Snow Tires?

Comments

• ragenasian Moderator

  August 2007

  Here in Germany we are required by law to have a set of snow tires on the car by November so we all have some experience with snow tires. My experience is you want thin ones. The thought that wider is better is only true for the dry season. The wide ones will tend to ride on top of the snow and pack it down where as the thin ones will cut through it better. Just my experience
  
  This might help you out a little also.
  http://www.swedishbricks.net/faq/tires.html
• CTM Band Wagon

  September 2007

  i have some 185/70/14 winterforce tires on my 91.
• akiraboy HondaCivicWagon.com Founder

  September 2007

  New to Hondas... wrote:

  Living in Wisconsin, I'd really like to get some snow tires for the wagon this year. Last year was no fun with that light tail end sliding around when a semi went past on the highway. Do any of you have experience with snow tires and probably some weight in the back? I'm thinking it would help a lot. If only I had an AWD wagon.... Anyway, if any of you have used snows, had good luck, and know of a good brand, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions. I looked on a couple tire websites and they said that there weren't any snows in my size?
  
  Thanks in advance,
  Jeremy

  Depends on how much snow you get but IMO a set of good snow tires will help you remain more sure footed. Personally I can assure you if you drive like you're invincible in an rt4wd you will learn quickly you're not. As far as needing weight in the back, again imo you shouln't need it but 1 sandbag in the spare tire compartment would be the only thing I recommend.
• quarters Council Member

  September 2007

  2 words: STUDDED WINTERS.
  
  I deliver pizza in the mountains of canada in the winter and it is the worst possible road conditions you can imagine, steep hills, hairpin turns, snow, ice, you name it. on my 2wd I have 4 studded tires and I rock past 4wd's all day long. The back end never slides out unless you force it to with some ebrake action, and even then, it's very controlled. They chew through ice like a hot knife through butter.
  
  After using studded tires in winter, i will never go without them again.
  
  mine are 13", i've had 14"... in canada they come in all sizes.
  
  If you don't get constant snowpack all winter, then you won't want studs. Get a set of ICE tires for wisconsin. Snow tires are more like mud tires, big tread patterns, but i believe wisconsin is more like manitoba and it's more of a hard pack, slippery snow. get ICE tires. they also have big tread but with groves in them.
  
  Yes the back end can be a bit light, but you shouldn't need additional weight.
• superhatch Moderator

  October 2007

  Where in WI do you live. Im about an hour north of Milwaukee, and have run Pirelli Snowsport 210's on my last 3 cars and loved them. Since the amount of snow we have been getting has been tapering off as winters go on, I've found the Snowsport a great cold weather tire, that also holds its own in very serious winter conditions.
• lalunette familEE

  October 2007

  I've lived in Manitoba for 40 of my 41 years.
  
  I have used mid-range Motomaster 4 season tires on ALL (FWD, RWD and 4WD) of my vehicles. The only time I ever got stuck was when I was farting around.
  
  I have noticed a push in the last few years for consumers to return to summer & winter tires and I think it is all B.S. and commercially motivated.
  
  If you drive according to the weather conditions, be it rain, snow, etc. you will be okay. It's the other jerks and soccer moms who think their 4WD gas-guzzling monster SUV can get them where they want and as fast as they want, regardless of weather conditions, that are causing most problems.
  
  For example, I was driving my wagon down a slush covered street 2 winters ago. I was going about 55 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. Suddenly, a huge lifted 4WD Dodge Hemi quad cab thingamajig zooms by me at about 70 km/h. Guess what happened when this moron tries changing lanes in front of me? You guessed it... he swerves out of control and barely misses slamming into a parked car before regaining control.
  
  I was so wanting him to hit the car just to be able to make a police report on how fast... but no joy.
  
  Anyhow, back to the issue. Get snow tires if you want but don't become overconfident because of them. Always drive according to the weather conditions and you should* get where you are going.
  
  *Barring another jerk hitting you because of his unsafe driving.
  
  Cheers !!