Real snow tires versus all-season

Boondox · Feb 9, 2003

Hazmat's right. I can't think of a single tire shop in my area that will mix snows and regulars on the same vehicle.

Pete

Egon · Feb 9, 2003

Trev:
Remember asking about some different tires for your tractor. One of the fellow posters has a picture of what you were looking for.

Egon

Rowski · Feb 9, 2003

Bob

What is the tire size you are looking for? Nokian Tyre (from Finland) make a really nice tire that is "all-season" but performs very well in snow (asymetric->diretional tread) they claim they will go 50K before tread wear out. Asymetric tires give you the best traction more so during braking and streering. The advice given about using 4 snows and mounting on rims is the way to go. Saves you a ton of money in the long run.

Let me know what tire size you have. I'll see if Nokian makes something for your car.

Link Nokian Tyre

rationalizer · Feb 9, 2003

The best approach is always to use snow tires on all corners. This results in braking and cornering capability being matched at both ends of the vehicle.

With a RWD vehicle it is possible to just use snows on the rear. The benefit of this is cost (obviously) and it will result in a vehicle that is stable in braking and that will understeer in a corner (plow at the front end vs. losing the rear axle first) This is what our parents did back before everybody bought FWD cars.

With a FWD car you start by putting snows on the front for traction etc. However - this means that your rear axle has less grip than your front axle. Brake in a corner and the rear tires will lock/lose grip first and you'll lose the rear end. Not good. The phenomenon is similar to what happens when you "ground loop" a "taildragger" airplane.

Bill.

Anonymous Poster · Feb 9, 2003

Trev,
I used to run a rough tread on my rear wheel drive,it was not an all season but the older style rough treads,I would put a couple hundred pounds in the trunk,which would put extra weight on the rear end,it helped me immensely.

Trev · Feb 9, 2003

( Bob

What is the tire size you are looking for?)

The tires are 225/60-15. I think that's a pretty common size, isn't it? Thanks!

TireRack recommended Bridgestone Turanza LS-H, but the dealer said I should really go with genuine snow tires. Hmm...

Trev · Feb 9, 2003

Egon,

Thanks for the pic! To bad, though, I was hoping to patent the idea... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Trev · Feb 9, 2003

( Trev,
I used to run a rough tread on my rear wheel drive,it was not an all season but the older style rough treads,I would put a couple hundred pounds in the trunk,which would put extra weight on the rear end,it helped me immensely. )

Yeah, I remember when everyone ran snows on just the rear.. but I think this was before radials became popular?

BTW, a guy I used to know would buy old cop cars, and he claimed they ran a certain type of snow tire all year round. I don't know if he was right or not? Any State Police battle cruiser drivers here? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Rowski · Feb 9, 2003

They make your size in this model. This tire can handle a trip to Florida.

This the agressive tire Nokian Hakkapaliita 1

I use this one on my plow truck 8 ply tire with studds Awsome!!!!!!!!

Bird · Feb 9, 2003

( when everyone ran snows on just the rear.. but I think this was before radials became popular? )

We don't have "snow" tires in my part of the country, but some folks do run "mud grip" tires. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif When I was sent to Northwestern University for the '71-'72 school year, someone told me I would need snow tires. At that time, my wife was driving a '68 Plymouth Roadrunner (bias ply tires) and it was about time for a new set of tires anyway, so I bought a new set of Mohawk tires in Dallas; regular tires on the front and mud/snow tires on the rear. And they were still on the car when I sold it two years later.

The last time I went to Alaska (in March '91), I put a complete set of BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tires on my one ton dually pickup before I left Dallas; partially because I like those tires and partially because my brothers in Anchorage were BF Goodrich dealers. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif