons.

Two factors. One certainly is cost up front. For the TIRES, you just spread mileage over two sets of rubber, so the per-mile cost is nearly the same. But you DO spend maybe $400 for the extra wheels to last the life of the car. I think that's worth it if you can come up with the initial money.

But here's an important cost item: switching over. If you do this your self for free, no real cost - just some time, and you get total control of tire rotations, etc. BUT if you take to a shop twice a year for swapping wheels, that's a bunch more money - where I am, typically $125 for a 4-wheel swap, twice a year.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I live north from Michigan, so a bit more snow and colder. For most of my life it was All-Seasons. Always thought winter tires were best, but never did it. I finally made the switch to real winter tires on a separate set of wheels when I bought a used 2014 Mazda 3 that came with the extra set. I realized the first winter they DO make a noticeable difference. A couple years later my son and daughter both bought new cars and also bought wheels and Hakkapeliita tires for winters. They agree that works better than the previous cars they had with All-Seasons.

Two factors. One certainly is cost up front. For the TIRES, you just spread mileage over two sets of rubber, so the per-mile cost is nearly the same. But you DO spend maybe $400 for the extra wheels to last the life of the car. I think that's worth it if you can come up with the initial money.

But here's an important cost item: switching over. If you do this your self for free, no real cost - just some time, and you get total control of tire rotations, etc. BUT if you take to a shop twice a year for swapping wheels, that's a bunch more money - where I am, typically $125 for a 4-wheel swap, twice a year.

[Ontario . . . . I've become enamored recently of a Canadian Crime-Drama series entitled "Cardinal". It's set in a fictional location called "Algonquin Bay", which is really a location in the book-author's life known as North Bay.

The reason I love this series: all the characters are stomping around in snow on the ground wearing parkas with watch-caps on their heads. I live in Southern California, and this is September, with recent temperatures rising to 100F. So I kick down the AC about 2F degrees, curl up on my couch in a warm red fleece blankie, and pretend to be a Canuck while I watch the TV.]

 

[WilliamM2]

I live north from Michigan, so a bit more snow and colder. For most of my life it was All-Seasons. Always thought winter tires were best, but never did it. I finally made the switch to real winter tires on a separate set of wheels when I bought a used 2014 Mazda 3 that came with the extra set. I realized the first winter they DO make a noticeable difference. A couple years later my son and daughter both bought new cars and also bought wheels and Hakkapeliita tires for winters. They agree that works better than the previous cars they had with All-Seasons.

Two factors. One certainly is cost up front. For the TIRES, you just spread mileage over two sets of rubber, so the per-mile cost is nearly the same. But you DO spend maybe $400 for the extra wheels to last the life of the car. I think that's worth it if you can come up with the initial money. Also, if you don't change them yourself, what do you do with the spare set? Won't fit in my trunk, maybe 2 will.

But here's an important cost item: switching over. If you do this your self for free, no real cost - just some time, and you get total control of tire rotations, etc. BUT if you take to a shop twice a year for swapping wheels, that's a bunch more money - where I am, typically $125 for a 4-wheel swap, twice a year.

I'd love to actually do that. Don't forget the cost of 4 extra TPMS sensors as well.
I don't drive enough to wear out tires before they get old and the rubber gets harder, and dry rots. That's why I had to buy a new set last week.

So I won't get any more mileage from either set.

 

[Paperdoc]

BD said, "So I kick down the AC about 2F degrees ..." when watching a show set in a North Bay ON winter. For a Californian that will help to "set the scene". But BD would be shocked to experience in person the truth of January in Northern Ontario, or even worse further North. On the other hand, I found October in Southern California quite warm so I was in short-sleeve shirts when the locals had on light sweaters and hoodies. To each his own (according to how you grew up and learned to adapt),

 

[BonzaiDuck]

BD said, "So I kick down the AC about 2F degrees ..." when watching a show set in a North Bay ON winter. For a Californian that will help to "set the scene". But BD would be shocked to experience in person the truth of January in Northern Ontario, or even worse further North. On the other hand, I found October in Southern California quite warm so I was in short-sleeve shirts when the locals had on light sweaters and hoodies. To each his own (according to how you grew up and learned to adapt),

When I lived in central Illinois before the age of 10, it could drop to 0-degrees F (32-degrees F below freezing) at least a few times (back in the '50s, before climate change). I have a story to tell about being 7 years old and "losing" my mother in a department store: I went out on the street and found a bus, paying with a quarter in my pocket -- which wasn't enough. He dropped me off at a bus-stop and I had to walk the rest of the way. Snow everywhere and cold. BUT! I had a fur-lined parka!

And it would go below freezing in Washington DC. But not -40F. I'd figure in North Bay some extra wool socks, winter lace-up boots, and extra layers of sweaters, thermal long-johns and a nice warm parka would work. Gotta have gloves or insulated mittens! Of course, you're going to have a cold face, so -- maybe a ski mask. Right?

The only thing I might not like about living in a cold climate is the energy cost. If you could go outdoors and chop wood for a fireplace or wood stove, maybe that wouldn't be so bad.

October here often seems too warm. In an El Nino winter, it might drop to 40F (here and there) between November and January with lots of rain -- a serious relief from the summer heat.

Before she died, I would ask my Moms why she didn't move us to Marin County north of Frisco, as opposed to Riverside. But she HAD to be near relatives to get her new start after my father died, and my uncle was a USAF Major stationed at March AFB.

 

[iRONic]

Ahahaha!!

We lived in Baudette, Minnesota when my dad was stationed there for the Air Force. As a kid it was great! Talk about snow and cold…

Look it up.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Ahahaha!!

We lived in Baudette, Minnesota when my dad was stationed there for the Air Force. As a kid it was great! Talk about snow and cold…

Look it up.

Minnesota is a nice state. I visited there briefly, headed east from my seasonal park ranger job Glacier NP summer '72. I could've had a job at 3M.

 

[sdifox]

[Ontario . . . . I've become enamored recently of a Canadian Crime-Drama series entitled "Cardinal". It's set in a fictional location called "Algonquin Bay", which is really a location in the book-author's life known as North Bay.

The reason I love this series: all the characters are stomping around in snow on the ground wearing parkas with watch-caps on their heads. I live in Southern California, and this is September, with recent temperatures rising to 100F. So I kick down the AC about 2F degrees, curl up on my couch in a warm red fleece blankie, and pretend to be a Canuck while I watch the TV.]

Maybe you should have watched this instead

Bob and Doug McKenzie - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[BoomerD]

Things no one has done for me in over 30 years: oil changes and brake jobs. If your caliper piston isn't seizing up, it could be that you just need to clean and relube your caliper guide pins and replace the (guide pin) bushings and seals. If caliper guide pin maintenance has not been done, they may cause uneven wear of the brake pads. And this is the price for just the rear brakes? Also, the same brake & caliper grease that you use on the guide pins you should use on the pad mounting tabs that set in the brake shims. When the caliper and pads slide freely you'll have more even wear.

Akebono ceramic rear brake pads - $56.
Motorcraft rear brake rotors - $100 x 2 = $200
Rear disc brake hardware kit (clips, seals and bushings) - $14
Calipar guide pins (if necessary) - $15
Brake and caliper grease - $20 (if you don't already have it)
Money for 6-pack and lunch for your buddy who does this easy labor for you - $30

Total: $285

Screw rip-off brake shops. If you lived nearby, I'd do it for you.

No one did those things for me until a bit over 20 years ago. (I'm in my 70s) Once upon a time, I wouldn't have batted an eye at throwing the truck on jack stands and doing the brakes. Everyone is right...it's NOT terribly difficult...unless you're too busted up to get down on the ground, sit/squat for a couple of hours, etc. I just physically can not do it any more.

Yes, we get lots of snow in northern Michigan. I've always done just fine with all season tires. I tend to buy models rated decent for snow. For 3 months a year, I can deal with it. I can't deal with a noisy, rough, poor handling ride the other 9 months.

She just sold that car in July, she has an AWD Honda with traction control etc. since last December, it also seems fine with all seasons.

I did say the Nokians were great in snow, but not much else. The "All Weather" tires seem to be a recent development, what di you do before that?

Don't you live in a warmer climate?

yeah, all weather tires are a fairly new designation. When I lived in snow country, I owned all-season tires (or just "summer tires" that I ran for most of the year, then switched over to snow tires, usually in late October or early November. (depending on where I lived and when the "USUAL first snowfall" was. (and always carried at least one set of tire chains)

I live on the Washington coast. Warmer...yeah, I suppose so. MOST of our winters are 30+F, but some years, it dips into the teens for a few nights. We MIGHT get a couple of inches of snow 2-3 times a year...or not. Since we move here almost 7 years ago, I think 4" is the most we've gotten at one time...and that only lasted a few days...HOWEVER, occasionally, I have to drive to Olympia or Tacoma, or, (gawd forbid) Seattle. While the change in elevation between here and there isn't much, there are a few "hills" I have to go over that get pretty nasty. Plus, only a couple of inches of snow basically paralyzes the Puget Sound corridor.

 

[iRONic]

I’m right there with you, Boomer. Frustrating af for me at first. I take some solace in knowing that my kid is not gonna be a clueless, helpless person as he becomes an adult.

He’s learning how to maintain a yard, basic home repairs, and his own car.

The most important thing he’s learned is when he doesn’t know what to do about anything is to ask for help. Ain’t no dumb questions…

 

[BonzaiDuck]

No one did those things for me until a bit over 20 years ago. (I'm in my 70s) Once upon a time, I wouldn't have batted an eye at throwing the truck on jack stands and doing the brakes. Everyone is right...it's NOT terribly difficult...unless you're too busted up to get down on the ground, sit/squat for a couple of hours, etc. I just physically can not do it any more.


yeah, all weather tires are a fairly new designation. When I lived in snow country, I owned all-season tires (or just "summer tires" that I ran for most of the year, then switched over to snow tires, usually in late October or early November. (depending on where I lived and when the "USUAL first snowfall" was. (and always carried at least one set of tire chains)

I live on the Washington coast. Warmer...yeah, I suppose so. MOST of our winters are 30+F, but some years, it dips into the teens for a few nights. We MIGHT get a couple of inches of snow 2-3 times a year...or not. Since we move here almost 7 years ago, I think 4" is the most we've gotten at one time...and that only lasted a few days...HOWEVER, occasionally, I have to drive to Olympia or Tacoma, or, (gawd forbid) Seattle. While the change in elevation between here and there isn't much, there are a few "hills" I have to go over that get pretty nasty. Plus, only a couple of inches of snow basically paralyzes the Puget Sound corridor.

Is Ruby Beach on the Olympic Peninsula? If my cousin hadn't died, I'd still be visiting him in Puyallup. Washington is a great relief from So-Cal summers.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Maybe you should have watched this instead

Bob and Doug McKenzie - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Were those guys ever on "Laugh In" or "Saturday Night Live"? I remember a regular skit involving two Canadians -- perhaps brothers -- wearing watch-caps and plaid flannel shirts.

 

[BoomerD]

Is Ruby Beach on the Olympic Peninsula? If my cousin hadn't died, I'd still be visiting him in Puyallup. Washington is a great relief from So-Cal summers.

Yes, Ruby beach is about 80 miles north of me.

 

[bigboxes]

Were those guys ever on "Laugh In" or "Saturday Night Live"? I remember a regular skit involving two Canadians -- perhaps brothers -- wearing watch-caps and plaid flannel shirts.

SCTV

 

[BoomerD]

Got tires on Tuesday morning, brakes in the afternoon. That was kind of a clusterfuck…but they finally got it figured out…I hope.

 

[WelshBloke]

Yes, we get lots of snow in northern Michigan.

What now?! I was convinced that you lived in Holland or Belgium! 😲

 

[sdifox]

What now?! I was convinced that you lived in Holland or Belgium! 😲

Holland, Michigan - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[WilliamM2]

What now?! I was convinced that you lived in Holland or Belgium! 😲

Where did you get that idea?

 

[WilliamM2]

Holland, Michigan - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

That is the opposite of Northern Michigan.

 

[sdifox]

That is the opposite of Northern Michigan.

it's a joke...

 

[WilliamM2]

it's a joke...

I know, but I wanted it to be clear I'm not from Holland or Belgium.

 

[sdifox]

Were those guys ever on "Laugh In" or "Saturday Night Live"? I remember a regular skit involving two Canadians -- perhaps brothers -- wearing watch-caps and plaid flannel shirts.

SCTV

There is also a film named "Strange Brew" It was great.

 

[BoomerD]

Where did you get that idea?

For some reason, I always thought you were one of the dem ferriners.

 

[BoomerD]

SCTV

There is also a film named "Strange Brew" It was great.

That’s the Canuckistan National Movie, right?

 

[sdifox]

That’s the Canuckistan National Movie, right?

Required viewing and quiz before you get your high school diploma. There have been incidents where the graduate snobbed the film and quiz, resulting in the students not being able to start university.
Lucky for the the universities are willing to put their admission on hold til the spring term so the delinquents can remedy this mistake.