My time here in Colorado has had me thinking a lot about snow tires. (My flight home yesterday was canceled due to snow, so I've had lots of time to think.) In addition to Tuesday's session at Bridgestone Winter Driving School -- at which I had a hell of a good time, I might add -- one of the Bridgestone engineers put on a presentation called "Tires 101". I've always prided myself on my tire knowledge, but I learned a lot I didn't know, particularly about snow tires. (I used to think all-season tires were good enough in winter. They aren't.) So I put together a quick Q&A article in order to share that knowledge. Check out out here: Snow Tire Q&A.
I've really enjoyed my time in Colorado, but I'm hoping to leave the snow behind today and return to sunny Southern California. Wish me luck! -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Aaron Gold
Nice article about snow tires. For the first time ever, I have a separate set of wheels for my winter tires. Problem is my car is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and those sensors are brutally expensive. Consequently I’ve decided not to spend the money and I’ll check pressures the old fashioned way. I look forward to the day that these sensors will become commodities so prices will come down to a reasonable price. ($25 each?)
Good article. Snow tires are becoming more important now. All the more reason that Quebec and soon Ontario will be making them madatory… and thus the dealers will be finding new ways to gouge the new car buyers, I’m sure.
I should point out though, that to say all season tires are not good in the snow is a misconception. Falken does make all-seasons that have the same M+S rating as snow tires.
I’ve always been told that siping makes a big difference in a tire’s ability to hold to icy surfaces because sipes provide a place for the film of water that forms under a tire (due to pressure)to go. Here in northern Minnesota we sometimes get temps low enough that the film must not form because we get good traction even on ice.
Along the lines of what Brian said; I bought the bridgestone potenza G 0009 all seasons because they were rated so high in both winter and summer driving. Just about high as some ‘winter’ tires. If indeed they are not as good as winter tires, maybe there should be a more definitive scoring system. I should add that I have been very happy with them so far in this Minnesota winter. They grip very well. But I also must say that in the almost 30 years of driving in minnesota winters, I’ve never had a set of ‘winter’ tires. It’s always been all seasons. So when I say they grip very good in the snow and ice, there is the distinct possibility that I don’t really know what very good is.
Oh no! You were in Colorado and I didn’t get to see you! Negative fifty stars!