New Van Needs Tires........

"Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness" (long-voyager-2nd-edition)
11/04/2019 at 16:54 • Filed to: Snow, Acclaim, Voyager

to be driveable in the snow, the Rally Van is down as it awaits it’s motor swap, and the car’s tires are terrible in the snow.

Not really wanting to spend the money for tires for the car but needing one vehicle that can make it if we get snow leads us to this:

Which seems strangely right and strangely wrong at the same time. It also leave the van pretending to be one of those lifted trucks that ran outta money before they got the bigger tires:

Tuesday afternoon the new one goes in to have it’s Firestone Destinations replaced by General Altimax’s, so hopefully that’ll solve that issue.

Then I’ll have to swap the wheels back around so my van can get to a family member’s garage to get the new motor installed.

DISCUSSION (28)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 06:59

there is a better solution

move to a place where winter tyres are never needed

shop-teacher > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 07:18

Good call on the General Altimax for the van. Those are really good tires.

vondon302 > pip bip - choose Corrour
11/04/2019 at 07:29

But t he cold weather kills most of the wildlife that trying to kill you.

I’ll take that snow over worrying about spiders snakes and Florida man.

pip bip - choose Corrour > vondon302
11/04/2019 at 07:32

minor details

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > pip bip - choose Corrour
11/04/2019 at 07:44

I enjoy winter actually.

And I hate Spiders..

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > shop-teacher
11/04/2019 at 07:47

I did a bunch of research and the only bad review they have is that they only last around 30k. I care less about wear and more about how they hold the road in all conditions, in that case they have stellar reviews.

Wasn’t really expecting to need new tires on it. It has almost new Firestone Destination LE2s on it right now, which other than being noisey, seem like decent tires. That is until we got our first little dusting of snow and I took it to work, it was downright dangerous with those tires on it!

benn454 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 08:53

All seasons = No seasons

Also, I can't help but see the Voyager as an older guy with his shoes off running around in his black socks.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > vondon302
11/04/2019 at 09:05

Grizzly bears.

Tripper > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 09:35

Yo, leave those knobbers on the car! T hey look awesome!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > benn454
11/04/2019 at 10:05

Eh, WI winters never get bad enough to need dedicated snow tires.

The grabbers are pretty much unstoppable in the snow. The Altimax’s have great reviews for winter use, so they should be fine as well.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Tripper
11/04/2019 at 10:05

They’ll stay on until I get the motor in the van, then the van gets it’s wheels back.

shop-teacher > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 11:11

UGH! I had Firestone Destination LE’s on my truck, and while they were great on dry or wet pavement, they were hands down the worst tires I have ever had in the snow. Worse than the Uniroya l Tigerpaws that came on my S-10 years ago. Absolute garbage.

I’ve put Alitmaxes on multiple vehicles. If they made them in the right size for my truck, I’d put them on that too. I never get more than 30k miles out of a set of tires anyways.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 11:22

Will you email me again so I can stay in touch with you? I might like to take you up on that offer some year to bring Rusty to you for paint. Or pester you for painting advice.

oliphant.chuckerbutty@gmail.com

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > shop-teacher
11/04/2019 at 11:22

Will you email me again so that I can stay in touch with you?

oliphant.chuckerbutty@gmail.com

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/04/2019 at 11:43

Done!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > shop-teacher
11/04/2019 at 12:16

That’s pretty much my experience with the Destinations as well. They have good wet/dry grip. Once they hit snow I may as well have racing slicks. Sucks because they’re almost new tires.

Happy to hear some first hand experience with the Altimaxes.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/04/2019 at 12:17

Done ;)

shop-teacher > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 12:45

You might be able to get a few bucks back selling the Destinations used, if they’re in that good of shape.

I think you’ll be very happy with the Altimaxes.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > shop-teacher
11/04/2019 at 12:52

I have the 4 on the van plus one spare. They’re all 2016 or newer and all 8-9/32s tread. I figure I’ll list them for $200.

benn454 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 13:05

If they're anything like IL winters (and I'm sure they are), it's certainly doable on all seasons most of the time. It just gets hairy when a blizzard comes through and dumps a foot of snow that later melts into 4 or so inches of solid ice. It's better now that I live in town and the city plows the streets. In the country you were pretty much on your own.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > benn454
11/04/2019 at 16:03

When the roads get bad enough that I can’t make it on my Grabbers, I just don’t bother even chancing it as I would be the only one to actually show up anyway.

I actually prefer unplowed country roads to the slop mess that are our “city” streets around here.

WilliamsSW > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 17:00

The car looks even more badass than before!

benn454 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 17:15

They're certainly more fun. And sometimes terrifying.

someoneatacura > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 17:24

So wait did you buy tires already or are you looking for advice? The Altimax is a decent tire, but it’s still a bit new to fully judge how it holds once it wears past the first few 32nds. For what it’s worth, Michelin’ s new Cross Climate tires are really good, in all weather conditions (they’re all weather tires). T hey out brake pretty much everything new and worn (saw a consumer reports test comparing them to a bunch of tires, they beat everything even with 4/32nds of tread remaining).

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/04/2019 at 17:33

Hello, can you please put a howling wolf mural on the hood of your car? Thank you.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > benn454
11/05/2019 at 07:07

I think I’ve had less terrifying moments on crappy backroads than on normal roads. They usually do just enough around here to make everything a slushy mess.

8" of fresh snow, easy to drive through. 3" of slush, holy fuck we’re going to die! Thankfully the Grabbers do very well at dissipating slush, I would say even better than the dedicated snow tires I’ve had.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > someoneatacura
11/05/2019 at 07:10

Already ordered the Altimaxes.

My grandparents run Michelins on their van. They love them when they’re new, but once they get down around 5-6/32s, they become noisy, rough riding, and lose all semblance of grip. Plus they’re $175 vs $98...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
12/06/2019 at 07:08

We miss you! Come back! :(