Traction Devices / Snow Tires

[ISU-152]

Southern ontario has pretty good road clean up crews so I think it's frowned upon because of the chains/studs wrecking the pavement. I should have been more careful before saying illegal here, but it still might be.

 

[adventurenali92]

@ISU-152 , interesting tid bits. Chains are put to use here in socal where we get snow. But our pavement is made differently and studded tires wear it down a lot faster. So studded tires are what's illegal here. Haha.

 

[Rocket Man]

I checked around and the issues vary slightly from state to state and province to province. For me in southern ontario...(doesn't even mention chains I know...)
Ontario
In Ontario, studded tires are only permitted from Sept. 1 through May 31. In order to use studded tires, the driver must be a resident of Northern Ontario (north of Parry Sound and Nipissing Districts), own a business in Northern Ontario, or have road authority with jurisdiction and control of a highway in Northern Ontario. Non-Ontario residents may use studded tires if the vehicle is in Ontario for no more than 30 days.

From there, Ontario has a list of regulations regarding size and placement of the studs. Essentially, studded tires are OK in Northern Ontario. A $1,000 fine can be handed out for using studded tires in Southern Ontario.

You Canadians have strange laws,eh? Lol.

 

[ISU-152]

Well like I said I guess I wasn't %100 sure and most of southern ontario is pretty urban so the snow clean up is pretty quick. Me? I could care less anyways with mud tires

Bring on the snow and I can here the plow trucks now

 

[Rocko]

Informative explanation of minus-size tire and wheel for winter driving conditions:

Priorities for Sizing Winter Tires Are Different
Original Equipment tire and wheel sizing has evolved over the years to where yesterday's typical 13", 14" and 15" sizes have been replaced with today's 16", 17", 18" and larger sizes. For that matter, many current cars, vans and light trucks now feature wide, low profile tires mounted on large diameter wheels as standard equipment or factory options.

"...if you're likely to drive through deep snow this year, you'll want winter / snow tires and wheels in sizes that help put the laws of physics on your side."

Unfortunately wide, low profile tires have to "plow" a wide path through deep snow, where narrower tires have an easier time. So if you're likely to drive through deep snow this year, you'll want winter / snow tires and wheels in sizes that help put the laws of physics on your side.

Winter tire sizes should be based on one of the following:
Your Vehicle's Original Equipment Tire and Wheel Size

While not offering a dimensional advantage, choosing winter tires and wheels in the Original Equipment size to seasonally replace the vehicle's Summer or All-Season tires will offer more traction in cold temperatures, slush, snow and ice thanks to the winter tire's tread design and compound that remains pliable in below-freezing and sub-zero temperatures.

The Tire and Wheel Size From Your Vehicle's Base Model

This is often an easy way to select an appropriate narrow tire for your car, van or truck. For example, a 2012 Honda Accord EX Sedan would store its original 225/50R17-sized tires in favor of the 2012 Honda Accord SE Sedan's 215/60R16-sized winter tires on 16" wheels. While only a small dimensional difference, this combination will reduce your cost while increasing your vehicle's wintertime traction.

A Minus Size Tire and Wheel

Minus Sizing uses traditional Plus Sizing techniques in reverse. It combines taller profile tires with smaller diameter wheels. For example, the owner of a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SEL would store the original 225/45HR17-sized tires in favor of a Minus One 205/55R16-size on 16" wheels (where the wheel diameter is 1" smaller and the tire's sidewalls are ½" taller) or Minus Two 195/65R15-size on 15" wheels (where the wheel diameter is 2" smaller and the tire's sidewalls are 1" taller).

Minus Sizing Example for Winter Tires
O.E. SIZE

MINUS ONE

MINUS TWO

• 17" x 7.5" WHEEL 225/45HR17
• 16" x 7.5" 205/55R16
• 15" x 6.5" WHEEL 195/65R15

 

[Ming15237]

As someone who sells tires I will tell you with no uncertainty that there is NO SUBSTITUTE for a modern technology snow tire such as the blizzak or Michelin x ice, or any of the other major manufacturers snow tires. The best all season tires don't even come close to their performance on snow much less ice!

 

[Rocket Man]

The only problem with a full on snow tire is you need a separate set of rims too, plus they wear hella fast since they're soft. All seasons are a compromise no doubt but there are reasons people compromise. In my part of the country it might not snow even once a winter, or it might snow 2 or 3 times. Most people go all season plus a set of chains just in case it does snow.

 

[Ming15237]

The only problem with a full on snow tire is you need a separate set of rims too, plus they wear hella fast since they're soft. All seasons are a compromise no doubt but there are reasons people compromise. In my part of the country it might not snow even once a winter, or it might snow 2 or 3 times. Most people go all season plus a set of chains just in case it does snow.

Yes it is advisable to get a second set of wheels. However, you can fit seriously inexpensive 16 or 17" wheels and tires to these vehicles with no issues. A simple call to any of the major tire and wheel players on the internet will garner you an idea of price, heck, most have a "build your own setup" option on their web pages. Yes soft compound dedicated snow tires do wear more quickly than all season tires, this is part of the reason they perform so well in the snow as the tread stays pliable, where the all season tread hardens with the cold temps. If the OP is going to be crossing mountains which have postings for "traction devices" he quite likely lives in an area where winter weather is the norm, not a rare event like yourself. I always tell people any snow tire is better than NO snow tire, buy what you can afford! If the OP can get past the aesthetics, he can put snow tires and wheels on his vehicle at a significantly lower price than he could install new tires which are 22" as he is currently running. Snow tires are not about looks, they are about performance.

 

[thegooch49]

I agree Nathan. I'm past the aesthetics, and am ready to get a wheel/tire package. Getting a tire/rim package is just $300 more than tires alone. But on their own rims, $0 to flip between the all-seasons. Seems like a slam-dunk, thanks for all the replies.

 

[thegooch49]

I bit the bullet, and bought some 17" snow rims and tires. I got the Michelin X-Ice Xi2. The rims should pay for themselves after 2 years. I'll post some pictures before/after so you can see what the swap from 22" to 17" looks like.