Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:09:51 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Snow tires... 2 or 4?
In-Reply-To: <816F4787-DC03-426C-BC0A-2CA02C003A91@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Don't know a thing about "Blizzak" tires. For a vanagon, the recommendation is if you put snow tires on, put on four, for the reasons cited below. For a front wheel drive vehicle, if you put snow tires on the front, but not the rear, when you brake or steer, you can have the rear end swing around and pass the front. Put on four. David Mc
---- "Joseph Doré" <josephpdore@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I know, I'm WAY behind on this one but I figured I would chime in
> since I own Blizzaks and I am religious about snow tires.
>
> The Blizzaks are RIDICULOUS! I've never experienced anything like
> them. I drive a big Ford service truck for work with all-seasons on
> it and I'm all over the road, all the time. My wife, driving the
> Honda with Blizzaks doesn't even notice the snow and ice and slush and
> drives merrily on her way. I don't regret the purchase at all.
>
> As for the 4 vs. 2 argument, I look at it this way: steering is just
> as important as moving. When you have good traction on drive tires
> you will inevitably drive to match their grip. Unfortunately, if the
> steering/braking tires don't have the same traction, you can find
> yourself in a bit of a pickle at intersections and parking lot
> entrances (for some reason that's where I've had the most close
> calls). If the vehicle is front wheel drive and you're considering
> leaving all seasons on the back, I guess that's a little less
> problematic but my friend once lost the back end of her Ford Escort at
> highway speeds and hit the retaining wall a few times because she had
> nearly bald all-seasons on the back and winters on the front.
>
> My two cents.
>
> Joe
> 1982 Westfalia Vanagon
> Stratford, ON
>
>
> On 2-Jan-10, at 12:59 AM, Mark A Kippert wrote:
>
> Not looking to start another tire thread, just a question on how many,
> and how old. I'm looking at a set of 4 Blizzak tires at a local used
> tire store.These are actually new that I'm considering, I just don't
> know their age. They want $200 for a set of 4, mounted and balanced
> (no warranty that I know of).
>
> First, am I better off with just putting tires on the rear or is there
> an advantage to running them on all four corners?
>
> Second, since snow tires are only run a few month out of the year (at
> least here in Indy) I'm guessing they spend a lot of time stacked in
> the garage. I don't drive my van much as it's a 3rd car so snow tires
> won't see a lot of miles (maybe a 1000 or so a year). So is there a
> life expectancy on snows?
>
> BTW, Is there a way to determine how old a tire is? These look good
> but I don't want to buy a set of tires that are so old they'll only be
> good for a few seasons.
>
> Mark K
> 1986 GL/2WD/4SPD
| 
