Winter Snow Tires

I've heard that about some tires. My Winterforce tires survived the last winter just fine from November all the way through April. Down here we only get about 10-15 days of snow on the roads usually. Maybe the Blizzaks are softer rubber? I didn't go 100 mph on these tires, but I drove the speed limit for hundreds of miles and no issues.

I think it's just because of how soft they were. Just from turning corners a little too fast, chunks would come off of the outer edge of the tire. A M A Z I N G in the snow though. I don't remember exactly which Blizzak they were, but I think they were made for ice?

Maybe it's because I didn't take any really hard corners in the dry. I could see that being a bad idea.

Is it true that a car accelerates slower with snow tires because of the soft aggressive tread? Or does it just feel slower because mine does with stock size mastercraft glacier grip

On snow, snow tires will absolutely make your car accelerate much faster than all-seasons or summer tires. I was driving circles around helpless cars a couple days ago, only because of my snow tires. Not only is acceleration improved, but braking and cornering, too.

On dry roads, snow tires don't have as much grip as summer tires, because there's less contact patch. It's a give and take. There's no tire than does everything well, and all-seasons do nothing exceptionally well.

Another thing to consider - cold roads make for cold tires, which makes them less grippy. However the rubber used in snow tires stays softer in cold temps than a summer tire, which is very hard in the cold. So even on clean, dry roads the winter tire will grip better, but nothing is going to equal the grip of a sticky summer tire on warm roads. That's just life.

Road salt grinds up into a dusty, white film that coats the roads after the snow melts. This dust also limits traction.

In racing, I've found even the stickiest track tread doesn't really come alive until after a few hot laps. Similarly at the dragstrip, racers know a burnout or at least a quick spin of the tires gets the rubber hot and sticky for the best launch.

What AA said, x2.

Here in ct now its very salty and cold with ice everywhere, this car is really good in the snow with these tires im extremely happy. But, I feel like I literally lost power on dry roads it could be the fact these tires are very soft and its all in my head haha

I ended up sliding into a curb last week in my rivi here in Chicago last week. I'm not happy! My steering wheel is off center now. It goes straight holding the steering wheel at about 10 o'clock. Any ideas guys? I was thinking bent tie rod

Probably right. Hopefully that's all.

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But, I feel like I literally lost power on dry roads it could be the fact these tires are very soft and its all in my head haha.

From a stop, the tires won't grip in the cold. The extra power you get from cold air makes the problem worse. But from a roll you should notice the car accelerates stronger. The tires aren't the issue if they aren't slipping.

Everyone's different, but loosing traction always made me feel like the car gained power, rather than lost it.

Pulling hard isn't the only way to have fun in this car. Enjoy the snow for what it is - an opportunity to flick the car into a slide going around a corner. Low speed hoonery!

I've been running studded snow tires on my cars for about 6 years. I truly believe in them for all around safety, and positive grip in snow, ice, and even in rain to include deep puddles which grace our roadways around here in a quick thaw when the drain areas are plugged with ice and road debris. If you notice in AA's photo of his winter tires, there's lots of little slits in those winter tires called sipes. Each sipe acts as a gripping edge/blade in snow and ice, and a water channel in water and rain. I've run studded on a Park Ave, a little Honda Civic, A Lesabre, and this Riviera. The traction Control doesn't seem to ever kick on, it's just never needed.

The one threat that you CAN run up against with studs is having braking ability that's superior than all those cars behind you, and get rear-ended because they're sliding to a stop, and you're not!

I just think it's a cheap insurance policy for getting me home. As long as the snow isn't as deep as the frame of the car, I'm gonna make it, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than running a four wheel drive.

Great post, Jeff. I've never tried studs, but no doubt they work as you say. From what I read, you must install studs on fresh tires before the holes collect debris, and then the studs must stay in the tires until you are done for good.

Since we don't get ice storms that often, I opted for no studs. I'm really happy with these tires, even without them. Haven't had anyone rear end me yet, but I do get annoyed on entry ramps when cars are going so slowly they're about to slide down against the camber. I come in fast in comparison and have to brake hard. It's a touchy situation sometimes.

Studs if I'm talking about the right thing here, are illegal in my state. But really with the snow tires, I'm doing quite well in snow and what little serious bad ice I encounter is not an issue. I've definitely overestimated them a couple times in turns but I was just being sloppy as a driver. Like Jeff says though, studs I have to imagine are gonna give you such better traction than anyone else on the road, it's maybe better not to go that far unless you commute somewhere that doesn't have a bunch of traffic and you don't have to be as conscientious of other road users.

My tires are can be studded, but aren't right now. They feel great but are somewhat noisy, doesn't bother me though my exhaust drowns it out hahah

To give an idea of what snow tires can do, and what the Riviera can do, I'll share a story from this morning. We got freezing rain last night - it's right about 32ºF now, so all the ice has a nice thin layer of melting water on it. Not slushy, but super slippery. This is the kind of ice you can hardly stand up on without falling on your face. So about 3 blocks down from my house, I noticed the street blocked by a late model Taurus. He had parked on-street overnight, then tried to do a 3-point turn to get out, but got his front wheels stuck in some compacted ice & snow, maybe about 8" worth next to the curn. His car was now 90º to the curb, blocking both lanes of traffic. 3 neighbors were out pushing on the car; I could tell they'd been trying a while. The car had dug so deep into the ice that the wheels were even spinning when he put it in gear, without any gas. He really had nowhere to go with only about 4 ft of street behind the car.

I'm thinking: do I go to work, or do I get out and help push this guy? No, I don't want to push. That much I was sure of. But as I'm driving by, I remembered the hitch and nylon ratchet straps in the trunk. Without much more thinking I stopped, flipped on the hazards, threw her in reverse, and rolled back toward the scene. I don't mind the idea of pulling him. The dude looked pretty tired and embarrassed as I moved the rear end closer to his passenger rear wheel. Asked if I could hook in under the bumper and he agreed. Hooked the other end to my hitch receiver, then nearly bit it as I slipped off balance on the ice. Made it back to the Riv and waited for him to turn the wheel. Nice and easy on the gas, I pulled the back end of the Taurus completely sideways for about 6 feet, then proceeded to drag the entire car out of the iceberg until it was facing the correct direction on the street. Took all of 20 secs, pulled it a good 12-15 ft. Collected my straps, waved goodbye, on my way.

I don't even remember the tires spinning! The Riv just pulled like a champ. I think I saw the neighbors cheering and giving me fist pumps. Yeah, not too bad a morning so far.

Aaron your Riv is a beast! Cool story haha

Awesome tale! I have one from our last snowstorm - going up a fairly steep hill on an unplowed side street with 5-6 inches of unplowed soft slippery snow. I turned onto the uphill and had to stop right away as there were 4 cars diagonally blocking the way up. Two lanes each direction. I helped the first guy in a crown Vic get turned around so he could go across the hill and back down. Then another guy who was burning his tires trying to go up - I got him turned around and pointed down. I eyed the two other stuck cars further up the hill and saw how I could weave between them. Got back in my car and drive up past the others. (they could follow my lead with the other two cars and turn around anytime they wanted to but I was tired of pushing stupid people around). Little wheelspin but plugged right up the hill. Two other cars who tried to follow me didn't make it.

Drove my '03 Pontiac Vibe AWD in the snow today for the first time without snow tires. Did pretty well but eager to put the snows back on this weekend. My dad couldnt get to work today because the snow in front of his shop was over 3 ft in the lot and over 6 ft where it was plowed by the street!

Yuck!!!!

Oddly enough, I bought a "cheap" set of Goodyear Integrity tires for the Riv (225/60/R16 for the stock wheels). These tires do amazingly well in the snow. They're very soft and have a quiet, "comfort" ride to them. They wear out pretty fast on dry pavement, but damn I was impressed with how the Riv does in the snow with them on there. They can be had for around $90/tire.

Speaking of snow, how's it feel that you're about to get pummeled Abaddon?

matt270avian wrote:

Speaking of snow, how's it feel that you're about to get pummeled Abaddon?

The Wrangler is awaiting play time

I hate snow....

What sucks the most is that when the snow hits, everybody seems to forget that they drove in it last year They're all like "What is this white shit???"

I hate show too Scott

aw yeah. we getting dumped on right now. Riv is warming up right now for a lil lunch break action.

according to doppler radar, Scott is getting dumped on a lil harder than us right now.

w00p w00p winter 2015 has begun.

At my dads shop to start a fire and keep anything from freezing...




And heres my uncles apartment..

yeah man! Friends in Buffalo have been posting pics on Fbook!

CRRAZZY

That's a lot of snow for November. Good luck!!!