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Author Topic: snow tires - 2 or 4??  (Read 683 times)

Offline 63tb

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« on: October 17, 2005, 01:41:01 PM »
Folks,

I want to get snow tires for my car (PT Cruiser) and my wife's van (Mazda MPV). We live in NJ, so you never can tell how the winter will go. Some years it's not bad but if a nor'easter comes in we can get hammered (like last year). With the way the weather has been going, (we just had 10 inches of rain), I wouldn't be surprised if this winter is rough.

Anyway, several local tire places I've called, and the Internet tire store "Tire-Rack", all say that I should get 4 snow tires on the cars. Why?

I remember back when almost all cars were rear-wheel drive and everyone just put 2 snow tires on the back.

Now both our cars are front wheel drive. Why wouldn't 2 snow tires on the front wheels be sufficient?

Are these guys just trying to sell more tires, or is there a reason to put snow tires on the rear wheels as well?

thanks

63tb
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Offline Hangtime

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2005, 01:47:29 PM »
With FWD the majority of power, handling and braking power is concentrated where it'll do the most good.. on the front. However, about 30% of your braking control is on the rear, and stability when turning and braking (evasives) is hugely affected by rear traction and tire grip. Also as weight builds up in the rear of the vehicle (passengers, etc) the need for better traction on the back in marginal conditions becomes crucial.

I'd use 4 snow tires, even on a front wheel drive. Absolutey 4 on rear wheel drive.
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Offline Staga

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2005, 01:57:09 PM »
ALWAYS 4 tires and better ones in rear axle. Anything else would be stupid.

Oh and in here we HAVE to use wintertires (spiked or M+S) 4 months per year.

Just to make it clear: last thing in icy/snowy road is rear-axle having crappy tires; it's good way to get yourself and others killed. It's your (and others life too) and only one you'll have.

About the tire brands: buy Nokian, Continental or Gislaved; winter tires from those manufacturers have been in top 5 in tests as long as I can remember.
« Last Edit: October 17, 2005, 02:02:15 PM by Staga »
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Offline mipoikel

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2005, 02:01:12 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Staga


Oh and in here we HAVE to use wintertires (spiked or M+S) 4 months per year.

 


I would say 5 and if it goes bad 6...:aok
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Offline Staga

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2005, 02:12:10 PM »
Nobody's forcing you to live up there :P
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Offline lasersailor184

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2005, 02:12:30 PM »
Please, snow tires aren't vital to control in snow.  

Experience is 20x more vital than any tire.




One of the first things my parents did when teaching me how to drive was to take my to a snow covered parking lot and make me perform standard things a little faster than I normally would have.

Snow means nothing to me.
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Offline straffo

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2005, 02:14:14 PM »
What is a snow tire ?
what is ice ?
what is winter ?
:p
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Offline mora

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2005, 02:19:21 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Staga
ALWAYS 4 tires and better ones in rear axle. Anything else would be stupid.

That's true. There's just the problem that if you always put the better ones in the back, your tire set won't last too many winters. If the worse pair is in a decent condition I usually put them in the back. Not the safest solution I know, but it makes your tires last longer.

One important thing to remember with stud tires is that you should never reverse their rotation, or you will lose the studs. As mentioned using just 2 winter tires is dangerous, and illegal at least in here.
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Offline Fishu

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2005, 02:41:24 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Staga
Continental


Continental was caught of sending better quality tires to the tests than to the stores :)
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Offline Clifra Jones

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2005, 02:42:22 PM »
Drove around Buffalo NY for many years with nothing but all weather radials on my front wheel drive Toyota and never really had any issues.

Then I got smart and moved away from the snow.
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Offline J_A_B

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2005, 02:51:21 PM »
A front-drive PT cruiser in New Jersey?   The best thing to do is not waste your money on snow tires that you don't need.

The van might sort of benefit from them.  On the other hand, having good throttle and brake control will help you 50 times more than any snow tires will.  If it's your wife's vehicle, she will slide anyway because women can't grasp throttle control.

J_A_B
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Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2005, 03:05:02 PM »
Quote
Snow means nothing to me.


:D Famous last words
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Offline Staga

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2005, 03:05:13 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by lasersailor184
Please, snow tires aren't vital to control in snow.  

Experience is 20x more vital than any tire.

One of the first things my parents did when teaching me how to drive was to take my to a snow covered parking lot and make me perform standard things a little faster than I normally would have.

Snow means nothing to me.



Experience is more vital than tires but quite often it's not up to you what happens on the road and then I'd like to get my car stopped in 50 meters instead of 150 meters.

I won't put any of my loved ones lifes in risk by forcing them to drive a car with crappy tires; when I was younger I also thought I was a hot driver but after too many "ooops" situations I become wiser.

Choice is yours and you're the one who have to live with possible consequences.

"Snow means nothing to me"... LOL
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Offline Staga

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2005, 03:11:47 PM »
Pick your choice. Funny thing is 10-15 years ago Bridgestone's Blizzak was the best you could get and now it's worst...

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Offline Staga

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snow tires - 2 or 4??
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2005, 03:16:21 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by J_A_B
If it's your wife's vehicle, she will slide anyway because women can't grasp throttle control.

J_A_B


Maybe that's why Michelle Mouton was so damn fast.
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