Discussions

I just bought a new vehicle with 4 season tires on it but is it me only or do you want it very super slippery this morning? I am driving at low speed 25 no more otherwise my vehicle slips making it dangerous.  
I am thinking if I should switch to real winter tires.  
What do you use on your jeep or truck as for tires type??  
All new vehicles seem to have 4WD which I don't like that much I find good grip tires is better way to go. What good is it 4WD if tires slip on snow or ice. The vehicle I owned previously was better.

Some new vehicles tires are not as good as others I find. I had all season on my previous SUV and it was so much better than my current SUV. Night and day.  
Now, I use winter tires on my current SUV and I find it helps a lot. AWD does help but I would suggest getting winter tires, especially if you frequently drive on the hwy.

Here's a good list of various winter tires.  
 
http://www.apa.ca/wintertire_reviews.asp  
 
Edited by ultraguy, 2015-11-22 12:44:14

could I keep good winter tires all year instead switching them 2x a year?? I could sell those new 18" ones I have right now if make it sense!?  
My vehicle was parked by the street and I started the vehicle to park it in the driveway and making a turn on the lip edge of the street and driway which is only 2-3 inches the wheels slipped this morning so I left it on the side of the street. In my opinion are not good tires they are summer tires!.  
I find I need to do a change because I feel I may have an accident one day with slippery tires.

"Good" winter tires have softer rubber tread, therefore not recommended for use in summer. You could buy an "average" winter tire which probably will have harder rubber and use all year, problem is, you will have less traction next winter. There are many tires and tires with rims for sale on eBrandon, you might be able to pu a set and just have to swap them spring and fall. What vehicle/tire size do you have?

The "all season" tires that came on my truck from factory might as well be bananna peels.  
 
It would have been more honest to call them 3 season tires. Even that would be a stretch.  
 
There's no fix for poor winter driving habits but in my opinion winter tires are a must. There's no one tire that does everything well.  
 
 
 

Yes, I just bought a Ram 2500 with Firestone Transforce HT tires and they do not look like a very good tire for winter, more of a highway summer tire. So, might have to use that MPI deal and get some winters for it, although not too many made in the size required and LT type. Sorry for getting off topic from OP question.

On the full time AWD SUV I have aggressive all-terrains.  
On the 2wd car I have studded winter tires.  
 
When the roads are icy I get better traction with the car, winter tires make that much of a difference.

since I already have those tires on, would be a good idea to have studs added to them.  
Why would some people buy 4 seasons tires, you can drive, slip and hit any pedistrians or cyclist, parked vehicles. We live in Canada with 4 seasons weather +40 to -40 not wherever places with +50 to +20

1 chance said "since I already have those tires on, would be a good idea to have studs added to them.   Why would some people buy 4 seasons tires, you can drive, slip and hit any pedistrians or cyclist, parked vehicles. We live in Canada with 4 seasons weather +40 to -40 not wherever places with +50 to +20 "

My understanding is they can only stud tires when new, otherwise stones get into the holes where the studs go. Also, if you stud the tires, you must take them off in the spring as you are not allowed to run them in the summer as the studs are hard on pavement. Best option is to replace with a better tire or get dedicated winter tires/rims as previous poster above advised.

tires that came with my new vehicle are Bridgestone duel A/T (for all terrain i guess it means). that is it

on your mark...get set... POST said "You can stud only tires when new. A winter tire is night and day difference. But the "all weather nokian tires" are a great way to get best of both worlds. The MPI tire finance is a great way to save cash for Christmas and be safe in winter. The Nokian WRG3 All Weather tires are amazing. I just put a set on my sorento in replace of the kumho tires and what a difference in rain ice and snow. being they are winter certified they are good to go on winter tire program but no changeovers in spring and fall needed and come with full warranty and a mileage garantee great investment in my own opinion. Deffidently worth a look into for cars, SUV, and light trucks. "

Yes, they are pricier - but they have been the best we have ever used. Studded are better if you can swing it.  
 
I know they are costly - but they are absolutely worth it. I have driven around out of control cars before - they mean the difference between keeping control of your vehicle and being at the mercy of the ice.  
 
There are a lot of people out there that have the mistaken idea that 4 x 4 is all you need for winter, which is complete BS. 4 x 4 will not help you one bit on ice or in a slide. I had studded Nokkians on a ford focus and could drive circles around big 4 x 4 trucks and jeeps without winter tires on.

I've run Nokian factory studded winter tires on my last two full sized half ton pickups. And just put a new set on a truck purchased this spring, With the Nokian tires, when the snow on the roads get "packed and polished", I can drive like the roads are dry. I don't lose control or "fishtail" around the corners. And I can stop comfortably too.

I agree, awesome tires. This is my second set (new car). They are a little more expensive but worth every penny. Coming from up north, I don't know how people go without winter tires.  
 
I did the mpi program this year. My tires and rims were just over 1400 dollars and I did two year financing. It is only 62.00 a month. So easy, nothing really to fill out, just a couple signatures wherever you chose to get your tires from, and you can pre qualify yourself online.  
 
I bought my tires from Kal tire, they are great. No charge change over in the spring/fall, and their storage is reasonable.

All new vehicles come with Low Rolling resistance tires for better fuel economy, (That is how they get the best fuel economy ratings on their vehicles) and are more than useless on Snow and Ice. They don't last very long as well. It is good practice to buy a set of winter tires when you buy a new car. Sometimes you can get the dealer to throw a set in when you buy or they may give you a good deal on a set.

thecdnmole said ""Good" winter tires have softer rubber tread, therefore not recommended for use in summer. You could buy an "average" winter tire which probably will have harder rubber and use all year, problem is, you will have less traction next winter. There are many tires and tires with rims for sale on eBrandon, you might be able to pu a set and just have to swap them spring and fall. What vehicle/tire size do you have? "

There's nothing wrong with using winter tires in the summer. Yes they are softer but that means they have better grip than any all season tire. High performance tires have softer rubber. The down side is that they will wear out faster but for many people who don't drive high miles (or gravel) it's more economical in the end to run winter tires year round.

Nasty layer of ice on side streets this AM. Puts one into a bit of a careful/defensive mode knowing that everyone's adjusting to the change for the first time of the season!

bigmoe said "    thecdnmole said ""Good" winter tires have softer rubber tread, therefore not recommended for use in summer. You could buy an "average" winter tire which probably will have harder rubber and use all year, problem is, you will have less traction next winter. There are many tires and tires with rims for sale on eBrandon, you might be able to pu a set and just have to swap them spring and fall. What vehicle/tire size do you have? " There's nothing wrong with using winter tires in the summer. Yes they are softer but that means they have better grip than any all season tire. High performance tires have softer rubber. The down side is that they will wear out faster but for many people who don't drive high miles (or gravel) it's more economical in the end to run winter tires year round. "

Winter tires are much worse in summer. The big tread blocks get very flexible, so braking and handling is much worse. Also they will be noisier and fuel economy will not be as good.

It's hard to quantify "good". You may find them good in summer. But they will not perform as well as an all season tire.

Saw a few accidents this morning but found I was slipping way less than others and had more traction and control than some of the trucks out there too.  
Have a small all-wheel drive car with Federal Himalaya tires on it and they were a huge improvement over "all-seasons". I'll never run all-seasons in the winter again, not nearly enough traction and control.

I agree with ultraguy. I have used once winter tires through the summer in my opinion I found them not grigging and stopping that good.  
For safety of mine and others getting winter tires would be good choice because I don't want be driving speed of 20 all winter and piss off everybody behind me because I am rolling a 4 non canada all seasons tires.  
If you want warmth you wear a winter jacket not a thick spring jacket same for tires winter is here so winter tires.

are the only way to go. They make such a difference on any type of vehicle.

It sounds like you agree that winter tires are the way to go. You also asked about 4X4 - you will get going easier in slippery or snowy conditions with 4 wheel drive, but remember it isn't going to help you stop or turn. Winter tires help this a lot and if they are studded they will be that much better. I'm not sure if studded tires are worth the extra money if you have a front wheel drive but if you have a rear wheel drive it is the recommended way to go.

4wd is new to me and 4WD isn't as 2WD but i have been driving during winter times for years everyday and with my previous vehicle I would have driven much better in the same slippery condition yesterday and much safer with winter tires and not swirl all over. I was told all season tires on my jeep are good for winter through if you leave your vehicle parked on the driveway and come out on dry days only. This is Canada with winter season meaning snow, slush, ice. I am not a new driver I didn't have to drive speed of 20-25 with my previous vehicle and I never hit anything on my path that is all I know. Yesterday wasn't good in my opinion I felt I was driving a weapon.  
 
Edited by 1 chance, 2015-11-23 12:31:07

Your previous vehicle may have been front wheel drive (FWD) which has more weight on the tires propelling the vehicle. If your Jeep is true 4x4, then when in 2wd mode, it will be rear wheel drive, thus not as much weight on the driving wheels. You should have decent traction in 4x4, but as previous poster suggested, not much if any difference in stopping/turning. Some say FWD does provide better turning as it pulls the vehicle thru the turn instead of pushing it.