YACT: Winter tires year round?

[Sureshot324]

I live in Ottawa, Canada so we get a lot of winter months. My mom drives on winter tires all year round and just replaces them when they get worn out. Is this a bad idea? She says it's cheaper and less hassle than getting them swapped twice a year.

If i had two sets of wheels, i'd switch them myself, but the problem is I live in an apartment building and don't have any place to put the extra wheels. I'd have to rent a storage locker year round.

My car is a 2001 corolla. What would you do in my situation? Get two sets of wheels and keep switching them and rent a locker, or drive on all seasons all year, or drive on winter tires all year?

 

[Mojoed]

I live in the Boston area, and I've never used snow tires. The all-season tires have served me well for as long as I've been driving.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

depends on the tires. many snow tires use a very soft compound. also if there studded she may have legal problems. if there a cheep hard tire and she willing to put up with the ride and noise let her do it. if shes running blizzaks(sp?) shes throwing money away.

 

[DaWhim]

your winter tires won't last long

 

[Sureshot324]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
depends on the tires. many snow tires use a very soft compound. also if there studded she may have legal problems. if there a cheep hard tire and she willing to put up with the ride and noise let her do it. if shes running blizzaks(sp?) shes throwing money away.

I meant what should I do on my car. She has her own car and will keep doing what she's doing.

 

[Sureshot324]

Anyone in Canada or northern US have an opinion?

 

[RandomFool]

I think it's illegal to ahve them year round in NY, because it's bad for the roads or something.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I say get quality all season tires and just learn how to drive in the snow

 

[smack Down]

It is common to use winter tires up in the summer and then replace them next winter.

 

[B00ne]

Bad idea Winter tires are made to perform well below 5-10°C they get too soft when temps are higher than that. Get good summer tires on another set of whels and good winter tires. . And if you absolutely cant have two sets get at least some good all year tires. Everything else is gambling with your and other ppls safety

And here it would also mean gambling with your money - if you have an accident in winter weather without winter tires you can loose your insurance - dunno if that happens the other way around too.

 

[Minjin]

As mentioned above, it completely depends on the kind of tire. If they are the soft, siped style like Blizzaks, you'll quickly chew them up. Plus, it would be a horrible drive. Steering would feel loose and handling would be lousy. But if you have a tire thats built more like an offroad tire, then its perfectly fine to drive year round. Just like driving a truck with all terrain tires. Expect it to be loud and not handle as well as a normal tire (but much better than a Blizzak). Here are some of mine:

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They are Kelly Wintermark HTs. Great for snow. I even recommend them as a budget rally tire.

Mark