Snow tyres
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Fall River, NS
Posts: 478
Snow tyres
I've seen a few comments about snow tyres now that the winter is upon us - but I am a little confused as to what they are. Do you really have to have two sets of tyres / wheels, or are snow tyres something like snow chains that are put onto existing wheels ?
#2
Re: Snow tyres
Recent thread:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409444
Yes, and yes, well maybe, but, no not like chains (which are largely illegal here anyway) you just swap tires. Softer rubber, often specialy formulated to grip on ice, special tread patterns etc.
Snow Tires...tires for snow, simple really, they do what it says on the box
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409444
Yes, and yes, well maybe, but, no not like chains (which are largely illegal here anyway) you just swap tires. Softer rubber, often specialy formulated to grip on ice, special tread patterns etc.
Snow Tires...tires for snow, simple really, they do what it says on the box
#3
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Fall River, NS
Posts: 478
Re: Snow tyres
Originally Posted by iaink
Recent thread:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409444
Yes, and yes, well maybe, but, no not like chains (which are largely illegal here anyway) you just swap tires. Softer rubber, often specialy formulated to grip on ice, special tread patterns etc.
Snow Tires...tires for snow, simple really, they do what it says on the box
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409444
Yes, and yes, well maybe, but, no not like chains (which are largely illegal here anyway) you just swap tires. Softer rubber, often specialy formulated to grip on ice, special tread patterns etc.
Snow Tires...tires for snow, simple really, they do what it says on the box
#4
Re: Snow tyres
Originally Posted by Southcote
Thanks iaink. I know it sounded like a dumb question, but it sounds like a pain having to keep a spare set of wheels
Took me less than an hour to switch the wheels around recently anyway. If I was unable to do it Im sure my service center would have done it for a nominal fee. If you dont have spare rims its a bit more of a pain and costs more...plus you run the risk of knackering your alloy wheels with repeated tire mountings/ unmountings.
Last edited by iaink; Dec 4th 2006 at 9:53 pm.
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 1,664
Re: Snow tyres
I live in the very rural North of Ontario and don't even bother with snow tyres! i drive a Jeep Liberty with all-year-round tyres and they're perfectly sufficient.
#6
Re: Snow tyres
Originally Posted by TrishB
I live in the very rural North of Ontario and don't even bother with snow tyres! i drive a Jeep Liberty with all-year-round tyres and they're perfectly sufficient.
#7
Re: Snow tyres
Originally Posted by TrishB
I live in the very rural North of Ontario and don't even bother with snow tyres! i drive a Jeep Liberty with all-year-round tyres and they're perfectly sufficient.
Well I live in Newfoundland where over the last two winters we've averaged something like 3 metres of snow a winter. I also drive a Jeep Liberty and would strongly recommend snow tires. The stock Goodyear ST or SRA's are useless in the wet let alone the snow.
#8
Re: Snow tyres
I think it depends on where you are too. If you are driving where there is little traffic on the roads, the chances are you'll have plenty of time to stop/turn etc at your own pace, but driving on busy city highways with folks cutting you up, and all those terrible 4 way stops, it is helpful to be able to stop in a reasonably timely manner.
The problem with Calgary is that we have snow, we have ice, we have slush, we have ice, we have wet roads, we have ice, we have bare dry roads, we have more snow. The conditions are constantly changing, and I'm not sure snow tires quite fit the bill!
To my mind, driving on snow, proper winter tires would seem to be a godsend! If I knew we'd have snowy/icy roads for months or even weeks at a time, I might rethink swopping my "all seasons" for snow tires.
The problem with Calgary is that we have snow, we have ice, we have slush, we have ice, we have wet roads, we have ice, we have bare dry roads, we have more snow. The conditions are constantly changing, and I'm not sure snow tires quite fit the bill!
To my mind, driving on snow, proper winter tires would seem to be a godsend! If I knew we'd have snowy/icy roads for months or even weeks at a time, I might rethink swopping my "all seasons" for snow tires.
#9
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: Snow tyres
put simply
Snow tires > 4WD
Snow tires > 4WD
#10
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: Snow tyres
or put another way
I had more control in a Celica with snow tires on
than I currently have in a 4WD Escape with good all seasons
I had more control in a Celica with snow tires on
than I currently have in a 4WD Escape with good all seasons
#11
Re: Snow tyres
Originally Posted by MikeUK
or put another way
I had more control in a Celica with snow tires on
than I currently have in a 4WD Escape with good all seasons
I had more control in a Celica with snow tires on
than I currently have in a 4WD Escape with good all seasons
Where the 4x4 comes into its own is in deeper snow / rutted snow where the ground clearance and extra traction can come into play. 4x4 does not however make you stop any quicker. A fact that passes a good percentage of 4x4 owners by......................
#12
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: Snow tyres
Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat
Before I had snow tires on the Jeep I would struggle up an icy/packed snow covered slope even with 4x4 engaged that Mrs AX's FWD car with snow tires would drive up no problem. So I'd tend to agree with you!
Where the 4x4 comes into its own is in deeper snow / rutted snow where the ground clearance and extra traction can come into play. 4x4 does not however make you stop any quicker. A fact that passes a good percentage of 4x4 owners by......................
Where the 4x4 comes into its own is in deeper snow / rutted snow where the ground clearance and extra traction can come into play. 4x4 does not however make you stop any quicker. A fact that passes a good percentage of 4x4 owners by......................
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: London, Ont
Posts: 124
Re: Snow tyres
Originally Posted by Southcote
I've seen a few comments about snow tyres now that the winter is upon us - but I am a little confused as to what they are. Do you really have to have two sets of tyres / wheels, or are snow tyres something like snow chains that are put onto existing wheels ?
Tracey
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,151
Re: Snow tyres
I've just stuck with the all-season tires for the two winters that we've been here although admittedly we don't do a lot of miles. Mind you although I'm sure that winter tires must be a good thing I wonder if they encourage some people to drive faster than they should be in winter conditions.
#15
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 800
Re: Snow tyres
Originally Posted by TrishB
I live in the very rural North of Ontario and don't even bother with snow tyres! i drive a Jeep Liberty with all-year-round tyres and they're perfectly sufficient.