Driving in Snow, Cars/Tires (Georgetown: shop, safer, discount)

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by coschristi

Does anybody know what the Colorado 2016-2017 winter forecast is? As in for snow? I don't so much love the cold + sun + dry... but I do love the snow!

I spend much of my time on the road when kids are in school, even on "snow days" & have never had a problem; just interested. (I have to go through the forever & always under construction Fillmore & I25 area about 4 times a day; traffic gets held up right at the base of Flllmore hill, can't get up the icy hill & the whole scene turns into a giant parking lot.)

It's going to snow and be sunny and cloudy and cold and warm.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by surftherain

- Skid school...really...I'm in...sign me up! .

Check race course classes. Ours was about $100 for class + driving (they use a rolling rack that lifts weight off tires and you can go into a skid real well!)

Sometimes they offer skid school class at school or mall parking lot. It is money and time well spent, as you don't want to learn by 'real' experience, as that can hurt oncoming traffic, and crunch up your new car .

I really like my Nokian winter tires, i get them from discount tires, tire rack, or tires EZ. I have to wear studs on all fours, as I get a lot of freezing rain and 80 mph winds and live up in mtns with steep switchbacks the only way to town. (No longer Colorado). I come monthly to CO, (Ft Collins / Estes Park) and rental company always wants to sell me awd or SUV. I have done just fine for 30 yrs of visiting CO with Fwd and no snow tires or chains. Ymmv.

[mysterymachinebl]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

Tires tires tires

Don't get studs. Studless snows make all the difference in the world and actually handle reasonably well on dry pavement. Studs are loud and lousy on everything except ice and snow.

AWD does nothing the second your foot leaves the gas pedal. Stopping is more important than going.

I saw someone with their studded snow tires still on their car this week!

[reed303]

Originally Posted by mysterymachinebl

I saw someone with their studded snow tires still on their car this week!

Did you see them first, or hear them coming ?

[mysterymachinebl]

Originally Posted by reed303

Did you see them first, or hear them coming ?

Ha I heard them long before the car passed by.

[SVTRay]

Your AWD Bimmer should be fine...although tires like snow tires maybe cheaper on an Outback. Just listen to what others have to say and you should be fine.

[StealthRabbit]

Btw.... Buying winter tires? Then get a set of winter rims too, can buy used or get a new steel set. Aluminum does not do well with winter chemicals, cinders, curb strikes. So you don't want to be scrubbing yr round on nice rims. + it will save you mounting costs / rim damage potential, and waiting in line at tire shop for hours each year.

[Sunderpig2]

I echo what jwiley stated. We've had front wheel (2-wheel) drive vehicles in Fort Collins, and have never had any problems. They save a lot of money on gas compared to the 4-wheelers and all the added hardware. And that's a savings in addition to the lower cost to begin with (2WD versions of the identical 4WD models will always cost less). I personally will never buy a 4WD or AWD. Tires are very important though. I've found good quality 'all-season' tires to work well. Of course, we just do city driving during winter; no off-road or high incline stuff.

[hooverphonics]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Is driving in Colorado winter much different than driving in New England? I've seen 4WD vehicles roaring around, thinking because they can go forward, they can stop. They drive just as badly in N.E.

I am debating trying to get by with my front-wheel drive Matrix before I buy a Subaru. I don't have to drive or go anywhere in bad weather (am retiring to Colorado) so thought maybe I'd drive the Matrix (further) into the ground.

Though CO gets less snow than New England it is WORSE to drive here because they do not plow and they do not ever EVER salt or use sand. They say because it melts so quickly but this isn't always the case especially with this last endless winter. Plus all the SUVs think they can go as fast because they have 4WD hence all the cars off the road you are likely to see. But if you don't have to go out on the roads the Matrix should be ok. I have all wheel and do ok but I am pretty cautious. All in all I would take New England any day over Colorado. At least there is water and forests and abundant greenery in the non winter months.

[brightdoglover]

I am eager to get away from Massachusetts summers and humidity. As for greenery, yes, I'll miss the trees but the high peaks should make up for that!
We are currently in a major drought, high fire risk, and my lawn is dead/dormant. It's a Darwinian jungle out there. I refuse to water a silly monoculture. If it weren't for the dogs, I wouldn't have lawn at all.
I will miss the pretty little local glacial lakes, however, hence more humidity! I just don't think one should get mildew on the house siding.

All tradeoffs in all things. Just have to prioritize. I am hoping my Matrix lasts long enough to get to Colorado. I appreciate those who have let me know it will be OK. I will likely be doing only local driving, no off-road and not having to go to work! Hey, I won't have to go to work! First time in my life I can say that without having sustained some injury or having mono or something. It's still sinking in.