Driving in snow

  • Thread starter Thread starter new car buyer
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Just like the saying goes, "Tires wins races." so goes the snow tire question. I'm running the 16" Michelin Arctic Alpines everyone has talked about. One of the positives is that they're not as wide as the BFG's so you don't get the "snow plow" effect up front.

I ran one winter with the OEM's and the last 2 with these and the difference between them are amazing. I feel comfortable up to 3 inches of snow on untreated roads but have been out there with as much 6 inches of snow and it handled great while lots of other cars were pulled off to the side.

Don't confuse it with the guys blowing by you in a Jeep, but you'll get where you need to be.
 
Everyone, particularly ADE...

You are concerning me... How many snowy days do you have the snow shoes on your car for? Do you buy new ones every year?

In Chicago we had about 5 or 6 days where most of my commute (17miles) is on snow covered streets. I'm sure on those days I'd be thankful for having snow tires, but what about the rest of the winter? The wet roads wouldn't be as bad, but the many days of dry roads - well wouldn't they just wear the extra siping of the tires before the season is over?

I guess what I'm asking, is the expense of snow tires on steel rims (and having to store extra tires) practical over just having to suffer driving EXTRA careful a handful of days in the winter?
 
Shaft333 said:
Everyone, particularly ADE...

You are concerning me... How many snowy days do you have the snow shoes on your car for? Do you buy new ones every year?

In Chicago we had about 5 or 6 days where most of my commute (17miles) is on snow covered streets. I'm sure on those days I'd be thankful for having snow tires, but what about the rest of the winter? The wet roads wouldn't be as bad, but the many days of dry roads - well wouldn't they just wear the extra siping of the tires before the season is over?

I guess what I'm asking, is the expense of snow tires on steel rims (and having to store extra tires) practical over just having to suffer driving EXTRA careful a handful of days in the winter?
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We had a pretty mild winter in terms of the amount of snow fall this year, so there have been many days of driving on dry roads. The deal we got at the time from Discount Tire was 4 tires mounted on steel rims and delivered for something like $500.

Well worth it for a guy that lives in a town where there is no such thing as a flat, level road. I see you're in Chicago, so you may view it differently and you may be able to get by with the OEM's. Not possible in Pittsburgh.
 
Shaft333 said:
Everyone, particularly ADE...

You are concerning me... How many snowy days do you have the snow shoes on your car for? Do you buy new ones every year?

In Chicago we had about 5 or 6 days where most of my commute (17miles) is on snow covered streets. I'm sure on those days I'd be thankful for having snow tires, but what about the rest of the winter? The wet roads wouldn't be as bad, but the many days of dry roads - well wouldn't they just wear the extra siping of the tires before the season is over?

I guess what I'm asking, is the expense of snow tires on steel rims (and having to store extra tires) practical over just having to suffer driving EXTRA careful a handful of days in the winter?
Click to expand...

Well, you know how much it snowed here this year. Not much in reality, but could you afford not having the ability to get around safely on those days? Whether or not you need to buy snow tires depends on your answer to this question.

I only have a 10 mile commute to work, but my Marauder is my only means of transport during the winter months. The Marauder with the stock tires is fine 80% of the time during the mild winters we have had lately. However, the $600 bucks I spent was well worth getting around safely during the few heavy snow falls we have had. Sure, you can tip toe through to the snow with the stock tires and you'll probably make it. But what if you need to avoid an accident in the snow? Take a look through old posts here and you will see accounts of people crunching metal and bending axles after mishaps with the stock tires. The $600 investment of the snow tires will seem mininal after you get into an accident. Remember, being "extra careful" cannot defy the laws of physics.

If you can afford staying off the roads when we have a heavy snow,don't bother with snow tires. But if not, I think they are a wise investment.

Don't worry about wear. I don't see any issues with getting at least 3 seasons out of a set of good snow tires depending on how much you drive.
 
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new car buyer said:
My car is really terrible in the snow. Is this something common with these cars? Would putting on snow tires make much of a difference? If so, what would you guys recommend? Are there any snow tires that would fit our rims or would I have to buy new rims as well? Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Here's a link to the 18" Blizzak's WS-50s on an 03' 300a (no tc):

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14445

No problem with fitment or ABS lights. I haven't had the car in the snow at all this winter (just didn't have the heart to risk hit-by-others), but I've found them much better than the OEMs on wet / icy roads.
 
BillyGman said:
My point is, that although some of this has a lot to do with people who obviously didn't know how to drive in the snow(and there are plenty of those around :rolleyes: ) I think that even with AWD, and FWD vehicles, there's still a need for snow tires. I see so many motorists on the snowy roads driving FWD, and AWD vehicles who seem to think they're invinceable even w/out having snow tires. But I've witnessed a number of them get stuck as well as having accidents
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I see this, far too often. Big SUV flying down the road, well above the posted limit, in snow/icey conditions. People seem to forget that a 5500lb SUV CAN slide on ice, and when it does, it's 5500lb!!! Now mass takes over in this equation :rolleyes:

I've put snows on every vehicle I've ever driven in the winter-time. There's no way I'd would not. A few dollars for extra comfort, safety and no road rash to the nice wheels is well worth it.

IMO, AWD is far superior to FWD or RWD in the winter. As for the FWD vs. RWD debate... Yes, all things being equal, a RWD car will have more traction problems than a FWD car, from a dead stop, at least.

Having said that, which one do you feel more confident could pull out of a bad situation (e.g. sliding)? The RWD, where you can use the gas pedal to move and steer with the fronts (that are NOT spinning)? Or the FWD, where the front wheels spinning also removes the ability to steer? I'll take my RWD, any day of the week, thank you very much.
 
My MM could not even get out of my driveway with out snowtires. You would have to see it to understand why. Anyway, Tirerack package using Firestone WinterForce tires has kept me going all winter. With the hours I work and the amount of snow we get, snow tires are an absolute must. Its March 10th, looks like January 10th and there is no end in sight.
 
I live in Brooklyn, and whether you guys think the car does okay or not in the snow,My opinion is that you guys if you can should park your Marauders in a garage under the cover as I do. There are several reasons why 1. dont have to change tires. 2 dont have to worry about salt. 3 Most of all don't have to worry about some a**hole sliding into you.
 
jabo731 said:
I live in Brooklyn, and whether you guys think the car does okay or not in the snow,My opinion is that you guys if you can should park your Marauders in a garage under the cover as I do. There are several reasons why 1. dont have to change tires. 2 dont have to worry about salt. 3 Most of all don't have to worry about some a**hole sliding into you.
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Hey, i haven'y any argument with that being the ideal remedy. keep the Marauder inside all winter!!!! Unfortunately, some of us own merely one car, and we've chosen to own a Marauder. So guys in my situation haven't any choice but to drive in the snow. That's just the way it is for me. I can't see having a car loan payment, for a vehicle that's just for fair weather driving. Some people can handle that, but not me. Atleast not right now.
 
If I stowed the Marauder for nice days I'd may as well not own it at all.
It's got too many wheels to drive on nice cloudless summer days.
 
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