Those in the snow belt: you use snow tires?

[speedyquad]

for 9 years, i drove a 2wd chevy s-10 with a manual tranny...it only sported all season radials with 320 pounds of sand over the rear axle...never got stuck, never spun out...and there are long steep hills...i've gone around 4wd suv's that could not make it up the hill(driver, not the vehicle)...

someone above said it's the driver, not the vehicle...i agree...to a point...i just don't see a smart car doing well in 6 inches of snow and ice...then again, i don't see a smart car doing well on a nice bright sunny day...lol

 

[Arik]

They drive just fine in snow. I was driving one a few days ago when we got 10 inches. No different than any other car. For me driving something like a 2wd truck in winter is out of the question. No where to get 320 lbs of sand or anything else. I'm not willing to pay for that and then have to dump it somewhere when spring comes. Or pay for more gas due to the weight. Where am I going to put stuff when my "trunk" is full of stuff to weight down the truck.

I drive my little Corolla in most snow type situations without so much as a hiccup. Front wheel drive and good tires along with knowing how to drive in snow is enough to get me where I need to go and my daily commute is 50 miles.

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[speedyquad]

the 320 lbs of sand cost me a whopping $18 the first winter that i owned it. it stayed in 3 storage totes under the workbench in my garage. i had a frame that kept it in place while in the truck and then hung in the garage rafters...gas mileage did not drop enough to notice...

my 2wd truck even pulled a 4wd explorer out of a snowbank one time...

 

[oberlin1]

No, usually all season radials are good enough if you have front wheel drive and certainly all wheel drive. When I drove my F150 (RWD-only) to work I put 180 pounds of sand in the bed to keep the rear end down.

 

[gjgalligan]

I learned that "winter" tires are much better. They are made from softer rubber that helps grip better. While they will not last as long as other tires I have them for winter driving.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I drive a Chevy Avalanche and wife has a Subaru Outback, both with all season radials. Snow tires are unnecessary here because the roads get cleared quickly. Snow tires are a big time hassle in ice and rain because you actually have less tire-to-road contact.

If you want true winter misery buy a Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen with performance tires. First, the car is so low-slung it gets hung up on the frame in snow. Second, performance tires are awful in snow. Third, as winter progresses and the roads get pot holes performance tires literally get destroyed! Think $200. every time it happens. Traded that Jetta for an Outback and never looked back.

 

[Arik]

I drive a Chevy Avalanche and wife has a Subaru Outback, both with all season radials. Snow tires are unnecessary here because the roads get cleared quickly. Snow tires are a big time hassle in ice and rain because you actually have less tire-to-road contact.

If you want true winter misery buy a Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen with performance tires. First, the car is so low-slung it gets hung up on the frame in snow. Second, performance tires are awful in snow. Third, as winter progresses and the roads get pot holes performance tires literally get destroyed! Think $200. every time it happens. Traded that Jetta for an Outback and never looked back.

Yes performance tires are great in the summer, that's about it. It's as bad as Subaru WRX turbo in the snow. Although awd, as soon as the turbo kicks in (which is almost instantly) all you do is spin all 4 tires

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[df06]

I drive a 4WD PU with standards mud/snow tires, not special snow tires, in Minneapolis.
I never have had an issue getting around.

 

[patsfan1281]

so i had to drive today in the storm with the blizzaks for the first time...the main difference is stopping...it stops on a dime on snow covered road. Old tires it would take me a extra 100 feet to come to the same stop

 

[jaykwish]

Chevy cobalt no snow tires and it does fine. I did have a rwd work truck that could have benefitted from them but I was too cheap to buy them.


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[Squarebutt]

We got a foot of global warming today. My Silverado with Michelin All Terrains went through 6" of snow and taller drifts in 2WD no problem. I prefer to run in 2WD because you lose some steering control in 4WD. I use 4WD to get out of trouble.
My wife's commute goes through several small towns early in the morning, and plowing isn't always completed. We bought a second set of wheels and Dunlop snows and the Toyota is great in the snow, too. An added bonus is the summer tires last longer and the alloy wheels don't get all crusty with road salt.

 

[Hack]

Firestone Destination ATs on my 2002 Chevy Blazer 4x4. I've had these tires on the vehicle since 2008. No problems in 2wd or 4wd with the last few heavy snow falls.

 

[Jimmyjones]

I run dedicated snows on the back of my 2wd F-150 with 360 lbs of tube sand over the axle. It's a turtle if I don't.

I'm only at 5300 ft, if I lived a bit more (like a mile) to the west I'd want 4wd. As it is, I only wish I had 4wd about once a season. It snows, the roads clear and your running on dry pavement till the next blast comes through. Burn through a lot of snows here running on dry pavement.

Just put 4 Conti Purecontact all seasons on the Volvo, it's a hoot in this weather, -7 and dropping !

 

[Mike McLellan]

Blizzaks on all four wheels. They're incredible. But, change them for summer tires as soon as you can. The rubber is super soft. That makes them grip so well on ice. Hot summer pavement will wear them out. At $250.00 each, you will want to take care of them.

 

[Road Rat]

I'm lucky. I live in Eastern Iowa. Our road crews get out and plow the roads as soon as they can. Then comes the sand & salt. I run an aggressive tread and drive SLOW. No problems. Also, I am retired so I don't have to out in traffic!!!

 

[Hofstet]

Blizzaks on my wife's AWD and Toyo AT II's on my F150 4wd which I also plow with. We've had over 136" of snow this year through the end of Jan. Snow tires, or aggressive all terrains are a must IMO.

 

[geoff40]

My civic has excellent traction with the 4 studded snows I use in the winter season.
30 years ago I used to drive 2WD C10s. Straight 6 with posi rear end, 4 speed manual tranny. Ran Dunlop snows on the rear. We have a little granite here in NH, and at a quarry I bought a rejected 4 foot curb stone for $5. Built a frame for it to keep it from sliding around in the bed. I could go anywhere in deep snow in those trucks, I lived pretty much up on top of the highest hill in town back then, and on a few occasions drove right up that steep hill, about a mile long, in 18-20 inches if snow without a problem.

 

[Ethang]

I commute in a Civic. My previous set was some premium Michelin all seasons that were great in the snow. Last set those had been discontinued and the replacements that the shop assured me was every bit as good have been the worst tires I have ever had on my car. Michigan has been brutal this year with snow and I have NO traction what so ever and the tires are almost brand new. Next year if these are not worn out I will be getting a set of snow tires to put on. I have had enough of 2x as long commutes due to no traction.

 

[JJEH]

We had a set of winter tires for our passenger cars. We don't have a set for the Durango yet, but the Ram has A/T's... that has to work.

 

[zeke]

4 wheel drive truck, mud and snow radials on all 4 wheels year round, 1/4 ton of sand in 70 lb tubes in back (right forward of the rear wheels) for winter.