Originally Posted by nobb
Does anyone feel that in the last few years, there's been more of a push by tire "experts" that:
1. All season tires are useless below 7 degrees C and you should use winter tires
2. Tires older than 6 years should be replaced
These statements do have some truth to them, but seems to be based off of extremely conservative estimates assuming the worst of conditions.
Would be curious to see what experienced industry professionals have actually seen and experienced on these points.
I'm no experienced industry professional, just a minnesota boy.
All seasons arent "useless" but they are less. Would you rather stop in 150 feet or 120 feet? That depends whose in that 30 feet of difference usually. Better is always better. It's just not possible for an all season to be AS good as a dedicated snow tire when it gets really really cold. It's like chocolate that's formulated to either melt in your hand or not, but fresh out of the freezer it's as stiff as a rock. Tire compound gets harder and softer, hard doesn't grip as well usually.
As far as age that depends on things like weather checking more in my book, but apparently even from age alone, tires degrade. I tend to wait until I actually see signs of degradation or failure - i've had to drive on weather checked tires and drove one set as I felt it slowly separating the cords on the highway during it's last 350 mile trip back home where it literally was split as I rolled into the walmart at home, and I felt the tire getting lumpier and more out of balance as it did so. I've got pics somewhere I should post.
It's probably like saying "it's safer to drive slow in X conditions", it's a trueism, but there can be people safer at 65mph than others at 50mph based on things like driving skill and vehicle condition. There's more to it than just that. Myself i've HAD to drive broke'n'stoopid for years because of this annoying thing called "poverty" which i'm finally trying to fix with an edumacation, but that costs money and there's not alot of living expense allowance so i'm still struggling.
PS: I suppose one addendum worth sharing, I dont really see snow tires as an unnecessary expense but just more of an up front expense. The miles put on the snow tires arent put on your three season (all season) tires so it's not like it's money wasted. It's just money that was going into two sets of tires anyways over a given life, if it's mileage instead of years that uses them up. Given a choice i'd always use snow tires in the middle of winter, its just more up front cash and commitment. (which is like... annoying... ie I just put a set of GOOD tires this spring on my Saturn literally one week before the clutch went out
and now i'm driving a beat up vehicle with dodgy tires again cuz I cant replace them since I spent it then)
