Who runs snow tires?

[Swamp_Yankee]

This winter I finally decided to put snow tires on Mrs. Yankee's AWD Toyota Sienna Minivan.  We've had it for a little over four years now running all seasons and it always did OK but not nearly as well either of my conventional 4WD vehicles (one with all seasons and one with mud terrains), so I finally bit the bullet today and purchased a set of Yokohama Ice Guards.  Mrs. Yankee is a teacher so she generally doesn't have to go anywhere on snow days, but dealing with our 1/2 mile gravel lane has been a challenge this year.  Even with regular plowing you just can't scrape it clean like blacktop so its always got a coating of snow and ice.  The other day Mrs. Yankee was leaving for the gym and my neighbor was coming the other way so she backed down the hill to let him pass.  She ended up having to back all the way onto the level portion just to build up enough momentum again to get up the hill.  I used to think that snow tires were only for folks who lived well north of here but I'm eager to see how they perform on our lane and elsewhere.  Anyone else run them on their vehicles?  If so how do you like them/how much of a difference do you notice in performance?  

[bushden]

I have not had snow tires since early 70's, all terrain tires have been more than sufficient for me even going to upstate NY to hunt and fish.

[Lunatic]

I did not think anyone in NJ would do it anymore. we don't drive on snow in this state, even after it snows. 

[hiking]

Just all season tires get it done    as long as you don't spin them and dig a hole your fine.  let some air out  and your good to go

[Swamp_Yankee]

2 minutes ago, Lunatic said:

I did not think anyone in NJ would do it anymore. we don't drive on snow in this state, even after it snows. 

That's the reason I resisted for a while-our lane goes out to a county road and we are within minutes of Route 31/Route 78.  I've honestly never had an issue on the public road with all-seasons in the van but if I can't make it that first 1/2 mile from my parking area I'm SOL Around here (Hunterdon County) you see a lot of folks with gravel lanes like ours who are just parking out by the road and walking back and forth.  I like a good workout but that would get old really quick especially with kids and groceries in tow.  I will say that part of the issue is the AWD/traction control though.  My work vehicle with conventional 4WD and all-seasons does fine on our lane even in a foot of snow.  I wish the Sienna was like the old Toyota 4x4 vans from the late '80s-early '90s.  I had a friend growing up whose parents had one of these:

Old school 4x4 with high and low range.  The drivetrain was pretty much the same as the pre-Tacoma pickups of that era.  The problem with AWD is that with all-seasons sometimes you need to get up some wheelspeed to overcome the lack of traction.  Even if you turn the traction control off entirely eventually it "thinks" that you must be spinning out of control on the highway and applies the brakes/de-fuels the engine.  

[Swamp_Yankee]

8 minutes ago, hiking said:

Just all season tires get it done    as long as you don't spin them and dig a hole your fine.  let some air out  and your good to go

That works fine for my truck but the minivan runs 235/55/18 which only has 5" of sidewall to begin with.  Airing down is a good way to ruin an expensive 18" alloy wheel on a pothole.  Not to mention it would handle like garbage in clear dry conditions.  I'm pretty sure I'd end up divorced if I handed my wife a portable compressor and just said "here honey-air up when you get out to the road"  

[Tuck]

I put snow tires on the front of my sons cars when they first started driving for extra safety.  They drove acura integra and honda civic.  The front wheel drive was great but they play hockey and that never gets cancelled for weather!!! The civic (older son still driving it now 385k) took us across Canada 3 times like a snow mobile with the tires.  In  my mind, the extra safety was worth the minimal investment.

[Lunatic]

12 minutes ago, Swamp_Yankee said:

That works fine for my truck but the minivan runs 235/55/18 which only has 5" of sidewall to begin with.  Airing down is a good way to ruin an expensive 18" alloy wheel on a pothole.  Not to mention it would handle like garbage in clear dry conditions.  I'm pretty sure I'd end up divorced if I handed my wife a portable compressor and just said "here honey-air up when you get out to the road"  

Now you know what to to to regain your freedom 

[hunterbob1]

Be a stud and get her studded snow tires!

https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/studded-winter-tires

[Swamp_Yankee]

14 minutes ago, hunterbob1 said:

Be a stud and get her studded snow tires!

https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/studded-winter-tires

Believe it or not people do run them here in NJ.  You can't mistake the sound of them as they go by-I've heard them while walking through parking lots, etc...  I actually drove around on them a lot-when I was a Zamboni driver.  Zambonis all run studded tires-you can't beat them on solid ice for sure-the machine would actually corner, start and stop really well.  You could still break the back end loose and fishtail it but you really had to try-it wouldn't do it driving at normal speed and not flicking the steering wheel quickly.  Snow tires are enough of an expense-I think having them studded would just be too much hassle and added expense.  

Edited February 13, 2021 by Swamp_Yankee

[BHC]

I never have, but like you said people do run them in NJ, as you can hear them with that sound 

I could understand people running them cause of this crap weather and for added safety 

[Farmshine]

I have never used them, but I would think having a spare set of studded tires to throw on for a month or two when needed would be the ticket.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hunterbob1]

19 minutes ago, Swamp_Yankee said:

  I actually drove around on them a lot-when I was a Zamboni driver.  Zambonis all run studded tires-you can't beat them on solid ice for sure-the machine would actually corner, start and stop really well.  You could still break the back end loose and fishtail it but you really had to try-it wouldn't do it driving at normal speed and not flicking the steering wheel quickly.  

I guess it takes practice.lol.

 

[Greg]

I went with the yokohama geolander at g015's couple years ago. Not a snow tire, but is snow rated. 

Haven't had much snow to test it out with, but the few snows I have been in the truck drives pretty good for the ride home from the woods or work.

[not on the rug]

If you're going to run dedicated snow tires, you want them on a 2nd set of wheels that you put on in December and take off in March.  Snow tires drive like crap in warmer weather and you will get terrible life out of them by running them year round.  They'll wear out really fast

Edited February 13, 2021 by not on the rug