Snow Tires– A Brief Discussion, and What You Need To Know.
It’s November, and that means that it’s tire-changing season in Colorado. We’ve already seen the first storms and as usual, they caught nearly everyone off-guard. A good set of snow tires is a must for some, but for others, they’re not– here’s the what and why.
Question #1: Do I need snow tires?
Ask yourself a couple of questions: Do I live in an area that gets severe weather warranting snow-tires? How often do we get icy, snowy roads? If we get a storm, will in really need to drive around in it? If you're an avid skier or live in a place where the roads are icy for a significant part of the year, snow tires are nearly required equipment. If you live in the city, and don’t have snow-sport interests, and can avoid commutes on the worst days, they might not be necessary. If you live in a place where it snows, but only sometimes and melts away quickly, then you probably don’t need dedicated snow tires.
All-season tires are not snow tires. Read that last sentence again. All season tires are pretty bad at everything and are NOT good in snowy or icy conditions. Snow tires (often with the 3-peak symbol on the sidewall) are made from a much softer compound and can contain additives for traction. The tread pattern and sizing are specifically designed to work in snow and ice. Don't believe me? Watch this video.
Question #2: OK. I need snow tires — which ones should I get?
Every tire brand has snow tires that claim to be awesome. However, like most things, you tend to get what you pay for. I’ll save you some time here–get Bridgestone’s Blizzak or Nokian’s Hakkipiletta. These are the two best performing snow tires on the market. They are not the cheapest, but do yourself a favor and don’t cheap out on tires, you’ll thank me later. Get the size from your current tires and shop around. If you can muster the forethought to buy them out of season, you’ll save some money. Craigslist often has deals on nearly-new snow tires in the summer-check there too.
Question #2-B: Studs. Do I need them?
If you live in areas that get consistently icy weather and freezing rain, then studded tires are a good idea. Read; the NE, Northern Midwest, Alaska. In the West, I don’t think they’re necessary. If you are getting studded tires, look at the Nokian brand. They have a hard carbide tip on their studs that lasts much longer than the regular steel ones. If you really want to nerd-out about it, read this report.
Question #3: Do I need another set of rims too?
Mounting your snow tires on a second set of rims can be more convenient. If you have the means and know-how to do your own tire changes, having them mounted on dedicated rims allows you to avoid the long fall waits at the tire shop. Classic steel rims are cheap and a great choice for winter tires. Factory rims and take-offs are also very common on Craigslist from people upgrading wheels and looking to sell their old ones.
Question #4: When do I put them on and take them off?
I time my tire changes around the daylight savings dates in Colorado. This is a ballpark though and obviously varies depending on where you live. If you live in Alsaka or N. Canada your experience may vary.
Put them on before you think you’ll need them, and take them off when the weather is consistently warm. The softer rubber compounds wear much more quickly in warm conditions, and you don’t want to waste that expensive rubber.
