Buying tires....help!

[Mango]

Originally Posted by JohnnyO

There is an 80,000KM treadlife on the WRG2's I bought. So maybe not as high as a all season but not to shabby.

That's one thing I was wondering...I'm glad to see that there is a warranty on tires. Is 80,000km-ish a standard?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Mango

That's one thing I was wondering...I'm glad to see that there is a warranty on tires. Is 80,000km-ish a standard?

I think all season are about 80,000 to 120,000 Km so that's pretty good for an all weather. IIRC snow tires don't even give a tire mileage warranty. To make sure your tires last, check your air pressure every month or so or if it doesn't seem to ride right and make sure your wheels are aligned. Keep an eye on your tires for uneven wear and if the steering wheel pulls to either side.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by Dion

I live in small town High River and have yet to see a reason to buy winter tires. For sure i could go out and buy some but what would be the point when 95% plus of time it would be driving on dry pavement. We don't live in a snow belt where a lot of snow is being dumped every year.

You have said this on other threads before and you're spewing a lot of crap,the difference is dramatic.I make it a point of looking at the accidents I go to(as a firefighter)and most cars involved(at fault anyways)have summer(all-season)tires.

Sure there is an initail outlay but you're also saving miles on the all-seasons.

Just buy winter tires-you'll never look back.

[burn_this_city]

Skip the snow tires.. People will claim otherwise but 5 days a year isnt worth it.
Buy some good all seasons that have a decent treadwear rating. Just make sure you have them rotated every oil change or two and keep them properly inflated.. If you want to save some money and dont mind buying over the net try www.tiretrends.com. They are located in Maple Ridge BC..

[Incinerator]

I love my Goodyear Assurance TripleTred, I got them last year to replace the POS stock Michelins on my Accord. Bought them at Fountain Tire in Northland when they had a 4 for the price of 3 promo, great handling and comfort. Fountain Tire has great service too! So far so good on snow & ice, this is my 2nd winter with them...

[T@T]

There is no reason to have winter tires in Calgary..none. Winter tires are worst than summer tires on ice and since it's rare to get big snowfalls here that stays on the ground why have winter tires?, This city is either dry or icey so find a good all-weather tire and be done with it.

[browna]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Skip the snow tires.. People will claim otherwise but 5 days a year isnt worth it.
Buy some good all seasons that have a decent treadwear rating. Just make sure you have them rotated every oil change or two and keep them properly inflated.. If you want to save some money and dont mind buying over the net try www.tiretrends.com. They are located in Maple Ridge BC..

Well, guess I've used 2 of them then. Our side street is slick with ice from the rain/snow from Monday night. Put the (used, with rims) winter tires on Wednesday, went from skidding out of the turn into a smooth turn.
Noticeable right away...my first snow tires.

As far as I'm concerend, a cheap insurance policy. Saves my summer rims, less wear on my summer tires of 5K, and the added traction and shorter braking distances reduces the likelihood of an accident in winter....not just on the supposed "5" winter storm days, but on the days from January to end of Feb when sidestreets andsome main streets are regularly slick.

Winter tires wear more then regular AS tires when the temps are above 7C, but should last, depending on how much you drive, easily 3 or 4 winters without worry.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by chummer

You have said this on other threads before and you're spewing a lot of crap,the difference is dramatic.I make it a point of looking at the accidents I go to(as a firefighter)and most cars involved(at fault anyways)have summer(all-season)tires.

Sure there is an initail outlay but you're also saving miles on the all-seasons.

Just buy winter tires-you'll never look back.

I don't doubt the difference is dramatic. I merely stated MY VIEWS on the tire thing and how it affects my driving habits. I also don't drive like an idiot when the conditions are not great - which seems to be a cause of most of those accidents. 20+ years of driving and no accidents in the winter. That should tell you something

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by T@T

There is no reason to have winter tires in Calgary..none.

Disagree 1 billion percent. I used to not believe in winter tires. Then I got them for free on a company car. Made a huge difference. Now I have them for my personal car and have already noticed them helping this year.

http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/460483

[T@T]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Disagree 1 billion percent. I used to not believe in winter tires. Then I got them for free on a company car. Made a huge difference. Now I have them for my personal car and have already noticed them helping this year.

http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/460483

I challenge you to a race on ice, complete with sharp turns and hills

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by T@T

I challenge you to a race on ice, complete with sharp turns and hills

OK what kind of car do you have? Is it going to even be close for me to try?

And can we re-do the race in summer too when I have my summer tires on?

Note to those considering winter tires... your handling in the car goes to shat on dry roads with winter tires. They are designed for snow and ice, and WILL allow you better control when icy and snowy. But if you don't drive in this weather, don't waste your time. The other note to point out is that winter tires are generally made with different material, and won't freeze when it gets really cold. That is part of their schtick. All seasons, especially good ones, will out preform winter tires on dry, warmer roads 100% of the time.

If you stay at home on snowy days, or wait until the snow melts to drive, or only drive in heavy traffic where you go 10 km/h, then I would stick with a good all season. But if you drive later at night in the winter, when there is no traffic on the road, or you need to get places when there is snow on the road, then you should get them.

This might have been said before, but this debate it kinda like coke vs. pepsi. Some people like one, some like the other, some don't care and some like both. But everyone has an opinion and thinks everyone else is wrong.

[Calgaryborn]

Winter tires are much better than all seasons and are worth the investment. Winter tires use softer rubber(not actually rubber) which adheres to the road surface better. The draw back is that they are too soft of a material for summer heat. If you run winter tires in the summer time they will wear down faster than all seasons. They're fine in fall and spring conditions. You want a tire that has good syping(sp) which are lateral cuts in the tread which open and act like little suction cups on ice. The other think to look for is enough space between the treads to push out snow and slush. I would recommend a Toyo winter tire in the medium price range. They have a line that actually incorporates walnut shells in the tread. Blizzaks(sp) are very good in winter but, do tend to wear faster than other winter tires. I think they are made from too soft of material.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Dion

I live in small town High River and have yet to see a reason to buy winter tires. For sure i could go out and buy some but what would be the point when 95% plus of time it would be driving on dry pavement. We don't live in a snow belt where a lot of snow is being dumped every year.

You don't understand the difference between snow tires and winter tires.

Winter tires are made out of a different compound than all seasons, which stays more pliable when it is -20C outside. Guess how well your all seasons stop on (supposed) dry pavement in those conditions? And you know as well as anyone that even though there is no actual snow on the road, Hwy 2 can easily ice up in places.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by T@T

There is no reason to have winter tires in Calgary..none. Winter tires are worst than summer tires on ice and since it's rare to get big snowfalls here that stays on the ground why have winter tires?, This city is either dry or icey so find a good all-weather tire and be done with it.

[stang]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

OK what kind of car do you have? Is it going to even be close for me to try?

And can we re-do the race in summer too when I have my summer tires on?

Note to those considering winter tires... your handling in the car goes to shat on dry roads with winter tires. They are designed for snow and ice, and WILL allow you better control when icy and snowy. But if you don't drive in this weather, don't waste your time. The other note to point out is that winter tires are generally made with different material, and won't freeze when it gets really cold. That is part of their schtick. All seasons, especially good ones, will out preform winter tires on dry, warmer roads 100% of the time.

If you stay at home on snowy days, or wait until the snow melts to drive, or only drive in heavy traffic where you go 10 km/h, then I would stick with a good all season. But if you drive later at night in the winter, when there is no traffic on the road, or you need to get places when there is snow on the road, then you should get them.

This might have been said before, but this debate it kinda like coke vs. pepsi. Some people like one, some like the other, some don't care and some like both. But everyone has an opinion and thinks everyone else is wrong.

You are kinda wrong here... I would take my winter tires over your all seasons on a dry road at -20. They will perform better

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Note to those considering winter tires... your handling in the car goes to shat on dry roads with winter tires.

I disagree, based on the tires one is running. I'm running Dunlop Wintersport M3s, and the handling I get in sub zero temperatures on dry roads is perfectly fine. Results may vary though if one buys the Crappy Tire specials...

[burn_this_city]

I find it amazing our parents and grandparents survived numerous winters driving rwd boats on bias ply tires. Its kind of a sad statement about drivers today, so reliant on abs, traction control, and winter tires to make up for the inability to drive effectively.

[Ironhorse]

It is not so much covering up the inability to drive (well part of the population anyway), but more the use of available materials to make our lives easier. Our parents managed, but they probably also got stuck more than they would have liked; they just dealt with what they had available. I could probably manage a rwd dinosaur with bias ply tires, but if I can use technology to make my morning drive easier and less stressful, I will.

[BlackArcher101]

The roads also weren't jam packed with traffic and things were a little easier going/relaxed. Now to cut into traffic, you have to accelerate faster and with following distances smaller, you need to stop faster.

[ernie]

Originally Posted by stang

Buy some winter tires amd some rims....

Then in the summer buy some summer tires... and put them on your normal rims.

This.

When I had a Mazda 3 the switch to winter tires was more noticeable than for any other car I've ever driven.