I never lived there, but my territory once included the DC area -- northern VA and MD's PG county -- so I traveled there frequently. As I recall, there isn't much snow, but what there is is heavy and mushy. That's where a real snow tire can be helpful. That area is quite flat and you probably don't have to worry about climbing hills so FWD is plenty adequate. I'm no fan of all-season tires, but that might be all you need. Its a judgement call on your part. Now if you're planning on taking the family on a holiday trip to the in-laws in central PA and you get a white Christmas, after the first mountain you'll be thinking about those snow tires. Or maybe you like to ski . . . It all depends on where you're going.

As for the cost of snow tires, the only real cost is mounting and dismounting the tires spring and fall. The cost of the tires themselves is offset by the fact that your summer tires are sitting unused in your garage while your snow tires are on, so your snow tires are extending the life of your regular tires by the same amount of time they're on. Around here mounting tires is about $20 per tire, so $80 twice a year for a total of $160. If you're planning on keeping your Patriot for many years it might be worth the investment to get a spare set of rims and only mount them once, presuming you can change them over yourself.

 

its a personal choice
but personally think unless you live in the hills that tend to get more snow, most of the area really doesnt get enough snow to justify dedicated snow tires
if you can see blacktop through the tracks in the snow most all season tires will work just fine,
and being FWD, pat is quite capable on its own regardless of tires
i currently have some eco ultra efficient tires on my pat,
rated all season, and handles PA and NY storms just fine on the road,
just some problems when i try to plow through +1 foot of unplowed roads/driveway

 

its a personal choice
but personally think unless you live in the hills that tend to get more snow, most of the area really doesnt get enough snow to justify dedicated snow tires
if you can see blacktop through the tracks in the snow most all season tires will work just fine, A good indicator
and being FWD, pat is quite capable on its own regardless of tires w. FWD you want all the traction you can get
i currently have some eco ultra efficient tires on my pat,
rated all season, and handles PA and NY storms just fine on the road,
just some problems when i try to plow through +1 foot of unplowed roads/driveway

How are those eco tires in snow? I'm of the opinion (but without experience) that LRR tires wouldn't have much grip in rain or snow or esp ice.

 

Is this your first season in the area? If not, go with your gut.

Even living in Wisconsin my whole life, I drove for years and never saw a need for snow tires. A few years ago I finally bought a set of Altimax Artic's for the wife's car, and now I'm a true-believer in the difference a set of winter tires make. So much so, that the Riot has its own dedicated set also.

So yeah, if you feel you'll see measurable snow enough times to put them to use, go for it.

 

In a foot of snow, I don't think you're going anywhere with or without snow tires.

 

Lol, once you get a little further north (I'm only about 2 hours north of DC) you'll find a foot of snow is far from enough to shut everything down (though it will still close most schools, the roads and businesses are generally open). After the blizzard last year that dumped over 3-ft of snow I was out the next day when many of the roads were only partially cleared and still had 6+" of snow on them and deeper drifts. I drove my Patriot (4X4) with the OE tires (Firestone Affinity) and never got stuck myself, though I did get blocked by several other drivers I had to help dig/push out (all FWD cars, except one idiot in an AWD Audi RS4 with summer tires). I've had my XJ with Aggressive AT tires up unplowed (and unpaved) mountain roads with well over a foot of snow and steep grades, I could even see the imprints from my axles in the snow.

As for the OP's original question you probably don't "need" snow tires in MD (at least in the Baltimore area, the mountainous areas in western MD may be a different story) with the exception of the once in 15-20 year blizzards, but they definitely are nice to have (note: "winter tires" aren't just for snow, the softer compound improves traction in cold weather as well). While the OE AS tires on my Patriot may have "gotten the job done" (though I don't know if I would have been ok if I only had FWD), it definitely would have been nice to have "real" snow tires or even A/Ts.

 

Im from Harford co (Edgewood) and while edgewood was by the water and didnt get as much snow as other area, we still got a lot of snow,

Baltimore gets a lot of snow, hence the blizzards.

 

If the temp is going to be below around 40 degrees or lower regularly (for the high), get snow tires. whether there is snow or not, the temperature hardens normal all season tires's rubber. This reduces traction, even on dry pavement. Go with a "winter tire" (they don't really call them snow tires, because they are meant for all winter conditions). for the winter seasons. the rubber stays softer at lower temps, and keeps you safer.

 

If the temp is going to be below around 40 degrees or lower regularly (for the high), get snow tires. whether there is snow or not, the temperature hardens normal all season tires's rubber.

As soon as you drive a few miles the tires warm up. Why do you think all the tire manufacturers say to check tire pressure before the the car is driven? Maybe this makes sense at 20 below, but I can't imagine anybody buying snow tires unless they expect to drive through much snow. You don't own a tire store do ya?:grin2:

 

They warm up a few degrees, not enough to make a difference, and if its below 40 degrees, they cannot warm up. winter tires are made with a softer compound that does not need to be warmed up. and no, I do not own a tire shop, but I understand the concept of using the right tool for the job. and making sure I have the correct tires for the conditions I'm driving is cheap insurance.

Hey its your safety. If you want to drive on rock hard tires all winter, go for it. I live in AZ, I don't have to mess around with snow tires. But when I did live somewhere where it was cold, I did put winter tires on my car, because my car carries the most important thing to me around in it. ME! so why would I **** around with something as simple as just putting winter tires on my car in the, I don't know, winter?

 

If you want to drive on rock hard tires all winter, go for it.

I had a set of some unnamed (unremembered) A/T tires on my '74 Cherokee. With Quadratrack there was no way I was getting stuck anywhere so traction wasn't the most important thing, but the first few miles on a cold day it felt like the tires were square! Add a stiff suspension and I'd be bouncing up and down -- just like the people on the bus if you remember the song.

 

Thing is, the winter tires have a more open tread design so while they may be softer and grip better because of it, there is less actual tread in contact with the road than regular tires so total grip between the two on dry pavement is probably similar.

 

In a foot of snow, I don't think you're going anywhere with or without snow tires.

A foot of snow will not stop my Pat (or Tracker), with snow tires. The only times I ever got stuck in deep snow was from getting high-centered. I've run the stock SRA's all year and they do ok in snow, better with chains (when needed). I run snow tires in the winter now though, and they do make a difference, especially on ice. In packy snow they release the packed-in snow much better too, which improves traction. They are a softer rubber, so if you run them much above 40 degrees F they will wear faster. They never give mileage ratings on true winter tires either, for that reason.

I got another set of wheels for the Pat, so mount the winter tires on those.

I've driven a lot of 4x4's in the snow, on and off road, and none were better on road than the Patriot in snow.

 

They rate higher than the LS2's.
I might keep an eye out for them, when I need tires.
There are some General Altimax tires I like the sounds of, I don't think they are a LRR tire, though.