Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 15:32:21 -0500 From: Tom Reingold <trn07040-nospamnospamast.net> Subject: Re: Winter Tires
Shane Almeida wrote: > As I slid passed a stop sign and right through a four-way intersection > this morning, I thought to myself, "Self, it's time to get some winter > tires." I have 17 inches wheels with 225/45-17 tires. tirerack.com says > I should consider "minus-sizing" for winter tires. I think I'd rather > keep the same size tire on the same wheels to save a couple hundred bucks. > How important is minus-sizing for getting better traction? They say it's > because wide tires have to plow through more snow, but my tires aren't > *that* wide (7 inches), are they? I don't have a lot of experience with > Saabs and/or winter tires, so I'm wondering what fellow Saab owners think. > I'm going to call Tire Rack and maybe Pat Greer (the guy Dave Hinz has > mentioned a few times) later today as well. Thanks. Do it right. You won't regret it. Get tall, narrow tires on ugly steel rims, with the minus size. OK, they don't have to be ugly, but it's nice not to worry about your rims for two or three months a year. Get real snow tires like those famous Bridgestones or some Nokians. I have the Nokians, and I seem to have traction equal or better to those driving SUV's. I'm driving a 1995 9000CS. Every year, I bolt on the snow wheels in December and the 3-season wheels in March. I'm not even a home mechanic, but I can do this myself with the scissor jack and a bicycle pump. Takes me an hour, and I get a bit of exercise. Or you could pay about $20 to have someone do it quickly. I'm the only one around here (NJ) who does this, but overall, the investment hasn't been that big, and the security is great. Since the snow tires save wear on my 3-season tires, I'm not really paying more per mile, unless I sell the car with tread left on the tires. ;-) Tom
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