[hunter44102]

we had a crazy snow storm in 2007/08 winter in Cleveland. only emergency vehicles and 4x4's were on the road. I took both the Patriot and Wrangler out and they did great with just All-season tires.

 

[Overland]

I say, adjust your driving habits for bad weather, drive responsibly and carefully and the biggest one I see all the time, SLOW THE HECK DOWN....problem solved, money saved.

Never had snow tires a day in my life, never needed them 4x4 or not, and we get NASTY snow and ice in the Niagara Region.

 

[goser]

I run "Mountain snowflake" all-season A/T tires year round FWIW, though they are not all the same quality. I've been very impressed with the Wrangler Duratrac's on the pat... glad I only had the SR/A's on for one winter month before replacing them. The duratrac's have a noticeably softer rubber than most other tires I've used, but they seem to have good wearability.

 

[Ignatz]

In order for a snow day to be called here, there must be at least 18 inches on the ground.

We have a similar standard, but I think here its partly cloudy. :icon_rolleyes: So when the roads aren't safe for school busses, the kids all hop in their cars and go skiing.

Of course they're still going to school in June, but by then its party-in-class time anyway, so the kids win both ways.

 

[Rickyd88]

i'd like to get some snow tires for this winter....last winter was terrible!

 

[klingoff]

I use snow tires on any vehicle I drive in winter. I have used both All Seasons and Winter Tires in Winter and I have to say I very much prefer having my snow shoes on!

Personally I find I do get better traction over the All Seasons in snowy conditions.

 

[Riot Act]

Changed my mind...I'll be getting a set of Hankook iPike's by the end of the week...three reasons:

1) Road commissions are cutting back, meaning they're not plowing as much. Bad news for someone who drives to work at 4 am. (They also do a crappy job of leaving snow piles at intersections.) Treks to northern Michigan = more-than-just-occassional snow drifts in the road...I-75 can sometimes be nothing more than a pair of tire ruts, to say nothing of county roads and driveways.:wow:

2) Forgot that parking lots are usually the last areas to be plowed, especially at the aforementioned time of day.

3)Hoping the snow tires will help stretch the life of the all-seasons by an extra year or two...maybe a little optimistic on two extra years, but we'll see...

 

[GoPatGo]

Changed my mind...I'll be getting a set of Hankook iPike's by the end of the week...three reasons:

1) Road commissions are cutting back, meaning they're not plowing as much. Bad news for someone who drives to work at 4 am. (They also do a crappy job of leaving snow piles at intersections.) Treks to northern Michigan = more-than-just-occassional snow drifts in the road...I-75 can sometimes be nothing more than a pair of tire ruts, to say nothing of county roads and driveways.:wow:

2) Forgot that parking lots are usually the last areas to be plowed, especially at the aforementioned time of day.

3)Hoping the snow tires will help stretch the life of the all-seasons by an extra year or two...maybe a little optimistic on two extra years, but we'll see...

I know how you feel Riot Act! Cutbacks when they didn't plow enough to begin with?!?! Its snowing as I type and there is already about 2in accumulated here. Luckily for us it should be melted by tomorrow. My fiance and I drive to northern MN a couple of times every winter and we always drive through the UP which I am excited to do in the Pat!

With that being said, I just purchased my '07 Patriot about a month ago and it had brand new tires on it. They are starfire brand which is a subsidiary of Cooper. Has anyone had any experience with this brand of tires? Do you think they can handle moderate snow? I have Cooper cs4 touring's on my '01 gmc sonoma and they are the best all season tire I have ever rode on. I am not sure of the model of Starfires I have but I will check them tomorrow to see what I am working with.

 

[NHPATRIOT]

3)Hoping the snow tires will help stretch the life of the all-seasons by an extra year or two...maybe a little optimistic on two extra years, but we'll see...

The cost of a set of 4 snow tires and having them changed out before and after winter will far and away exceed any savings by getting 1-2 years more out of the All Seasons. Don't do it to save money as you won't.

 

[Murman]

The cost of a set of 4 snow tires and having them changed out before and after winter will far and away exceed any savings by getting 1-2 years more out of the All Seasons.

Maybe he is having the snow tires mounted on their own rims. The tire shop here swaps out the winter/summer sets at no cost.

 

[NHPATRIOT]

Even if that is true the cost of the purchase of 4 snow tires will not be saved in 1-2 years of extra life from the regular All Seasons. Also, if the snows are being mounted on their own set of rims those rims cost money as well.

Not saying he shouldn't do it just pointing out it is NOT a money saver.

 

[miketmx]

This winter is my 4th season on the Michelin XIce Xi2 tires and so far there is still quite a bit of tread left on em. I got them because I didn't appreciate the lack of stopping ability on icy roads with the OEM SRA's. The Michelins are Not very aggressive for deep snow but they seem OK for icy snow packed roads. Next time around I might get either the Hankook IPike or Cooper Weather-Master S/T 2 Winter tires with studs which are legal where I drive. I dunno if I really believe all the hype on tirerack.com comparing studded to studless winter tires. The only thing about modern winter tires is supposed to be their handling in very cold temperatures. An aggressive winter tread is good for deep snow and the Michelin Xice Xi2 is quiet but seems to be designed more for icy paved roads instead of deep snow.

http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Winter/WEATHER-MASTER-S-T-2.aspx

 

[dixiedawg]

In my experience, studded tires are better in deep snow and on ice, but worse on dry pavement. Here in PA in winter, I'd say it's about 90% dry roads, so I haven't used studs in a long time. Everyone's winter driving conditions and roads will be different though.

 

[miketmx]

The link shown below is a 2007 test by tirerack.com comparing 3 brands of studless winter tires with one make of studded tire. The results show surprisingly that the studless winter tires outperformed the studded tires. The video on the test however admits that possibly the studded tire mfgrs have not kept up to date with the new technology for softer rubber in colder temperatures so I am still unsure. My Xice-Xi2 tires are in their 4th season where some winter tires are worn out after 2 years. I just bought 4 new studded tires for our 99 Cherokee because the half worn All Season tires were treacherous on ice.

tirerack.com/winter/wintertesting.jsp

 

[NoSunshinePatriot]

Thanks to a member on here, I am now running a set of Cooper Weather Master tires without the studs on their own rims for winter. There is a big difference in handling on ice and snow which I inevitably ride on for about 5 months of the year in Northern Minnesota.

 

[bulldog89]

Just got a second set of rims so I got snow tires for them, will have to wait and see how they perform in snow. If we every get any.

 

[Ignatz]

We got a couple inches of snow last week and I still had my generic all-seasons on (Multi-mile/Wild Country). My thought was that they'd handle the first little storms and I had intentionally delayed putting on my snow tires. Amazing what a poor performer my FWD Pat was with those tires! The factory Goodyear LS2s were way better. We're expecting a similar storm tomorrow, but now I have my General Altimax Arctics back on. I expect better performance this time.

 

[Ignatz]

Well, I said I'd post when we got a similar snowstorm. Its taken 2 weeks and we finally got a couple inches today. This storm Ignatz had his Generals on. Similar to the previously mentioned storm, and the General Altimax Arctics are vastly superior to the Wild Country HXT. HXT is a fine highway tire, but not much in the snow.

I saw a car spin out behind me, on the surface I'd been over maybe a second earlier -- don't know the story, just knew that Ignatz with the Generals had quite secure traction.

 

[miketmx]

The 2007 tirerack.com test I mentioned in a previous post compared studded Firestone Winterforce with studless winter tires. In another test the studded General Altimax Arctic really shined compared to the studless tires. It is all under the winter tire testing links at tirerack.com

tirerack.com/winter/wintertesting.jsp

 

[Ignatz]

I've never owned studded tires. Usually I'll use the snows for a couple seasons, then when they're pretty well worn I'll leave them on and wear them out over the summer. Can't do that with studs.