SW17LS

This is true, but the issue here is the climate. We have a lot of mild days in the winter too...temps in the 50s, damp...winter comes late and its generally pretty short. IMHO you're trading more days where winter tires are actually hurting your traction than you're getting days where you really benefit from it. Even during a winter storm, temps here below say 27, 28 degrees are infrequent. Thats why I think AWD on a car is really a great feature to have in our location specifically. I don't know anybody here who runs winter tires, nor do I ever see winter tires mounted on any cars locally.

If I lived somewhere that we had colder, snowier winters I would definitely get winter tires. For instance when we travel up to Albany, NY for new years every year, its much colder there obviously the difference even in the Jeep on all season tires vs driving in the snow here is considerable.

Toys4RJill

Yup +1 totally agree. A good set of snow tires will win against AWD and all-season. We have a 4Runner with all-season Michelins and our Matrix we have snow tires on it, the Matrix handles snowy roads so much better. The grip is far superior. That is not to say that the full time system in the 4Runner is no good, its the tires are not as good.

SW17LS

It absolutely helps lol. Like I said before, because AWD doesn't solve every challenge and danger associated with snow driving doesn't mean that it doesn't make snow driving easier and safer.

That logic is like saying you shouldn't bother to wear a seatbelt because your car could be struck by a falling tree and you could be killed that way...that logic doesn't compute.

Here's a question, what if you put winter tires on your 4Runner? Might it be better than your Matrix?

mmarshall

Yep....that's where two very important things come into play.....education and common sense. Too many drivers lack both...especially with the laws of physics. Somehow, a lot of people have deceived themselves into thinking that AWD allows them to drive on slick surfaces like they were in a sports car. The numerous overturned SUVs we see after winter storms (with others in ditches or deeply jammed into snowbanks) shows the folly of that thinking. AWD is a system primarily to get you going from a stop (so that you don't get stuck spinning your wheels), and, to some extent, to benefit LOW speed handling or acceleration in slick conditions. But it will NOT allow you to whip around icy corners at higher speeds without paying the consequences. Nor will it necessarily help you to stop any quicker, except for the fact that the added AWD components may (?), in some cases. equalize or balance the vehicle's weight a little more between front and rear, equalizing the brake action among the four wheels. But even that will be only a very small amount. And, of course, ultimately, the tire either has traction or it doesn't. If you exceed the tire's limit for that particular road surface and conditions, you WILL slide, no matter what drive-system you have...or if you have a traction/stability system. Vehicle stability systems can only work up to the limit of the tires themselves. So the obvious advice is.....slow down.

I agree for the purposes of this discussion (whether to have AWD and/or winter tires or not). But, for the issue of people actually getting injured or killed by falling trees in their cars, it seems to happen here, in the D.C. area, almost every time a line of severe thunderstorms or strong winds passes through this area. You read about it or hear it on the evening news. The millions of trees and millions of cars in this area often don't mix.

SW17LS

It was an example for the sake of argument Mike lol

mmarshall

Yes, understood.

On a slightly unrelated note, I don't believe in laughing or glossing over other people's misfortunes or troubles....even if they bring it on themselves (there's an old saying, of course....."There, but for the grace of God, goeth Me"). But, to be honest, it can sometimes be difficult not to chuckle (assuming they didn't hurt themselves or anyone else) when some idiot winds up in a ditch or snowbank because he or she over-bragged about their vehicle's (or driving) capability, or thought the laws of physics don't apply to them.

SW17LS

Yeah nothing compensates for stupid.

Skylar978

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I am from MA. About 20 min north to be exact. Snow removal in the city of Boston may be better than DC (have you lived in the Boston area?), but I do not have first hand experience living in DC. I live in a Suburban town and we do not get good snow removal like Boston.. I did plenty fine with just some blizzaks. As ive said earlier, experience and good snow tires is a must for driving RWD in snow.

Skylar978

iTrader: (1)

I agree with this post.

I learned this the hard way with a 2002 WRX i had bought brand new when it first came to the states. Those commercials make you feel invincible sometimes... Good ol' marketing..

SW17LS

I have not lived in Boston but we have family in Boston, Your temps are lower and you get more snow there, making winter tires more worthwhile. I'd venture to say you get better snow removal than we do here seeing that you get more snow, have better snow removal budgets, etc.

Vicqlo

AWD always helps a bit, but either way, the traction control works very well. Good tires and astute driving habits help, as well.