Are snow tires in MA necessary? (Boston, Marlborough: for sale, 2015, apartment)

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

To be fair, on a FWD vehicle is nearly a non-issue due to OEM front/rear braking proportions. RWD only? Buy 4 snows.

You're going to need to elaborate as i'm not following that logic.

[id77]

If you have all-seasons, they'll do ok but not great. Winters will grip better, but if you drive conservatively and on plowed roads all-seasons will do.

If you have summer performance, for the love of all that's holy either remove them and put winter tires on or garage the car for the winter. I once had my summer performances on still after a freak snowstorm I wasn't expecting and it was like driving on smooth glass. Couldn't even easily get out of my parking spot.

On the flip side, if you do get winters, don't drive on them in the summer. Keep two sets: one summer/all-season, one winter

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

You're going to need to elaborate as i'm not following that logic.

A FWD OEM setup, brake bias is almost all to the fronts. Weight distribution is usually around 60/40 too. The entire car is setup to understeer in almost all conditions. They are set up so basically the rear tires are there to hold the rear end up.

Front only snow tires are OK on FWD. Not great, but OK.

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

No. Most cars now are equipped with all-season tires and most are either front wheel or all-wheel drive.

But not all . Mine came from the factory with summer tires - Imperial put all seasons on.

After those wore out in 30k, I went with summer and snows on steelies.

OP; I'll put what I put in your automotive post

Go to a junkyard, get the smallest wheels that fit on your car. Don't know the age of your Civic, so you'll have to do some research for options. Smaller wheel diameter tires are cheaper and will perform better in the snow - you want more sidewall in the winter. you'll have to find a place to keep the off-season tires, although Town Faire Tire used to offer storage if you buy winter tires there.

Cause you said Boston Post Road and 495, I'm going to guess Northborough/Marlborough/Berlin/Hudson. Pretty hilly area! Get snow tires . Once I got stuck on Route 9 going up the hill from US-20 westbound. It's not much of a hill, but my Miata with old all seasons didn't have the grip to do anything but spin going up that hill.

Depending on the year of your car and you've got 16", smaller might or might not work - checking the spare might be quickest. The manual might have a section on snow tires and what size they suggest (Ford has a section for my Fiesta ST, but as I said, they put summer tires on at the factory).


Now are they absolutely necessary? No. I grew up in Michigan with all seasons (and summer tires on AWD sports cars). I've lived here for 8 years only only had snow tires for 3: otherwise I've had all seasons on FWD or all seasons on a Miata and a RWD Volvo. If you don't live on top of a hill, and only travel main roads you should be fine. When we get a couple feet of snow, you won't be going to work anyway! But snows will make driving in the winter much less white-knuckle.

[ben young]

west or north of rt 495 snows a nice . on side streets in the city lots of folks need a push out of parking spaces.

[mascoma]

All weather tires work fine usually. Just carry floor mats and cat litter in case you get stuck.

Originally Posted by scorpio516

. Once I got stuck on Route 9 going up the hill from US-20 westbound. It's not much of a hill, but my Miata with old all seasons didn't have the grip to do anything but spin going up that hill.

.

I had that happen once on a hill in NH because I slowed down too much. I went to the bottom and built up some speed and made if fine.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

A FWD OEM setup, brake bias is almost all to the fronts. Weight distribution is usually around 60/40 too. The entire car is setup to understeer in almost all conditions. They are set up so basically the rear tires are there to hold the rear end up.

Front only snow tires are OK on FWD. Not great, but OK.

Weight distribution of a vehicle goes right out the window in panic brake situations. In that situation, under heavy braking, most of the weight of the vehicle is all on the front tires, and the rear end gets very light. That's basic physics. WIth tires with poor grip, that can lead to a loss of traction which can spin the vehicle out. I always throw my best tires on the rear.

Most tire shops will put NEW tires on the rear, or ask you to sign a waiver. I've had this happen a few times.

Pretty good video here demonstrating this with a FWD car.
https://www.allstate.com/blog/new-tires-rear/

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

Front only snow tires are OK on FWD. Not great, but OK.

...until you hit the brakes on black ice and the car spins.

[robr2]

All weather tire are not all season tires. All weather tires have the snowflake and mountain symbol denoting that they have been tested to work in snow. They can be used all year round.

Winter tires should go on all 4 tires and never just on the fronts. A FWD car with better traction on the front will simply whip the rear around.

Since you have the option to WFH during weather events, stick with the all season tires. I live NW of Boston and travel in my job. I use winter tires as I'll encounter snow up north on a regular basis. The vast majority of folks in metro Boston use all seasons.

[Ellwood]

All season, radial tires