Just wondering if Im good with just front winter tires?

[jinx5]

I have all seasons currently and I think there getting kinda old now had them for 3 years now. This morning there was alot of black ice on the road. It kinda scared me. First snow fall and barley any salt on the road. My back tires are 1 year old and my fronts are about 3 years or so. Can I get away just putting winter tires in the fronts. That way I can just get new front tires for the summer time?

[jinx5]

Well I drove all this time with all seasons. I could just get all seasons again.

[2012mazda3hatch]

You should get winter tires, you can save on insurance too I believe if it’s all 4 winter tires (not just the front 2) please correct if I’m wrong. Don’t cheap out on safety

[Jackal]

If you can store then, then it’s better to get dedicated winter tires. They will last longer, safer and you do get a discount on insurance.


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[Default User]

Definitely get winter tires all around.

Your better off with used or lower end winters all around - than with a set just up front.

Also - not all insurance companies offer winter tire discounted premiums. If they do - there’s usually a deadline to have them on.

My insurance provider gives me about 5% discount - if I have them on before nov 20

[ctea]

If you only have /get 2 winter tires. You should mount them rear.
But definitely agree with everyone else.. A set of 4 is the way to go.

[ctea]

Sorry. I just did a quick search and that's totally bogus.
https://www.wheels.ca/news/the-5-most-common-winter-driving-myths/

Just get 4 winters.

[jeff7670]

I did put winters on just the front of a FWD car once for winter, it was comical. Yes it made it so in scenarios I could get moving however because the front had grip the rear would just rotate around it. I got lucky I never spun into someone but I would highly just recommend trying to buy some used ones if you're on a budget. Perhaps just buy new all seasons could be another route.

[2012mazda3hatch]

I did put winters on just the front of a FWD car once for winter, it was comical. Yes it made it so in scenarios I could get moving however because the front had grip the rear would just rotate around it. I got lucky I never spun into someone but I would highly just recommend trying to buy some used ones if you're on a budget. Perhaps just buy new all seasons could be another route.

All seasons = 3 seasons

[LiviuTincu]

That is correct , if you can't afford 4 winter's , get 2 and put them in the back .

[natspriceless]

That is correct , if you can't afford 4 winter's , get 2 and put them in the back .

No...just no...:bang


Sorry. I just did a quick search and that's totally bogus.
https://www.wheels.ca/news/the-5-most-common-winter-driving-myths/

Just get 4 winters.

Read this

[LiviuTincu]

No...just no...:bang



Read thisI read many articles not just that, I know what you are saying. If you have just two winter tires, where do you install them? Better not installed or have them at the rear? Reply to that particular situation, ideal is 4 brand new winter tires ,with studs if possible.

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[Flagrum_3]

I read many articles not just that, I know what you are saying. If you have just two winter tires, where do you install them? Better not installed or have them at the rear? Reply to that particular situation, ideal is 4 brand new winter tires ,with studs if possible.

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Studs are not legal in Ontario.

If you feel you can't afford four 'new' snow tires, its better to search used tire places (there are many), and get 4 used ones, then to go with just 2.

If I was to ever go with just 2 winter tires; For front wheel drive cars you want them on the front, not the back as the fronts are your 'driven' and 'steering' tires. Your backs are useless for grip. Just take turns slower in bad conditions. For rear wheel drive you want the snows on the back for traction but your steering will still be compromised.

_3

[LiviuTincu]

Studs are not legal in Ontario.

If you feel you can't afford four 'new' snow tires, its better to search used tire places (there are many), and get 4 used ones, then to go with just 2.

If I was to ever go with just 2 winter tires; For front wheel drive cars you want them on the front, not the back as the fronts are your 'driven' and 'steering' tires. Your backs are useless for grip. Just take turns slower in bad conditions. For rear wheel drive you want the snows on the back for traction but your steering will still be compromised.

_3There are a lot of if situations. I personally have 4 winter tires, but this is just to help the guy who asked about IF he has only 2 tires. And you got it wrong, best tires are Always at the back.

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[Flagrum_3]

There are a lot of if situations. I personally have 4 winter tires, but this is just to help the guy who asked about IF he has only 2 tires. And you got it wrong, best tires are Always at the back.

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I would suggest you are wrong simply because you don't understand dynamics.

Point here is simply don't go with 2 tires but 4.

Hope the OP is paying attention.



_3

[LiviuTincu]

I would suggest you are wrong simply because you don't understand dynamics.

Point here is simply don't go with 2 tires but 4.

Hope the OP is paying attention.



_3[emoji3], you have never drove with 2 winter tires, I understand this. Dynamics is just a word. Same as if you have 4WD vs FWD car, it won't help you to stop better.
Read this , from a Michelin spoke person

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/can-i-install-only-2-winter-tires-front-fwd-343090/



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[LiviuTincu]

[emoji3], you have never drove with 2 winter tires, I understand this. Dynamics is just a word. Same as if you have 4WD vs FWD car, it won't help you to stop better.
Read this , from a Michelin spoke person

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/can-i-install-only-2-winter-tires-front-fwd-343090/



Sent from my Moto G (4) using TapatalkInertia is the correct word.


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[jeff7670]

Studs are not legal in Ontario.

If you feel you can't afford four 'new' snow tires, its better to search used tire places (there are many), and get 4 used ones, then to go with just 2.

If I was to ever go with just 2 winter tires; For front wheel drive cars you want them on the front, not the back as the fronts are your 'driven' and 'steering' tires. Your backs are useless for grip. Just take turns slower in bad conditions. For rear wheel drive you want the snows on the back for traction but your steering will still be compromised.

_3

Sorry I can't agree with that. From experience driving with two on the front it made the car way more dangerous. Yes I could get going but any situation where you brake on a slippery surface the back comes flying around. During a normal turn on a slippery road you have massive oversteer which you cannot control as opposed to mild understeer with four matching tires.

[LiviuTincu]

Sorry I can't agree with that. From experience driving with two on the front it made the car way more dangerous. Yes I could get going but any situation where you brake on a slippery surface the back comes flying around. During a normal turn on a slippery road you have massive oversteer which you cannot control as opposed to mild understeer with four matching tires.Yep, winters at the back. Inertia, a word that makes sense here.

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[Flagrum_3]

Sorry I can't agree with that. From experience driving with two on the front it made the car way more dangerous. Yes I could get going but any situation where you brake on a slippery surface the back comes flying around. During a normal turn on a slippery road you have massive oversteer which you cannot control as opposed to mild understeer with four matching tires.

You don't have to agree, but don't assume I don't know also. I've been driving a long time, driven just about every set up we can speak of here; Snows on back or front only, or all around or no snows. Actually my first 2 vehicles I never used snows at all, or the last vehicle I had before my Mazda3 went for 13 years, just all seasons. Earlier, I had a CRXsi and used snows on the front only for a couple years and never had an issue. But then got a set of Hakkapeliittas all around on it and it was unstoppable. I think proper driving method comes into play here in part. But as I cautioned earlier it is always better to go all four with snows.


_3

[LiviuTincu]

You don't have to agree, but don't assume I don't know also. I've been driving a long time, driven just about every set up we can speak of here; Snows on back or front only, or all around or no snows. Actually my first 2 vehicles I never used snows at all, or the last vehicle I had before my Mazda3 went for 13 years, just all seasons. Earlier, I had a CRXsi and used snows on the front only for a couple years and never had an issue. But then got a set of Hakkapeliittas all around on it and it was unstoppable. I think proper driving method comes into play here in part. But as I cautioned earlier it is always better to go all four with snows.


_3

The thread title is very clear and your experience is not relevant . The rule is to use them in the rear wheels , I am not saying because I discovered it , this is how it works, simple as that. You can argue forever , but don't spread wrong information if you are not sure or have no clue about something.

[Flagrum_3]

The thread title is very clear and your experience is not relevant . The rule is to use them in the rear wheels , I am not saying because I discovered it , this is how it works, simple as that. You can argue forever , but don't spread wrong information if you are not sure or have no clue about something.

Here we go again...I remember having a similar argument several years back. First; Where is this RULE found stating snows are better on the back with front wheel drive? Where did you get that info? ...Its bullshit. Secondly, yes my experience outways your assertion that you 'discovered it' somewhere because...I've actually done it. Thirdly; Did you actually read the section in the wheels.ca article? This part in particular; "Others with front wheel drive feel they need it only on the front of their vehicle. This will allow them to get going and steer just fine. The danger comes in the rear of the vehicle having very little traction causing an imbalance in handling and the greater chance of experiencing a rear-end skid (or oversteer) leading to loss of control. As for installing only two winter tires on the rear of a front wheel drive, this setup will reduce the chance of a rear-end skid but it greatly compromises steering grip and stopping ability with only all seasons on the front. The safest is always to use four winter tires." -Read it closely. Now read what I stated. Having steering control is the major issue and having the snows on the front will give you steering control. Rear end skid or oversteer is easily handled if one knows how to drive, but loosing traction on your steering tires is impossible to overcome. ...Have you ever driven a rear wheel drive in winter with no snows? I have and for many years and rear-end skid is typical with this setup, but easily controllable because your drive wheels are not your steering wheels also as with front wheel drive. So basically from my experience your assertion from wherever you 'discovered' it, is dead wrong.

_3

[Default User]

In a Mazda 3 - your front wheels are the drive, steering and braking wheels. To me - it only makes sense to ensure best tires up front.

Again - I would NEVER agree to only have 2 winters. As I mentioned earlier - better to buy 4 used winters, than 2 new ones.
I won’t even entertain the idea or question of only getting two. And honestly, it’s hard for me to believe, that people can only afford two. *** This is not an attack on somebody’s financial status **** But IMHO - it’s the responsibility of a vehicle owner to ensure the safety of the vehicle.


It’s like answering a “should I start smoking crack” post. Nobody should ever say “only if you must”.

Just my $0.02

[LiviuTincu]

Maybe we should ask to change the thread name to "Just wondering if Im good with just front and back winter tires? (no spare)", what do you think ?

[Flagrum_3]

In a Mazda 3 - your front wheels are the drive, steering and braking wheels. To me - it only makes sense to ensure best tires up front.

Again - I would NEVER agree to only have 2 winters. As I mentioned earlier - better to buy 4 used winters, than 2 new ones.
I won’t even entertain the idea or question of only getting two. And honestly, it’s hard for me to believe, that people can only afford two. *** This is not an attack on somebody’s financial status **** But IMHO - it’s the responsibility of a vehicle owner to ensure the safety of the vehicle.


It’s like answering a “should I start smoking crack” post. Nobody should ever say “only if you must”.

Just my $0.02

I agree. As I stated in my first post there are plenty of used tire places where tires can be found cheap. I just recently picked up a set of Michelin Ice winters for a friend from a used tire place here in Scarberia for $200 all four 15". There's probably 2 years usage left on them. So basically no excuse to ever use just two tires.


_3

[LiviuTincu]

I have seen a lot of people driving cars with all season tires all the time and don't think is safe. My colleague used to do it up to two years back when he couldn't stop in traffic, was no snow on the road , just a small portion with ice , he locked the wheels , brakes zero , he totaled the car .Not sure if winters would have saved him that time, but now he is using winter tires on cold season. Anyway , my first reply was to use two in the back IF YOU CAN NOT AFFORD FOUR , because the thread is asking for this answer . There are many articles about this, here is another one :
At the and of the day he/she decides what to do , one , two four , just provide the correct answer to the question.



http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/01/winter-tires-business-front-party-back/



http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag316/Cosmin_Tincu/winter%20tire%20mich_zpsytkz2oyf.png (http://s1371.photobucket.com/user/Cosmin_Tincu/media/winter%20tire%20mich_zpsytkz2oyf.png.html)

[Default User]

The correct answer to the original question....is no

/end thread

[Chester_Lampwick]

The correct answer to the original question....is no

/end thread

Kijiji has the tires you need if you can't afford brand new.

[jeff7670]

Agreed four or none. All I have to say when it comes to two on the front is that the speed that rear end comes around on an unexpected slippery surface is uncontrollable. I don't care how skilled of a driver you are. I would rather a small amount of control with under steer over spinning around in circles in an emergency situation.

[LiviuTincu]

He would probably just get all season how he said, regardless of what advice we provide.A LOT better,[emoji23]

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[LiviuTincu]

Bauld winter tires ( 50% thread ) are the worst , better get all season good ones

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[Default User]

Problem with new all-seasons, is the tread patterns are not designed or wide enough to expel the snow and slush. Also, the rubber compound on an all-season may be too brittle come -20* weather.

[Default User]

And LiviuTincu... there’s no such thing as All-Season tires anymore. They are unofficially called 3-season.

The tread patterns are designed for longer wear time, noise levels, and road comfort.

Yes, new 3-seasons will have deeper tread than 1/2 used winters, but the channels are typically only wide enough to get rain water out of the way. Snow and slush will simply clog the channels on an “all-season” tire.

[LiviuTincu]

Problem with new all-seasons, is the tread patterns are not designed or wide enough to expel the snow and slush. Also, the rubber compound on an all-season may be too brittle come -20* weather.With this climate change, soon will be no more need for winter tires. All season are not the best when cold, won't grab as good as winter tires, but are better than gone winter's .

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[LiviuTincu]

And LiviuTincu... there’s no such thing as All-Season tires anymore. They are unofficially called 3-season.

The tread patterns are designed for longer wear time, noise levels, and road comfort.

Yes, new 3-seasons will have deeper tread than 1/2 used winters, but the channels are typically only wide enough to get rain water out of the way. Snow and slush will simply clog the channels on an “all-season” tire.All season, 3 seasons it's a marketing s### , tires are probably same as before

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[Default User]

Exactly the same - no doubt. But calling it “All Seasons” gives a misconception that they still perform well in the snow. Which they don’t.

[Default User]

With this climate change, soon will be no more need for winter tires. All season are not the best when cold, won't grab as good as winter tires, but are better than gone winter's .

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You still think tread depth is the answer though.

It has to do with the rubber compound and the design pattern of the tread.

If you think rubber compound has no play - google why using winters during summer is also a no-go.

[LiviuTincu]

You still think tread depth is the answer though.

It has to do with the rubber compound and the design pattern of the tread.

If you think rubber compound has no play - google why using winters during summer is also a no-go.
No, I have never thought that, I know it's the composition of rubber, more flexible in cold weather,sipes, depth, shape of thread. But soon as the tires is loosing sipes and thread is not performing well anymore. Anyway, good luck with any tire they get. More important than the tires is how you drive and understand what car does or is going to do.

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[Kiewan]

Again, no

/End thread

:lock :lock :lock

[LiviuTincu]

Again, no

/End thread

:lock :lock :lockTake a break mate, your blood pressure is going up

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[JonsMazda]

This dude rolling summers in winter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11iC34AhSPU

[geobur]

I've never owned snow tires. And I've never had issues. The only reason I'm buying snow tires this year is because it is required for Uber drivers in Toronto. I don't deny they may help but if you know how to drive, and drive for the conditions all seasons work fine. If someone can't afford 4 winters most definitely they should just use 4 all seasons.

My 2¢

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[7S POWER]

He simply needs a quattro


7S POWER

[McGuyver_3]

I've never owned snow tires. And I've never had issues. The only reason I'm buying snow tires this year is because it is required for Uber drivers in Toronto. I don't deny they may help but if you know how to drive, and drive for the conditions all seasons work fine. If someone can't afford 4 winters most definitely they should just use 4 all seasons.

My 2¢

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I am sorry, but you are nothing but a boat load of bad information on this post. The difference between all season tires and winter tires is HUGE. I'll give you an example, few years back I was running Bridgestone turanza el42, now they claim to be an all season tire. I was hit with early snow and my car slid everywhere. And no matter what I tried, I still destroyed a rim because of it. And this was with just a thin layer of snow on the road. Put winters on (Goodyear ultra grips at the time) and no further issues. You can be the best driver in the world, but your contact patch is that tiny piece of each tire that touches the road. If the compound of the tire isn't right... there is nothing you can do. A good example would be full race slicks in the rain. You are screwed.
After many years I convinced my parents to get winters for an AWD car and even they were ASTOUNDED, by the difference. I still don't understand why we haven't made winter tires mandatory. So worried about safety, yet they care so little about that. That pisses me right off

[geobur]

I am sorry, but you are nothing but a boat load of bad information on this post. The difference between all season tires and winter tires is HUGE. I'll give you an example, few years back I was running Bridgestone turanza el42, now they claim to be an all season tire. I was hit with early snow and my car slid everywhere. And no matter what I tried, I still destroyed a rim because of it. And this was with just a thin layer of snow on the road. Put winters on (Goodyear ultra grips at the time) and no further issues. You can be the best driver in the world, but your contact patch is that tiny piece of each tire that touches the road. If the compound of the tire isn't right... there is nothing you can do. A good example would be full race slicks in the rain. You are screwed.
After many years I convinced my parents to get winters for an AWD car and even they were ASTOUNDED, by the difference. I still don't understand why we haven't made winter tires mandatory. So worried about safety, yet they care so little about that. That pisses me right offHow exactly is "if you can't afford a full set of winter tires, drive for the conditions with a good set of all seasons" bad information?

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[Kiewan]

Snow tires > all season
Safety benefits > cost of snow tires
Cant afford snow tires = don't drive when it snows

/ end thread

[LiviuTincu]

Winter tires is not God of tires, don't think If the car have them you are safe . Definitely an improvement over all seasons/ 3 seasons whatever is, but don't think you can drive same way like in summer time. If it happens to change just two tires, put the new ones at the back , winter time.

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[McGuyver_3]

How exactly is "if you can't afford a full set of winter tires, drive for the conditions with a good set of all seasons" bad information?

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"But if you know how to drive, and drive for the conditions, all seasons will be fine"

That's a boat load of bad information.
And my 2 cents... if you can't afford winter tires, you either shouldn't be driving the car you are in(because you stretched your budget and you didn't plan for anything else) or you probably shouldn't own a car to begin with. I see yo much of this crap working in a shop

[McGuyver_3]

Winter tires is not God of tires, don't think If the car have them you are safe . Definitely an improvement over all seasons/ 3 seasons whatever is, but don't think you can drive same way like in summer time. If it happens to change just two tires, put the new ones at the back , winter time.

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I'm not saying winters are god, but they will drastically improve driving capabilities. And you would be surprised what winter tires are capable of. I also think that people should be encouraged to go on empty parking lots and throw the car around in the snow. This will teach you things that cannot be taught in any driving school

[Default User]

I also think that people should be encouraged to go on empty parking lots and throw the car around in the snow. This will teach you things that cannot be taught in any driving school

This is what my driving instructor did x-number of decades ago LOL

It was 1-hr of Empty parking lots and McD’s and Timmies drive thrus LOL

[Default User]

Bottom line - NOBODY should encourage anybody to drive in the winter without snow tires.

Even brand new 3-season tires can not compare to used snow tires in these frigid conditions.

[geobur]

Bottom line - NOBODY should encourage anybody to drive in the winter without snow tires.

Even brand new 3-season tires can not compare to used snow tires in these frigid conditions.I guess we are gonna have to agree to disagree.

When my girlfriend bought her Jeep brand new the first winter we took it to a big empty parking lot multiple times throughout the year. Once after the first major snowfall, and later when it had turned to ice. Threw it around in 2wd and 4wd so she could get used to its limits. No matter what we did, we could not get it to spin out. We could barely get it to even slide. It had all seasons on. It is now the 3rd winter on the tires she got when she bought them. And they still glue themselves to the road.

I've never been in an accident or spun out or ended up in a ditch due to loss of control during winter driving. And I've always driven front wheel drive sedans. For a while I was driving on balding tires. And still managed to safely commute to Toronto during the winter from north of the city up near Barrie without any issues.

And McGuyver_3 must be nice that you have so much money you can just throw it around buying new tires whenever you want. I don't care what you see working in a shop. Saying that people shouldn't be driving if they can't afford to buy snow tires is a stupid and ignorant thing to say. You have no idea what people's situations are and many people need their cars to get to work.

I'm not encouraging people to drive without winters, the OP asked if they couldn't afford a whole set if they could just mount 2 on the front. I answered with if you can't afford a full set of winter tires just stick to your full set of all seasons because that is safer than driving with 2 winter tires on front and 2 all seasons on the back.

People have managed for years without winters long before they were even a thing and now people seem to think you can't live without them.

Like I said guess we will have to agree to disagree on this, because I believe driver knowledge of their vehicle and their skill level trumps just about anything else.

You take a shitty driver throw them in an SUV with winters and they will still manage to find themselves in a ditch. I've seen it time and time again and yet I trudge on along past all the morons in the ditch in my little Mazda 3 with bald all seasons.

People need to understand that regardless of what tires you have you still need to drive for the conditions, and if you start losing control the worst thing you can do is slam on the brakes which is how most people end up in the ditch.

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[LiviuTincu]

I guess we are gonna have to agree to disagree.

When my girlfriend bought her Jeep brand new the first winter we took it to a big empty parking lot multiple times throughout the year. Once after the first major snowfall, and later when it had turned to ice. Threw it around in 2wd and 4wd so she could get used to its limits. No matter what we did, we could not get it to spin out. We could barely get it to even slide. It had all seasons on. It is now the 3rd winter on the tires she got when she bought them. And they still glue themselves to the road.

I've never been in an accident or spun out or ended up in a ditch due to loss of control during winter driving. And I've always driven front wheel drive sedans. For a while I was driving on balding tires. And still managed to safely commute to Toronto during the winter from north of the city up near Barrie without any issues.

And McGuyver_3 must be nice that you have so much money you can just throw it around buying new tires whenever you want. I don't care what you see working in a shop. Saying that people shouldn't be driving if they can't afford to buy snow tires is a stupid and ignorant thing to say. You have no idea what people's situations are and many people need their cars to get to work.

I'm not encouraging people to drive without winters, the OP asked if they couldn't afford a whole set if they could just mount 2 on the front. I answered with if you can't afford a full set of winter tires just stick to your full set of all seasons because that is safer than driving with 2 winter tires on front and 2 all seasons on the back.

People have managed for years without winters long before they were even a thing and now people seem to think you can't live without them.

Like I said guess we will have to agree to disagree on this, because I believe driver knowledge of their vehicle and their skill level trumps just about anything else.

You take a shitty driver throw them in an SUV with winters and they will still manage to find themselves in a ditch. I've seen it time and time again and yet I trudge on along past all the morons in the ditch in my little Mazda 3 with bald all seasons.

People need to understand that regardless of what tires you have you still need to drive for the conditions, and if you start losing control the worst thing you can do is slam on the brakes which is how most people end up in the ditch.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using TapatalkI agree with most of what you said except that in winter time best tires go to the back for FWD cars.

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[geobur]

I agree with most of what you said except that in winter time best tires go to the back for FWD cars.

Sent from my Moto G4+ using TapatalkThere shouldn't a best tires go x rule... The only rule of thumb there should be is

1. Winter tires first
2. All seasons if they can't afford winter tires

That's it.

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[McGuyver_3]

I guess we are gonna have to agree to disagree.

When my girlfriend bought her Jeep brand new the first winter we took it to a big empty parking lot multiple times throughout the year. Once after the first major snowfall, and later when it had turned to ice. Threw it around in 2wd and 4wd so she could get used to its limits. No matter what we did, we could not get it to spin out. We could barely get it to even slide. It had all seasons on. It is now the 3rd winter on the tires she got when she bought them. And they still glue themselves to the road.

I've never been in an accident or spun out or ended up in a ditch due to loss of control during winter driving. And I've always driven front wheel drive sedans. For a while I was driving on balding tires. And still managed to safely commute to Toronto during the winter from north of the city up near Barrie without any issues.

And McGuyver_3 must be nice that you have so much money you can just throw it around buying new tires whenever you want. I don't care what you see working in a shop. Saying that people shouldn't be driving if they can't afford to buy snow tires is a stupid and ignorant thing to say. You have no idea what people's situations are and many people need their cars to get to work.

I'm not encouraging people to drive without winters, the OP asked if they couldn't afford a whole set if they could just mount 2 on the front. I answered with if you can't afford a full set of winter tires just stick to your full set of all seasons because that is safer than driving with 2 winter tires on front and 2 all seasons on the back.

People have managed for years without winters long before they were even a thing and now people seem to think you can't live without them.

Like I said guess we will have to agree to disagree on this, because I believe driver knowledge of their vehicle and their skill level trumps just about anything else.

You take a shitty driver throw them in an SUV with winters and they will still manage to find themselves in a ditch. I've seen it time and time again and yet I trudge on along past all the morons in the ditch in my little Mazda 3 with bald all seasons.

People need to understand that regardless of what tires you have you still need to drive for the conditions, and if you start losing control the worst thing you can do is slam on the brakes which is how most people end up in the ditch.

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I can buy tires/fix my cars because I know my limits of my financial situation. And because if a problem shows up I fix it so it doesn't get worse. Not ignorant at all. People rely on their cars to get back and forth to work. They buy a car because it's JUST in the budget not including repairs or tires or brakes etc etc. The only time a car needs a safety is when they change ownership. Oil leaking on to the exhaust, chorded tires, blown shocks, worn out brakes. This is ignorant, you are putting everyone's life at risk around you and not just your own. You complain that tires are 1000$ for a complete set but you have an iPhone X. Thats ignorant. Put your priorities first. Just because a car looks good from the outside doesn't mean it's safe. How many cars have I seen with a fresh safety that I scratch my head and wonder how the car passed. Again, I see to much of this.
I really hope they make it mandatory for winters. Insurance companies are even giving discounts for winter tires.

[geobur]

I can buy tires/fix my cars because I know my limits of my financial situation. And because if a problem shows up I fix it so it doesn't get worse. Not ignorant at all. People rely on their cars to get back and forth to work. They buy a car because it's JUST in the budget not including repairs or tires or brakes etc etc. The only time a car needs a safety is when they change ownership. Oil leaking on to the exhaust, chorded tires, blown shocks, worn out brakes. This is ignorant, you are putting everyone's life at risk around you and not just your own. You complain that tires are 1000$ for a complete set but you have an iPhone X. Thats ignorant. Put your priorities first. Just because a car looks good from the outside doesn't mean it's safe. How many cars have I seen with a fresh safety that I scratch my head and wonder how the car passed. Again, I see to much of this.
I really hope they make it mandatory for winters. Insurance companies are even giving discounts for winter tires.

Ya having safety problems and an iPhone X is stupid I'll agree with you there. But someone with a perfectly safe vehicle with healthy all seasons on is not the same thing. That isn't their priority. Maybe putting food on the table is. I'm not defending all those other idiots. But if the car is safe otherwise I'm saying don't be so quick to judge.

My girlfriend was unemployed for about a year things were tight yet we managed to get all the regular maintenance done and any repairs or in the case of my old Mazda I didn't drive it until I had the money for the appropriate repairs. Winter tires were not a priority.

I am a student. And neither of us have brand new phones. Our phones are like 3 or 4 generations old. Yet our vehicles are as safe as the day we got them.

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[Dubcee]

OK I'll bite.

1) Everything your car does comes down to 4 contact patches of rubber, approximately the size of your hand on average. Look at your hand. 4 patches of rubber, one for each corner of the car. That's it. Forget FWD vs RWD vs AWD. Everything comes down to how those 4 small rubber patches are manipulated. We'll discuss drivetrains later. Keep this point in mind as your read further.

2) It follows then that you want to maximize the amount of grip these patches have. In temperatures below 7c all season tires harden like hockey pucks (and we all know how good those are on ice) while winter tires stay soft. They will outperform all seasons even on dry pavement in winter temperatures. It follows that winter tires are the best choice.

3) Winter tires will be better at evacuating water, snow and slush, maximizing grip when not on dry pavement. Therefore they are a better choice than all seasons.

4) The most important factors in driving have nothing to do with acceleration. In daily driving, you need to be able to stop and you need to be able to turn. Doesn't matter if you have AWD. AWD is useless if no tires have grip. It's an acceleration feature only (it does reduce front tire demand as well but acceleration is its primary bonus). AWD will not help you stop. Only your tires will. Therefore winters are the best choice.

5) Oversteer (your rear end whipping around) is much more difficult to control than understeer (front end slide). You want to minimize oversteer in daily driving. Therefore, if you have to only get 2 winter tires, they should only be mounted in the rear, regardless of drivetrain.

6) Now let's discuss cost. Yes they cost money. That spending is reduced in several ways:
- Wear to your winter tires spare your summer tires during that time frame, extending their life.
- Insurance discounts for using winter tires
- Winter tires are cheaper than almost any collision. Even if they only save you from 1 incident, you come out ahead.
- Winter tires are less likely to crack in cold temperatures, reducing the possibility of blowing out a tire
- Used tires can be purchased for less than half the cost of new
- Winter tires have an average life of 5 years. It's not a frequent cost.
- Time saved by not having to crawl in winter conditions, stress saved by being able to deal with winter conditions easier, and safety for yourself and your passengers (the most important thing of all).

Similar arguments can be used for all seasons vs summer tires in the warm months. There's no logical reason to use all seasons ever except for:
- Being so poor you can't afford to maintain your car. In which case you should probably look into alternative transportation. Not just for safety but for financial health.
- Your car using a particular size which makes winter tires unavailable.
- Ignorance

Do the right thing. Use 4 winter tires in the winter. 2 on the rear if you can only do 2.

[LiviuTincu]

Ya having safety problems and an iPhone X is stupid I'll agree with you there. But someone with a perfectly safe vehicle with healthy all seasons on is not the same thing. That isn't their priority. Maybe putting food on the table is. I'm not defending all those other idiots. But if the car is safe otherwise I'm saying don't be so quick to judge.

My girlfriend was unemployed for about a year things were tight yet we managed to get all the regular maintenance done and any repairs or in the case of my old Mazda I didn't drive it until I had the money for the appropriate repairs. Winter tires were not a priority.

I am a student. And neither of us have brand new phones. Our phones are like 3 or 4 generations old. Yet our vehicles are as safe as the day we got them.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using TapatalkThat's a bold statement cars being safe as the day you bought them, how do you know that? Same bold statement I'm safe with winter tires. Define safe first and we can argue after. I couldn't take a picture of a car that had 2 winter tires at the rear, Camry . IF, for various reasons you just have 2 winter tires use them. And install them at the back, until you can get two more, install those at the Back and move the already used ones to the front. It's stupid to have two winter tires and not use them because are not a set of four, just plain stupid.

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[McGuyver_3]

Ya having safety problems and an iPhone X is stupid I'll agree with you there. But someone with a perfectly safe vehicle with healthy all seasons on is not the same thing. That isn't their priority. Maybe putting food on the table is. I'm not defending all those other idiots. But if the car is safe otherwise I'm saying don't be so quick to judge.

My girlfriend was unemployed for about a year things were tight yet we managed to get all the regular maintenance done and any repairs or in the case of my old Mazda I didn't drive it until I had the money for the appropriate repairs. Winter tires were not a priority.

I am a student. And neither of us have brand new phones. Our phones are like 3 or 4 generations old. Yet our vehicles are as safe as the day we got them.

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What I see is people buying for the brand to say "I DRIVE THIS" and this is not the way to buy a car. Dial it back a notch, go down a grade and include some other features such as winter tires. I wanted to buy a focus RS, but I put the money towards a bigger investment. But even with the bigger investment, i didn't just buy the first thing I saw because I wanted it, like many people did and struggle to hold it or put food on the table. This goes back to knowing my limits of my financial situation. In which case allows me to buy winter tires. And I will stand by my statement that winter tires should be a top priority for every driver

[LiviuTincu]

There shouldn't a best tires go x rule... The only rule of thumb there should be is

1. Winter tires first
2. All seasons if they can't afford winter tires

That's it.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using TapatalkAlso I don't think everyone changes all 4 tires in the same time, if it happens to get 2 new only they should go to the back.

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[2012mazda3hatch]

Also I don't think everyone changes all 4 tires in the same time, if it happens to get 2 new only they should go to the back.

I think It’s better to change all 4 at once, if your alignment is proper and you rotate the tires they should all wear at the same rate

[LiviuTincu]

I think It’s better to change all 4 at once, if your alignment is proper and you rotate the tires they should all wear at the same rateDefinitely better, same as I think we should replace them every second year.

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