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Oh boy... This is gonna be a long response... but I think it's important (and fun!)
>well Bruce so right now you're saying to me that Saab puts crappy
>tires on their cars and that I should have stuck with Pontiac?
No... What I'm saying is that there is no single tire that performs well under ALL conditions. In my original message I said that "All Season" tires are a marketing JOKE and I firmly believe that. Just like you don't wear high heels in the snow or army boots to a dance, it's all about having the proper tires for the conditions!
Saab's choice of "Sport tires" are probably skewed more towards the sport side of the equation... I wouldn't dare drive a car in the winter with those Michelin Pilots! But they're GREAT in the summer (and conversely winter tires SUCK in the summer).
It's not just the tread pattern that dictates the performance of a tire... The rubber compound and the width also makes a big difference. True snow tires have softer rubber compounds which makes them more pliable in the cold when summer (or <cough> "all season" <cough>) are stiff and less able to "bite". Width is important because you want a narrow tire in the winter that cuts through the snow to the pavement... Wide tires are like having skis on in comparison.
>I am not solely blaming the engine for this car sucking in the snow..
It has very little to do with the engine... If anything you want a lighter engine so the weight distribution is more even front to back.
>I DO know it has to do with the wheels as well..but as for you making
>a general statement of "'Sport Wheels' are NOT good in snow."
>I know from experience that there are good Sport wheels out there
>that can get people through snow...
Oh? Do tell... And how confident are you gonna feel with those tires? Basically, sport tires are the WRONG tool for the job when it comes to snow and ice. But don't just believe me... Do a search on the internet... Or better yet... BUY a set of good snow tires and experience it for yourself.
>and that I had no issues the past winters...
Well, you must be a very slow and steady driver... God help you if you have to pull an evasive maneuver (like avoiding the idiots in the SUVs) with the wrong tires. Me, I'll pony up the extra $$$ for snow tires if it gives me more confidence!
>because it sure wasn't on the dealer's high priority list of things to tell me
>when he was selling it to me...and YES I asked how it handled in the snow....
Did you SERIOUSLY think you'd get a straight answer from a car salesman? They're in the business to sell the cars they have... If they had Saab SUV's in the showroom (they might someday) I'm sure they'd be steering you in that direction because "everyone knows that SUV's are better in the snow..." (Well, and they're a lot more profitable! ;-)
>as for needing a course to drive in the snow....i have grown up in MA
>for 27 years and been driving for 9 years
38 years here... And way too many Mass winters... After I nearly killed myself rolling a Saab with "All Season" tires, I decided to educate myself. I'm here to educate others before they find out the hard way!
>.so I'm pretty well versed in driving in snowy conditions...but thanks for the advice
I claim most people still have NO CLUE how to drive in the snow.. Why? Because they don't PRACTICE. Or they don't understand the physics involved... Like what does "steer in the direction of the skid" REALLY mean? Have you practiced it??
>Bruce I'm not concerned with stoping...this car is fine for that with these tires...
>I am having issues with starting to go on flate surfaces as well as inclines...
Well that's funny because most people buy cars (or rather SUVs) for the OPPOSITE reason... They can get going easier but don't realize that they can't STOP any faster than an average car.
>the problem isn't in the stopping of this car....so I could really care
>less about the laws of physics concerning stopping....
Well you SHOULD care... Because nobody DIED when they couldn't get moving up a hill... coming DOWN the hill is a different matter entirely!
posted by 209.213.20...
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