Do I need winter tires?

opuscule22
Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:41:52 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

Hi,

I live in the Deep South, where three snow days a year allow me to run year-long on the all-season tires that came with my car, a 2010 Scion xB. I usually fly to visit my family up in Quebec during the winter, but this year, circumstances might force me to drive there and back in late December/early January (though most of the driving I’ll do while I’m there --a few weeks-- will be limited to changing parking spaces). I’m on a limited budget (precisely because I’m still paying for the car), I have significant experience driving in real winter conditions but I’m also not a daredevil. Hence my two questions:

1. How crazy would it be to simply go there with my current, “all-season” tires?

2. Insofar as the answer to #1 is “way too much”, and considering I barely ever need winter tires, what options do I have? Are used tires reliable? What should I expect to pay (installed)? What kind of shop should I go to?

Thanks a lot!

OP

22 posts - 12 participants