Do I need snow tires?

"Harrycarry250" (Harrycarry250)
11/18/2013 at 12:48 • Filed to: None

I have a 1984 300td wagon and I live on the Upper west side of Manhattan. This is my first winter owning a car and there seems to be some mismatched all seasons on the car right now.

Thanks.

DISCUSSION (17)

CalzoneGolem > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 12:49

No you don't need snow tires, however, you really should have 4 that match.

505Turbeaux > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 12:50

if there was ever a car that needed them, this and Volvo 240's would be the top 2. Get them, protect your classic ride and everyone else out there on the road with you. Those w123 can mess some stuff up

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 12:50

They could come in handy considering the snow you get over there and that car being RWD. On a front wheel drive I'd consider it optional, on a rwd car I'd consider very smart to get snow tires.

What sort of driving will you be doing? Daily commute? Pleasure? Both?

davedave1111 > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 12:53

Winter tyres aren't just for snow. They give more grip in lower temperatures thanks to a softer compound. But if you're just driving round town, it doesn't matter much. Go a bit slower instead.

Harrycarry250 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
11/18/2013 at 12:56

Mainly the commute and highway driving. I wish I could drive for pleasure, like at a skid pad lol! But I love driving so I find all excursions pleasurable.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 12:56

Either go slow when safety is needed and hoon when it isn't, or be boring and stodgy and go for snow tires.

/note: that thing will slide like there's no tomorrow if driven carelessly.

//how much snow tires will help, I don't know.

Harrycarry250 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
11/18/2013 at 13:02

She'll burn rubber through 2nd gear if its wet and the tranny shifts at peak boost. Had it happen a couple times.

Tom McParland > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 13:24

You can probably get away with a decent set of all-seasons. I have run Conti XtremeContacts on several cars and have found them to be very good in the snow.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Tom McParland
11/18/2013 at 13:30

I've always run good all-seasons on all my cars, but have always had FWD or AWD. Dang! I really need to get a RWD car!

Tom McParland > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
11/18/2013 at 13:31

Agreed...I too feel the need to say I have owned a RWD car at some point.

Harrycarry250 > Tom McParland
11/18/2013 at 13:41

That's what I think I am going to do. I need new tires anyway and if the need arises I can get some winter tires. I just need to find a set of steelies!

Harrycarry250 > davedave1111
11/18/2013 at 14:21

Also thinking about snow drifts gathering on the curb where I park and getting out of it. I live on a small street and with a very large cross town street a couple blocks down the small roads may get overlooked.

davedave1111 > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 14:41

Snowchains can come in handy, but in my experience in a less snowy city, as long as you're in the city there's nothing much to worry about. You might need to dig a little bit with a shovel, or throw down some sand/salt/gravel, but it's not like being out in the countryside where you can get stuck. There'll be plenty of other people in similar situations to give you a hand, and at most it'll only be a few feet you need to get past.

Harrycarry250 > 505Turbeaux
11/18/2013 at 16:34

Why are the 240's and W123's considered so bad in the snow? I get the RWD part but their must be something else.

505Turbeaux > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 16:40

open diff on them too. One legged. They just arent that great

Harrycarry250 > 505Turbeaux
11/18/2013 at 16:45

True but very few cars nowadays come with locking or limited slip diff's.

505Turbeaux > Harrycarry250
11/18/2013 at 16:47

because of traction control and driver aids they are not as necessary. With a good set of snows it will be a tank though. Get Nokian WR if you want a true snow you can run year round. Hakka 2's if you want a dedicated snow