Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site denelvx.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!denelcor!denelvx!geoff From: geoff@denelvx.UUCP (Geoff Baum) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Tire questions Message-ID: <115@denelvx.UUCP> Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 14:12:36 EDT Article-I.D.: denelvx.115 Posted: Mon Jul 29 14:12:36 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 22:45:27 EDT References: <10731@rochester.UUCP> Organization: Denelcor, Aurora, Colorados Lines: 60 > From: Jim Mayer > > I have a few questions about automobile tires. The (hypothetical) car > in question is a small front wheel drive model. Any tires I bought would > almost certainly be steel belted radials. > > 3. If I get real snows, is there any advantage to outfitting all > four wheels? Having done lots of winter driving in small front wheel drive cars, I would offer the following advice: DEFINITELY OUTFIT ALL FOUR WHEELS! I have driven Honda Civics, Saab 96s and Saab 99s in rain, on snow, and on ice. The often used tactic of putting snow tires only on the front wheels can be dangerous. This is especially true if you use studded snow tires. What happens is the following: Studded snow tires on front wheels, summer tires on rear wheels. This has the affect of providing much better traction for the front wheels than the rear wheels, when driving on icy roads. This means that any sudden steering or braking will cause the rear of the car to lose traction and slide. Since the front wheels are still gripping the road, the rear of the car will quickly spin around the front of the car and you will find yourself traveling down the highway backwards. The worst part of all this is that the above scenario may never happen EXCEPT in an emergency as the result of a sudden manuver. In other words, just when you need to be able to control the car the most, you lose control. Whatever tires you have on your car, it is best to have the same ones front and rear for the above mentioned reason. Personally, I never felt the need for snow tires in New England. Front wheel drive gives plenty of traction in winter conditions. I always took side roads when the weather was bad, so I didn't have to worry about people going 60 mph down an icy highway. Here in Colorado, however, I have to drive 30 miles of highway to get to work, so I have studded snows all around. They allow me to brake faster on ice. The studded snow tires have several disadvantages which should be carefully considered. 1) They enable you to stop faster than most people on the road (often an advantage) which means that you have to watch your rear view mirror carefully, and start braking early so that the person behind you will be able to stop before ploughing into you. 2) They excellent traction they provide keeps you from knowing what other drivers are experiencing. This could cause you to misjudge the behavior of other drivers on the road. The real advantage in not using winter tires is that you know exactly what the conditions are, and will drive accordingly. I think this is the best way to go unless you must drive (as I must) on roads where people habitually go too fast for the conditions. I do not recommend snow tires without studs. Summer tires are better on dry pavement and in rain. Studded snows are better on snow and ice (actuall, summer tires may be better than most non-studded winter tires on ice). Many people swear by all-season radials. This coming winter will be the first time I will have tried them, so I cannot pass judgement on this particular solution. All I can say is that a friend of mine who always drives too fast swears by them.