Studded tires

[lessersivad]

Studded tires were legalized in Ontario/Quebec for a very short period in the late 60s early 70s. Wear on the roads and highways within one winter season (concrete surfaces, especially, which were entirely ruined) saw a rescinding of that law. Net benefit safety and driving-wise was so low as to be statistically zero. Pure ice (rarely happens when methodical sand and salt spreaders beat you to it) is not a common thing and loose snow and packed snow are wonderfully well handled by modern soft rubber compound specific tread tires.

"methodical sand and salt spreaders beat you to it" There MAY be a method but I haven't been too impressed with it. Last winter there were times the county crews couldn't even keep up with the main roads, let alone any dirt side roads. Not their fault, we simply got hit hard with snow and ice.

Every winter since I've been driving I see the same thing. Right at the 1 stop light we have in town the road surface becomes a sheet of ice. Every winter there are cars spinning their tires once the light turns green or they skid thru the light when it turns to caution.

Now you would think that would be cause for the local street crew to perhaps apply some sand or salt. Nope, not right away. Usually takes the better part of the day once the snow stops for them to get to it. Even though they drive the trucks through that 1 main intersection multiple times on their way to the other end of town to plow snow and treat the intersections.

I don't run my studded tires all winter. Only if there is a good chance my area is going to get hit pretty hard then I'll slip them on. Takes about 20 minutes to swap the wheels out.

IF I ever wear my current winter tires out (or they get too old or I get busted running them) then I'll probably get a set of non-studded winter tires and keep them on for the season. I did notice my MPG's dropped a bit running the winter tires for a few days. I guess it's better than paying to get pulled out of a snow bank.

[Bert]

........ I did notice my MPG's dropped a bit running the winter tires for a few days. I guess it's better than paying to get pulled out of a snow bank.

In fact you take a significant hit (10%?) in fuel economy when running good quality snows. The secret behind this is tread grip which translates to friction and increased rolling resistance. Extreme cold weather is taxing on a car (thick oil and wheel bearing grease, longer warm ups, and dissimilar tolerances on cold-contracted parts etc) so 15-20% hit in overall fuel economy in winter is fairly normal.

[lessersivad]

In fact you take a significant hit (10%?) in fuel economy when running good quality snows. The secret behind this is tread grip which translates to friction and increased rolling resistance. Extreme cold weather is taxing on a car (thick oil and wheel bearing grease, longer warm ups, and dissimilar tolerances on cold-contracted parts etc) so 15-20% hit in overall fuel economy in winter is fairly normal.

Yup, that all plays into it, along with the "winter blend" gasoline.