Tire surprise!

[autumn]

We just picked up our Vibe last friday and we love it. We did get a surprise tho with the tires.....we had no idea about those 17" 'summer' tires we had. Thank goodness I found this site because that is how I learned about the winter driving and it being a no-no on those tires!!!!!!!! We live in Upstate NY with lots of snow and ice so we were in a panic after learning what we had bought. It would have been nice if we were told about this when we bought the car,Anyway we finally located 4 snow tires and they should be here this thursday. I have been a wreck worrying about driving with what we have on there now. It cost us a small fortune too to replace them now, I am sooo glad I found this forum or we would have learned about those tires the hard way!

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[NovaResource]

Yeah, where you are a good set of snow tires would be a good idea. You're getting those tires on steel rims, right? This way you just remove the summer tires and aluminum wheels to protect them from the winter and reinstall them in the summer.

[camthecanuck]

Yes.. indeed don't break those tires off your alloys! Do get an extra set of steelies. Though I think winter tires (and wheels) are a great idea, I think that in a pinch you could manage with the all weather tires. Do drive with care and enjoy your new Vibe!

[Keely]

I hate to be vain, and perhaps this just stems from the fact that our winters are so damn long, but.... I can't bear the thought of steelies on my Vibe. In the way of context, understand that winter in Calgary can start as early as mid-September, and lasts at least until the end of March. In the meantime, we can have weeks and weeks of bone dry weather in the plus side of the Celsius scale. (sigh)I guess the bottom line is that I'm saving up until I can put snow tires on something appropriate to such a sexy little car for six months out of the year! In the meantime, I avoid driving the vibe when it snows.

[Sputnik]

quote:I guess the bottom line is that I'm saving up until I can put snow tires on something appropriate to such a sexy little car for six months out of the year! In the meantime, I avoid driving the vibe when it snows. I am also avoiding driving my Vibe in the snow as much as I can... which is actually easy since I walk to work. I wanted to put snow tires on this winter, but I can't afford it so maybe I can save up for next winter.

[andrewmva]

LOL I was driving in the snow with 19" wheels!!!! what a mess!!! had 225/35/19 yokohama Parada spec II If I came upon ANY hill.... it was all over.... now I'm running the goodyear eagles... they are fine

[SCTM]

Also suggest you to get "real-winter-tires" on your new car. I understand that there is lots of snow and ice in NY so don't save money on what could save your life... In Montréal today, a family of 3 lost their life. Their minivan was on 4 seasons tires and the road on "black ice"... Bang! Don't save money over your life - Please.

[Lorin]

This web site saved me from making a BIG mistake with those 17" tires. They look great, but here in central PA it does snow periodically. Besides, I my wife wanted the moon & tunes more anyway!

[NovaResource]

quote:This web site saved me from making a BIG mistake with those 17" tires. They look great, but here in central PA it does snow periodically.I'm glad this site helped you but I don't think it would have been a "BIG mistake". I'm in Philadelphia and I get the same snow you do. I've had no problem with 17" wheels and performance tires in the snow. No, they aren't as good as the BFGoodrich Touring T/A's I had on my Sunbird but I've had no problem. If I lived in Canada, upstate NY or some other place that gets lots of snow, it would be a different story.

[Cubanpete]

I have to agree with SCTM, that accident was absolutely horrible and very unfortunate, that practically the whole family died, IF YOU HAVESNOW OR ICE Where you live, snow tires is a must, by far a logical debate, get them!

[NovaResource]

quote:Their minivan was on 4 seasons tires and the road on "black ice"... Bang!I don't care what tires they were on, even the best snow tires (short of studs) aren't gonna help on you black ice.

[MadBill]

Actually, Scott, a number of winter tires use rubber designed to be more resilient/better gripping at low temperatures, and some have "hydrophillic" compounds that get a better bite even on black ice. There are even some with silica "grit" particles right in the rubber. (How MUCH better they'd be is a another question, but any improvement would be worthwhile in such a situation...)

[SCTM]

Of course on black ice the speed you go is important. Everything that could help safety must be considered. Good winter tires, distance between cars, speed and of course, good car, as ours!!! Read the following link - big difference between 4 seasons and winter tires.Winter tires will certainly be much more efficient on our frozen roads.http://cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/ca ... tests.html

[viBert]

quote:I guess the bottom line is that I'm saving up until I can put snow tires on something appropriate to such a sexy little car for six months out of the year! In the meantime, I avoid driving the vibe when it snows. I put on 205/55/16 Nordic IceTracks from Canadian Tire. I have the basic steel rims and covers, they look better than 15" rims.

[NY Pete]

True... I had no trouble driving on glare ice at reasonable speeds in my old Firebird with Bridgestone Blizzaks...

[xLR8_Sd]

What are you all taking about? what is winter.LOL its 80f here in CA. dont you wish you were here?

[Sputnik]

I hate you. Its -30C here with the windchill

[Bdaz1]

quote:MadBill is rightMy Toyo Observe actually have crushed wallnut fragments imbeded in the compound which give a better gripping action on ice...Do you often find squirrels running down the road after you?(Couldn't resist Salsa.) But seriously, I'm in upstate NY and we've had about 100" of snow so far. The last 2 weeks we have had snow everyday and temps sub-zero to 20F. I have the stock "all season" tires and have not had a problem (even in deep snow). Just watch the speed and drive for the conditions.