Re: Snow tire life...

[Alex Kowalski (audial@aol.com) (Law Guest Account) <lawguest@wppost.depaul.edu>]

Well, snow tires get a lot of their traction by packing the tread and getting
snow against snow.  Once the tread has worn to the point where it no
longer effectively bites into the snow and/or holds it, they lose
effectiveness.  If the tread is still deep and the edges are still relatively
sharp and evenly worn, they are probably still OK.  I know that the
Blizzaks on my girlfriend's Toyota have a "dual-depth" tread...the little tiny
sipes that are cut into the tread blocks only extend a certain depth into the
tread.  Once you wear that off, they don't work as well.

Best Wishes,

Alex