winter tires story

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

Roger.............Since I don't know what driving conditions you have there 
in Maine, I'll just tell you why I am using a special set of tires and 
wheels for my winter driving here in Ohio.

I ran my first set of dedicated ice tires last winter, with very 
satisfactory results. Since you have never tried ice tires, I am sharing 
the experience that convinced me to try them. I pray that you and the other 
listees never get into the same situation there in Maine or anywhere else.

What decided me on getting ice tires was a  singular experience coming home 
about 100 miles from a dance up in Michigan, around midnight. I was driving 
my 87 5ktq, and light snow was falling. Temps were below freezing when we 
departed the dance hall. Another couple in the back seat. We were traveling 
on major highways to avoid cities, and the roads varied from blacktop to 
concrete and back again as we moved through different communities. Not much 
traffic that late at night on Sunday. The Brigestone RE-930's were a little 
skittish on the new snow, which was mainly wet and not very deep. But when 
I turned the wheel, the car responded. I bumped the brakes every now and 
then just to test if they had any effect. Everything grabbed and I had some 
control, and could adjust my speed retain that control.

About halfway home, on a straightaway about 3 miles long, I noticed the 
snow was gone, and the road looked wet. This was different. I turned the 
wheel a little, and NOTHING happened. It was black ice, newly frozen and 
totally invisible. And I was going about 50 miles an hour. I barely touched 
the brakes and they locked up, so I let off instantly. I was running with 
the ABS disabled. The car was still going straight, and nothing that I did 
affected anything. This was really scary. I had no control at all.

I gently backed off the gas pedal and the car slowly lost speed and stayed 
straight, and eventually got down to about 20 miles an hour. It took at 
least three lifetimes to slow down. We didn't have any traffic, so I crept 
along at maybe 15 mph for about 10 minutes, until we got out of that stuff. 
It was only a patch about 5 miles long, and salt trucks hadn't gotten to it 
yet. Talk about adrenaline.......

But then (and there) I decided to change to ice tires, if I ever got home 
alive. And I researched them for months before settling on Michelin Arctic 
Alpins. The rating services gave them the highest scores, and a few quattro 
listees said they had used them with satisfaction. But I almost went with 
the studded Nokian Hakka 1's.       I was that motivated by my experience 
with the black ice.

The Alpins made a good impression during my winter with them, on my 87 
5ktq. Can't say what they will do for anyone else. We all drive differently 
and set up our cars differently and have different values regarding what 
good handling feels like and what it is worth. But they sure made a 
difference in my life.

We may be talking about the difference between survival and something 
else........Thanks for the opportunity to contribute.

Doyt Echelberger



 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 12:42 PM 10/17/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>I agree with you concerning using All Season tires.  I have NEVER used a set
>of dedicated winter tires on any car. ......snip................
>
>On my 100CS Avant, we have new (from the selling dealer) Continentals (or
>some sort), and on my V8 I have new (from the previous owner) Pirellis.
>this will be my first winter with both, so I expect that they will both be
>fine.
>
>Roger