It depends on where you live or whether or not you have to drive in winter conditions.
In my opinion they are worth the money, and I always install my winter tires before the first snow. Even with All Wheel Drive.
Like mcparadise, I also have AWD, and I also mount my set of Michelin X-Ice winter tires each year before the first snow.
Despite good driving technique (no accidents in 38 years, with well over 450,000 miles driven) and despite having Traction Control, ABS, and Vehicle Stability Control in addition to the AWD, I find that the incredible increase in control of the vehicle with winter tires is well worth the cost.
Even if one discounts the “go” factor, the ability to stop your car in a substantially shorter distance on snow and on ice has the potential to avert serious accidents. And, since my all-season tires are out of service for the 4 months that I use winter tires, the additional cost for the extra set of tires is actually fairly minimal.
Yes, most people can “get by” on all-season tires, but isn’t having additional safety advantages preferable to just “getting by”?
I will only add if you live around steep hills winter tires are a real asset. I used to live on a main road but steep hill sharply turning road in front of my house(loaded trucks in dry conditions could only go about 20 mph on a 35mph road) with even a meager 1" of slippery wet snow vehicles slid off the road or simply could not make it who lacked AWD or winter tires. An hour latter the sander/plow would go up and it would be easy to pass.
We live in a relatively dry part of the country, but it is cold and the snow stays on the backroads. My wife’s car has Michelin X-ICE snows (on their own rims), which are wonderful on snow and ice, but come off in early April to save the treads.
My car has all seasons, but I may buy a set of rims and snows next year. If you ski, live in rural areas, or areas with heavy snow fall, winter tires are great investment.
Don’t forget, your other tires will last longer since you only use them part ofg the year!
I live in Maine, and got snow tires w/ studs for the first time on my Ford Focus this past winter. The difference was amazing! It was like driving a tank. I drove 8 years in the snow w/ out snow tires, but I never will again if I’m driving in the snow w/ out all-wheel drive.
You should see this.
You can find the whole series of these videos at http://www.betiresmart.ca/video/apa.asp?printversion=yes
Thank you for that video link, Whitey. As I had said, the increase in the ability to control your vehicle when it is equipped with winter tires provides a significant safety advantage.
Who are you guys trying to BS??? The OP never posted back…Winter tires are, for the most part, an expensive luxury. Decent all-season tires on FWD vehicles will perform adequately for MOST drivers. People who insist on maintaining the speed limit regardless of road conditions will of course feel winter tires are “worth it”. If speeding around obstacle courses on frozen lakes is their idea of “normal driving”, then they are “must have” winter driving aids…
On dry roads at high speeds, winter tires wear VERY rapidly and handle poorly compared to standard tires.
I am not trying to BS anyone. The above videos show that even if you travel at a resonable speed, snow tires will help you stop faster and turn through a curve on snow and ice. Unless you think you are the perfect driver and never make mistakes, they have a legitimate benefit. Who are you trying to BS?
Caddyman I do agree they mostly are a luxury and for some a requirement in their locale. After driving on Michelin X-Ice and some Nokian tires I disagree on poor handling and rapid wear. I got 7 years out of a set of Nokians that basically lasted 40k+ miles. No better or worse than a set of high performance tires.
The frozen lake is a clear demonstration of something I always fear in the winter not when its snowing or visibly icing, black ice.
That being all said my wife with her old Civic with crappy all-seasons had no issues driving in winter conditions. I will say when we equipped it with Nokian WR (only all-season rated as snow tire) I found her passing SUV’s and running at same speeds on dry roads.
I agree that on SNOW the snow tires perform better…no question about it. But even in NH…you’ll get 2-5 days TOPS actually driving on snow. Upstate NY…20-30 days…
And how many days a year do you actually drive on snow??? It’s MINIMAL. I don’t know where you live but where I live they these things called snow plows that actually clear the snow away and drop down sand and salt. The roads are cleared and snow free within hours. Driving on snow is NOT a common occurrence.
I agree with Caddyman…Driving on snow at NORMAL speeds is idiotic…I don’t care if you have a tank. It’s NOT safe. Anyone who does is hasn’t a clue on how to drive in the snow. 90% of driving in snow is driving skill…10% is equipment.
I don’t know where you live but where I live they these things called snow plows that actually clear the snow away and drop down sand and salt.
REALLY??? What do they look like? Maybe we have them here but I just didn’t recognize them! Wow! I had no idea!
REALLY??? What do they look like? Maybe we have them here but I just didn’t recognize them! Wow! I had no idea!
I guess not since you think driving on snow is a common occurrence. Either you live on the Tug-Hill Plateau (look it up to see REAL SNOW FALL), or really don’t know what snow plows look like.
The one place I have seen in New England that seems to require winter tires is the Northeast kingdom of VT if you like to get about. I ski regularly at Jay Peak and struggle with all-seasons if I get off any main route.
The average snow fall at Jay Peak is 355"/year.
I Need Winter Tires Like I Need Tap Dance Lessons
Where I live we average 130" of snow annually. I live 10 miles from the closest store and 20 miles from town. I’ve lived in the same home since June, 1987. I commuted to work 37 miles one-way for 21 years from this location. We also frequently have black ice and get freezing rain. Our county is trying to save money (they’re broke) and don’t plow, sand or salt, frequently. I always drive FWD and use only regular all-season tires. I’ve never been stuck or off the road. Same goes for my wife, distance and staying on the road. Why do I need winter tires?
My biggest weather related driving problem is visibilty. We often have fog or blinding snow white-out, blizzard conditions. When my visibility goes away I am in danger. I feel like if I slow too much, someone will hit me from behind. When I speed up I can’t see far enough up the road to be safe and to be able to stop if necessary. I’d be afraid of stopping quickly because the guy behind me won’t know.
It’s not traction! It’s visibilty! Trust me, this is the issue. I’ve done this for a long time.
Most of VT REQUIRES snow tires. Woodstock Vt averages about 200"/yr. And the White Mountains in NH you should have it. Dixville notch averages 240".
One time I was driving through Pennsylvania and I don’t know if it was because of budget cuts or just inept leadership, but one day of snow fall led the state to shut down the interstate highways for three days. They have snow plows there, but if they don’t put down salt immediately, the snow and ice gets compacted by cars and trucks and they can’t do anything about it. I would rather be prepared than be unprepared. I guess you think I am stupid for not wanting to be stuck at a truck stop in Pennsylvania again for three days, but I learn from experience. If I had had snow tires or tire chains at the time, I could have continued my trip on another route.
The state of Pennsylvania had plows, but evidently, they didn’t know when to use them. Personally I don’t trust the government to get it right very often and I would rather take common sense precautions. But hey, that’s just my opinion. If you are comfortable trusting your local government to get it right 100% of the time, more power to you.
Bottom line: Those who say snow tires aren’t necessary haven’t driven a car with snow tires lately. If you had you’d never settle for less.