That's pretty much it..Is it necessary to have snow tires during the winter weather? Where it snows and can have ice on roads?
Depends on what you drive and the climate/weather you drive in.
In Buffalo NY, snow tires are nice.
In northern Va you get an occasional snow storm but snow tires are not worth it (besides, in Va no one knows how to drive in the snow anyway so you are better off sitting it out at home while everyone else plays demolition derby on the streets).
If you live in a place where you get snow throughout the winter, yes, you should have snow tires. But, if you're just going away to the snow for a weekend, get chains instead.
I grew up in Idaho, where there is snow on the ground from October/November to at least February.
We never put special snow tires on our vehicles. We DID put sand bags in the trunk to add weight, and we DID keep snow chains in the trunk as well. Just in case. (We lived at a high altitude, and the snow would often build up too fast for the plows to keep up.)
It also depends on your vehicles. We ALWAYS had 4-wheel drive, and we learned how to drive on the ice, so we were more competent than people from southern states, so snow tires weren't a necessity... I always get a kick out of watching people here in TN try to drive on the rare occasion that it snows. Lol. Of course, it has been so long since I have driven on ice that I'm really not all to confident about it any more...
It also depends on WHERE you will be driving... If you will be in town, the roads are usually plowed, sanded or salted, and don't usually need special tires. If you will be going into the country or on back roads, then it would be so etching to think about.
It depends on the car. In New England, we get by just fine with all-season tires on my minivan and my husband's sedan. The only people I know who do snow tires here are people who drive sports cars (including high-end sports sedans like BMWs) year-round. My FIL has a convertible Camaro (yes, at age 71 LOL) and his wife has a convertible Miata and both of those cars actually are garaged for the winter and they drive a Subaru Outback and a Camry in the winter. If they only had the "summer cars" they would do snow tires.
No. But relatively newer all weather tires with good tread are definitely necessary. Front wheel drive, 4WD or AWD. NO rear wheel drive in the snow.
If you're going to be driving through the pass or on snowy roads, get a set of cables (some call them chains, but they are cables) for your tires and learn how to put them on. It's easy and makes all the difference.
Read up on how to drive when it's slick. Keep your speed down and NO CRUISE CONTROL.
Your best bet is NOT to drive in the ice and snow whenever possible. If you can wait until it clears, do so.
I have always lived in Colorado. I have never had snow tires.
You don't want bald tires but I have never owned snow tires in my life and it does snow here.
Where I live in Canada everyone should have snow tires. Snow tires improve collision avoidance by 40% in icy conditions. Today was particularly icy, and I passed 5 accidents in 15 minutes. That said, I have personally never had snow tires. I have always gotten by with all season and very careful driving. I also avoid all highway driving between November and April. I haven't done the snow tires because I am cheap, and you need to have someplace to store the winter tires all summer long. I do think I should get snow tires.
In Arizona? I don't think so.
No.. I live in Oklahoma and I've driven in snow a foot deep and never even had good tires.
I think it's just a personal choice. If you have a good valid reason for wanting them and have extra money sitting around then go ahead. I don't have the need or desire to spend money on unnecessary things. I grew up here and learned to drive on snow. So I don't tailgate or drive excessive speeds in bad weather.
No, not where I live. I have all-season tires. That and all wheel drive work well enough for me!
It depends a lot on if you have front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive, or 4 wheel drive. I would guess that having anti-lock brakes might also make a difference. I've always lived in snowy places. As a kid I remember my dad putting snow tires or chains on the car. As a car owner I have never had snow tires.
NO. However, that really depends on the type of vehicle you have and the type of tires that are on the vehicle. I live in CT and own a Honda CRV, the "normal" tires on my vehicle are excellent for snow. Prior to that I had a Saturn, I never bought "snow" tires for that vehicle.
I lived in Park City Utah for 4 years and never needed them because the snow on the roads stayed packed and frozen for the most part. I had all season tires and rear wheel drive.
Here in Bend Oregon, it's warmer and I have 4WD and studded snow tires on my car 5 months of the year. The snow melts and refreezes so the roads are icy, plus I live on a hill.
Alot of people who live in the flat area of town get away with all season tires, here in Bend and when I lived in Utah. You just have to drive in the snow, slow down and learn how to steer out of a skid.
If you're traveling in the mountains on improved roads that are for the most part cleared and salted then all weather tires would be sufficient.
So to answer this question se would need to know what sort of tires you have and what sort of roads you would be driving on. You can call the state police and ask them. In Oregon the state police gives that information on their web site.
I live where we have a limited amount of snow and ice. I've lived in central Washington where we had more snow and ice. Before all weather tires we did have to have snow tires or change. Now all weather tires are sufficient in most cases.
I've lived in Phoenix area and I don't know why you would need snow tires. If you're traveling in the mountains as the state police.
The tread on snow tires is deeper so that your tires can get a better grip in the snow to go and to stop.
I have had snow tires when living on the east coast and in Quebec. Hubby had to buy tires in Canada for the pickup because he couldn't get out of our village with the hill. He also packed the bed of the truck with snow for more weight to get around.
We usually have all weather tires on where we live now. I hope that they will be sufficient when I go to work later today. Where we live in New Mexico it usually doesn't snow much but a lot of the locals don't have decent regular tires let alone snow tires and drive on the roads as if they are on a raceway.
Whatever you do slow do and drive slower in snow.
Have a great week and holiday.
the other S.
We have a van which was horrible in the snow. We finally got some really strong and top of the line snow tires and it made all the difference. So yes, they are necessary!
