Re: Snows for 5kcstq

[Todd Phenneger <phen9461@uidaho.edu>]

On Thu, 2 Dec 1999 dschloz@wagstaff.com wrote:

> I didn't have the wobble problem that you speak of - very smooth up to 120mph.
> You may have had a bad tire (slipped tread) or they weren't balanced proplerly.
> The Michelins that are on my q just got mounted and they wobble already. I am
> taking them back to have them re-balanced, because they were fine when they were
> on the Jetta. I am not REAL confident that the 20 yo slacker that mounted them
> really cared if they were balanced or not...

	I'm not talking about a Wobble problem from incorrect
balancing.  They were very smooth at 80mph.  dont know about 120, I'd
never take a Q-rated low temp snow tire like th4e blizzak up to that
speed.  But, I'm talking about Soft sidewalls.  They just ROll Over in the
corner.    All snow tires have soft sidewalls and most dont handle real
great int hedry (except some performance ones like the Hakka NRw's and
Pirelli tires and maybe the new Michlin performance snows.  )  But The
Blizaks were worse than most in my opinion.  And I kjnow I'm not alone in
that opinion.  THey are sticky so they grip alright but I feel like I'm
driving on tires made of jello.  

> What is bugging me about this thread more than tire choice is the continual
> reference to car weight and what tires came stock on it. This has NOTHING to do
> with how the car performs IN THE SNOW. I wonder how many of these people live in
> areas of serious snow. Not Ice, not wet, not dry. Snow.

	Well, I think it has a lot to do iwth it.  It gives a base line to
choose from.  In serious ice and snow a narrower tire is usually better so
going slightly narrower than stock works well.  Stock size is just a
reference point.  But for toehr people that live in Seattle and Ski every
weekend or something a stock sized tire can retain some semblance of
handlling while still giving adequate Snow traction.  And for those in
florida, this entire thread is useless as they can run around with
225/45-17 tires on 12 months out of the year if they want.  it all depends
on what you wont.  conversely, if your living in alaska and regulary drive
over a glacier, then you might want HUGE tires aired down a bit to keep
you on top of the deep snow.  I think for you and I narrower is better
(int he winter) but the stock size gies a aseline as to where to start
from.  Car weight, and conditions all play a role in what the person
should choose.
	There I go blabbing again. :-)
L8R
	Todd