AWD Doesn't Matter - Your Tires Do (warehouse, vehicle)

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Branden2017

Do I need winter tires for my car in Denver? I drive an 07 Mazda 3 with a manual transmission and brand new all-seasons. GF definitely wants winter tires on her AWD crossover since it will make her feel much safer. We will use her vehicle for our days in the mountains. As for me, though I grew up in Florida and have driven in snow only a few times, I consider myself safe and confident on the roads, leaving excess space between cars even in good road conditions. I also plan on taking a course in winter driving. I will need my car about 4-5 days a week. Are winter tires with steel wheels worth $500-600ish. Do I have an advantage with a stick shift? I know the tricks like starting in 2nd gear for more traction and engine braking on hills. If you can't tell, I'm hoping for a "no" but please be honest!

From a cost standpoint, they aren't much more expensive. Having a second set of tires that you use half the year means that you summer tires will last twice as long.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by Branden2017

Do I need winter tires for my car in Denver? I drive an 07 Mazda 3 with a manual transmission and brand new all-seasons. GF definitely wants winter tires on her AWD crossover since it will make her feel much safer. We will use her vehicle for our days in the mountains. As for me, though I grew up in Florida and have driven in snow only a few times, I consider myself safe and confident on the roads, leaving excess space between cars even in good road conditions. I also plan on taking a course in winter driving. I will need my car about 4-5 days a week. Are winter tires with steel wheels worth $500-600ish. Do I have an advantage with a stick shift? I know the tricks like starting in 2nd gear for more traction and engine braking on hills. If you can't tell, I'm hoping for a "no" but please be honest!

Unless you're planning on trekking to the foothills or mountains on a regular basis (and that includes I-25 over Monument Hill) all season tires will be just fine 99% of the time.

My car has a paltry 6.5" of ground clearance so if we get more than about 4" of snow I just stay home, and I've never put winter tires on it - mostly because it's so low to the ground.

[ITNerd]

Max performance summer only FTW year round!

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by ITNerd

Max performance summer only FTW year round!

Will never forget the fall I waited a little too long to swap the tires on my Audi S4 and drove through a snow storm with summer performance tires. Terrifying!!

[ITNerd]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

Will never forget the fall I waited a little too long to swap the tires on my Audi S4 and drove through a snow storm with summer performance tires. Terrifying!!

I normally take mine off when the weather stays below 60 during the day. The pucker factor increases exponentially when these tires decide to harden up.

[himain]

Snow tires will be best on a non awd vehicle.

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

Thanks! I think of all the videos, this one that I found from the U.K. might be the best illustration of the traction difference while driving up a hill. It compares the same make vehicle, one in the FWD version and one in the AWD version, with Summer and winter tires on each.

The contrast is stark.

Up a steep hill, the distances achieved are as follows:

FWD with Summer tires: 7 meters traveled
AWD with Summer tires: 13 meters
FWD with Winter tires: 110 meters
AWD with Winter tires: 136 meters (course completed)

https://youtu.be/mfuE00qdhLA

This one is the best answer. Take a few minutes to watch it.

Winter tires beat AWD alone by a wide margin.

[TCHP]

I agree that video is very revealing in regards to UHP summer tires, but I think we actually see a middle ground around here more often and that is AWD with all season tires.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by TCHP

I agree that video is very revealing in regards to UHP summer tires, but I think we actually see a middle ground around here more often and that is AWD with all season tires.

While there is no doubt that an all season is better than a Summer tire in snow, and I would have liked to have seen them do this with all seasons too, there are plenty of other links in this thread showing how much better winter tires are than all seasons.

I should also add that many people run their all seasons far too long because they don't want to shell out the cash for new tires. Bald all seasons are going to very comparable to the summer tires you see in that video.

[illinoisphotographer]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

While there is no doubt that an all season is better than a Summer tire in snow, and I would have liked to have seen them do this with all seasons too, there are plenty of other links in this thread showing how much better winter tires are than all seasons.

I should also add that many people run their all seasons far too long because they don't want to shell out the cash for new tires. Bald all seasons are going to very comparable to the summer tires you see in that video.

I'd also like to point out that chains > anything in true adverse conditions. I've passed some struggling 4WD trucks/SUVs in some rural areas with my FWD and chains with all-seasons. I'd bet that you throw chains on the FWD with summer tires in that video and it makes it up top.

Yes, chains are a PITA to put on and can't be worn on asphalt, but I'd take chains any day in back country rural roads in the winter.