Atlantic Xpat

If you're comfortable with buying used tires, it's often possible to pick up a good deal on winter tires through classified ads. People buy tires for a particular vehicle, don't wear them out and then change the vehicle and need tires of a different size. I picked up a set of studded winters two years ago for $120. They've done me two winters so far and will do a third no problem.

Its also worth noting that you don't necessarily need to put the same size winter in as summer. My Suzuki takes 235-65-16's which are quite rare and consequently expensive. However 225-70-16's also fit and are much more frequently found on Escapes, Jeeps etc. So more availability and cheaper. You do need to take care in ensuring a suitable figment. The tire size comparator on tire rack.com can be helpful in this regard,

PMM

Hi


You also might find that in areas of heavy snowfall a narrower tire works better.

Piff Poff

Agreed, the worst car we had for the winter was a Durango, the tyres on that were really wide, the winter handling was so bad OH wouldn't even let me drive it, we didn't keep it for the whole winter (the tyres were on stock rims).

haggis88

best car i ever had for the snow was a Subaru Justy....

1.3 AWD with 13" wheels, think the tyres were 155 wide hahahah!

doubt they exist over here, would kick ass if they did though

shunter1977

Having only recently got our first car here. The dealer put new all seasons on it and said they fill them with Nitrogen so you don't have to have winter tires - what the general opinion to this??

Almost Canadian

Nitrogen will have no effect upon how the all seasons work (when compared with winter tires). It is my understanding that nitrogen is not affected by changes in temperature as oxygen, meaning that the psi of the tire is not as affected. No doubt, someone with real knowledge will confirm this.

As I have said above, I use winter tires every year, lots of people don't. It is a judgement call that you will have to make.

mandymoochops

When I first arrived I was working at a bank and my mate there was nipping out one lunch to get her tires switched over. (There was already snow / ice on the ground she left it a bit late to get them swapped over - though already owned the set from the year before).

We are driving to the garage and being ignorant I said - "why do you need winter tires anyway????" she said "Watch this......." (She has a Yukon too AC!) Drove doen the street (nothing was coming, and hit the brakes semi hard - like you might do if wildlife jumped out / someone pulled out unepectedly).

As you would think - the truck, fishtailed and came to a halt after sliding somewhat.

On the way back she did the same thing and the truck stopped in what felt like half the time and as though there was no ice / snow underneath.

I was a convert after that.

Cookie

The proof is definitely in the pudding! Just watching how various cars manage to get up my driveway shows who has winter tires and who doesn't.

Novocastrian

Or not. PV = nRT for all perfect gases and for others the virial coefficient B used in the more exact expression PV/RT = 1 + B/V.... is accurate enough for almost all scientific applications and more than accurate enough for engineering.

B coefficients for air (=80% N2 + 20% O2) and for pure nitrogen are virtually indistinguishable.

It's a con trick. HTH.

Tony_Tiger

Almost Canadian

Thank you

MillieF

I am feeling seriously like a woman to be reconned with, as I bought snow tires today! I have a brand new set of Bridgestone Blizzacks...they sound non slip don't they! I only have a little car, so have had to order the rims and plan to have them on the car for the last week of October. Last year there was a big snowfall (big enough to me anyway) in the last week of October, as I was here with a huge hire car. I am bloody terrified of driving in the snow, it's not just the slipping, but the driving over curbs or banging into ornamental pots and all other sort of outside bits including the other cars that is tending to occupy my thoughts at present.

Steve_

We have this thread every year. I certainly agree they do help but I dispute that they are necessary.

Depends on how much driving you do and where. If you do lots of driving in areas with poor snow clearance, then obviously they have more value.

Anyway I've driven through the Monida Pass on all-season tires in blizzard conditions and I survived. Although I wouldn't recommend doing it.

Novocastrian

Oh, of course they are necessary. After all tyre technology advances leaps and bounds every year (or should that be in All Seasons?). Moreover you've got to take climate change into account.

mandymoochops

Does that actually mean something, because I read it 4 times (once very slowly) I've hilighted the parts that I presume you are being bilingual.