Originally Posted By: GMFan
I have never had snow tires on any vehicle...most people I know use A/S tires in winter and are fine in the snow. The key is in how you steer, brake and accelerate in snow. Just drive carefully and usually you will be fine. Another thing folks forget to consider is to simply NOT drive when it is blizzard conditions....not a good idea to run out to a movie during a blizzard or run to the store for milk. I stay home when I can during bad snow storms...it's just not worth the risk of being on the roads.
Also consider tire width....thin tires will generally do much much better in the snow than wide tires.
Ill agree that they are a luxury to some people, however the emergency response crews and many others have to get around during blizzards which is why snow tires are important.
I think many people miss the purpose of them. They think a snow tires purpose is to allow you to go faster through deeper snow. Their purpose is the opposite, to allow safe handling no matter what the circumstances. If you have never driven on snow tires you won't understand, but when ever you break traction, start to fishtale etc. all it takes is a lift off of the throttle and the vehicle straightens back out rapidly, all seasons cannot do that. I've driven plenty and they do not respond well to manuevers.
Remember, you can be the best driver in the world, but the person in the oncoming lane is probably doing their makeup, eating a burrito or reading the newspaper. Thats the advantage to having the tires needed for rapid evasive manuevers.
I have never had snow tires on any vehicle...most people I know use A/S tires in winter and are fine in the snow. The key is in how you steer, brake and accelerate in snow. Just drive carefully and usually you will be fine. Another thing folks forget to consider is to simply NOT drive when it is blizzard conditions....not a good idea to run out to a movie during a blizzard or run to the store for milk. I stay home when I can during bad snow storms...it's just not worth the risk of being on the roads.
Also consider tire width....thin tires will generally do much much better in the snow than wide tires.
Ill agree that they are a luxury to some people, however the emergency response crews and many others have to get around during blizzards which is why snow tires are important.
I think many people miss the purpose of them. They think a snow tires purpose is to allow you to go faster through deeper snow. Their purpose is the opposite, to allow safe handling no matter what the circumstances. If you have never driven on snow tires you won't understand, but when ever you break traction, start to fishtale etc. all it takes is a lift off of the throttle and the vehicle straightens back out rapidly, all seasons cannot do that. I've driven plenty and they do not respond well to manuevers.
Remember, you can be the best driver in the world, but the person in the oncoming lane is probably doing their makeup, eating a burrito or reading the newspaper. Thats the advantage to having the tires needed for rapid evasive manuevers.