Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
I really have had few problems with all-seasons on a wide variety of vehicles. After all, most of the time, even here in snow country, the roads are clear. And, I've seen a lot of people off the road with winter tires on. The driver is a lot more important than the tires. I wonder if winter tires give some a false sense of security and then they overdo it?
I forgot to add--we always say that the first sign of winter around here is when you start to see the 4-wheel drive vehicles in the ditch by the side of the road. They're usually the first to wipe out.
Clear road surface or not. A softer more pliable rubber in cold weather will allow a vehicle to stop faster. The false sense of security argument doesn't work in this regard.
With respect to 4wheel drive trucks and SUV's, this is very true. There is a false sense of security brought on by having better accelerating ability thanks to 4 wheels propelling car vs 2.
Here is where the drivers knowldege of the laws of physics come into play. When you need to stop you still have only 4 wheels like any other car on the road and all vehicles require stopping distances that increase proportionate to the speed they are travelling.
In conclusion, a good number (not all) of SUV and truck drivers travel faster then conditions permit, because they think - Hey if I can accelerate better, I can stop better too. WRONG! and when they land in a ditch or worse, some of them just don't understand.