Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires BFG gForce KDW in snow

DO NOT RUN THEM UNLESS YOU WANT TO DIE! Since you're not used to driving in Buffalo's snowy roads, don't even try driving here on summer tires. I lived here for 6 years, and last year was the first one I "tried" to drive on my Firestone Firehawk SZ50 when we had the 18" blizzard. I knew it was bad to drive with them so I took the car out around the neighborhood to see how bad it is. I barely made my way out of my own driveway after a lot of digging with my mini-shovel. Then I went on for a mile drive around the neiborhood, and I proceeded to get stuck 5 times. It took me 45 minutes to get back to my house. The day after I had to drive to get my all-season tires mounted on the old wheels at a place 15 miles away. I was going about 15mph the whole way and the whole car was drifting uncontrollablly. People (most of them have never seen Buffalo's winter) that say you can get by with the summer tires mean just that, you can get by for a little bit of short trips on plowed roads. But if you were here yesterday you'd be phucked because we just got about 10" of snow the night before, City of Buffalo remained unplowed 'til today.

Forget tires, if there's 18 inches of snow, save your money for a 4wd.

I grew up in the north (Ohio) and had been rather ignorant of the merits of a good snow tire. In fact, I've never puchased a set. Personally, I believe that you drive based on the conditions. I've driven through blizzards, snow storms, freezing rain, etc. and never had a problem. In fact, a couple of years back while driving from Texas to Ohio, the route was hit with a large dose of freezing rain and snow which made driving conditions very, very poor. I was on my summer tires and made the 22 hour trip home safely while others (SUVs included) were spun out in the median and other undersiable places. I'm not trying to tell anyone not to buy a good winter tire if you live in an area where it can be of some benifit but at the same time, the use of good judgement in adverse driving conditions is also required.

Airknight - sounds like I left Buffalo just in time last week. It may not have been cold but those winds were howling. I'm glad I didn't get caught up in the big snow event.

Originally posted by CJ 2000:

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Forget tires, if there's 18 inches of snow, save your money for a 4wd.

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It happens here at least once a year. My parents both have Subaru's, but I keep my Contour with snow tires this year.

Curious if anyone was "brave" enough to venture out in the NE snow storm yesterday and today.. I, true to form, went out today with my 17" summer tires and managed to scoot around town without any drama. Biggest hurdle was digging myself out of my parking spot in the morning.

In most states it is illegal to use a summer tire in snowy conditions without chains. So if you are involved in an accident it is your fault no matter what!

-Andy

Snow chains won't clear my wheelwell, it warns you right in the manual NOT to use chains. I actually thought chains were illegal these days, because of the damage they caused to the roads and all.

As for the legal aspects, this is the first I ever heard about it. If I can score some cheap snow tires and rims, I'll get 'em, but they're $1600 from Tire Rack! Cheaper for me to call out of work if it snows again.

When did I mention a Contour or any other car? I just said you had to have chains.

-Andy

I just couldn't let this thread die..

http://vca1.viperclub.org/ubb/Forum14/HTML/015758.html

Check out the video link a few posts down.

Revisited