So I'm sold on winter tires, but how much of a difference does all wheel drive make over front wheel drive for winter driving?
It really depends on what AWD system it is. Some are horrible, some a good. My subie is alright, it has it's plus and minuses, but so far I would say it's better than FWD just on the fact I don't spin from a stop when trying to go up a hill.
My blizzak's were laughing at the roads tonight. "Hahaha, you call this a storm!?!!?" It wasn't even a test for them. From the far southside of Cochrane, back up around town and down the 1a/Crowchild to the north side of the university in 52 minutes and I made a pit-stop for gasoline on the way. There were pathfinders, etc. skidding out on the big hill coming out of Cochrane and I climbed it in a Mitsubishi Eclipse with ease.
I wrote this in the other thread but I'll add it here since the same video was posted:
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackArcher101
Watch these
Okay, someone help me out here. Aren't the first set of "All-season" Tires on the white Ford (which does significantly poorly compared to the Gold Mercedes) actually the CP-endorsed Nokian "all-weather" WR's? (pause at 0:05 to 0:08 - you can read the "nokian" brand and the tread is virtually identical)
Then, to confuse things, when they swap them, the Gold Mercedes gets some funky patterned (aka asymetrical tread) Dunlops... what's up with that?
So I'm sold on winter tires, but how much of a difference does all wheel drive make over front wheel drive for winter driving?
It will making a huge difference in terms of not getting stuck or accelerating from an icy intersection, but I don't think it makes a huge safety difference. I recall that statistical analysis showed no difference in the safety of AWD/4x4 versus FWD vehicles. Most winter accidents don't occur due to loss of traction or control during acceleration, they occur due to loss of control during braking or evasive steering. Whatever safety benefit you do get from AWD is counteracted by the fact that you will be much more aware of traction issues if you are driving a regular FWD vehicle.
Also... this is what I consider safe looking tires for winter:
I can't make up my mind about studded tires. I have seen the Swedish ratings that showed studded tires performed better than non-studded, but then somewhere else (Tirerack, maybe) they showed that studded tires performed worse. And then, I can imagine that studs provide a huge disadvantage on dry pavement.
Anyway, can a person buy the studs themselves and install them, because the last time I looked into it, the tire dealer wanted a huge fee for the studs and also talked to me like I was ######ed for wanting them.
Also... this is what I consider safe looking tires for winter:
The look though, is not important as the feel. If you park your car outside in this cold, go up and grab the rubber and if it's soft your good to go. If it's hard, you're screwed.
I've had the Pirellis the Blizzaks(sp?) and the Nokians, I would rate them myself in order, Blizzak, Pirelli, Nokian. But you can't go wrong with any of them, and winter tires make a huge difference.
Oh my god I just realized my wife is the slowest driver in calgary, it is not that slippery. I apogize to the other drivers , I'm the guy covering his head in the passebger seat.
Could be worse, could be me with a 2 handed death grib on the oh crap handle.
Oh my god I just realized my wife is the slowest driver in calgary, it is not that slippery. I apogize to the other drivers , I'm the guy covering his head in the passebger seat.
What a dick. Who would make their wife drive in this type of weather? Jerk! hehe
I've had the Pirellis the Blizzaks(sp?) and the Nokians, I would rate them myself in order, Blizzak, Pirelli, Nokian. But you can't go wrong with any of them, and winter tires make a huge difference.
I actually think the Blizzak tires are the least best of that bunch. While Blizzak's have the best traction brand new, their special microcell compound is only good for 50% of the depth of the tread. After that they are just normal all seasons.
For that reason I like the Michelin X-ice Si2 - cheaper than Nokian. Decent T speed rating too. I find Q rated tires a little too close for comfort with our chinook weather.
Oh my god I just realized my wife is the slowest driver in calgary, it is not that slippery. I apogize to the other drivers , I'm the guy covering his head in the passebger seat.
Covering your head does nothing. I'm contemplating getting a steel bush bar on the front of my Jeep to push puny vehicles out of my way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Ditch
I've had the Pirellis the Blizzaks(sp?) and the Nokians, I would rate them myself in order, Blizzak, Pirelli, Nokian. But you can't go wrong with any of them, and winter tires make a huge difference.
When I was a kid I drove my first car, a 5.0L Mustang, and then my ancient pickup truck, in the winter on all-seasons, so I used to think that people who needed Winter tires were bad drivers and women.
Its absolutely night and day, I got by back then, but winter tires makes it a lot easier.
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Covering your head does nothing. I'm contemplating getting a steel bush bar on the front of my Jeep to push puny vehicles out of my way.
When I was a kid I drove my first car, a 5.0L Mustang, and then my ancient pickup truck, in the winter on all-seasons, so I used to think that people who needed Winter tires were bad drivers and women.
Its absolutely night and day, I got by back then, but winter tires makes it a lot easier.
I loved the winters driving my 89' GT.. Those cars were the best winter drift machines.. I definitely recommend a bush bar, I've got a huge WARN one on my truck and its great for pulling the PIT maneuver on slow drivers.
and if it's soft your good to go. If it's hard, you're screwed. 
