Heck, snow isn't a problem with all-seasons, especially if your temps are above 10*F throughout the year. I could drive in a snow storm on all-seasons without much trouble - snow gives a decent amount of traction. It's ice that requires winter tires...

For the record, we hit -24*F this week with just an inch or three of snow. It's been well above freezing for most of December and the start of January (set a record with temps in the 50s the first week of January).

 

glad nobody videotaped me driving around in Denver with the S2000 on 255mm Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3..........

 

I'm running 245mm Blizzak LM-22s on my S2000 and it's still pretty bad. Driving in snow is okay (not great) but if there is any sort of a slick surface (ice or really cold, slighly frosted asphalt), it's very loose. I can't imagine doing any winter driving on 255mm summer tires!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_ABE...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxWef...eature=related

 

we get snow at least once a year. although i don't remember getting snow last winter when they predicted it was going to be the worst winter in 50+ years.

snow tire isn't required.

i seen people putting chains on the wrong axle, seen Audi Quattro with 1 chain on the back tire, seen full size SUV (4wd) with chains, driving on clear road with chains still on, driving with studded tires during spring time.

i got myself a new set of snow tires on my Audi 2 days before it started to snow and it was the best decision i made. it felt super safe and i was able to get anywhere i needed to be and not to mention how much fun i had in parking lots. people really should invest in snow tires or don't drive at all.

 

People in Seattle are terrible in snow and rain. it rains near 7 - 8 months out of the year and they still can't drive in rain.

with snow, commute can be way shorter or a nightmare. i used to work at Kirkland and lived in Renton (about 20 mile commute all highway) back in 2005 to 2008 and i remember one year i couldn't make it home from work not because my car couldn't handle it but there were crap load of people all trying to get home. i got about half way in 2 hours and decided to turn around slept at work cuz traffic wasn't moving and i was stuck in same spot for an hour. but this year most people stayed home since it started snowing on MLK day and yea there were no cars on the road.

 

^ It sucks that you had a highway commute. I had the choice of either highway or streets, and it was about the same time in normal conditions, so I took back roads. The only time I ever would drive on the freeway at night was when I would go out at night just to drive around. (I have to be the only moron out there with a Miata that just enjoys driving in the snow. Nothing crazy, but just drive around.) I can tell you that driving the speed limit when you are the only one around and seeing a 10ft tall rooster-tail behind your car is hilarious.

 

Summer tires don't work in winter weather, even if you have (literally) the fanciest AWD system in the world.

Nissan GT-R AND an Audi R8 can't get up a 5 degree incline...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9-BK-HT2HI

Andrew

 

I am constantly amazed by the number of idiots who continue to believe that AWD or 4WD makes them invincible and tires are not a consideration. Even if they could get moving with AWD, what about stopping? What about directional control? I'm not talking about these two, they must have known they were way over their heads and just having fun. But people with CRV's and Explorers will argue that their worn all season tires don't matter because they have AWD. Comical.

 

^ Very true. A RWD car on snow tires will out handle, and out stop any AWD car on regular A/S tires. As for the GTR and R8, WTF are you doing driving your $80k and $120K+ cars out in the snow without snow tires? Even if they were just messing around, they ended up on a hill where they are going to have to back into an intersection, and hope that they can escape from there. The sad part is that both of those cars would be extremely capable, and extremely fun with snow tires.