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Do you use 'em? Trying to figure out if the wife should get 'em. She's going to be driving up to Sundance pretty much every day through the winter. We're still NewTards, so don't know what to expect.
We have a '98 Subary Legacy GT Wagon. Don't be fooled by the GT -- it's a putter. Anyhow, we have all-season's on it now, but they're pretty old (20,000 miles). Am thinking of getting winter tires, and then in another year or so getting some more all-seasons.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
J-
Yes on winter tires. Look here. Blizzak WS-50 would be my recommendation.
I'd get a good pair of cable chains and put them on as needed. It only takes a few minutes and you'll get better gas mileage than snow tires.
Really, you'll be fine as long as your tires are good. I noticed an improvement when I went to actual snow tires, but didn't have any real problems the year before when I was just using all season tires on my Subaru.
AWD+Good all-weather tires+Good driving habits= (PAE) Positive Automobile Experience.
Get yourself a set of these:
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...gdy-1897_m.jpg
You'll be fine.
BobMc
Hey, parallel threads: http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...&threadid=2006
I've had two Outbacks, and never had to put snow tires on them - the all season were more than adaquate for dumps and ice in Vermont.
Remember our green Mercury Tracer Wagon?? I put just 40,000 mile rated excellect tread snow tires on that and it worked great. Just gotta remember to take them off in the spring or they will suck next year, trust me. :rolleyes:
She carried cable chains too. Get those soon, like real soon, and practice in the driveway a few times putting them on. It is a whole different story trying to put them on in a foot of snow for the fisrt time. It sucks.
Plus the practice gets them fitted just right for the next time.
Total cost: Not much for keeping your wife safe.
Or you could get studded snowtires and vibrate the fillings right out of your teeth. :rolleyes: My pops thinks that is the only way to go. This coming from a man who lives in Tucson.
Get on it !! :D
Always remember, safety first! ;)
Those are only rated to 40-60 laps, depending on the track.Quote:
Originally posted by BobMc
Get yourself a set of these:
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...gdy-1897_m.jpg
You'll be fine.
BobMc
-Buzznascarfreak
Provo Canyon can suck get snow tires & cahins & if you plan on her drivinng you up Big or Little Cottonwood
I drive past a sign every day that says:
Quote:
State law requires vehicles to carry chains or have snow tires on the vehicle from November 1 through May 1.
There you have it, STATE LAW!!! I pass that sign too but it is usually covered in snow. :D
And the road to Sundance can suck even more. I've seen many a vehicle end up in the creek....Quote:
Originally posted by Woodsy:
Provo Canyon can suck
I'd have to agree with the cable chain idea.
44" Super Swampers mounted on bead locks. Your Subaru may need to be modified a bit but it should be no problem. Stop by our garage and we will start wrenching immediatly!!
I'd say if there's ever a chance you'll have to borrow her car on a "canyon-restricted" pow day, you better make sure you've got chains cuz they won't let you up without chains, AWD or 4WD.
I've fought that fight many times with the sheriffs when I've had FWD with 4 new burly studded M&S. They won't do it even though it's a better set up than some of the bald-tire 4WD's I see going up sometimes.
Oh, and yeah, for her safety, I'd get studded snows cuz if she's like my wife, the chance of her putting chains on by herself is nil. :)
Either Dunlop Graspic DS-1 or SP Wintersport M3....
but to stud them or not?
1999 Honda Accord
I've never been turned back at the chain check point in my Subaru (even before I had snow tires) and don't have chains. Not that they aren't a good idea...Quote:
Originally posted by Endlessseason
I'd say if there's ever a chance you'll have to borrow her car on a "canyon-restricted" pow day, you better make sure you've got chains cuz they won't let you up without chains, AWD or 4WD.
I've fought that fight many times with the sheriffs when I've had FWD with 4 new burly studded M&S. They won't do it even though it's a better set up than some of the bald-tire 4WD's I see going up sometimes.
I just stuck a set of Blizzak LM-22's on my Audi. Wow, very impressesed with them so far.
That's cuz you've got one of the "chains, AWD or 4WD."Quote:
Originally posted by altagirl
I've never been turned back at the chain check point in my Subaru
...and I should learn to read the first post more effectively. I just noticed that Frizz was talking about a Subaru also.
Doi.
OK new choices... Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 or Dunlop Graspic DS-1
Get the snowtires. As mentioned, the road to Sundance can be brutal in a snowstorm. Chains are a good idea, but i dont think the Misses is going to want to stop to put them on on her way to work.
BF Goodrich Tracedge, if ya can get them are the most amazing winter tires I've ever owned.
I looked into the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 and decided to go with the LM-22's instead. For one simple reason of life. I seem to remember that the WS-50's are pretty short lived if you have to drive on dry pavement much. I commute from SLC to Provo daily and couldn't afford to keep buying tires.
Good plan, except you can't put chains on Subaru Legacy GT's due to clearance issues with the bodywork.Quote:
Originally posted by boarderline
I'd get a good pair of cable chains and put them on as needed. It only takes a few minutes and you'll get better gas mileage than snow tires.
Nokian Hakka Q's are pretty sweet, but I'm stepping it up this winter to some Hakka 1's, which are studded. www.nokiantire.com
Not great tires for tire wear though. Neither are my Kuhmo Supra Ecsta 712's, but that's why they are my summer tires.
4wd + snows = mmmm good, get the snows.
I have personal experience with Nokian NRWs, Nokian Haka Qs, and Gislaved Nordfrosts and Eurofrosts on my different audi quattros. I even put some Cooper weathermaster snows on my 4wd suburban and it made a substantial difference from the normal tires. All are a step above an all season. Haka q's are better on the ice/snow than NRWs, NRWs are a good compromise if you will be driving on dry pavement. I've heard good things about graspics. Blizzaks rule the ice from my experirnce on the ice track in steamboat springs, but watch out for the multicell compound ones. They are awsome, but wear pretty fast and become and all season when the good rubber is gone.
Agency panel seeks ban on studded tires
Transportation commission will seek legislative action
Originally published Thursday, October 16, 2003
Olympian Staff, Wire Services On the Web
The Washington Transportation Commission wants the Legislature to ban studded tires in the state.
The tires, which are allowed in the winter, cause about $10 million in road damage every year, commission members contend.
The commission, which serves as the board of directors for the Department of Transportation, met in Olympia on Wednesday.
The panel voted to send a bill to the Legislature to ban the tires. Studded tires have been debated in the Legislature for years.
One South Sound resident hopes success will come this session.
"I grew up in snow states -- upstate New York, Wisconsin -- and they never had lug tires or studded tires there," said Tom Laffey, who lives outside Tumwater. "I feel Washington is incurring a lot of additional expense. People down here use them, like, once in a blue moon to go over to Eastern Washington. The rest of the time, they just tear up the streets."
Lighter-weight stud
In 1999, the state Department of Transportation urged the Legislature to require a lighter-weight stud as a way of keeping roads from deteriorating so quickly.
A bill that phased in the lighter-weight studs eventually was passed, making Washington's law consistent with those in Idaho and Oregon.
The elimination of studded tires was stated as a goal in an extensive report on state transportation issues undertaken by the governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation in 2000.
Legislation to impose a fee on the sale of studded tires was introduced but didn't pass in the 2001 and 2003 sessions.
I did notice a couple years ago when I was in Seattle for a few weeks in February - it seemed like EVERYONE had studded tires. Made me wonder how many of those people actually needed them. I can see how it would tear up the roads.
So that explains why my pops thinks studded is the only way to go. He grew up and worked a lot of his life in Seattle and B'ham.
Now it all makes sense, he is just part of that Washington group.
Here's a list of tires that meet the Severe Snow Tire standard.
They all have this graphic on the side:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/topic...s/snowtire.gif