Mandatory Snow Tires

[Busdriver1964]

Another money grab by the tire company's

[GoStumpy]

For sure, money-grabbing for yours and my safety

Unfortunately we don't get a full 3 months of snow and below-freezing to warrant mandatory snow tires at the Valley bottom. As it is, if the weather is too bad and you don't have snow tires, you stay home. Anyone with half a brain wouldn't drive on a snowing freezing morning without snow tires.

If you travel the mountain passes in the winter, snow tires are mandatory. Should be common sense, but people still think they can get over the mountain passes in the winter just because their tire has a "M+S" logo

[Glacier]

If you travel the mountain passes in the winter, snow tires are mandatory.

No they aren't. You can carry chains instead if you want. Personally, I go with "all weather" tires because they have the snowflake and you can drive them in the summer. Saves changing the tires over every year (though a set a of "all weather" tires is $650 verses a set of winters that cost $500).

[simnut]

If you travel the mountain passes in the winter, snow tires are mandatory. Should be common sense, but people still think they can get over the mountain passes in the winter just because their tire has a "M+S" logo

Tires with the M+S logo ARE legal(aka...considered a winter tire) in "winter tire or carry chain" areas. Just be smart about driving.....if you drive mountain passes all the time, you SHOULD carry chains regardless of the tires you have installed on your vehicle.

[GoStumpy]

M+S won't save you.

[twobits]

M+S won't save you.

The incremental gain in traction of a winter over an MS is not worth it for 99% of drivers in this corner of the world. Me thinks you must be in the tire business to poo poo this reality

[Rwede]

M+S won't save you.

Agreed. A dedicated winter tire with the mountain snowflake is required for proper vehicle control.

When you're sliding helplessly toward oncoming traffic, possibly losing your life or someone else's, that investment in the proper tires seems very small.

[keith1612]

M+S won't save you.

very correct it will not.
in fact no tire will save you.
proper driving with the speed always being considered to the road conditions is the only thing that will save you.
its amazing how the minute you put some fools into a 4x4 or give them great tires they feel they can drive twice as fast.
defensive driving is the only real answer.

[Busdriver1964]

[quote]very correct it will not.
in fact no tire will save you.
proper driving with the speed always being considered to the road conditions is the only thing that will save you.
its amazing how the minute you put some fools into a 4x4 or give them great tires they feel they can drive twice as fast.
defensive driving is the only real answer.

Totally Agree

[GoStumpy]

When a kid runs onto the street playing in the snow you will be glad you have snow tires on.

[Busdriver1964]

[quote="GoStumpy"]For sure, money-grabbing for yours and my safety

Ok I dont think any one can dispute that GOOD snow tires perform better on snow and ice than other tires. Can we also agree that good all season perform better on on road conditions. I faithfully put on my Nokians every winter.They are amazing in the snow.

The question is do you want the best tire for 90% of your driving condition and adjust your driving habit for the other 10 % or should we do it the other way.. The best tire for the majority of my driving sounds like it may be the safest way to go

[kgcayenne]

Winter tires, while better than A/S, only go so far. Winter driving is like dealing with a wild animal, easy does it, and make no sudden moves.

[Busdriver1964]

When a kid runs onto the street playing in the snow you will be glad you have snow tires on.

What if it is raining and you have snow tires on. Maybe just like INDY 500 we should change tires any time the conditions change. Or maybe we should have one type of tire on each wheel. then we would be safe..

I would rather see someone with good quality all season tires driving properly for the conditions then some Idiot with cheap snow tires thinking they are Ok to drive in all condition

[LANDM]

The above arguments for all season tires all seem to be based on the presumption that all season tire drivers drive more carefully than those with winters.
That would most likely be an invalid assumption. At the very least, there is no basis for that claim.

A good driver on winters will be safer than a good driver on AS. Same with a bad driver. The rubber formulation is slightly different to allow for a softer tire at cold temperatures for winters compared to a harder tire at lower temps for all AS's. The claim that they are the same is ludicrous.

[Busdriver1964]

The above arguments for all season tires all seem to be based on the presumption that all season tire drivers drive more carefully than those with winters.
That would most likely be an invalid assumption. At the very least, there is no basis for that claim.

A good driver on winters will be safer than a good driver on AS. Same with a bad driver. The rubber formulation is slightly different to allow for a softer tire at cold temperatures for winters compared to a harder tire at lower temps for all AS's. The claim that they are the same is ludicrous.

No ....I already stated that quality snow tires are better in the snow.
Rain tires will be better in the rain and so on. In the last week I have been driving with rain/all season tires and you have been driving with snow tires . Considering the same driving habits and staying in the valley which would be safer?