Driving questions (Epic, Indy)

[BenedictGomez]

The extra cost is that you either need an extra set of rims or have to remount them back and forth.

I buy the rims. The good news is that the cheapest winter rims are actually the best winter rims = steel. More weight at the base.

And I change them myself = money saved. Takes like 30 minutes.

 

[BenedictGomez]

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.

They do. The tires are softer & dont last as long as all-seasons, but they are much better now.

My examples above are 2 cars in New Jersey, from Thanksgiving to about April 10th'ish. Your experience with snow tire compounds from 20 years ago is roughly equivalent to speaking about internet modem technology in 2004 versus 2024.

There's no chance I'd consider living in the ADK without running dedicated snow tires. Especially given you're not poor or a struggling 24 year old.

 

[Zand]

Sounds like this is pretty much an everyday occurance sadly.

Oh it was a very dumb decision on my part. I've learned to just take the bus 100% of the time unless it's a total bluebird day with no chance of snow. Trying to get to the mountain 10 minutes earlier by not waiting for the bus cost me like 3 hours by the time I got pushed out, drove back down, and cooled off from being pretty steamed at myself and the situation.

I usually laugh at everyone else that tries the same thing with shitty tires or shitty cars, but I was the knob that day.

 

[cdskier]

There's no chance I'd consider living in the ADK without running dedicated snow tires. Especially given you're not poor or a struggling 24 year old.

Agreed...I was actually a bit surprised that my one co-worker that lives in the Poconos puts on snow tires in the winter. As far as I know he mainly just drives around in the Poconos as he's not a skier.

Back in college I only had 1 set of tires (living in Rochester, NY), but at least that one set was All-Terrain tires so they had an aggressive tread pattern that was good for the snow. But back then I was a poor college kid so compromising with one set of All-Terrain tires tires made sense and was at least still a step up from All Seasons...

 

[BenedictGomez]

at least that one set was All-Terrain tires so they had an aggressive tread pattern that was good for the snow. But back then I was a poor college kid so compromising with one set of All-Terrain tires tires made sense and was at least still a step up from All Seasons...

Yeah, that's a good point for those who are "poor" or are a "struggling 24 year old" per se, as there are some all-terrain tires that even have a snowflake on a mountain. Obviously snow tires would be better, but if you live someplace snowy & mountainy it's definitely a better choice than all-seasons.

 

[Smellytele]

Yeah, that's a good point for those who are "poor" or are a "struggling 24 year old" per se, as there are some all-terrain tires that even have a snowflake on a mountain. Obviously snow tires would be better, but if you live someplace snowy & mountainy it's definitely a better choice than all-seasons.

They are called all weather a step up from all season. Aggressive thread but made of a harder rubber.

 

[AdironRider]

I don't think anyone is arguing snow tires aren't going to be a performance improvement if you use them, but they aren't mandatory like some of you imply. Statements like you must use snow tires in the ADK unless you are poor is a pretty hyperbolic statement.

No tire is going to make as much a difference as driving appropriately for the conditions. Do it like Montana likes to say, reasonable and prudent, and you will be fine.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I don't think anyone is arguing snow tires aren't going to be a performance improvement if you use them, but they aren't mandatory like some of you imply. Statements like you must use snow tires in the ADK unless you are poor is a pretty hyperbolic statement.

No tire is going to make as much a difference as driving appropriately for the conditions. Do it like Montana likes to say, reasonable and prudent, and you will be fine.

Well "must" is silly, but I'll call certainly it "dumb" if you live in an extremly snowly, icy, mountainous area and dont run snow tires on your 5,200 pound human compartment moving at 60 miles per hour (almost 100 feet per second) assuming you have the means.

And yes, it does make a "difference", a rather large one. Fun Fact: Stopping is not optional while driving. Your AWD or 4WD does absolutely nothing to help your vehicle stop on snowly or icy roads, and very little once the vehicle enters an arc (i.e. turn). A lot of this arguing comes down to people not knowing much about cars or tires. Arguing that snow tires dont make much of a differnce as long as you're "driving appropriately" puts you squarely into that Venn diagram.

 

[Smellytele]

Well "must" is silly, but I'll call certainly it "dumb" if you live in an extremly snowly, icy, mountainous area and dont run snow tires on your 5,200 pound human compartment moving at 60 miles per hour (almost 100 feet per second) assuming you have the means.

And yes, it does make a "difference", a rather large one. Fun Fact: Stopping is not optional while driving. Your AWD or 4WD does absolutely nothing to help your vehicle stop on snowly or icy roads, and very little once the vehicle enters an arc (i.e. turn). A lot of this arguing comes down to people not knowing much about cars or tires. Arguing that snow tires dont make much of a differnce as long as you're "driving appropriately" puts you squarely into that Venn diagram.

I almost forgot BG is a subject matter expert on everything. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[djd66]

Kusty is paying $30 per month to store his extra set of tires

I think that is more than he spends on his hotel rooms.

 

[AdironRider]

Well "must" is silly, but I'll call certainly it "dumb" if you live in an extremly snowly, icy, mountainous area and dont run snow tires on your 5,200 pound human compartment moving at 60 miles per hour (almost 100 feet per second) assuming you have the means.

And yes, it does make a "difference", a rather large one. Fun Fact: Stopping is not optional while driving. Your AWD or 4WD does absolutely nothing to help your vehicle stop on snowly or icy roads, and very little once the vehicle enters an arc (i.e. turn). A lot of this arguing comes down to people not knowing much about cars or tires. Arguing that snow tires dont make much of a differnce as long as you're "driving appropriately" puts you squarely into that Venn diagram.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I almost forgot BG is a subject matter expert on everything.

I know how to change tires & not end up in a ditch. I'd also file this "subject matter" under common sense, which is apparently not common enough.

 

[djd66]

The extra cost is that you either need an extra set of rims or have to remount them back and forth.

I have a separate set of rims and just do the swap-out myself. Not a big deal with a car jack and impact driver I got from harbor freight. (takes 20 minutes) When I sell the car, I can sell the tires mounted on the rims and cover most of the cost of what I paid for the rims. (assuming there is still good rubber left)

To me the biggest PITA was having to go to the tire store 2X per year which is why I like to DIY. That in itself is worth the extra cost of the rims.

 

[Harvey]

There's no chance I'd consider living in the ADK without running dedicated snow tires.

Me either. That was my point.

 

[Harvey]

Arguing that snow tires dont make much of a differnce

Who says this?

 

[oldfartrider]

I’ve been using snows for 25+ years. I live on a dead end in the city have driven through foot+ of unplowed snow in an open diff fwd car. Not sure that would work on all seasons. It’s cheap insurance

 

[zyk]

They are called all weather a step up from all season. Aggressive thread but made of a harder rubber.

Yeah, that's a good point for those who are "poor" or are a "struggling 24 year old" per se, as there are some all-terrain tires that even have a snowflake on a mountain. Obviously snow tires would be better, but if you live someplace snowy & mountainy it's definitely a better choice than all-seasons.

I run all terrain tires here. If it's really bad they close the roads. Bonus, for me, is that they're good in the summer on minimum maintenance roads, forest access roads, etc. Used to run two sets of rims, and would again if I was in a more snowy region.

 

[Smellytele]

I’ve been using snows for 25+ years. I live on a dead end in the city have driven through foot+ of unplowed snow in an open diff fwd car. Not sure that would work on all seasons. It’s cheap insurance

It still snows in Nashua?

 

[thetrailboss]

I’m just going to post this here.

 

[oldfartrider]

It still snows in Nashua?

Last Sunday we got over a foot. Returned home from the mountain with unplowed street. Got in.