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Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

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Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#31

Post by mattmaroon »

riley_dog wrote: post #29
qbasic_forever wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Snow tires are great but they really don't help with ice. The only reliable ice traction in my experience are tire chains or studs.

This is such a common statement from people who don't own winter tires.

I own winter tires and he’s right. They’re not a marked improvement on just ice. You’re normally not on just ice a lot though thankfully.

Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#32

Post by throwaway892238 »

analog31 wrote: post #25

Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…

FYI there is a new category of tire called "all weather", which have the little mountain-snowflake symbol used for snow tires. They're basically all-seasons rated for snow. I haven't seen a comparison against pure snow tires, but they do perform much better than all-seasons in snow.

Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#33

Post by smhinsey »

throwaway892238 wrote: post #32
analog31 wrote: post #25

Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…

FYI there is a new category of tire called "all weather", which have the little mountain-snowflake symbol used for snow tires. They're basically all-seasons rated for snow. I haven't seen a comparison against pure snow tires, but they do perform much better than all-seasons in snow.

Do you mean the 3 mountain snowflake rating? I recently switched from some AT tires without it to those with it and while they definitely don't rise to the level of snow tires, the 3 mountain snowflake rating does seem to be legit. I don't do anything extreme in the snow but I don't want to turn around, either, and they go further than similar AT tires without.

Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#35

Post by dalyons »

throwaway892238 wrote: post #32
analog31 wrote: post #25

Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…

FYI there is a new category of tire called "all weather", which have the little mountain-snowflake symbol used for snow tires. They're basically all-seasons rated for snow. I haven't seen a comparison against pure snow tires, but they do perform much better than all-seasons in snow.

They’re pretty great. Eg the michellean crossclimate 2. Unless you live somewhere with months and months of ice, they’re probably the way to go these days. Most of the performance, much less wear/noise/warm temp problems

Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#36

Post by KennyBlanken »

throwaway892238 wrote: post #32
analog31 wrote: post #25

Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…

FYI there is a new category of tire called "all weather", which have the little mountain-snowflake symbol used for snow tires. They're basically all-seasons rated for snow. I haven't seen a comparison against pure snow tires, but they do perform much better than all-seasons in snow.

That sounds suspiciously like a rebranding of "M&S rated" all-seasons.

Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#37

Post by jacobmarble »

analog31 wrote: post #25

Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…

Can confirm. I’ve owned front wheel and all wheel drive minivans, both with all season and proper snow tires.

Snow tires are much more effective than all wheel drive, but having both is (obviously) better.

Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#38

Post by teh_klev »

qbasic_forever wrote: post #27
analog31 wrote: post #25

Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…

Snow tires are great but they really don't help with ice. The only reliable ice traction in my experience are tire chains or studs.

Having had snow tyres on previous cars I can confirm that these tyres are no better than regular tyres if you hit a patch of black ice. There's basically no traction available. Now, if you've invested in studs for your winter tyres then it's a bit of a different story. But the parent is mostly correct.

Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#39

Post by cortesoft »

userbinator wrote: post #24
blamazon wrote: post #16

These have been common in North America for large trucks operating in snowy places for decades - school buses, dump trucks, etc. Handy because you don't have to stop/get out/interrupt service - just flip a switch and you've got improved traction!

It seems like one of those things that's probably more common than you think, given that you'd have to pay very close attention and know what you're looking for to see them in use.

Also something I would never see living in Los Angeles.

Re: Automatic snow tires throw chains at your wheels [video]

#40

Post by beezle »

qbasic_forever wrote: post #27
analog31 wrote: post #25

Granted a passenger car is not a heavy truck or bus, but living in the upper Midwest, I've learned that snow tires make a huge difference for winter driving. I'd heard the folklore that snow tires are more important than all wheel drive for handling on both snow and ice, and having used them for a few years now, I'm a believer. So called "all season" tires are not snow tires. You can get a complete set of snow tires,…

Snow tires are great but they really don't help with ice. The only reliable ice traction in my experience are tire chains or studs.

The advantage of snow tires on ice is that they are designed to have a stiffer sidewall. Studded snows are better, yes, but even regular snows are a step up on icy road conditions.
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