Test of snow tires vs all season-video from Road and Track

WNYBob wrote:
My local tire chain has just announced that they will not mount only 2 snow tires on any vehicle starting 2017.

IMO they are just wanting to sell me more tires for my 2WD rear drive truck!

I understand matching tires on 4WD vehicles. And maybe on FWD (where they were saying to put 2 snows on the rear?). But not on my truck!

And this is from someone that told me to buy all-season instead of winter for year round use on my Sonata. I read an article that stated you get better stopping year round with winter tires, but sacrificing tread ware.

I would imagine at some point, going against manufacturer's recommendations, and installing two, probably isn't worth the chance of being in court, accused of being responsible for an accident.

From my experience, a FWD, should NEVER be fitted with winter tires on the front only. When Blizzaks first became popular, in the northeast, I had a set put on the front of my wife's Intrepid. I got the stern warning that really wasn't right to only put two on. I just assumed that it was a commissioned salesman giving me a load of bull. The first 4" snowfall changed my mind. In a slow speed pull out, from a stop, involving a 90* turn, the car turned, then did an effortless spin, out of control. It literally looked, and felt, like the FWD was gripping the road like it was dry, and the backs were slicks on ice. I then found a set of used steel rims, and bought Blizzaks for the rear. That car, shod with winter skins, was a beast in bad winter weather, and I can't count how many times we drove around 4WD SUVs as they floundered on grades, or slid into the shoulder.

I always love traveling in rural Canada and seeing how silly we can be in the states. In the relatively milder climate on the northeastern US, you just absolutely "need" an SUV for all the "bad" weather. It's madness to think otherwise. For the love of all things holy, think of the children. Yet, you can be out in the Canadian maritimes, a thousand + miles north, and in REAL winter country, and suddenly you CAN survive without wasting tens of thousands more for a vehicle. You stop at a small town grocery and there are two dozen vehicles in the lot. Maybe an SUV or two, a couple or farm trucks, and the rest are minivans, with a few FWD cars sprinkled in. Huh, It seems that if you are not a brainwashed consumer, maybe a minivan and four winter tires is actually a pretty good way to get the job done.