Should Winter Tires be Necessary?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Frankster

I, personally, cannot tell the difference between an all-weather and winter tire

It was either an incredibly fantastic all-season, or a bald winter....

[calumniate]

The problem is with Calgary roads is that more often than not you need ice tires more than snow tires. I find that all seasons & snow tires sometimes perform roughly the same on the Calgary dry ice.

My tires are for mud and snow.. not bad, but those sticky blizzaks would be pretty awesome at times you would think. I almost wish there was a spray or something you could put on your tires to mimic the Blizzak technology. There, I said it! Somebody get rich now!

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by calumniate

The problem is with Calgary roads is that more often than not you need ice tires more than snow tires. I find that all seasons & snow tires sometimes perform roughly the same on the Calgary dry ice.

My tires are for mud and snow.. not bad, but those sticky blizzaks would be pretty awesome at times you would think. I almost wish there was a spray or something you could put on your tires to mimic the Blizzak technology. There, I said it! Somebody get rich now!

Some Mud and Snow tires are considered "winter" tires. Check for the snowflake.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Congratulations on being one of the people that murdered traffic all week because you had to drive 40km/h below the limit to maintain traction on your inadequate tires.

Nope. Conditions for the last 4-5 days haven't required a slow down, for the most part. When conditions did require a slow down (on Stoney Trail NE for example), I was driving past the cars going 40 km/hr under the limit, in the lane that had better conditions.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Congratulations on being one of the people that murdered traffic all week because you had to drive 40km/h below the limit to maintain traction on your inadequate tires.

What a silly comment.

So because your vehicle cannot handle this weather without a specific type of tire you assume that goes for every vehicle?

FWD vehicle with a decent set of all seasons should have had no major issues the past week if the driver understands his vehicle and how to plan a proper route, keeping in mind road conditions.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Some Mud and Snow tires are considered "winter" tires. Check for the snowflake.

What about all seasons that are designed for snow performance?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....emeContact+DWS

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Some Mud and Snow tires are considered "winter" tires. Check for the snowflake.

Hmm I'll do that thanks.. although I'm content with what I have due to financial reasons

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

For all those who think all season are just as good, how about this: After having an accident in the snow/ice, your insurance requires you to buy winter tires until the incident comes off your record.

Who said winter tires = all season tires?!

[The Yen Man]

I agree with some here that there should be an insurance discount for putting winter tires on their cars rather than having the government make it mandatory. I understand some people can't afford them or are unwilling to afford them because they believe they don't need it.

But no one should argue the fact that a car with winter tires is better than a car without. It's a preventative measure. Its no different than getting a discount on insurance premiums for having a car alarm IMO.

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

What a silly comment.

So because your vehicle cannot handle this weather without a specific type of tire you assume that goes for every vehicle?

FWD vehicle with a decent set of all seasons should have had no major issues the past week if the driver understands his vehicle and how to plan a proper route, keeping in mind road conditions.

No one is arguing that you CAN do it... I could theoritcally drive a FWD car with BFG KDW's (summer high performance tire) in this weather and avoid accidents... should i? Hell friggen no.

I bet most of the people see the immediate price hit and say it is a useless cost and that they can put it off.. Simply IMO you shouldnt be driving in this weather without winter tires.

I have driven RWD/FWD/AWD vehicles with winter/summer/all-season tires and the effects that winter tires have is outstanding.



Look at it this way. Not everyone here uses their seatbelt every day, hell most of you could drive without one and never have a problem.. But the minute you need one is the minute you dont have one.. Makes sense right? Tires work the same way.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Who said winter tires = all season tires?!

Yep, I don't think anyone here is saying that winter tires suck....they are clearly superior in winter conditions. The questions are whether they are a necessity, and if are worth the enforcement of government. I'm not convinced by the former, and a pretty emphatic no on the latter.

I'm sure the two dozen airbags they stick into cars these days are safer too....doesn't mean they are a necessity that I can't drive safely without however.

I do like the idea of insurance companies offering rebates for snow tires though. That makes sense.

[burn_this_city]

Lets face it folks, they are a luxury not a necessity. I personally believe the government has no right to legislate their use.

[photon]

I agree, carrot instead of the stick, insurance rebates for winter tires.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Hmm I'll do that thanks.. although I'm content with what I have due to financial reasons

Nokian makes a good one, and they're competively priced, too. The one thing you have to watch out for is make darn sure you're rotating them every 10k.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I think an incentive to have people get the tires is better than forcing them to.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

No one is arguing that you CAN do it... I could theoritcally drive a FWD car with BFG KDW's (summer high performance tire) in this weather and avoid accidents... should i? Hell friggen no.

I bet most of the people see the immediate price hit and say it is a useless cost and that they can put it off.. Simply IMO you shouldnt be driving in this weather without winter tires.

I have driven RWD/FWD/AWD vehicles with winter/summer/all-season tires and the effects that winter tires have is outstanding.



Look at it this way. Not everyone here uses their seatbelt every day, hell most of you could drive without one and never have a problem.. But the minute you need one is the minute you dont have one.. Makes sense right? Tires work the same way.

You're preaching to the choir, I own a set of winter tires and enjoy what they do for me. With that being said, there is abolsutley no need for them in this city (with certain types of vehicles) and to assume everyone driving with all seasons are causing traffic holdups is absurd.

IMO tires are great and all, but it really all comes down to the driver. You give a moron snows and he is still going to find a way to abuse the control they provide and smash up his vehicle (and likely others). You give a good driver a set of decent all seasons on a FWD car and he will be just fine.

[You Need a Thneed]

The notion that we should do EVERY POSSIBLE THING that one can do to make things marginally safer, no matter the cost, is not an idea that can be taken to the logical end.

Reducing all speed limits to be 30 km/hr would save many more lives than making winter tires mandatory, but I don't see anyone talking about that.

[Sluggo]

Forget insurance rates how bout the government give us a tax rebate for purchasing winter tires.

[J pold]

My all seasons and FWD drive my done me just fine in all my years of driving, and yes I drive the speed limit.

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

You're preaching to the choir, I own a set of winter tires and enjoy what they do for me. With that being said, there is abolsutley no need for them in this city (with certain types of vehicles) and to assume everyone driving with all seasons are causing traffic holdups is absurd.

IMO tires are great and all, but it really all comes down to the driver. You give a moron snows and he is still going to find a way to abuse the control they provide and smash up his vehicle (and likely others). You give a good driver a set of decent all seasons on a FWD car and he will be just fine.

I totally agree with you. I think that if they mandated higher driving regulations than everyone would benefit.

Seriously if i get my drivers licence in the summer i have NO idea how to drive in the winter... this just shouldnt happen in a place like Canada where it is winter 70% of the year.