Just wondering how many of you think we get enough snow here to justify the purchase of snow tires. If you do purchase them do you just leave them on December through Febuary or put them on when a threat approaches? The latter seems like it would be a PITA.

Thanks.

Dave
Herndon, Va

Don't know what tires you have on your car, but if they are "summer" performance tires, they loose significant grip in the cold temps. (And by cold, I mean 40 degrees...)

I lived in DC for 7 years and never did true snows, but I did use a good all season tire in the winter to handle the temp changes.

instead of having to have them mounted each season. I put mine on right before Thanksgiving and will have them on until right before the first track event of the season (early March). I would highly suggest you get them, like daphne said, snow isn't the only thing you need to worry about. When tires get cold, they get hard. Summer tires are like hockey pucks in the winter and will slide on almost anything.

Mainly because the 6 or so inches that fall in the area hardly justify full blown snows unless you just want to go that route. I think you could probably have as much protection as you need with a set of all-seasons such as the Sumitomo HTR+ tires, SP5000, etc. Of course, this is my opinion only...YMV.

rwh

I've got a separate set of winter wheels/tires that I put on the day before the first snow storm of the season, and I usually keep them on until sometime in March. There are two reasons why I have them:

1. My other wheels have summer tires on them - not usable in snow, and not that great when very cold, even if the roads are clear.

2. I drive up north on ski trips occasionally.


Now, if my main wheels had all-season tires on them, then I'd probably not bother with a second set of tires. But then again, I like the superior grip and handling of summer tires, and I don't want the sacrifice that comes with all-seasons.

One final word - the swapping of wheels twice a year is not a big deal. It takes me about an hour to do. You just have to find some space to store the second set of wheels while they're not in use.

Winter tires are not full-blown snow tires like Blizzaks, but they are better than all-season tires. They work great in cold temperatures and snow, and you can get them with up to an H-rating, so performance on dry roads and in warm weather is still very good.

I use Vredestein Wintrac's that I bought at Radial Tire in Silver Spring. I've used them in weather from single digits to 70F and beyond. Also on the highway at a sustained speed of 90 MPH (thru Wyoming).

I would avoid all-season tires if you have the budget for dedicated winter wheels and tires.