Snow Tires?

[Payton1221]

My wife has a rear wheel drive that handles awful in the snow. We bought some of those emergency chains which are really just straps that connect a strip of plastic with three thin metal studs. We got about 1.5" of snow a week ago and I used the "chains" for the first time. They got me out of a temporary bind but there's no way I'd drive my 20 mile daily commute with those things. Tires with snow studs are legal in my state, but no one sells them with the studs installed. I don't know if it's a liability issue or what, but they'll sell you a tire and a bunch of studs presumably with the tool to install them (you just screw them in).

Anybody use anything to improve the handling on their rear wheel drive vehicle? Have you added the studs to your regular tires? Have you bought real chains, and if so, which ones? Have you bought any of the plastic type straps AND use them for actual medium distance driving?

[bigcat3655]

My parents have used snow tires for years. They bought some extra rims and had the tires put on them. Now when it snows they just change out the two rear tires for the studs and switch them back in spring. Super quick

[xTeTe]

When I lived in Chicago I put Blizzaks on my previous V8 Camaro and it handled amazing in the snow. No studs needed.

[mtpockets]

Snow tires are the only way to go for the best winter traction, way ahead of all seasons. Have used studded for years never heard of them giving you the studs. Always had mine installed at the tire shop, brand new tires only, don't put any miles on them before studding.

Have used chains many times, mostly in the bush and on the ice, mostly for towing loads. I just keep them for emergencies, not commuting

My parents have used snow tires for years. They bought some extra rims and had the tires put on them. Now when it snows they just change out the two rear tires for the studs and switch them back in spring. Super quick

This ^^^^^^^

have always used 4 studded tires though

[Corbi]

When I lived in Chicago I put Blizzaks on my previous V8 Camaro and it handled amazing in the snow. No studs needed.

3rd for the Blizzaks, have sets for the Kia and the Caddy and those tires are un beatable in the snow.

[Bando]

OP I would avoid the chains for any type of driving your wife does, it's old technology more suited to logging trucks.

I bought 4 brand new studded tires for my Wife's camry this year, had them mounted on some rims I got off Craigslist, they're incredible at plowing through snow. I would hate to be on the thruway doing 70 with them, but so far really happy with the setup, was about a $600 investment.

[Duplicitous]

Generally speaking, most chains have a specified operational limit of 20-35mph so they're not really intended for going any type of distance. The last thing you want is for one of them to break loose at 50 mph. They can do, literally, thousand of dollars worth of damage in an instant if they break loose at high speeds.

Snow tires will help, but it will really depend on what kind of snow we're talking and what kind of area you live in. A RWD vehicle with snow tires in the city should do fine for the most part, but if you're commuting through rural upstate NY you would save yourself a of headache by trading the vehicle for something with FWD/AWD/4WD.

[ImBunky]

Where in Indiana are you, we don't get enough snow here to make it worth while for snow tires. I have all season and put a few hundred pounds in the trunk (as close to over the axle as I can get it).

Though I agree with above posters that Blizzaks would be sufficient, and then the extra weight to boot.

[Payton1221]

Thanks guys. I bought Blizzaks for my daughter's car when she lived here, but she didn't have them long enough or drive enough in the snow (and it's been a few years ago) for me to know how well they did.

To Bunky, I live in SOUTHERN Indiana, but her car performs so poorly, with as little as 2" of snow on the road, her car won't make it out of the driveway

[-=FLEX=-]

You shouldn't need chains or studs in Indiana.

I am in Canada and I've been driving RWD V8-powered cars in the winter since 2007. Proper snow tires are all that is needed for most winter conditions.

I will also recommend Blizzaks; they are the only tire I run in the winter now and have been for years. However I buy the DM-v2, which is designed for Light Trucks and SUVs so it's a very aggressive tread, unlike the "Sport Sedan" type tires.

I currently drive a Charger SRT 392 as my dedicated winter car and it's just fine with the DM-v2 Blizzaks.

If your wife's car won't move in 2" of snow it might have summer only tires on it and not all seasons.

What kind of car is it and what tires are on it?

[poundXpound]

I recommend snows at all 4 corners. They'll last for years. Biggest problem is storing them. All season tires are a compromise. Not good in summer or winter, just OK. Summer tires will perform like hockey pucks in temperatures below 50°.

[Payton1221]

What kind of car is it and what tires are on it?

It's a Mustang. I'm telling you, this thing SUCKS with the littlest of snow. I mentioned the 1.5" snow of a week ago, I made it from work ~22 miles away to within 10' of my garage and it wouldn't make it up the last bit I'll have to check to see what kind of tires they are, but two years ago when they were newer, they still drove like crap in the snow.

[-=FLEX=-]

It's a Mustang. I'm telling you, this thing SUCKS with the littlest of snow. I mentioned the 1.5" snow of a week ago, I made it from work ~22 miles away to within 10' of my garage and it wouldn't make it up the last bit I'll have to check to see what kind of tires they are, but two years ago when they were newer, they still drove like crap in the snow.

What kind of tires are on it?

Tires will make a night and day difference, especially if the car has summer only tires. I had a few Mustangs when I was young and didn't know about this **** and learned the hard way winter conditions require winter tires.

[-=FLEX=-]

Here's an old vid from way back my old 2010 SRT8 (RWD 425 HP) with Blizzak DM-v1 tires driving through some deep snow no problem:




My current winter ride (RWD 485 HP), running the newer Blizzak DM-V2:

[Payton1221]

Here's an old vid from way back my old 2010 SRT8 (RWD 425 HP) with Blizzak DM-v1 tires driving through some deep snow no problem:

Impressive!!!

Do you have two sets of tires and rotate as the seasons dictate?

[-=FLEX=-]

Do you have two sets of tires and rotate as the seasons dictate?

I keep 2 sets of wheels and tires for my cars. Makes swapping easier because I can do it myself once the tires are mounted. With no power tools I can do it in less than an hour.


I currently have my snow tires mounted on the stock wheels and I bought a set of aftermarket forged wheels with high performance summer tires on them.

In the past I've bought cheaper wheels for the winter but I wanted to put wider tires on this car so I bought wider wheels and spent some money on them.

It just makes sense to me to have the right tire for the right season. "All season" tires are a compromise so they suck all year round; you get crappy performance in the summer and winter.

[supramax]

... It just makes sense to me to have the right tire for the right season. ...

It's the law in Quebec. If you don't have Winter tires on your car by December 1, it's a $300 fine.

[-=FLEX=-]

It's the law in Quebec. If you don't have Winter tires on your car by December 1, it's a $300 fine.

They need to do that here. Too many dummies wreaking havoc on the road every time it snows because they don't have proper tires so they're driving along at 5 mph scared ****less.

And then there are the dummies that don't know how to turn off their traction control so they get stuck. All these electronic nannies have created a generation of people that have no idea how to drive.

[mtpockets]

It's the law in Quebec. If you don't have Winter tires on your car by December 1, it's a $300 fine.

I found it odd you didn't mention all seasons or all weather tires, so a quick google search shows this.....

Even though traditional winter tires are the most popular option in Quebec, all-weather tires are also legal. Identified with the mountain and snowflake icon, all-weather tires are built to be driven year-long, even during winter.

Not that, I agree with all seasons, they are garbage as far as I am concerned.



A friend of mine owned a towing company. he said all season tires kept him in business, they were always the ones tits up in the ditch or deep in the celery, especially if they were a year or more older.

Winter and summer tires are the only way to go.

[supramax]

The all season tires with the mountain and snowflake icon are specifically made for severe Winter condititions. Not all all season tires are made that way.

[OldFartTom]

The all season tires with the mountain and snowflake icon are specifically made for severe Winter condititions. Not all all season tires are made that way.

How does that work? I thought winter tires are as much about the rubber compound as the tread pattern etc. Some compounds grip for stopping and cornering way better in colder conditions than standard tires but will wear out excessively quick in warm weather.

Lots of European countries (but never UK) legally require winter tires. But if they have a big snowflake symbol that means you don't get fined, that's half the job done

[supramax]

How does that work? ...

How the **** should I know?
I'm guessing they're not quite as good for Summer driving as Summer tires are.

[Corbi]

How does that work? I thought winter tires are as much about the rubber compound as the tread pattern etc. Some compounds grip for stopping and cornering way better in colder conditions than standard tires but will wear out excessively quick in warm weather.

Dedicated winter tires will wear out much faster on dry pavement due to the "softer" for lack of a better term rubber. I won't put the Blizzaks on unless the weather is going to be absolute crap because at over $200 each they aint cheap.

[supramax]

Dedicated winter tires will wear out much faster on dry pavement due to the "softer" for lack of a better term rubber. I won't put the Blizzaks on unless the weather is going to be absolute crap because at over $200 each they aint cheap.

I would imagine that the all season tires that are also rated for severe Winter weather are pretty expensive, too.

[Corbi]

I would imagine that the all season tires that are also rated for severe Winter weather are pretty expensive, too.

Honestly I don't know, but if they claim "all season" then they are a compromise and will never work as well as dedicated snows. I was in Utah in february 2 years ago in a pos Toyota Corolla that had all seasons on it, what a frickin joke those things were. Was going to attempt to go to Snowbird to check the resort out & as I turned onto the drive up there are giant light up signs stating 4x4's or chains required...and this is a paved road. That little Toyota couldn't do jack $hit getting up that road and I gave up after a couple of blocks.
I'm willing to bet our Caddy which is AWD and has Blizzaks as well would have torn that road up.

[ImBunky]

I actually only drive on snow a few times a year here. Don't usually get a lot, and when we do it is quickly cleared off of the roads. So, all seasons and some extra weight work fine for me. Usually when it is snowing I am in the outside (unplowed) lane going around the idiots driving only 25 in the cleared lanes.

Grew up further north where we had more snow, and driving rear wheel drive.

[Bando]

Funny story, My Kid's school has this back access "road" that's a steep hill, maybe 100 yards long, like a 30 degree ascent/descent. The school isn't crazy about anyone but school employees using it, there's legitimate needs for hauling equipment up and down it by school staff.

Taking this path saves me about a minute so I routinely use it when it's not blocked off. I've been avoiding it lately as little kids have been using at as a sledding trail. This morning I dropped my Daughter off at school in my Pajamas and the trail looks clear to jam up for a quick trip home. About halfway up I realize I've made a serious mistake, it's all ice, no vehicles have been up or down it in week. Just kids sledding. I have an AWD Jeep GC, and kind of get off to the side where at least 2 wheels are not on ice, got to the top.

At the top it's another 100 yards to get to the plowed road, no tire tracks, 20 inches of icy, packed snow, so I'm the first. This might sound fun, but I'm a little groggy from superbowl beers and still in my PAJAMAS FFS.

I just hit the gas and tried to remember where the road was, wasn't pretty but the Jeep did it, heartrate was elevated for an hour>

Moral of the story: Put on pants, bring gloves and be prepared when driving in winter, even if it's only a block.

[Payton1221]

BB.com won't let me post a longer post ATM, but thanks! I'm going with designated wheels with Blizzaks for the winter.

[mtpockets]

BB.com won't let me post a longer post ATM, but thanks! I'm going with designated wheels with Blizzaks for the winter.

Excellent choice Payton

BB.com can be a challenge at times

[Mark1T]

BB.com won't let me post a longer post ATM, but thanks! I'm going with designated wheels with Blizzaks for the winter.

Excellent. I love Mustangs and was my first car, but they are front-end heavy and light on the rear, so no surprise reg tires on a Mustang are a bad idea.

Hope it works well and I think they will.