When do you put your snow tires on....
 

For all you Californians on the board no smart ace comments as this does not apply to you. For crossing the Rockies here I believe snow tires or chains are mandatory October 1st. There is something very comforting on hearing all that extra rubber hitting the bare pavement and knowing that you are prepared for anything........:)

The day before the first predicted snow, the spring/summer/fall set-up comes off and on go the dedicated winter set-up--no appointment necessary.

End of september, or earlier if the summer tires are shot.....

Late October here in WI. In the spring once it gets up to about 45* consistently they come back off.

When the weekly temperature steadied at 5C (41F)

Studs go on night before first predicted snow. Usually between late September and late November. Accord first, then Tahoe.

When I see white on the ground.....With my floor jacks, compressor and air wrench, less than1/2 hr per vehicle....

It is obviously going to vary across the country, but my winters are on usually from the first of November to the end of April.

Best
Les

I just don't bother with them! Figure if I get stuck its my own fault!:D

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^this
You will ruin your snows driving them on hot days. Around here I put them on just after Halloween and take them off April's fools.

I'm not sure this applies to all of Germany but........

We have a facility about an hour outside of Frankfort Germany. I was there in October several years ago. My colleague just bought a MB wagon - beautiful car. He told me it was a law requiring snow tires for winter and if he got into an accident without snows, it would be his fault. A novel idea that would never work here.

I had a MB and snow tires make a world of difference - I know many that don't change tires and I'm no fan of all season tires either.

I generally run my car throughout the Winter with reg passenger radials. I have the 7000 lb diesel 4x4 F-250 with somewhat aggresive tread tires if things get slippery.

Damn near killed myself going up and down the driveway. Without snow tires. 1/4" of snow, I mean the horror of it all, Here in Los Angeles! Traffic was literally at a stand still.

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Back in the early 1990s just after I bought my El Camino I bought some junk yard special rims and a pair of snow tires for the Elky. I swapped them every time the forecast was for slick conditions. They helped a lot. Back then I had a peg leg open differential and tires were not neary as good as current modern tires. For two winters we went with only trace amounts of snow. I called those tires my snow repellent tires.

I finally changed the differential internals to a limited slip and the Elky was transformed. I talked to all my co-workers to see if they would pitch in for the cost of another set of snow repellent tires and they all refused to donate. That next winter we had many decent (for OKC) snow storms. I managed to navigate just fine with M&S tires just like the current set. They quit making them for 14 inch wheels so I found a set of the same steel rims in 15s and that is on there now.

Now I can't find 15s for my 911 but it will not see winter weather. I have to run M&S tires on the 911 because that is all that is available except autocross gummies or full out race tires. I do drive my 911 on the highway in the rain so autocross tires are not going to work.

I understand that Von's post was made tongue-in-cheek. However, I believe the real advantage of winter tires on my Subaru is not necessarily avoiding being stuck but being able to stop and turn MUCH better than on all(no)-season tires.

Once it's in the 30s consistently ?

i just ran my winter miata on them all summer so far this year. i only really ever drive it when its raining, or in the winter, so it works out ok.

love that little car, absolutely the best winter car ive ever owned.

Its been working in Quebec (or impose depending on which side of "my right to chose as written in my DNA...)" since 2008.

snow tires?