Poor man winter tires

[M1Accord]

I have very limit car budget and will likely start working in DC very soon. With the recent railway crashes all over DC/MD public transportation, I think I may just drive myself and determine my own faith.

I like to ask if anyone has use bungee cords to add more traction to their FWD tires. I am talking about those short cords that will fit nicely over a standard size tire. My assumption is that the cords will dig into the snow and provide additional traction. However, I have no idea the effect they would have on braking. I'll be driving very slow.

Either that or I can just buy 2 winter tires and keep them separated. Do I need all 4 winter tires or just two for FWD cars. When should I put winter tires on? Would normal winter driving wear down the soft rubber compound of winter tires too quickly if there is no inclement weather. I don't want to wear out expensive winter tires just driving in winter without snow because the tires and road will heat up from driving and the tires will wear out very quickly. However, it would be a pain to have to switch the tires out every week for someone without proper equipments such as jack and break bar.

 

[Johnny]

All you need is some decent all season tires on your FWD Accord. Winters in WI are a heck of a lot worse than anything DC has to offer and probably 95% of the folks here that have FWD cars just run all season tires.

Enjoy the upcoming winter and good luck with the job.

 

[IndyIan]

Forget bungies or anything else you strap onto your tires.
Get used snow tires with most of the tread left, I've picked up a set of 4 for $40, 3/4 tread left. Snow tires do wear a bit faster but only in higher temps. Put them on in late Dec., take them off in early April. You'll get a few years out of them.
Get narrow ones that still come close to your stock load rating on the smallest rim size that fits over your brakes.
Once they get 2/3 worn resipe them with a utility knife, set the blade depth so you don't get below the wear bar depth. Once they get below half tread depth get a newer or run them all summer if your summer tires are worn out.
The $80 for used steelies and $40-160 for used snow tires will be the best money you can spend for winter driving. IMHO they will be far better than almost any fancy all-season tire at any price when there is 6" of greasy slush on the road.
Also start looking now, you'll probably be able to find a set of tires already on rims that fit your car before Dec.

 

[moggi1964]

+1 to what Johnny said.

Bungee cords? NO!

You need all four tires to be winters if you decide to go that route. I run Dunlop Wintersport from when the temp is consistently in the 30's until it gets back out of the 30's in the spring. They last well and perform great on dry, wet and snow covered pavement. I have a spare set of wheels for them so mount and dismount myself.

Don't buy 'cheap' tires for any situation; they are the key component in your safety and the safety of others around you.

Metro/Rail is probably still statistically safer than driving but that's a personal choice.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: M1Accord
I have very limit car budget and will likely start working in DC very soon. With the recent railway crashes all over DC/MD public transportation, I think I may just drive myself and determine my own faith.


In DC, you will do very well to keep yourself off the roads as much as possible. The Metro is an excellent public transit system and your chances of being injured due to a crash while riding it are far, far lower than you'll fare driving yourself on the beltway.

Especially since you have a 'very limited car budget' I would urge you to put that money aside each month for cab fare or even a Zipcar (or similar car-sharing program) membership. DC is hideously expensive to live in and I'm afraid you'll blow through your budget very quickly.

FWIW, they do have snow plows in the area and just having decent all season tires is a step ahead of most of the cars on the road. I was nearly stuck in Baltimore during snowmageddon this February but was able to escape back to my native Chicago in a rented Subaru with non-winter tires - AWD was nice but probably not completely necessary. Most folks around here have no idea how to drive in snow anyway, but that's a different story.

 

[rslifkin]

I'm with Indylan on this one. Or, you could get the most aggressive tread all-seasons you can, and run those all winter.

 

[Autobahn88]

Although winter tires are your best choice, not everyone needs winter tires. A great set of all season tires such as the Michelin Hydroedge or the goodyear assurance(sp) are great all season tires. Excellent in the wet and snow. If you do go the snow tire route, change all 4. 2 snows will upset the brake balance, especially with cars with traction control and ABS.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: M1Accord
I like to ask if anyone has use bungee cords to add more traction to their FWD tires. I am talking about those short cords that will fit nicely over a standard size tire. My assumption is that the cords will dig into the snow and provide additional traction. However, I have no idea the effect they would have on braking. I'll be driving very slow.

I think you're nuts.

Quote:

Either that or I can just buy 2 winter tires and keep them separated. Do I need all 4 winter tires or just two for FWD cars.

4. They don't necessarily have to be dedicated winter tires. There are several tires out there that are geared towards winter driving, but can be used all year long, Nokian WR for example.

Quote:
When should I put winter tires on?

The night before the first snow storm.


Quote:
Would normal winter driving wear down the soft rubber compound of winter tires too quickly if there is no inclement weather.

No. This is more temperature related. If you drove on typical winter-only tires during summer, it may cause some accelerated wear, but other than that, no.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Autobahn88
Although winter tires are your best choice, not everyone needs winter tires. A great set of all season tires such as the Michelin Hydroedge or the goodyear assurance(sp) are great all season tires. Excellent in the wet and snow. If you do go the snow tire route, change all 4. 2 snows will upset the brake balance, especially with cars with traction control and ABS.

I have to disagree with the hydroedges, my driveway has an 6-8% grade for over 100m with a curve at the bottom to prevent a good run at it. New hydroedges on a friends 06 Civic got about half way up... My 2/3 worn el cheapo canadian tire snowtires allow me to stop and start again on in the same conditions in my neon...

 

[dparm]

Even lousy snow tires will dominate a good set of all-seasons. Better rubber compound, different tread designs, etc. It's a HUGE improvement.

I consider it a good investment. You'll buy one set and they'll last you 4 or more seasons. Craigslist is a good place to grab a lightly-used set (people moving, new car, etc).

 

[Autobahn88]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: Autobahn88
Although winter tires are your best choice, not everyone needs winter tires. A great set of all season tires such as the Michelin Hydroedge or the goodyear assurance(sp) are great all season tires. Excellent in the wet and snow. If you do go the snow tire route, change all 4. 2 snows will upset the brake balance, especially with cars with traction control and ABS.

I have to disagree with the hydroedges, my driveway has an 6-8% grade for over 100m with a curve at the bottom to prevent a good run at it. New hydroedges on a friends 06 Civic got about half way up... My 2/3 worn el cheapo canadian tire snowtires allow me to stop and start again on in the same conditions in my neon...


You could be right. I am going on testimonials from 2 friends of mine have have these tires. They say they work amazing in the snow for an all season tire. I myself, run dedicated snows on separate rims on both of my cars.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Autobahn88
You could be right. I am going on testimonials from 2 friends of mine have have these tires. They say they work amazing in the snow for an all season tire. I myself, run dedicated snows on separate rims on both of my cars.

I guess coming from mediocre all seasons new hydroedges probably do feel alot better in snow. But, like you I think, I find running real snow tires seems like a no-brainer once you try a set on hardpacked snow.

 

[sciphi]

Real snow tires will literally let you drive circles around cars with all-seasons.

With that said, for the DC area, you'd likely be better getting a set of winter-geared all-season tires. The Pirelli P4's on my Buick LeSabre do quite well in the snow for an all-season. Dunlop SP60's are another good choice for an all-season that works in the snow.

 

[M1Accord]

Sorry for the confusion. I meant to say for the 1992 Corolla. I have no problem with snow in the Accord because it has ABS and Traction Control. It's the Corolla with drum rear brakes, no abs, no traction control, and no airbag that worries me.

 

[bullwinkle]

Even though our winters here are GENERALLY mild, I have a set of winter tires for my wife's xB, and they will be on their FIFTH winter this year! They are Viking Sno-techs, which unfortunately got bought out by Conti-even a used set of winter tires, on some cheap steel wheels, would be better (& CHEAPER) than almost all all-seasons. Another alternative would be the cable Z-chains that AutoZone, JC Whitney, and other outlets sell-keep them in your trunk, install them ONLY when you need them, then take them off, dry them inside, hose them down with WD-40, throw them back in the trunk for the next time. Unfortunately my wife isn't into putting on chains!!

 

[M1Accord]

For normal driving, I never skimp on tires and always buy new from BJ's. However, this area isn't very snow tires friendly because the temps never get cold enough and driving speed can be quite high, which causes premature wear.

I believe I will be working next to the Navy Yard soon. They are processing my paperwork so hopefully all will be good and I'll start with DOT. They do give free Transit Card but the latest batches of rail accidents creep me out. I know I-95 and Beltway is much worse but I drive carefully so on bad days I may be able to come either very early and put my car in the $6 all day lot.

If money isn't so tight because I buy too many guns, I would jump go a used Cherokee and forget about it. It is easier to say than done because, unlike guns, cars require ongoing fee such as insurance, tax, and can't be easily liquidated in hard time.

My current Michelin tires are pretty worn due to a lot of driving so I will use the steelies to mount winter tires. Then I'll have an excuse to get some nice rims for regular driving to spruce up the old Corolla. I prefer not buying used tires unless I know the tire shop people well because there is a reason why other people sell their tires used. I have had great luck with buying new from BJ's, which is actually cheaper over the life of the tires due to free rotation, balancing, and other things.

 

[M1Accord]

Noob question here: Why do I need 4 snow tires on a FWD car? Isn't the 2 front tires doing much of the driving, gripping, and braking? With the exception of braking, I don't see rear tires coming into play at all. Please educate me.

 

[M1Accord]

By the way, I have a 35 degree incline driveway and was stuck several time this last February. I literally worn my front tires down trying to get traction. It was that or being stuck. It wasn't the smartest thing to do but it was also the first time I have to deal with snow around here and we just moved in a month earlier. I would be prepared this winter by getting an ATV and shovel the driveway first.

 

[moggi1964]

Originally Posted By: M1Accord
Noob question here: Why do I need 4 snow tires on a FWD car? Isn't the 2 front tires doing much of the driving, gripping, and braking? With the exception of braking, I don't see rear tires coming into play at all. Please educate me.


What happens when the front tires have great grip and the rear tires a lot less grip and you go around a tight bend in the snow? It won't happen every time but it only has to happen once. Also, as mentioned, brake balance is affected as the rears will do some of the braking and not very well if they have no grip.

Buy 4, rotate each year or 5k, whichever comes soonest (mark them with chalk when you remove them to identify where they were mounted the previous year. If you rotated during the season then mark the mileage since last rotation) and drive safely.

 

[rslifkin]

Definitely get 4 if you're getting snow tires. Handling wise, particularly in braking, having even traction at each end of the vehicle is best. Although, if I had to have 2 snow tires, I'd want them up front regardless of FWD or RWD.