I didn't get my snow tires installed on time and had to drive home from work tonight in 1 inch with wind. I'm lucky I got home
Posted by Blu_yello_husky@reddit | driving | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Would not recommend again. I was gonna put them on Monday but they changed the forecast and said it wasn't gonna snow this week. They were wrong. I had to drive home with flying snow and 40mph wind gusts with no snow tires and no weight. I was that guy driving 30 in a 65 on the way home, almost caused an accident 3 times, and almost got stuck at a stoplight. Guess I'll have to drive a different car until some of thos melts, then mount up my tires when I can drive it to the shop again. Truly terrible, why couldn't I have just put them on earlier like a smart person 🤦
haus11@reddit
This is why I just run with all-season tires. Granted, I got the winterguard ones, but I've had no issues with winter traction, and I dont have to worry about swapping or storing 2 sets of tires.
Complex_Solutions_20@reddit
Same. Especially since I live where it can be 20F in the morning and 60F in the afternoon with only 1 day of snow every couple months most of winter. Never had any issue being a little careful and probably could push it a lot harder but don't push my luck.
And in winter I keep a couple sand bags and/or case of water in the back for extra weight over the rear axle.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit (OP)
I was going to load up my sandbags on Sunday and install my tires on Monday, but decided not to because the car gets shit fuel economy with all that extra weight and the snow wasn't supposed to come yet. My mistake. I'll be loading all my cars tomorrow after work now
Complex_Solutions_20@reddit
Curious how much impact it has on fuel economy? I run all-season tires year-round but with \~100-120 extra pounds of supplies my crossover seems to be within a rounding error of the same fuel economy. The extra weight though does seem to make the difference between the back end wanting to slide if I turn a bit quick or staying in place behind me in slushy snow, and slightly easier to start from a stop if its slippery.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit (OP)
I load up an extra 300lbs for good measure. I normally get around 15 mpg with no extra weight, so not bad at all, but in the winter with that extra weight, I see it drop to 12-13 which is annoying. Filling up this car in the winter is a major PITA cause it takes so damn long and I don't like standing in the cold for 10 minutes to get gas every 4 days
Complex_Solutions_20@reddit
Oh wow. Yeah my crossover when I had a long commute and drove it daily was around 27MPG with or without the extra weight in the back. Now I'm living off a rural highway that I have to get up to speed really quick and shorter drive so its harder to beat \~23MPG...but its only EPA rated 24 so I can't complain too much.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit (OP)
Interesting you weigh it down if it's a crossover, that should be FWD or AWD, and you don't need extra weight on front wheel drive cars, because the power isn't coming from the rear anyway
Complex_Solutions_20@reddit
AWD, but it does make a VERY noticeable difference with/without weight over the rear axle in slippery conditions.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit (OP)
I have all seasons on it now but they're 13 years old and have essentially lost all rubber properties. They're like plastic toy car tires. They get the job done in the summer and fall, but once there's snow and ice, it's like roller skates on an ice rink. No traction at all
Enigmajikali@reddit
You've...been...driving..13 years...same tires? I really hope you just mean the tires themselves are 13 years old, maybe sat in a warehouse or garage for a long time and the rubber is just old? If you've been driving on them for 13 years, that's your problem. All seasons should handle an inch fine if they have tread.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit (OP)
I bought the car after it sat behind some old guys house since 2013. Tires are from 2011. I haven't changed the tires since I got it since they aren't cracking and the tread is still 7/32. They handle dry pavement just fine, it's when things get slippery that they get dangerous.
And it's not just a tire issue. This car is rear wheel drive with an open differential, and I have no extra weight in the trunk right now. Also it doesn't have abs or traction control, you actually need to know how to drive to drive this car in the winter. So without good tires or any weight, the car will fishtail going 4mph on a slight curve and end up in the ditch
Key_Effective_9664@reddit
I had a set of those and found they were basically awful all year round, but slightly less awful in the winter
YouWillHaveThat@reddit
Yeah. I made that mistake once with a set of Yokohama Parada Spec-2s on the car.
It was surprisingly bad.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit (OP)
Try 12 year old Firestone Fr710's on a rwd car with an open diff. Not fun