Real snow tires versus all-season

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Bird,
I didn't phrase that very well. I meant "Saw Dust" tires. The tires had saw dust embedded in the rubber. They worked well but wore out quickly.

 

[Egon]

Trev:
Just curious; do you need an H or a V rated tire?

Egon

 

[Trev]

Hi Egon,

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just curious; do you need an H or a V rated tire? )</font>

Well, I think the car is electronically speed-limited to around 130 MPH.. probably because it was destined for the U.S., but the only time I go over 70 or so is when I'm going up to Quebec City and all the traffic is moving at about 80 or 85 and then I go along with the traffic just so I don't cause a dangerous situation by making everyone have to avoid me (you Canadian Police out there didn't hear that from me, who I am not /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). So, unless I move to Germany, or that state which no longer has speed limits, I can probably get away with most any speed rating. I'm not sure what the various ratings really are, since there's generally no place where we aren't creeping along at 65.

What rating would think I should have, given the above?

 

[Egon]

Trev:
The car manufacturer determines the rating. I only asked as tire choices get limited at the higher speed ratings. Some tire shops will not install a tire that does not meet the car manufactures spec.

Just love driving through Montreal's 70 KPH posted limit and holding up traffic at 110 KPH.

Egon

 

[rationalizer]

Trev,

Regarding speed ratings - your car came with a tire rated to be safe at the maxiumum speed of the car. The "content" of the tire required to meet this speed rating (you probably have a V rated tire) results in a tire that has certain handling characteristics - like cornering feel, transient response etc. If you spent the money on a nice car - and you like the way it feels - spend the money on the tires. They are the single biggest contributor to handling performance.

Bill

 

[hazmat]

trev,

What Egon & Bill said. Get the rating for the car even if you won't "use" it. A lower rated tire may affect the handling characteristics.

 

[Trev]

Well, we're leaving in about an hour or so to go pick up the new toy.. so I'll find out what tire it should have. I have the manual but it's out in my car now, and I have to plow some snow before I can do much of anything else. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

This should be a fun day, despite the fact that I have the flu.. sigh. One of the joys of having young kids.. they bring everything home with them. I sure you folks with kids know that story! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Thanks for the tips, all! I'll report back when I've got the car home..

 

[dmccarty]

Bob aka Trev,

First of all I'm VERY happy to hear that the situation with the
children is working out. That is DANGED good news. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Then you have this great deal on the car! WOW! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Car & Driver, I think its the March issue I received, had a
review of one of the higher end BMWs. I reread the article
last night but Monday was an 15 hour days so what I read did
not stick. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Anyway they had a side bar about
putting snow tires on the car. My Melted Mind said they
bought the tires from the Tire Rack and they where mounted
on rims so they could switch the tires when they needed.

I THINK they where Bridgestone tires. They said the car was
really useless in snow because it had an almost 50/50 weight
distribution and the tires where wide so slip sliding away was
the result.

If you can pick up a the latest issue of Car and Driver that
side bar might help you on your decision. I'll try to reread the
article tonight and maybe I can remember the what tires they
bought! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

And yes you will catch what the kids bring home from school!
Just a fact of life. I had a nice cold from the kid a couple
weeks back. Usually she catches something every 4-6 weeks
but there is some nasty stuff going around this year. She
started coughing on Friday.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif So I think we are going
for another round. I was NEVER sick until the kid came along,
now its every three or four months and I catch something. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

But its worth it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[Trev]

Thanks, Dan. Yeah, the kid thing finally is coming together. It's been a long, hard haul.

It just happened that the place I bought the car had a customer who wanted to sell a set of four steel wheels and WS-50 Blizzaks for a great price.. only a couple hundred miles on the tires. So I said yeah, stick 'em on! I had done enough research by this point to know that the car would be much safer with them on. I have the all-seasons hung up in the garage, waiting for nice weather...

Thanks to all the folks who helped me through this!

Best,
Bob

 

[gerard]

FYI -finally got back to work today - the Crown Vics come equipped with goodyear eagle rsa all season radials
P225/60VR speed rated to 149 mph. These are what are considered "non winter" tires. Winter snows go on all around.