Justified my snow tire purchase last night

"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo) 12/18/2013 at 10:58 • Filed to: Snowlopnik, Focus ST

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It snowed Saturday night. I had people over, we ran out of wine, they wanted more. As the host, I felt obligated to take my car into a snowy parking lot for a minute and then get some wine. No big deal, didn't go far.

Then it snowed yesterday.

Apparently the entire building I work in decided to leave early.

I was a genius (if I do say so myself) and had my snow brush with me at my desk so I wouldn't have to wipe the door off with my hands to get aforementioned brush from inside the car.

It wasn't bad out at this time but people still drove in nearly impossibly stupid ways. I do not know why I am always amazed by this perceived snowocalypse stupidity that even the word "snow" brings to people, but I am.

The streets were not plowed, traffic was absurd, so the back roads were my route of choice. This included a quarter mile long (I Google mapped it) steep incline. Three cars were ahead of me, a late 90's Taurus going 5mph the entire time we were going through this neighborhood, a CRV of some year but they all look the same, and a Sequoia that got so impatient with the Taurus that he blasted halfway up the hill before turning onto a side street. On the hill already were two cars spinning their tires while sliding backwards (a Camry and an Impreza, I believe). I waited at the bottom for the cars ahead of me to make their way up and then threw it into second and kept an even speed for the course of the hill...but actually had to brake because the CRV slowed down about 3/4 of the way up.

On that hill, I passed two cars and caught 2 others without even trying. SNOW TIRES FTW!

This isn't the hill I mentioned (don't worry, I was at a stop at the bottom), it's actually a second one. First one was actually steeper!

But really, as if you guys didn't know, snow tires in the winter are pretty beastly.

Brian Silvestro > cazzyodo 12/18/2013 at 11:06

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It's too bad BMW and Mercedes push xDrive/4Matic so much. Go ahead to any northeastern dealership website and try to find a rear wheel drive car. AWD isn't the most important thing when it comes to snow, it's the FUCKING TIRES. I'd rather have a world with all RWD fun cars with optional snow tires then boring AWD cars.

cazzyodo > Brian Silvestro 12/18/2013 at 11:09

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As noted, one of the cars I passed on the hill was an Impreza. 4 wheels all saying "weeeeeee" at the same time as it went down the hill (only about 15 feet).

Brian Silvestro > cazzyodo 12/18/2013 at 11:17

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Perfect example. I bet a BRZ on snow tires would be fine, just like your car.

Redbulldidlo > cazzyodo 12/18/2013 at 12:29

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Where are you? I'm throwing out a guess for Ontario, based on plain looking plates.

cazzyodo > Redbulldidlo 12/18/2013 at 12:36

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Massachusetts, actually. Outside of Boston.

Stupidru > Brian Silvestro 12/18/2013 at 13:34

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While I agree with the fact that tires are more important than driven wheels, AWD will always be better than RWD in the slippery stuff given two otherwise identical cars with identical tires

Brian Silvestro > Stupidru 12/18/2013 at 13:37

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That's where you're right. A Ferrari FF with snow tires will do better in the snow then an F12 with snow tires.

Tarukai > cazzyodo 12/18/2013 at 15:14

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I was about to ask where in the northeast, because I'm upstate NY and know exactly what you're talking about. snow tires ftw.

blahrgen > Brian Silvestro 12/18/2013 at 15:27

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but having both = amazing. especially when you live with actual snow 50% of the year.

steev182 > Stupidru 12/18/2013 at 15:28

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Not necessarily at steering or braking though...

Brian Silvestro > blahrgen 12/18/2013 at 15:29

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That sounds like unbelievable amounts of fun for hooning. Everything else is probably really annoying though.

steev182 > cazzyodo 12/18/2013 at 15:33

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Of course my snow tires weren't delivered until I was already at work yesterday, in a Mustang... With borderline tires...

The only issue I had, other than driving slowly, was one moment having low traction moving off, but we didn't get quite as much powder on Long Island as you did! Still took 1:30 for a 25 minute drive.

I was able to get them fitted today though, and even in the dry but cold, they feel much grippier. Hopefully I won't have to drive before the plows have done their rounds, but at least in a pinch or an emergency I'll feel a bit more confident.

cazzyodo > steev182 12/18/2013 at 15:36

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I got them on after Thanksgiving and it was pretty mellow (mid-30s) for a while...but once that cold hit, could feel some grip. It was 30 one day with my summers on and it felt...loose.

steev182 > cazzyodo 12/18/2013 at 15:43

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Yep. My summer tires that would take a lot before they lost grip started losing it a lot more in the 30s, which was when I started thinking about some snow tires. Then I got a puncture in the sidewall of one of them and spent an hour on Sunday putting my stock wheels back on. Kind of sucks that I need to get new Summer tires in the spring, but hey, I've learnt that having decent tires on your car actually is a really great 'mod'!

cazzyodo > steev182 12/18/2013 at 15:52

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Simple "mod", too. Haha. Have fun and be careful out there!

Blue2010SRT > Brian Silvestro 12/18/2013 at 18:10

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I made it to work in a snowstorm with my SRT with Michelin Pilot Alpins on it when co-workers with SUVs on all-seasons couldn't.

I've long been a believer in RWD with good-quality winter tires in a storm. I'll take my SRT over any of the four different FWD cars (with winters) that I had prior to it. I enjoy driving when you can do minor hooning in the snow. My concern is always the people around me in their "I'm immune to the laws of physics because AWD" SUVs.

Stupidru > steev182 12/18/2013 at 18:34

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Braking, no way no how is AWD better than RWD. At steering, some may beg to differ. I certainly do, because having moving wheels is your greatest asset in driving in any weather.

Brian Silvestro > Blue2010SRT 12/18/2013 at 19:22

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It seems like most of America has fallen under that belief for some reason.

Gman84 > cazzyodo 12/18/2013 at 22:02

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western mass here, and I think we got hit a bit worse. My commute is 45 miles, 30 highway, 15 backroads (rather hilly). Man, it was enough to make me contemplate suicide yesterday as I was driving home from work.

rabidpenguin > cazzyodo 12/19/2013 at 12:59

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I hate idiots that brake going UPHILL especially in snow. How stupid are you? I have always driven RWD cars and this is how it sounds from my end:

"What? No, NO, NO! Go Faster. Loud Pedal down! F***** Stupid A** People. YEAH YOU BUDDY! SHIT!(as I have to come to a stop and try and get up the hill while the car fishtails from side to side)"

cazzyodo > rabidpenguin 12/19/2013 at 13:05

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That's more or less what I sound like on a normal basis...I am not exactly the most patient/understanding person when I am in my car. I don't drive like an idiot, just hate inefficiency.