The Winter's Coming Winter Tires Thread

[t0rrent98]

All I have to say is I am glad I went with Winters this year instead of going all Season's like I have the last 4 years. Going home from work at midnight when everything is pure white sucks..haha.

[WhiteTiger]

Yeah, was glad to have the winters today. Not a single issue at all, and passed quite a few folks spun out, or spinning out on hills.

[Wormius]

Yeah. At least with winter tires and AWD you can mostly go at the posted speed limit with confidence.

[4X4]

It's really annoying sharing the road with people whose cars and driving skills are not equipped for this weather. If you're so scared, that you're going 20kph, just get the hell off the road. This is Canada. Winter is not a surprise. Sell your car and buy a goose down jacket and a bus pass.

[Calgary14]

I'm surprised that 73% in Atlantic Canada have winter tires and only 45% in Alberta have them. I thought it would be the other way around. I think they should be mandatory in Alberta (like in Quebec)

[Canehdianman]

Atlantic Canada gets a billion times more snow than Calgary. Half of winter in Calgary the roads are clean.

[ExiledFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

Atlantic Canada gets a billion times more snow than Calgary. Half of winter in Calgary the roads are clean.

Yep. Average annual snowfall:
St John's 335 cm
Moncton 282 cm
Saint John 239 cm
Calgary 128 cm

Calgary is one of the least snowiest winter cities in Canada (coastal BC cities don't count as winter cities)

http://www.currentresults.com/Weathe...al-average.php

[prarieboy]

It's my first season with Winter Tires.

I drive a Toyota Highlander that is equipped with AWD. In past years I have had no problems getting around on All Seasons and was skeptical about getting Winters.

I noticed that the All Seasons we have were getting a little short on tread and it was get new All Seasons or give winters a try.

So far I'm really impressed. The AWD has always performed great when starting out but cornering and stopping have improved more than expected with the winters. I got Toyo Observe G3 Ice tires installed and have been happy with them.

I'm really interested to try out some others to see how they measure up in years to come.

[calumniate]

True that calgary isn't the snowiest. But the dry climate can sure make for some icy situations

[Northendzone]

persoanlly, i am starting to think that tehre should be special lanes for those of us who have AWD and snow tires.....it would save us a lot of time.....

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

I'm surprised that 73% in Atlantic Canada have winter tires and only 45% in Alberta have them. I thought it would be the other way around. I think they should be mandatory in Alberta (like in Quebec)

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

Atlantic Canada gets a billion times more snow than Calgary. Half of winter in Calgary the roads are clean.

Originally Posted by ExiledFlamesFan

Yep. Average annual snowfall:
St John's 335 cm
Moncton 282 cm
Saint John 239 cm
Calgary 128 cm

Calgary is one of the least snowiest winter cities in Canada (coastal BC cities don't count as winter cities)

http://www.currentresults.com/Weathe...al-average.php

Originally Posted by calumniate

True that calgary isn't the snowiest. But the dry climate can sure make for some icy situations

This is a good discussion on why winters are needed. A winter tire in cold conditions on dry roads out performs all seasons in the same situation. Some people think that winter tires are only for ice/snow, but they also show their worth in dry cold conditions. An all season will go rock hard and no longer be pliable, winters will not.

Once the temps drop below zero (althought I have a recollection the tire industry says +7) winters are superior to all seasons.

[BlackArcher101]

Family member found out the hard way that all-seasons don't cut it. Was on the way to my house to swap with winter tires and hit a parked vehicle. Major bummer, made it a block away.

Winters give you enough of a edge where it can prevent that from happening.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

This is a good discussion on why winters are needed. A winter tire in cold conditions on dry roads out performs all seasons in the same situation. Some people think that winter tires are only for ice/snow, but they also show their worth in dry cold conditions. An all season will go rock hard and no longer be pliable, winters will not.

Once the temps drop below zero (althought I have a recollection the tire industry says +7) winters are superior to all seasons.

That's why I never call them "snow tires". It gives the impression that they're only necessary when driving through heavy snow. Ice, black ice, and even cold, bare pavement is where they're really needed. And even if we don't get a tonne of snow here compared to much of Canada, we do get a lot of cold, dry days as well as a lot of ice from thawing and freezing. But this is largely preaching to the choir in this thread.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Once the temps drop below zero (althought I have a recollection the tire industry says +7) winters are superior to all seasons.

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

That's why I never call them "snow tires". It gives the impression that they're only necessary when driving through heavy snow. Ice, black ice, and even cold, bare pavement is where they're really needed. And even if we don't get a tonne of snow here compared to much of Canada, we do get a lot of cold, dry days as well as a lot of ice from thawing and freezing. But this is largely preaching to the choir in this thread.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle21348722/

“The industry has actually shied away from calling winter tires snow tires,” Goard says. “Really, we are trying to refer to them as cold-weather tires because they perform best in the winter months in all cold-weather road conditions.”

The rubber in all-season tires starts to harden – think hockey puck – when the temperature drops below 7C.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by chemgear

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle21348722/

“The industry has actually shied away from calling winter tires snow tires,” Goard says. “Really, we are trying to refer to them as cold-weather tires because they perform best in the winter months in all cold-weather road conditions.”

The rubber in all-season tires starts to harden – think hockey puck – when the temperature drops below 7C.

Holy hell, my brain worked, it was 7C

[Igster]

Haven't read the whole thread, but has anyone had an experience with Cooper Discoverer AT3's? My understanding is they are an all-terrain tire, but do well in the winter time as well. Thinking about getting 4 of these for my Jeep.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Igster

Haven't read the whole thread, but has anyone had an experience with Cooper Discoverer AT3's? My understanding is they are an all-terrain tire, but do well in the winter time as well. Thinking about getting 4 of these for my Jeep.

Not with the AT3s, but I bought the Cooper Weathermaster WSCs this year and they are just demolishing the road. I haven't studded them either, but they still grip ice like crazy.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Not with the AT3s, but I bought the Cooper Weathermaster WSCs this year and they are just demolishing the road. I haven't studded them either, but they still grip ice like crazy.

Thanks. Really looking to get the all terrain ones for off-road as well as winter if they can cope with both. I've read they can, but just looking for some folks with experience with them.

[Tron_fdc]

Question about tires:

I have a P255 55 R18 tire on my touareg, and found a set of P255 35 R18 winter tires.

Will these fit? What's the difference between them? Anyone know definitively either way?

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Question about tires:

I have a P255 55 R18 tire on my touareg, and found a set of P255 35 R18 winter tires.

Will these fit? What's the difference between them? Anyone know definitively either way?

They're too different:

http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Tire-...5R18/255-35R18