As far as snow tires, I think a big question is the type of vehicle you are driving. We have 2 cars a BMW X6 and a Lincoln navigator. We have never had snows on the Lincoln and it is completely fine. For the Bmer, I have snows and it makes a world of difference. For that car, I bought and extra set of rims so I can just swap them myself in the spring/fall. There really is no extra cost in buying snows - as you double the life of your summer tires. It is just a PITA to do the change over if you can't DIY.
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Driving questions (Epic, Indy)
- Thread starter Mum skier
- Start date
Sure, as long as it isn't storming. Those roads do NOT get plowed until it is over
AdironRider
Well-known member
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When you are a public works employee who usually banks several grand in OT every winter, and all its done is rain so far, you bet your ass they will be.
Signed, the son of a public works employee who plowed.
Signed, the son of a public works employee who plowed.
Smellytele
Well-known member
I know the NH DOT is still looking for 200 drivers to plow this year so...
My Plow Guy got fired by NH, because he D/C'd their GPS....
Still got paid for months before they found out
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
I wish more people realized this.
My snows are on their 7th season & still have solid life as in NJ they're only on for 5 months so it's equivalent to less than 3 years wear. My wife's snows are on their 10th season, but this shall be their last for sure as the "penny test" will be dicey after this one. Point is, snow tires may well last for the life of a vehicle's owndership or close to it.
KustyTheKlown
Well-known member
yep. lets say you drive your car 10 years. you'll need two sets of regular tires at least in that time. especially this crowd of mileage loggers. my summer tires will last for-fucking-ever because the bulk of my mileage is in the winter.
I can usually get 5-6 seasons out of my snows. But that is still only 30-35K miles.
Softer tire compound(s) used so they just don’t last as long as regular all season tires.
But with AWD and good snow tires I have absolutely no fear of driving in stormy weather
Softer tire compound(s) used so they just don’t last as long as regular all season tires.
But with AWD and good snow tires I have absolutely no fear of driving in stormy weather
drjeff
Well-known member
Agree 100% with this and my family is in the same situation, although we end up replacing ours about every 3 to 4 seasons as we typically put 10-15k miles on both our snows and all seasons each year. Extends the number of years of each set you have, and gives you added traction in the Winter. A win/win situation.
The only negative I can think of, is with my families cars, my car, and each of my kids cars all needed a new set of snows when they went on in late Nov/early Dec so my Visa card was hit with 3 new sets of snows in 1 billing cycle
and then in the Spring, I will be due for a new set of all seasons (after 4 yrs) for my own car as they failed the penny test when they were taken off my car about a month ago
urungus
Well-known member
Kusty is paying $30 per month to store his extra set of tires
I'm on my 2nd set of snows for my truck. Still on the original summer tires though and they have plenty of life left. I definitely put more miles on my winter tires than summer tires though. And winter tires you don't really want to let the tread get quite as low as you would with a summer tire before replacing it.
Edd
Well-known member
And that’s significant, IMO. But, he does burly ski drives all over New England /Quebec. I do those drives but they’re a lot shorter from my location. If you’re driving from the Jersey/NYC zone snow tires seem a good investment. They always are, but the more driving/traffic you experience in the snow the more important tires seem.
I have a regular 4wd SUV and regular tires. Driven through an awful lot of snow with no issues. Just be careful and watch your speed is my philosophy. But, then again, I am an old crank and a cheap bastard.
I've done several Presidents week ski safaris over the years. No help to OP as this was pre multi-pass days. Back then Canadian resorts did not have holiday pricing or crowds for that week. I doubt that still holds true.
We did Ste. Anne and Le Massif hitting Jay for a few days on the way home. We did Ste Anne to Jay to Stowe during a major storm cycle that was awesome. A foot in CAN on my Birthday, 2.5 feet the next day at Jay and still snowing the next day at Stowe! Those were some snowy effing drives.
One year we stayed in Rangely and skied Saddleback and Sugarloaf then drove up to Ste. Anne. Lots of driving through Maine. Nothing but sledders and logging trucks and moose.
We have also done a triangle that included Gore, Whiteface and Jay.
I like road trips.
I've done several Presidents week ski safaris over the years. No help to OP as this was pre multi-pass days. Back then Canadian resorts did not have holiday pricing or crowds for that week. I doubt that still holds true.
We did Ste. Anne and Le Massif hitting Jay for a few days on the way home. We did Ste Anne to Jay to Stowe during a major storm cycle that was awesome. A foot in CAN on my Birthday, 2.5 feet the next day at Jay and still snowing the next day at Stowe! Those were some snowy effing drives.
One year we stayed in Rangely and skied Saddleback and Sugarloaf then drove up to Ste. Anne. Lots of driving through Maine. Nothing but sledders and logging trucks and moose.
We have also done a triangle that included Gore, Whiteface and Jay.
I like road trips.
Smellytele
Well-known member
The extra cost is that you either need an extra set of rims or have to remount them back and forth.
KustyTheKlown
Well-known member
I have sick black rims in my summers and stock Nissan hubcap thing on my snows. I liked having an excuse to buy rims for the first time
drjeff
Well-known member
The rims that came with my Acadia Denali are showing the wear and tear of 4yrs and 80k+ miles. I've got a ton of "GM points" built up, pretty sure when it's time to get new all seasons in the Spring, going to get a new set of rims as well. Will be the 1st time I will have a set of rims for each set of my tires.
Got 16 tires in my basement for all 4 of my families cars. My wife says that area of of basement is starting to look like a Tire Warehouse store!
I kept the stock GMC rims on the summer tires. I bought some relatively cheap black rims (that I think look great anyway) to go along with my winter tires. I wanted to switch tire sizes anyway for my winter tires (more options available in this alternate size) so getting new rims for the winter tires was the obvious choice in my case.
Zand
Well-known member
I've always just rolled with all seasons. In 16 years of driving and 3 different SUVs I've never had a problem driving in the winter, whether it's driving for work now, driving to ski, or living in the NEK for four years. I actually love driving to work early in the morning during major snowstorms when no one else is on the road. I find it zenful. The only time I've ever gotten stuck driving in snow was in Utah a couple years ago when I tried to drive a piece of shit rental Fiesta up Little Cottonwood Canyon and buried it in like 3 inches of snow on a pull off because it was starting to slip on the smallest of hills. Fucking embarrassing and took like 20 mins for someone to stop and help push me out. It had Cali plates so I'm sure everyone was laughing their ass off as they drove by.
For the record I work for the post office and carried mail my first few years, and more than a few times had to climb steep hills in snowstorms with no chains (and those trucks absolutely blow) but I always got where I needed to. But give me a shitty Ford Fiesta and that's when I finally admit defeat.
For the record I work for the post office and carried mail my first few years, and more than a few times had to climb steep hills in snowstorms with no chains (and those trucks absolutely blow) but I always got where I needed to. But give me a shitty Ford Fiesta and that's when I finally admit defeat.
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
Sounds like this is pretty much an everyday occurance sadly.
Harvey
Well-known member
You also have to get lined up with new vehicle purchases. If you are going to do two sets of rims do it right away, when you buy the car.
If you are a flatlander no way the two sets of tires last as 2x as long as one set. Even in a snowy year you'll run your snows 90% on dry pavement, much of it warm. They don't last.
I've been on all seasons for 20 years. Going to two sets next season when we move to the Adk.
If you are a flatlander no way the two sets of tires last as 2x as long as one set. Even in a snowy year you'll run your snows 90% on dry pavement, much of it warm. They don't last.
I've been on all seasons for 20 years. Going to two sets next season when we move to the Adk.
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