Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 08:03:08 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: winter driving to Spokane
In-Reply-To: <20141110104403.K7CAE.37954.root@eastrmwml105>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
You may want to re-think no studs. Here in the Northwest we frequently
get precipitation that freezes after it hits the pavement, yet it still
appears to be just water.. We also get freezing fog at times and my all
time favorite, very thick black ice, interspersed with melted
potholes..This last road condition sometimes causes closure of the
interstate because it busts up vehicles and causes multiple crashes.
If I were commuting daily all winter I'd have studded tires. If I
drove a Vanagon all winter in snow I would certainly have studs in the
tires....
On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 7:44 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> Thanks Dennis. If we do make the drive (and I will know/decide soon) I
> will put on a set of Blizzaks before, and keep them on to use in Spokane.
> I've read several reports from state DOTs and independent engineers, and I
> am convinced that studless winter tires are preferable to studded ones.
> The only condition under which studded tires are preferable is smooth ice
> at or very near to the freezing point. Washington DOT in its reports
> states that that condition represents <1% of winter driving conditions in
> Washington, and that dry/wet pavement represents >50%. Studded tires are
> the worst alternative on either dry or wet pavement. "All season tires"
> are no better than non-studded winter tires even in dry cold conditions.
>
> We may ship the Prius and fly up. That will cost a bit more, but not a
> great deal more.
>
> Dave
>
> ---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > The Prius equipped with real winter performance tires does surprising
> well in winter conditions like most front wheel drive cars. If looking to
> stay with an all season tire look at some of the Nokian offerings. The new
> WRG3 are performance winter tires with all season capabilities and low
> rolling resistance rating which the Prius benefits from.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Dave Mcneely
> > Sent: Sunday, November 9, 2014 4:25 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: winter driving to Spokane
> >
> > I may need to drive to Spokane, Washington from Edmond, Oklahoma in
> December, maybe late December. I have been trying to work out the safest
> (meaning least likely to encounter serious winter weather) route. I may
> have settled on driving a long way around route involving taking I-40 to
> California, then up I-5 to Portland, then from there back NE to Spokane.
> Or even dropping further south to hit I-10 and I-8 to get into California.
> >
> > These are likely to involve at least 5 days of driving, more if I do
> hit winter weather on I-40 (quite possible anywhere along that route until
> dropping off the plateau at Kingman, AZ) or even on I-20 in Texas.
> >
> > Anyone have anything to suggest, including taking my chances through the
> plains and mountains rather than one of the these long way around routes?
> >
> > Of course we would be winter prepped, with proper tires, emergency gear,
> food and prepared for multi-day stops if necessary.
> >
> > My apologies, but this drive will not involve my camper, which has
> already been moved to Spokane, but rather my Prius.
> >
> > Thanks, Dave McNeely
>
> --
> David McNeely
>
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