winter tire up front

[IndyIan]

I'll agree with Bluestream that you can get away with only snows on the front and even maximum braking in a straight line should be fine(in the video I think one side of the car was on ice to promote a spin). But braking and turning will be difficult to control well... I've run sticky tires only on the front of my neon for autocross and its fine until the back end starts to slide, but then it takes forever for the back end to regain grip... Gassing it will "pull" the back end in but it takes time and space to do this too.
I'm sure a careful driver can probably avoid having to use emergency manuvers by anticipating and preparing for possible problems, but if you do get truly surprised and have to swerve, it will be a hard save to make with all seasons on the back.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I'm sure a careful driver can probably avoid having to use emergency manuvers by anticipating and preparing for possible problems, but if you do get truly surprised and have to swerve, it will be a hard save to make with all seasons on the back.

Yeah, true emergency is typically not something that can be anticipated. You may be the most careful driver out there, but you're not alone on the road. Other drivers can make mistakes that will put you in harm's way. Sometimes you need to perform an emergency maneuver just to get around their stupidity/carelessness/unpreparedness.

 

[360kid]

I have used two snow tires up front on a FWD sedan and it does help a bit. They can really keep the car moving forward and help get you out of driveways and such. However, the car also fish tailed like you wouldn't believe. I also had okay all-seasons on the back. So, can you get away with it... of course. Would I recommend it... NO WAY.

You really need a dedicated snow tire on all four. If you can only afford two, then I would say save that money for when you need to replace your four All-Seasons. If you live in an area with long, hard winters as I do, you should really consider finding some money in your budget for a dedicated set of snow tires. It's a small investment that can be used for several years down the road. Tires are one of the most important components on your vehicle. My wife never used snow tires until she married me. I got her a set (4) so that she was safer on the road. She couldn't believe she ever went without them. All seasons don't even compare to a good set of snow tires in the winter. I will run Blizzacks on my 4x4 F150 this winter. And no, four wheel drive is not a substitute for good tires as many believe.

 

[fsskier]

I will vote strongly for running snow tires on all 4 wheels. First, as a very experienced Rally/autocross driver, I doubt that many of you are nearly as good at controlling oversteer as you think you are. And, even the racers do not like cars that are loose in the rear!!

Now, assuming you are talking about real Ice rated snow tires..., not just the cheap snow tires that are really just snow patterns on regular rubber, here is what happens:

Take a grocery cart and push it backwards down a couple of aisles, with it wobbling back and forth, and you will soon turn it around.

My Worst experience: I go to Colorado/Wyoming every winter, often more than once for skiing. Often crossing Nebraska (455 miles) in a blizzard with a VERY strong north wind. I have always used Ice tires on all 4 corners, but just once headed out in my previously super stable Taurus, with ice tires on the front and good Michelins on the rear. A blizzard with a strong north wind left me in a absolutely continuous tail wag situation, totally unsafe above 35 miles per hour. Yes, I can correct for oversteer, but every 100 feet?? Constantly??? After about 200 miles we pulled into a rest area and swapped, putting the Michelins on the front and the Yokohama Ice tires on the rear. Yes, it probably took twice as long to get up to speed, but the car was now arrow straight stable. (Stability is good, we counted nearly 50 SUV's in the median, with most of them on their roof!!) The improvement was huge, the car was now stable again at all speeds. Yes, we did put the ice tires back on the front in Colorado for the mountain passes, and as often is the case only the passes were bad, the other roads were often dry

I believe every serious study has reached the same conclusion. You may be ok running snow/ice tires on the rear only, but absolutely not on the front only.

Now, look at the economics of it: For my wifes commuter Escort I bought 2 sets of tires when the orginals wore out at about 48 k miles. 1 set of Michelin X and 1 set of Yokohama ice tires.
Running the Michelins for about 8 months each year, and the Yok's about 4 months each year, I passed 200 K miles before I had to go tire shopping again. 150 K miles on 2 sets of tires. ABSOLUTELY no cost to having the ice tires, as I got all those miles of use. So how do you save by buying only 2 when you get the miles out of the tires anyway??

And, if you do not keep your cars for at least 200k, why are you reading articles on the oil forum about engine wear. Hah, gotcha!!!

 

[IndyIan]

The economics of snow tires works for me as well.
Also if you get a seperate set of rims there is no reason to stay with the original tire size for your snows. Going down an inch or 2 on rim diameter saves you money and you can get high profile narrow snow tires that will work much better in slush and deep snow. Watch your load ratings of course but 195 or 205/75R15 minivan snow tires will work much better than the 225/50R17 on an Accord provided they clear the brakes.