Winter Profile

[navymich]

Thanks Mike, you think I don't have enough real snow as it is and you have to add it to my profile too?!?! 

Seriously though, it looks great!  Another bonus for being a subscriber!

 

[Mike Bobbitt]

I had to find some place to put all the snow I shoveled off my driveway!

 

[Mike Baker]

I like it. A plus since we have a lot of snow here now ;D

 

[Rayman]

Err...snow and electronics dont mix much do they?

 

[geo]

.... "BRRRRrrrr

 

[Franko]

I had to find some place to put all the snow I shoveled off my driveway!

Now it's time for you to put up the lights too.     

Regards

 

[eurowing]

I don't get you guys.  How cruel! This is a tough go on the island.  People are slipping in their Birkenstock sandals.  The temp has plunged to -2C.  > Why, a news announcer said it was so cold it took his breath away. :crybaby:

Seriously though, I have a 95 4x4 Tahoe (I had to buy a green vehicle, BC and all) and I am terrified of going out.  Most folks here have summer tires on and no clue how to drive in snow.  In a 40 km drive home we saw 3 cars upside down and 5 in the ditch.  At that time we had perhaps 3 cms of snow,  Now we have 40, I'm staying parked until I NEED to drive.

Shaking in fear in BC! :clown:

 

[JBoyd]

I live in BC as well, have my entire life so far.. and one thing i can tell you is that drivers in vancouver apparently go stupid the first day it snows, they dont know what to do and end up being morons..

 

[geo]

only on the 1st day it snows?
from my own experience (a guy from the east coast) the people of Vancouver go into silly mode each and every time snow comes down..... god knows, no one uses winter tires over there ???

 

[JBoyd]

only on the 1st day it snows?
from my own experience (a guy from the east coast) the people of Vancouver go into silly mode each and every time snow comes down..... god knows, no one uses winter tires over there ???

I never said they stopped

and most vancouverites are under the impression that all-season tires do well in the snow.......  to be honest though the lower mainland is usually rain and not snow, but either way...

 

[Rayman]

only on the 1st day it snows?
from my own experience (a guy from the east coast) the people of Vancouver go into silly mode each and every time snow comes down..... god knows, no one uses winter tires over there ???

Same for Toronto but I dont think Torontonians know much about driving in the first (guess that includes me born in Downsview and all).

 

[Greymatters]

god knows, no one uses winter tires over there ???

Dont most of us have year round radials?  Who buys summer tires anymore?

Whats amazing is that a) its snowing, b) its slippery, so you should c) have a shovel or some sort of snow removal device in case you get stuck.  I passed one guy an hour ago, he was just sitting there on the street, stuck in a snowbank and spinning his tires.  Get out and get the snow from under your tires you freakin moron... 

 

[Good2Golf]

Dont most of us have year round radials?  Who buys summer tires anymore?....

1) No, and 2) You'd be surprised.

I would say that folks who put a little time into knowing about cars or driving also take the time to run two sets of tires, summer & winter.

Even the coasts get enough crap that an "all season" is not.  In many cases, insurance companies will not cover you if you have an accident under snowing/icy conditions and did not have "M+S" rated tires.  Not many all seasons are M+S.

G2G

 

[Greymatters]

1) No, and 2) You'd be surprised.

I would say that folks who put a little time into knowing about cars or driving also take the time to run two sets of tires, summer & winter.

Even the coasts get enough crap that an "all season" is not.  In many cases, insurance companies will not cover you if you have an accident under snowing/icy conditions and did not have "M+S" rated tires.  Not many all seasons are M+S.

Its been a long time since Ive known anyone to run two sets of tires on their vehicles.  Ive been running all-season tires for years, as do most people I know.  But you bring up a good point, thats the first Ive heard about the M+S tires needed for insurance purposes, I'll have to look into that, or is that an Ontario thing only?

 

[Franko]

I've found that the M+S rated all seasons actually are for all seasons and do a somewhat adequate job during the winter.

I've made the leap back to running winter tires this year....and it's like night and day from the all seasons. Many people here in Pet do run them as well.

Regards

 

[eurowing]

Absolutely winter tires.  Like night and day.  I can't believe the difference.  My 560SEC even has them although it derates the car to 210 kph. > 

 

[George Wallace]

I've found that the M+S rated all seasons actually are for all seasons and do a somewhat adequate job during the winter.

I've made the leap back to running winter tires this year....and it's like night and day from the all seasons. Many people here in Pet do run them as well.

Regards

You may want to rethink that.  Snow Tires are produced with a different grade of rubber and materials.  They are not made for conditions over +10 Celsius.  What you do then is put excessive wear on them and replacing them more often.  Make sure you check the specs on the tires first.  Some are Mud and Snow and year round, some are Winter only.

 

[Rayman]

Winter tires have a three peak mountain on them and a snow flake on the inside. Thats how you can tell the difference between snow tires and all season. George is bang on about the rubber being softer so that its more pliable in colder weather-it helps with traction. The thing about winter tires being no good outside of winter is deffinately true too. Picture dragging a pencil eraser down the road the distance you drive to say the corner store or tims. The soft rubber and the warm or hot pavement dont mix. Other characteristics are deeper treads and a more aggressive tread pattern, deeper sipes, and holes for studs. However when buying winter tires always buy 4 for the whole car (or have really decent tires on the axle youre choosing to not equip). The reason for this is many people think you can put winter tires on the driving axle-in most cases the modern front wheel drive cars since this axle steers and drives. Actually is this more deadily as the traction provided by the front can actually cause the rear of your car to slide or fish tail easily (personally all I did was run good all season wet weather minded tires on the back and the Nordics on the front). Also when it comes to studding make sure you check your local by-laws as to what months your provincial government warrants the use of studs. Running them out of season can lead to tickets and fines. Studs are especially good for those who live in hilly areas and bridges that tend to ice up. Not a heck lot reason to explain there.....especially since ive been there before.

Canadian Tire learnt me good  ;D

 

[Roy Harding]

Its been a long time since Ive known anyone to run two sets of tires on their vehicles.  Ive been running all-season tires for years, as do most people I know.  But you bring up a good point, thats the first Ive heard about the M+S tires needed for insurance purposes, I'll have to look into that, or is that an Ontario thing only?

I used to run all seasons when I still lived in the city.

Since moving here out in the sticks, I quickly perceived the wisdom of seasonal tires.  Both our vehicles now have two sets of tires - winter tires mounted on "non-showy" rims.  It takes me about 1/2 an hour in the spring and fall to change all eight tires over.  Since doing this, my wife and I have never felt in danger of hitting the ditch, or being stuck in the driveway (which happened to us when we first arrived with our "all-seasons")  BOTH trucks stuck - it was a gong show.

When we lived in the city, we could usually depend upon at least the main streets being plowed, and if we DID ditch (which neither of us ever did), a quick phone call would summon a tow truck, taxicab if the tow truck was going to be a while, and we could get somewhere warm while waiting.  Such is not the case here - although our road is usually well maintained, we ARE out in the sticks, no guarantee that a tow truck could get to us, and no guarantee of cell coverage to make the call in the first place. - the extra safety of snow tires was a no brainer for us.  We also pack chains.

If we were still in the city, we'd probably still be running all-seasons.  Like all risk management decisions, one needs to balance the cost of extra safety measures with the amount of risk involved in NOT taking those decisions.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

If not mandated I think the Feds should give some kind of finacial incentive to those pers buying/using winter tires.  What a huge difference they make.