Oh at least.

Six months winter and six months hard sledding out these parts.

We actually don't have all season tires we just call winter tires all seasons.

YES I DO GET IT - it's my husband that doesn't - read my posts I would happily drive round on winter tyres bought locally - but my husband thinks this is an unessesary expense - stop being pedantic. You obviously think that people should do as you do as you think it's the best thing. Do you agree with every thing your wife wants?

This is something my husband and I disagree on.

Its how I've lived as long as I have


But seriously, if its something she wants that wont cost a fortune and doesnt have a negative impact on me, or if its her or the kids personal safety involved, of course I do. Why wouldnt I?

Thats why I was converted to winter tires remember..she INSISTED on having them once we had kids in the car.


And if I didnt, she would just go and do it anyway up to a point.


Im old and ugly enough to recognise that people will do what they want. Im just here as an expat shouting in the wind about stuff I've learned about canada and living here over the ten years Ive been here. Snow tires are something I never really gave a second thought to, until I was more or less forced into trying them by my wife (whos canadian and knows better) and now I know that they exist for very good reasons.

It took me 7 winter to realise that, If I can convince one or two people to not be apathetic about it for quite as long, then hopefully Im not completely wasting my time. It partly for selfish reasons...I dont want any of the people I care about to be hit by some expat newbie skidding out of control in the cold on all seasons.

It's nice to know you value her opinion and her safety and that she wouldn't get into too much trouble if she did things her own way sometimes.

My wants are usually put on the back burner until they can't be avoided anymore and then sometimes they are just shot down in flames - like my fudge shop and winter tyres.

There is a lot lacking in my marriage and I don't know how to fix it, but that is my problem and no one else can help.

My Mother In Law also made things ten times worse this summer and I haven't yet recovered from her.

You're getting to sound like an anti-smoker. You like the tyres, enjoy the tyres, but don't expect other people to get similarly interested in rubber.

Point taken. Its the wrong kind of rubber to be interesting I guess.

You will then be interested to know that on your advice I have been into my local Crappy Tire and bought some of them Goodyear Nordics for my car when it arrives. (Got them now incase they sell out.)

Now, what was your advice on Block Heaters again?

Some men listen, some men dont; the worst type are those who say they listen but dont hear.
I understand you perfectly.
Mother-in-laws are a no win situation.
Chin up.

Thanks

Sounds like a conversation about tyres, took on a whole new thing for you??? I am also married to a car addict, who is also a 4x4 off road fanatic, which is why I am sitting here typing at 6.30am on a saturday morning....He has just buggered off into Wales to play in the woods , with the 4x4 response team.....

Not impressed as I have been left at home with the 3 children, ton of ironing and a house to clean from top to bottom, apparently he did tell me, but that was just before recce trip to Canada and it must have slipped my mind, duh.....

Anyway rather stupidly I actually got up at 5.30 made coffee, soup and sarnies for him....

I should also admit to being car addict as well...Sorry.

Anyway, chin up chuck, have you tried the old dart board and photograph thing, very good at helping you to vent steam....Punch bag also works rather well, although my OH won't stay put for long...

Charlie

Ooops Hubby read this thread this morning and is now feeling sorry for himself, but it has got some feelings out in the open that I have been hiding.

He said 'Why do you want snow tyres anyway?'
'They are supposed to stop you easier with less skidding. Like in the adverts.' was my just woken up sleepy reply.
'All seasons aren't that much different and the Adverts tell you what food is good and Tim Hortens is the place to be.' (Neither of us can see why there is a constant queue for Tim Hortens.)

I said that in an earlier post I had said I would try the All seasons but if I felt I needed snows then I would be nagging for them.

I love my hubby to bits, we are just going through a tough time, made worse by his mum and my mum would relish a big problem and a return to the UK. AND we are both soooo tired at the moment, that we can't be bothered to do anything much.

Oh well, I shouldn't have let myself get riled up by IainK and let my guard down really should I.

If it any help when we went out to Kingston, ON in january we hired a Dodge Magnum RWD(alleged 300+HP) on all season tires and never really had any problems even when we got caught out in the snow before they ploughed. As mentioned earlier in the thread simply

FWD tends to wash away on the front
RWD the Rsend tries to overtake the front
AWD/4WD you push it harder due to more grip then when it lets go it LETS GO!!

While you're at it git yer banjo and CD library of Country and Western songs.

Did you have to slam the anchors on at any time to avoid the car in front / beside/ coming towards you spinning out, or a deer wandering on to the road in front of you?

If not, then you really only explored the acceleration side of the traction equation, which is largely covered by traction control etc, rather than the real advantage of winter tires in avoiding a collision.

At the risk of repeating myself yet again.

Winter tires are about stopping and steering in an emergency. Everything else they do is strictly a fringe benefit.

I drove for 8 years on all seasons before this fact sank in.


PS Piff...its was never my intent to rile anyone up. I hope your hubby can take a few lessons from what he's read..hopefully the main one will be that he trusts your judgment and feelings a bit more.

I love my snow tyres. It really is amazing the difference they make when stopping. In fact I think they stop better in snow than the all seasons do in heavy rain.

I was quite shocked at how long it takes the Saturn to stop. I know its a big heavy car compared to my old Clio (sigh) and doesnt have ABS, but even so I would expect better stopping power than it has. So in the winter I am so so relieved to have the tires on. We dont have them on the other car as thats only used around the city on ploughed roads.