Snow tire thread/tread questions
 

Tis the time of the year for snow. As usual, I write from my cathedral of over-analysis asking for advice on SNOW TIRES!!!!!!

Here's the scenario.
My wife has a Mitsubishi Endeavor. It's been a great car (SUV)- but it hogged gas and was getting up in miles- so she bought a new Volvo v60 awd. Upon seeing the poor trade in value of the Mitsubishi- we kept it as a spare car. The original rims are on it- with all season tires 85 % worn- they will just barely pass another inspection (due in jan).

I've got my 2005 volvo xc70. It's got way more miles, but I, being awesome in my own mind, can keep it running into perpetuity, because, well, I am awesome in my own mind. It is AWD- and with it comes a set of all season tires on the original rims, +plus a set of studless winter tires on a spare set of rims (tires in good shape), + another set of spare rims with a worn out set of studless tires.

I found a good deal on a spare set of mistubishi rims- so I got em' off ebay tonight. They will be here next week.

So- here's my question...

Both of us have long (60 mile round trip commutes), in an area which can quickly get nasty. These commutes will quickly kill any winter tire if there is no snow. We are in the mountains of virginia, which means 90% there is no snow, 7% there is snow, and 3% of the time there is some really serious snow/ice you really shouldn't mess around with. Unlike the west, when it comes, it is wet and slippery.

Based on the cost of her new volvo, and her driving skills, and even MY driving skills- that car stays off the road if inclement weather beckons... However...theoretically- it should be able to take my rims off the xc70 if needed and mount them on her car... so keeping that in mind...

I have had good luck with the studless snow tires- however-they only do so well on ice. From what I have read- studless and studded are an even draw on snow, but ice gives the advantage to studs, and wet braking gives the advantage to studless.

So what do I do? Do I buy studded tires for my wife's mitsubish? or studless?- or do I buy studded for my SECOND set of xc70 rims for my volvo?

It's a tossup-I think the mitsubishi endeavor has the better AWD system, and would like that to be the snow tank, but perhaps the volvo would be the better ice tank. It is lower, and primarily front wheel drive, whereas the endeavor is higher and seems to give more real power to the rear.

What tires should I buy for which? Or does it even matter? Both of us have to deal with two lane roads with oncoming 55mph traffic, which I don't really like.

And this gets to my last question- her endeavor tires are 235 wide. Should I go 225 wide (it's available) to get a swedish snow rallye car thin type tire on it? Just curious.

Also- where I live, I do have people willing to mount studded and it is legal (as far as I know) between nov-feb.

(bonus points for anyone bored enough to wade through this longish post to answer!) :)
Thanks.
Ron

Im not going to be any help on your tire choices, but I will say..... I live in Pa , basically right below what we call the snow belt. In 30 years of winter driving, I have only been stranded 2 times . Both were in Va , near Winchester.
One time was ice, and although I was still moving, they closed down the interstates. Then, last winter coming home from Florida, pulling our 5th wheel, it started to sleet, then snow, and snow, and snow and snow, then the roads froze, and it kept a snowing After sliding all over the place with my dually and trailer, and my family in the truck for 50 some miles at 25 mph, I cried uncle and got a room . When we woke up in the morning, it was all gone ... It does go from nice to wicked there in a blink of an eye .
I have never seen the need for studded tires here, but you guys seem to get ice conditions more than us. We usually just get snow .

snow tire compounds have gotten Sooo much better for ice. Add to that traction control systems.

I see the studs as nasty old tech. ...but at least they are horrible on bare pavement.

Stay put if it's truly bad. The roads are one thing...other drivers are as big of a concern.

After that winter tires are the bomb on snow-packed roads. I run them on my outback and it's an advantage that should be experienced. FWIW, C&D published their annual winter tire test this month. Nokian Hakkapellitta R2 is #1 but $50/tire more than #2 Michelin x-ice X13. I run Michelins here in northern WI.

IMO, if you're not on ice or snowpack almost all of the time, studs are a braking and cornering liability.

And yes, a bit thin is better than a bit wide.

Actually, you're very wrong about snow tires "being killed" with no snow. The tire compounds have come a long, long way. I'm Canadian and I've used snow tires since I was old enough to drive. And the way the compounds have changed is stunning. I'd say some years ago you'd be right. But now, the best snow tire on the market (x-Ice 3) have a treadwear rating of 60,000kms. Very, very impressive.

It's a no brainer. Studless Michelin x-Ice3 for every vehicle. Your mind will be blown away by how good they are.

Simply the best.

https://www.nokiantires.com/tires/passenger-car/winter-tires/

Well, out here in the mtns, I have been running bridgestone blizzak ws80, awesome tires. We live on a hill that for 2/10s of a mile can keep you on the bottom wishing you had studless tires when you have to chain up.

we never chain up ever, they are that good, never worry about winter driving again, of course Audi makes a awesome awd system.

From personal experience living in the northeast. Going skiing. Going to work.

Studded tires too noisy for me. I just can't take them. And you are right. Good in the ice.

I can live with stud-less and out of everything there I like Nokian-Happakelitas. Made in Finland. Talking about long winters.

Look into tires with crushed walnuts into their compounds for better traction on ice. Kind of micro studs.

I've been ice racing in NH and I've tried some different rubber out there. Get a good set of stud-less and you'll be fine.

For inspiration...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c2zGYu-l7t0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Let me be the first....

SNOW TIRES!

This is the correct answer.

Although I used Cooper snowtires for many many years.

Pure Porn!!!!!

Thanks everyone for the input. I think the comment on getting stuck in winchester was spot on- it's not so much a snow belt state as a s#$% belt state in the winter. I've had two sets of blizzacks- and I love them. So the real toss up is getting my wife's endeavor a set of blizzaks or general arctic max ice with studs.

Lot's of pro's and con's to each. I can think of three scenarios where I was puckering up wishing I had studded tires in the last five years. REAALLY puckering.

I can also think of about 9500 times I wish I wasn't wasting $$$$ burning winter tread on unfrozen road- but not really puckering.

I can think of ONE time I drove into a snow drift in the xc70 and learned the meaning of hypothermia in my work slacks as well as the meaning of low ground clearance and lame AWD. Uncontrollable shivering sounds tame now- but was not so fun then.

My impression of the blizzaks is they are incredible at first, and then wear through the super special compound and become merely mortal all season tires- but dont get me wrong- that initial wear-in is magical.

Funny how the puckering stands out in my mind. Some of it comes down to strategy - for example- maybe get studs for my second set of xc70 tires and studless for the endeavor. I dunno- all I know is when the endeavor rims get here I will need to choose! Oh yeah- from what I have read, the general tires are based on a nokian tread pattern- so that's encouraging.

Also- and this may seem weird- the volvo has a cheap little gimmick called a thermometer. The endeavor does not. Last night- in a dark heavy rain, it was 38 degrees... it felt colder, but the volvo thermometer didn't have the little snowflake showing. People in other cars, without the gimmick- (and not bi@#tching at them)- didn't know- and drove waaaaaaaaaaaay slower, because it felt and looked colder. I guess my point here is that I really have come to like the temp sensor in the volvo. If I go all snow in the endeavor- maybe I'll buy a chinese thermometer and hang it out the window on that.

FWIW- this is from a guy who spent hours driving screws through bike tires to make them ice tires. When I was finished, I could ride over frozen lakes and corner like buttaaaaa...And this wasn't just one set of bike tires- it was several- with several different patterns and numbers of screws for the amount of ice/vs. traction/weight/ rolling resistance/ etc...

I just love this stuff.

I had Hakkas. I think the x-Ice is a better tire. And less money too.

There are lots of good snow tires now. Buy good tires on rims and make your life easy.

It's money well spent.

I found some almost new factory alloys for the Venza for a very good price and put Blizzaks on them. The car is amazing with these on and I wouldn't go without a set of designated winters again.

I have had Michelin X-Ice on one of the other cars. Good tires and very durable. Comparing the X-Ice to the Blizzaks, I would say they are very good tires and more durable than the Blizzaks. The Blizzaks do outperform the older version of the X-Ice on the slippery stuff, especially when new.

YMMV

We have the Blizzaks and as soon as it stays below 45* or so they go on the truck that is rwd. They wear pretty well as long as it is cold. I would expect maybe 10k miles if I drove them year round though. They are on the third winter this year and I expect them to last to where age will become a factor in replacing them. The sipes are only half way down the tread blocks on them so ice performance will suffer at 50% wear.

Blizzacks hands down. You don't need studs

We get 6 months of snow and winter here so I feel confident with 4WD and the Bridgestone's

When I lived in Western Mass and had a 55 mile commute, I kept my snow tires in the trunk and swapped them out for storms. I was down to about 5 minutes per wheel. These days I'd have an electric impact wrench and maybe a jack that worked with the impact wrench as well.

93' Honda Accord - Mileage with regular tires over 30 mpg, mid 20's with the snow tires. With over 500 miles per week, it added up.

Blizzacks are good !

Nokian maybe better

On year 2 with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 I like em alot !