Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: Brybo86
I would say if your wife is a top notch driver I would be okay with all seasons, if she is a spaz maybe u should go with snows.
Also if you are rural snows might be a better choice.
I've always found these types of responses odd.
IMO, the entirety of life involves risk various risk assessments. If you have assets that you don't want to lose in an unlikely event, you pay to insure against it. I may drive well in the snow, but when someone cuts out from a side street or any other number of unforeseen events occur, snow tires may be the difference between a scrape, a dent, a smashed in fender, a totaled car or a dead occupant and stopping or swerving to avoid said event.
Neither my wife nor I had issue driving in the winter with all-season tires, but we have both had close calls. We're lucky enough to be able to afford snow tires, so we run them, with the knowledge that our risk has been lowered. I was actually pretty blown away about how much better snow tires reacted on both my Civic and previous Subaru.
Some don't assess the risk to be as high here in CT as I do and that's there prerogative, but we got a ton of snow last year and there were many people who got into accidents who might not have. I know I was only able to drive safely to work a couple of times, because I had snow tires.
With that said, I wouldn't own snow tires if I lived somewhere that gets snow less frequently, like Maryland or some other mid-Atlantic state. So, if you rarely get snow and ice, and feel that you can avoid the worst days by staying home, going in to work late, or whatever other way, then all-season tires may make sense. If that's not the case, and snow tires will provide even a small amount of additional grip when you need it, and you can afford it, then it's not even a question in my mind, to absolutely get snow tires.
One can take risk assessment to the Nth degree and upgrade all the safety and vehicle control systems on their vehicles to the current state of the art. That would include professional emergency driving courses on winter tracks. If you don't do all this, then you're compromising safety. Even the most upgraded vehicle with the world's best winter tires and brakes won't protect you from the 80% of US drivers in the snow belt that are on all season tires, or balding/old winter tires. Maybe you won't plow into the guy in front of you. It doesn't help you from the guy behind you or coming straight at you, or on your side who will plow into you. If it were mandatory then at least there would be a more even playing field. 40 years driving in CT on all season tires. I drive based on the traffic and conditions. The CT coastline in my region tends to get a lot more rain and slush vs. snow. And the plows in this region are pretty darn quick. For me at least, last years CT winter (ie snows) lasted 6-8 weeks (late January to mid-March). What about the other 45 weeks of the year?
Here's another thought. Do we put as much emphasis on superior wet (or dry) traction during the warmer months? Of course not. But then again, why not if safety (all year round) is of such a concern? A $1000-$1400 set of the very best rated dry/wet summer tires should be on every vehicle during non-winter months.