mlfarrell

So here I am at columbus airport in a hotel because all the highways are impossible to drive on above 10 mph. Basically i can't get home which is 70 miles away.

and here's tomorrow's outlook: http://www.weather.com/weather/hourb...ur=11&begDay=5

I pray the highway is clear tomorrow or I could get stuck here all week. I'm moving to san diego really soon, so I wanted to avoid forking out some $1000 for snow tires.

laythor

hope the hotel is comfy.. looks like you'll be there tomorrow

RyansRx8

looks like its gonna snow tomorrow

CarAndDriver

Are you on summer tires right now? That'd be really bad for any snow on the ground.

Good luck getting out...I've perused the headlines that have said most of the US in a brutal cold snap. Tis okay in Cali...

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

You must be smoking crack to drive Summer tires for the winter.

Forget about snow for now, Summer Tire's tread will become so hard that you're going to have a hard time stopping your car.

Im sure your life worth more than that little 1000 bucks. Im not trying to scare you, get a set before you feel sorry about it.

oh, enjoy your hotel room. how much is that gonna cost? 100? 150? there you go. less money for winter tires now.

mlfarrell

summer tires yes. i can't drive at all unless the salt works. my commute is 99% highway.

at 80 bucks a night for this hotel, i may have no choice but to get snow tires

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

you dont have to use the same set of wheels for your snow tires.

in fact you can buy a set of snow tires with 17" wheels for less than 1K.

I use my stock wheels for snow tires. I have another Mazdaspeed Japan set for Summer.

CarAndDriver

Alternative would be to get really good high performance all-season tires and use them when you get out to California. At least you wouldn't be stuck with winter tires in California that are gathering dust. These are the three highest rated UHP all seasons on TireRack. Conti is by far the cheapest at $132/tire.

Continental ExtremeContact DWS (Ultra High Performance All-Season)
Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position (Ultra High Performance All-Season)
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Move to San Antonio A bit more cold than usual but no snow, ice, salt, etc.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

I have a set of RE960 AS pole Position (its on my summer wheels right now, I will change them out to ALL summer tires after this 2010 summer)

Its really good, good in Rain and sunny days, but like all All-season tires, the sidewalls are a bit soft, and it will become useless below 45 degrees, no matter what the "all season" word tells you.

mlfarrell

132x4 is excellent. think i could get that price here in columbus?
how are they on snow?

CarAndDriver

Seem to be the best of the three. Take a look at the TireRack survey for UHP all-seasons. http://tinyurl.com/ygreknl

They are cheaper than the Bridgestones by $60ish.

I have found that nearly all tire installers will match TireRack pricing. They might add the TR shipping costs onto the tire to make it apples to apples. I just tell them on the phone, this is what I want, will you match TireRack and how soon can you get them? Start going through the Yellowpages and looking online for tire installers. If you can find a chain that's in California too, you can get them rotated for free in SD, like Big O, PepBoys, Sears, Firestone, etc.

mlfarrell

just found a firestone real close by. will stop in there tomorrow. Hate to spend the money, especially since my current tires are 50-60% tread left or so, but i may have no choice.

thanks alot man

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

Thought you were suppose to be in Hawaii dude?

CarAndDriver

Well you don't have to junk your tires. Do you know someone who has a pickup or SUV that you can borrow to make a r/t to pick up the tires? I am sure the Firestone would be willing to hold your tires for a fixed amount of time, especially considering weather and your predicament. Then take them to SD with you.

I'd call them first before heading over and make sure you have backup tire shops you can call or have called.

Fencig

If you're not loading other stuff into your car you can take tires in it (I've done it with rims and tires). All seasons and some careful driving can get you to where you are planning to go. Then once there you have a set of all seasons for the winter and summers for the summer. Not a total loss and you don't put pure snow tires while heading to a non-snow area.

CarAndDriver

Well if you do that make sure you get some cheap sheets or blankies at Walmart to protect your car.

mbentley

iTrader: (1)

+1 to fitting 4 tires in your car. i did that when i bought all season tires last year but my summer tires still had like 3/4 of their tread left. would be a bit of a pain with much luggage at all but it is better to keep them if they have that much tread left!

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Snow has screwed me too. My '8 has been undriven since Nov 1st (I could/should have driven it until Dec 1st this year). The past six weeks have seen continous snowfall or cover. Can't wait for a snow/sand/salt-clear break.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Lack of planning... anytime you "think" you can get by without them is putting yourself and the people around you in danger.

Hoping for a mild winter in Ohio is like hoping for a Browns superbowl win. Sure, its possible, but it hasn't happened in recent memory, and it probably won't.

Should have budgeted in 2 sets of tires in with your car payment, insurance, and fuel when you got the car.

Next time you'll know better!

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

remember, you can sell your current tires for some money too.

CaptainEggs

yea snow sucks!! its fun at first but when you keep getting stuck cause your running on kinda worn or worn out all seasons and you cant get up your driveway... starts getting on your nerves. lol at least for me. =)

CarAndDriver

So what's the update? I will assume you are no longer at the hotel or you'd be on here...

mlfarrell

I went ahead and drove home the next day. The roads were completely clear (wet with salt, no snow). If it hadn't of cleared up, I probably would have purchased the all seasons. I'm still considering it.

While terrible on snow, summer tires are not super slick in cold weather. When I was going on my trip on the way to the airport, it was cold (below 40) and I slammed my breaks to stop for a stop light. Sure enough, it didn't skid. If anything, it stopped better than my old beater buick used to.

Vlaze

iTrader: (14)

Do not get all seasons and screw around. They and summer regardless of how much grip you think you have with them in snow, they are of no comparison to proper snow tires. Winter tires are everything in the snow. At least get 2 snow tires for the rear and if you can 4 for all around. The cost for 2 on the rear will get the majority of people who can drive with a level head around fine in the winter. For all RWD vehicles I've owned I've never had anymore than 2 snow tires on and never had an issue. That right there is no more than 200-250 tops to spend.