Our thoughts after we moved to Michigan from Georgia

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by ErikU19

I'm right outside Detroit, actually. I enjoy the warmer climates and all the possibilities/opportunities it brings. You can enjoy yourself for some time in cold weather dressed properly but to me it just doesnt compare to a mild winter/hot summer location. I enjoy the heat, and sweating to me is invigorating.

To each their own then. I couldn't stand the feeling of taking a shower and walking outside at 6pm only to feel instantly like you haven't showered in weeks. I guess you get used to it like MI winters b/c some of the locals were playing basketball sweating buckets.

[ErikU19]

To each their own indeed!

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

To each their own then. I couldn't stand the feeling of taking a shower and walking outside at 6pm only to feel instantly like you haven't showered in weeks. I guess you get used to it like MI winters b/c some of the locals were playing basketball sweating buckets.

[jimdhen]

OK, we just bought snow tires. Didn't have to have those in Georgia. I know...I know all you natives think us Southerners just need to learn to drive in the snow with our regular tires. Now where is the snow?

And FYI to all the negative whoa-is-me crowd: I found a great job in MI, so, so much for the unemployment hype so heaped upon waiting ears from the media.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by jimdhen

OK, we just bought snow tires. Didn't have to have those in Georgia. I know...I know all you natives think us Southerners just need to learn to drive in the snow with our regular tires. Now where is the snow?

And FYI to all the negative whoa-is-me crowd: I found a great job in MI, so, so much for the unemployment hype so heaped upon waiting ears from the media.

I think you still have a while to go jimdhen. I think there are 70 degree temps even coming up in our 10 day forecast. I was out hiking with my girls last weekend in a new park that just opened near us, and we saw several woolly bear caterpillars that had very little fur on them. That usually means a warmer than average winter (old folklore).

Hey, by the way, what are "snow tires"? I got new tires for the van this past summer and just got "all season".

[Bydand]

All-season tires are good if you live in Georgia. There is a reason manufactures still produce, and spend so much money on R&D for dedicated snow tires. Even for the milder winters most of Michigan has been having for the past 15 or 20 years, they are still a good idea for those nasty days that crop up. Especially in Mason County where the road crews really don't have a clue on how to keep the roads clear. You can tell when you cross the line into, Lake, Oceana, or Manistee counties. I always have a set mounted on a spare set of rims and change them every fall. I got into that habit back in either 79 or 80 up in the Soo. The numbers between starting, stopping,and handling were enough to convince me and the ensuing years of driving is enough to keep me doing it. All season tires are too hard of a compound, and too tight of tread blocks to do real good in snow. The new snows do great on bare pavement as well now, so the only down side is the extra cost, but a set will last 4-6 seasons, so even that is negligible. (when I say set, I mean all four corners, even on my two-wheel drive vehicles. Front or rear wheel drive.)

A couple of articles:
Getting a Grip on Winter Tires - MSN Autos
Tire Safety: Don't Ignore the Rubber on the Road
Tech Stuff: A tire for all seasons? - Features - Car and Driver December 2006
Let It Snow, Winter Tires - American Driver - Automobile Magazine