Should Winter Tires be Necessary?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

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

I assure you my car which is equipped with Quattro, the winner of every ice and snow test for all wheel drive systems at the time of my vehicle's manufacture, can most definitely handle these conditions, especially with it's Pirelli Snowsport tires.

Thanks for making assumptions regarding my vehicle though.

When I first bought my car it had All Seasons on it and it was icy. I didn't cause any accidents but my safe driving speed was definitely slower than when I got the winter tires put on 2 days later.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Sluggo

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

Because it's the insurance companies that pay for accidents, not the government? Why would revcan give a tax break for winter tires?

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Thanks for making assumptions regarding my vehicle though.

That's a pretty funny (and extremly ironic) statement to make considering your last post.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

That's a pretty funny (and extremly ironic) statement to make considering your last post.

Its not ironic. I can say with absolute certainty that you couldn't have driven the speed limit on Deerfoot last night with All Season tires, as with winter tires and AWD things were getting floaty at 80km/h.

[TylerSVT]

I have a truck with Winter studded tires and 4wd and i dont feel safe going over 85 on deerfoot right now.. At least south of anderson road it is terrible.

[FlamesKickAss]

Seriously?? I was on deerfoot last night doing 100 with all seasons and I felt safe (from mckenzie towne to glenmore) at 9PM

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

I have a truck with Winter studded tires and 4wd and i dont feel safe going over 85 on deerfoot right now.. At least south of anderson road it is terrible.

Pick up the pace dude, holy crap.

[Mtt48]

The scariest section of road I have to consistently drive on is the stretch on the Crowchild bridge, between memorial and the bow trail exits. That bridge ices pretty bad and I always envision myself losing control and flying off the thing.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

Seriously?? I was on deerfoot last night doing 100 with all seasons and I felt safe (from mckenzie towne to glenmore) at 9PM

The Calf Robe Bridge at midnight was absolutely horrendous.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Mtt48

The scariest section of road I have to consistently drive on is the stretch on the Crowchild bridge, between memorial and the bow trail exits. That bridge ices pretty bad and I always envision myself losing control and flying off the thing.

That's funny. I've envisioned lots and lots of people flying off that thing.

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

The Calf Robe Bridge at midnight was absolutely horrendous.

Yea that I can believe.

[Bill Bumface]

I'm sure there are lots of big trucks that are better on stock tires than many passenger cars with winter tires, and I don't think a law is the best idea, but as has been raised before, if I have aluminum wiring in my house and it's more likely to burn down, my policy is crappier and more expensive. Why not the same idea for car insurance? People who crash less and have better equipped cars should catch a break for being lower risk.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Its not ironic. I can say with absolute certainty that you couldn't have driven the speed limit on Deerfoot last night with All Season tires, as with winter tires and AWD things were getting floaty at 80km/h.

You may be right, although I could see many debating you on that. With that said any smart driver, knowing the roads are bad and knowing he doesn't have the best tires for the conditions should be avoiding the 2-3 roads in this city that require travel above 80km/h. Route planning, it is huge in the winter.

A little OT, but to give a little background regarding my take on this issue, I deal with (and investigate) motor vehicle accidents (more specifically, the bodily injury that comes out of said accidents) on a daily basis. From my hands on experience doing this job for a decent amount of time, in this city, I can assure you that driver negligence causes 10X more accidents (even in winter) then "tire negligence" does, simple as that.

[photon]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Because it's the insurance companies that pay for accidents, not the government? Why would revcan give a tax break for winter tires?

Lowered health care costs, and decreased loss of productivity.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by photon

Lowered health care costs, and decreased loss of productivity.

Touche. Although I can still see insurance companies bringing in a rebate before the government.

[Super-Rye]

If the Government wants to subsidize me for winter tires then I would gladly put them on my car. How ever I am poor and the difference between the new all seasons I already have and the cheap end of the winter tires I can afford is very minimal.

With that said I will probably buy some winter tires next summer if I can find a good deal.

[REDVAN]

The government legislates other common sense stuff too- like the use of cellphones now being illegal while driving.

Do I think it should be law to have winter tires, NO.

But anyone who doesn't think they need them has clearly never driven with them. I used to think I was a good enough driver and that if I was careful things would be fine. I was right, everything was fine. Then I got some slick all-seasons and was forced to get winter tires as a result (or else my car would be undrivable in winter). WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I will never stop getting winter tires on my vehicle.

Also, if you can afford the tires and steelies, then get yourself a torque wrench too, then you can do it all yourself! And as some posters have said- they pay for themselves if you get a relatively decent car you plan on having for 5 years or more.

[getbak]

My insurance company does offer a discount for winter tires. Doesn't everyone else's?

[photon]

Originally Posted by getbak

My insurance company does offer a discount for winter tires. Doesn't everyone else's?

Lol maybe mine does but doesn't publicize it.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Also, if you can afford the tires and steelies, then get yourself a torque wrench too, then you can do it all yourself! And as some posters have said- they pay for themselves if you get a relatively decent car you plan on having for 5 years or more.

FYI, if you buy your tires at Kal-Tire and have a separate set of rims to put them on, they'll swap them every winter and spring for no charge. balancing and rotations are also free