The stopping distance difference at 10 MPH between summer/winter/all season on sheer ice:
Summer: 47 feet
All season: 39 feet
Winter/ice: 21 feet
At 10 frikkin MPH. Bump that up to 50 MPH and do the math. Bottom line, it's a cheap ass decision not to buy winter tires. Nothing less/nothing more. You're just cheap, or can't afford to. I can sympathize with those who can't afford it. Not with those that are just tighter than bark around a tree.
OK, I'll just shut up, please watch this video. 3 exact same BMW's on 3 types of rubber.
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I think the bigger problem in Calgary from a pure traffic perspective it the amount of absolute pieces of garbage that are operating on our streets. This morning alone my commute down Crowchild was slowed 3 separate times by cars quit in the middle of a lane, all of which looked like they shouldn't be allowed on the road.
If Alberta required safety inspections for vehicle, most of the cars quitting during extreme cold weather or snow storms would not be on the road. I'd be more of an advocate for required safety inspection than winter tires as a result. Don't most other Provinces require an annual safety inspection?
Last edited by TheAlpineOracle; 01-09-2017 at 01:45 PM.
I think the bigger problem in Calgary from a pure traffic perspective it the amount of absolute pieces of garbage that are operating on our streets. This morning alone my commute down Crowchild was slowed 3 separate times by cars quit in the middle of a lane, all of which looked like they shouldn't be allowed on the road.
If Alberta required safety inspections for vehicle, most of the cars quitting during extreme cold weather or snow storms would not be on the road. I'd be more of an advocate for required safety inspection than winter tires as a result. Don't most other Provinces require an annual safety inspection?
I'd rather have a bunch of miled out rickety 1998 Mercury Sables on Blizzaks on the road, than brand new, 2017 rear drive, BMW 3 series with all seasons in the winter.
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People arguing against this are reminding me more and more of people that argued against mandatory seat belts. The only reason NOT to use winter tires is laziness and/or ignorance
I'd rather have a bunch of miled out rickety 1998 Mercury Sables on Blizzaks on the road, than brand new, 2017 rear drive, BMW 3 series with all seasons in the winter.
The people driving these clunkers aren't putting winter tires on them when they can't even afford general maintenance, so you are kind of killing two birds with one stone with inspections.
I have winter tires on both my vehicles. Would never go back to all seasons.
People arguing against this are reminding me more and more of people that argued against mandatory seat belts. The only reason NOT to use winter tires is laziness and/or ignorance
Storage and changing of tires? Unless you buy another set of wheels..
You can buy relatively cheap winter tires and steel rims for less than $500 total. If you can afford to insure a car, keep it fueled and do the maintenance, it isn't a tall ask. You can also purchase all-weather tires if you don't want to do the swaps - a little more upfront, but not dissimilar to storing/switching over two or three years.
My dad just bought a Q5 before New Year's - Quattro AWD, great winter car, right? Driving it Friday, tapped the brakes a good 200 feet before the light when it turned yellow, and I slid midway through an intersection. I had no control over the car at all. Because all-season tires are only slightly less worthless than summer tires when it's -20.
Also, any costs associated with getting and switching winters pales in comparison to the hit you have to deal with if you get into a collision that could've been avoided if you'd just had the proper equipment on your car.
You wouldn't wear shorts and flip flops in -20 - you shouldn't drive on unsuitable tires either - you're a danger to yourself and others.
Why don't people vaccinate their kids? I don't know, but I vaccinate mine.
Why don't people check the batteries on their smoke detectors? I check mine.
Why don't people pick up after their dogs? I pick up after mine.
Why don't people...
Why don't people get winter tires? I don't know, but I got 'em on my cars.
You can't fix ignorant people's opinions/behaviors.
Not picking up after your dog is a $200+ fine if a bylaw officer catches you.
The other solution is to legislate it. If the ticket is the same as a price of discount winters, it's an easy decision even among the ignorant - you can give the government $500 because you were lazy, or you can spend that money on something that's going to keep you, your family, and everyone you share the road with safer.
Just because people have them, does not mean the automatically drive like ass hats. I have also seen people buy performance cars with frikking Z rated tires, that have less than zero grip in the winter, and run them in the winter against everyone's recommendation. Including the tire manufacturer where it says right on the sidewall 'not intended for winter use'.
And that is the guy that says "I'm such a rad awesome driver, I don't need snows." That guy is a frikkin tool shed.
I was just driving down Beddington and an SUV in front of me doing about 50 spun out while driving straight. I could have tried to purposely spun out and I don't think I would have been able to. Now I don't know if he was driving on all seasons or on summer tires but I guarantee you he didn't have all weather tires or winter tires.
Seriously, winter tires make a Yuge difference. Anyone denying this has never driven on winter tires.
People arguing against this are reminding me more and more of people that argued against mandatory seat belts. The only reason NOT to use winter tires is laziness and/or ignorance
Not that great of an example. Seat belts come installed when you buy a car, winter tires do not come installed (or even included for that matter) when you buy a car.
Last edited by Hockeyguy15; 01-09-2017 at 02:27 PM.
Not that great of an example. Seat belts come installed when you buy a car, winter tires do not come installed (or even included for that matter) when you buy a car.
If you don't wear a seatbelt, you're dumb. If you don't have winter tires, you're dumb. Works okay as an example.
No it's absolutely not time to make winter tires mandatory. It can be mandatory for people with poor driving records. Winter tires give drivers a false sence of security. The best way to be a safe driver is to be a defensive driver.
Insurance companies don't reduce rates for winter tires. I think they would know if winter tires were to reduce claims. If i'm forced to get winter tires for safety then insurance should be forced to reduce my rates.
The answer is no to winter tires.
Whenever I hear someone say the bolded, I know they have never used winter tires. The sense of security isn't false, it's very real, and deserved. I feel it whenever I head out on snow and ice. The problem about being a defensive driver while using the wrong rubber is, you end up doing it at an annoyingly slower speed than would be necessary to drive safely using winter tires.
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