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