Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ Pics |
2012-12-04 185599
Do any of you have thoughts on whether it is a good idea to put four winter tires for snow season instead of the all season tires that come with the SUV OEM?
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada Pics |
2012-12-04 185602
It's 99% dependent on a) where you drive, and b) how you drive.
For Kenny in Myrtle Beach, a 'mature' driver (and in the insurance business) not likely.
For someone in 'snow belt' of Canada, it should be required by law IMHO.
As an example, my own personal ride, an over-powered SUV, it's like driving on a hockey rink with all season radials.
BTW, as an aside, I don't think they should be allowed to sell them as "all season" tires north of the Mason-Dixon Line!!!
With good winter tires though, in my case Michelin X-Ice's, I can punch through snow deep enough it comes up over the hood without so much as a single wink from the traction control system light.
In other parts of Canada it's not only the law to equip your vehicle with winter tires, you get charged with 'careless' or 'reckless' if you're in an accident without winter tires. You don't want to know what your insurance company has to say about it afterwards either!!!
In your neck of the woods, I'd highly recommend them.
Best of luck. ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon Pics |
2012-12-04 185605
I'm absolutely with Murf on this one. I used to think All Seasons would be enough, and they were in CA and AZ, but up here in Oregon there is NO WAY I'd be caught without good studded snow tires. Six inches of ice on a road has a way to make a believer out of skeptics! We have tried a few different brands over the years but my favorite are the Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded snow tires. Yes, the studs are noisy and do damage the roads, but I'd be willing to pay an extra fee to help cover the damage vs. go without.
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ Pics |
2012-12-05 185612
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I have not used studded snow tires since I started buying front wheel drive cars years ago. It seems that they are still legal here in NJ though, but I have not noticed any cars with them here. I have to check and see if they do many of them in NJ.
The winter tires sound like a good idea though. Since both my cars take the same size tire and wheel, they still could be used on the other car if I trade the older one in.
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ Pics |
2012-12-05 185615
In NJ it is not required to put the TPMS sensors in the wheels . Did you skip them for your winter tires? ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 1550 Moravia, NY Pics |
2012-12-07 185635
I have seperate sets of wheels and mount 4 studded winter tires on all vehicles here. I do run the TPMS in the wheels bought them on the internet $25 apiece. ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon Pics |
2012-12-07 185636
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On the Tacoma I bought an extra set of four OEM alloy wheels and mounted regular steel stems and tires. I bought the TPMS sensors on eBay to use but the dealer wanted $200 to reprogram the system with the new sensors so screw that.
The Baja is a 2003 so no TPMS (yeah!)
On the Impreza I pay the tire shop $55 to do the changeover with the original wheels and TPMS sensors. ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky Pics |
2012-12-08 185637
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//greg// ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa |
2012-12-08 185638
Back whenever studded snow tires was the big thing my Father and Mother ran a mom and pop Standard Oil station. Dad sold a boat load of studded tires that i used to help him put the studs in and mount them when the first talk of snow came, that was in the 1970's, that rage soon fizzled out after a few winters. The tire shop I do business with now sells a lot of tires, I'd guess one of the bigger volume dealers in the east half of the state.
I'd have to ask for sure but I think they would have to special order anything other than an all season radial.
The all season Firestones on the Trailblazer right now I bought there at 40K, the current mileage is now close to 92K, but they are getting about shot. I wouldn't see any reason to buy a snow tire even if they stocked them. ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
treeman
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 251 Wisconsin Pics |
2012-12-08 185641
Search Winter tires on you tube to see tire tests.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEMH10Z4s ....
Link: Video tire test
 
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina Pics |
2012-12-10 185655
I know little about driving on snow only seldom doing so. Here snow is a holiday but have no doubts serious snow needs serious tires. But a question, is there much difference between "snow tires" and "off road tires"? ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa |
2012-12-10 185660
I bought a new pickup a rew years ago, it came equiped with the off road type tires, lots bigger and more agressive lugs tha a regular snow tire. I had the dealer change them to an all season tire. Both our houses are fairly close to hard surface roads, when those pickups with the big deep lug tires go past you can hear the tires roar for half a mile, I don't think regular snow tires make all that noise.
Frank.
PS we got about two inches Sunday, but it's all melted now. ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
treeman
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 251 Wisconsin Pics |
2012-12-10 185662
Tires with large lugs are great for deep mud and snow but do nothing for you on ice. Here is a comparison of off road tires. Read where the bigger the tread blocks are, the worse it is on ice. ....
Link: Big tire comparison link here
 
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina Pics |
2012-12-11 185682
Frank, if you have my email address send me one. KT ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ Pics |
2013-02-06 186159
Glad I did not buy winter tires this season.... Seems like global warming is giving us two snow free winters in a row.
All we get is a light dusting that I can barely pick up with the blower :( ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
treeman
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 251 Wisconsin Pics |
2013-02-06 186160
This is the first year I have installed winter tires on a modern car. They are the Altimax Artic tires that has a better gripping rubber with lots of siping. If you have ice, this type of tire will grip MUCH better than the snow tires of yore and ANY all season tire out there. In tests of summer, all season, and winter tires on ice, the all season tires test closer to the summer tires than to the winter tires. The winter tires has made driving on ice a little boring because they grip so good, but, I would rather have boring than accidents! ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
treeman
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 251 Wisconsin Pics |
2013-02-06 186161
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I was able to find a set of near new steel wheels with hub caps, lugs, and tpms for a great price. It is the wifes car and it is nice not to have the tpms warning going off when she drives. ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa |
2013-02-06 186162
I "Think" studded tires have been outlawed in Iowa, somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
You could always tell a car with studs going past on bare pavement by the distinctive "Sing" the studs made, I haven't heard that sound in years.
I was going to repalce the all season Firestones on the Trailblazr before winter, but they seem to be doing fine yet, so might as well get a few more miles out of them, they are at 53K now. I'm not a rompin stompin Firestone person, I'm open to any brand that will do better, but they have given me the most miles on an SUV of any brand I've ever had.
I did have to repalce a front wheel bearing a few days ago, but that's the first repair other than a battery in 93K
Frank. ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ Pics |
2013-02-12 186181
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With the New England blizzard only a day so after my post I guess the farmers almanac or Weather.com will not be contacting me for an advisory position :( ....
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Winter Tires for 4WD SUV
Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada Pics |
2013-02-12 186184
Funny thing, lots of folks emailed me to ask about the storm and how badly we got hit or to tell me how bad they got it. A friend in CT. got 40" and had to plow a couple miles of dead end road they live on to get out of the house.
I walked Deputy Dog a mile or two up & down the beach. Not a single flake of snow in sight. Weird. :)
Best of luck. ....
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